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TerryLema

His Mercy is More

by TerryLema

Pastor Laura led worship again last Sunday. We sang the song “His Mercy is More” by Matt Papa. The melody is simple but oh, that chorus!

“Praise the Lord, His mercy is more. Stronger than darkness, new every morn. Our [My] sins they are many, His mercy is more.” 

The Scriptures are clear that we are to be holy like our God is holy. We are to avoid sin, even the appearance of evil. Yet, we still sin. Sometimes it is outward and noticeable to all. Sometimes it is an inner attitude or bitterness only seen by God.

At times, we are weighed down by the sin in our lives and the harder we try to avoid it, the more we seem to collide with it. The enemy of our soul loves to temp us. The world loves to sabotage us. Our own flesh even rebels against our good intentions.

As we sang that wonderful chorus on Sunday, I felt such relief. No matter my sin, God’s mercy to me is more. No matter how many my sins, God’s mercy to me is abundantly more.

I think when David wrote Psalm 23 and included the wonderful truth that “Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of our life,” he knew what it was to experience the mercy of God over his sin.

As I joined in singing the song last Sunday, I was reminded that I, too, know what it is like to experience the mercy of God over my sin.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” [1John 1:9 HCSB]

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Aging

by TerryLema

A friend recently sent me a couple of her favorite books as a gift. One looks like an easy read, but with deep thoughts. The other is a far more difficult read, but also with deep thoughts. I started on the more difficult one, “Being Mortal, Medicine and What Matters in the End” by Atul Gawande.

The book, as far as I am into it (I am about halfway through it), deals with aging and medicine and how as a culture we care for people who age. It is not a cheery book, probably since I am dealing with aging and seeing some of the problems of medical treatments, safety, and decline in my not-so-distant future. But it is extremely insightful and has given me much about which to think.

One thing that stands out so far is that people who lose a reason to live decline faster than those who maintain things in their life which they enjoy and are still allowed to pursue (even if it means being a little less safe).

As I have been making my way through the book, I am reminded of what some might call my “life verse.”  It is found in Proverbs, and it often was part of my signature line in my work emails.  “A merry [joyful HCSB] heart does good, like medicine.” [Proverbs 17:22a NKJV]

I have tried to embrace this verse my entire life, no matter the difficulties or struggles I faced.  But there is a second part of that verse that might be even more significant, especially at this stage of my life. “But a broken spirit dries the bones.” [Proverbs 17:2b NKJV]

As unsettling as this book can be at times, as unsettling as my life can be at times, that verse reminds me that God understood the difficulties of aging long before modern man began to explore them, and I can be reassured of His faithfulness to me in every stage of life.

 

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Light Shine!

by TerryLema

It is hard to believe that in the middle of winter, as we are now, our days are getting longer! They have been lengthening by a few minutes a day since December 20. Of course, we also have more cloudy days, along with rain and fog and snow and  … so we probably do not notice the increasing daylight.

One lovely thing about our house, which we did not notice when we bought it in the month of May, is that in the winter months our house faces the sun directly from mid-day on. With our big front window, and our glass security door, the light floods in and it will heat our living room quite nicely. There are even times when sitting in my chair is too hot from the sunshine pouring in.  (That’s if there are no clouds or rain or fog or snow ….)

Still, I enjoy basking in that light when I can.

What made me think about the wonderful light and warmth that I enjoy mid-winter was a daily verse taken from Jesus’ sermon on the mount.  “Let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” [Matthew 5:16 HCSB]

Just prior to that verse Jesus reminded his listeners that they were “the light of the world,” and like a city up on a hill their light could not be hidden.

As I contemplated the light flooding in my front window and the effect it had on everything in that room, I thought about the light in us. We are to let it shine wherever we go so that the good things we do (and yes, we should be doing good things) will bring glory to our Father God.

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The Law of Christ

by TerryLema

We are in the midst of a time of prayer and fasting in our denomination.  I am a pretty good pray-er, but not so good a fast-er. With my medical issues and medications I cannot go without food for long periods of time, but I am trying to fast certain foods and certain times. The goal is to focus not on my own desires and wants but on the needs of others.

We are reminded in Galatians 6:2 that we are to “Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” [HCSB]

The Bible does not explicitly explain what the “Law of Christ” is, nor does it explain how the “Law of Christ” is fulfilled when we carry other’s burdens. However, Bible scholars understand the “Law of Christ” refers back to what Jesus stated were the greatest commandments. (Mark 12:28-31)

That first great commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. The second great commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves. All the OT law is contained in these two.

The world and the enemy of our soul seek to isolate us, because when we stand alone we are far weaker than we stand together. The world and the enemy of our soul seek to alienate us from our brothers and sisters in any way possible. They will cause divisions, splits, disagreements, and they are gleeful when Christians are at odds with each other.

The Law of Christ, however, commands us to love others as we love ourselves, and part of that is helping others when they are burdened or struggling. I often have to remind people that being burdened or in a struggle is not something to be ashamed of. Everyone at some point in life struggles, and as Christians we are to move alongside and provide the support that is needed.

As a second reminder, however, others cannot know you need help unless you ask.

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Every Thought

by TerryLema

I woke up the other morning with four words echoing in my mind – taking every thought captive. I think I might have been dreaming something that included those four words, but whatever that was, it disappeared from my mind and only those four words were left – taking every thought captive.

Those four words are found in 2 Corinthians 10. Paul, in his letter to the church at Corinth, reminded them that the weapons of our warfare in this life are not like the world’s weapons. Instead they are powerful in God – powerful for the destruction of strongholds, demolishing arguments and high-minded things that flaunt themselves against the knowledge of God.

In this life, we are inundated with things that try to shake our faith in God. The world floods us with its viewpoints and ideas from every direction and through every media. The enemy of our soul wants to implant in our minds all kinds of lies and misdirection. We can find ourselves trying to even decipher our own thoughts that spring forth from our feelings, hurts, sin, shame, and doubts.

So when Paul reminds us to “[take] every thought captive to obey Christ,” he is telling us how to capture what is in our minds BEFORE it takes root in our hearts! [10:5b HCSB]

We are not going to be held liable for the things that enter our thoughts UNLESS we entertain them – unless we allow them to become rooted in our hearts. We need to stop them before they start to root and reproduce.

That means when the world, the enemy of our soul, and our flesh try to influence us with things not of God, we must immediately stop and remind the world, the enemy, and our flesh that we are a child of God and that even our thoughts will come into obedience to Christ.  Then we need to transform our minds with the Word of God.

Get into it, read it, and study it!  God’s Word is our first line of defense.  Amen

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“Let us …” Part 3

by TerryLema

The last of the three “let us” affirmations in Hebrews 10 is found in verses 24-25.

“Let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”  [HCSB]

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that we need to look out for each other. We need to do that because we see that “the day [is] drawing near.”

The day he is referring to is the return of the LORD Jesus. We know from other Scriptures that the conditions of this world will worsen as we approach that time. Jesus spoke of events such as wars and famines and pestilence and earthquakes. [Matthew 24]

Paul wrote of the conditions of hearts. “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good.” [2 Timothy 3:1-3 HCSB]

All we have to do is watch the evening news to find both these events and conditions of people’s hearts mentioned.

In the midst of all this, the Hebrews passage reminds us to watch out for each other, to promote love and good works, to be consistent in our meeting with other believers, and to keep encouraging each other.

If we are still looking for a resolution(?) or an emphasis for 2023, perhaps we have found one?

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“Let us … ” Part 2

by TerryLema

One of the first daily verses to appear in my email prior to the New Year celebration was out of Hebrews 10. Two words contained in that verse really struck a nerve.

“Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” [Hebrews 10:23 HCSB]

Can you guess which two words caught my attention?  They are “without wavering.”

The word is “aklinés” and it means unbending, unyielding, resolute, firm.

We have a confession of hope. That hope is in the faithful promises of Christ Jesus our LORD. That confession is not just our words, that confession is our lives and how we live them.

That confession is not to bend to the wiles of the world. It is not to yield to the lies of the enemy. It is to be resolute and firm.

And that confession is absolutely dependent upon what we discussed yesterday, the previous verse in Hebrews 10. It is dependent upon drawing near to our High Priest Christ Jesus our LORD every day.

I am sure that 2023 will not be without its daily challenges. I am sure the world and the enemy of our soul will renew their assault on our spiritual growth and maturity. So, “let us hold on!” without wavering.

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“Let us …” Part 1

by TerryLema

Shortly before the New Year celebration I received a verse in my daily email out of Hebrews 10. It struck a nerve, so I opened my Bible to the passage and read the verses around it.

In my Bible, Hebrews 10 begins with the title, “The Perfect Sacrifice,” and speaks of the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus for sin, a sacrifice that need never be repeated just because it is “perfect.”

The title for the end of Hebrews 10 passage in my Bible is “Warning Against Deliberate Sin.” I guess that speaks for itself. But in the middle I found my daily verse under the title “Exhortations to Godliness.” Inside that passage I also found a few more similar refrains.

The first reminds us that “since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus by a new and living way … and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.” [vs 19-22 HCSB]

Look at those verses again. Look at that repeated word “since.” Since we have boldness (through the blood of Jesus), and since we have a great high priest (awaiting us), let us draw near (in full assurance of faith).

When we draw near to God, we have the full assurance of everything that follows that word “since.”  We know the new and living way is open to us, and we know our Great High Priest Christ Jesus our LORD is awaiting us.

In this new year 2023, let us draw near more often and with greater assurance than ever before. I am sure the new year 2023 is going to present many challenges that will demand we do so.

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All My Life

by TerryLema

Last Sunday Pastor Laura led worship and one of the songs she choose that morning was “Goodness of God.” [Link: CeCe Winans – Goodness of God (Official Lyric Video) – Bing video ]

I will admit that music touches my soul deeply. I will admit that I have been known to be so captivated by songs that I will break out in tears. Some songs simply take my breath away. That morning, “Goodness of God” did just that and more.

As Pastor Laura began to sing, I started to weep. And when she reached the line, “And I have lived in the goodness of God,” I realized at that moment that truly “all my life I have lived in the goodness of God.”

Whether aware of it or not, even before I knew Him as my Savior and LORD, His goodness and mercy have followed me, pursued me, captured me all the days of my life. [Psalm 23:6]

As we age and find that moving and breathing and living is far more difficult than in years’ past, it is easy to overlook God’s goodness in the midst of pain and struggle.  To be reminded that I have lived in His goodness all my life is a blessing.

His hand guided me even though I was often blind to His leading. I can see where He rescued me from enemies and difficulties even though I was ignorant of the danger. I can see where He held me close when I was grieving, where He strengthened me when I was weak, where He encouraged me when I was downcast, where He loved me when I was so unlovable.

I truly have lived all my life in the goodness of God.  I think I have found a new favorite song, maybe a new theme for 2023.

 

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Reason for This Season

by TerryLema

It is January, the beginning of the new calendar year (a new season). Many of us make “resolutions,” or at least think about some things we might want to begin or do differently this year. Eat better, exercise more, save money are often at the top of people’s lists.

I no longer make resolutions. Why set myself up for failure at the beginning of the year? Instead, I try to simply remind myself of what is just as important this year as last … or just be aware that every day can be a new challenge or a new adventure, depending upon my viewpoint.

I do know one thing that this new year (new season) holds. I have a reason to get up every morning, even on those mornings when I might be tired or hurting.  That reason in this season is the same as the reason for the “holiday season.”

My reason to get up every morning is so the world can see Jesus in my life!

Whatever we face in whatever season, we know that God is still with us. We know we are not alone. We know that we have been called to be children of God. We know that we have a reason to get up each day and a reason to thrive, not just survive.

The world apart from God is without hope. As believers, it is our privilege to model Christ Jesus to others. We may not know where to begin, but if we ask, God will give us opportunities to show the love of His Glorious Son to others.

That’s a lot of incentive to get up each day! Amen

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