Author

TerryLema

What We Live For

by TerryLema

Last Sunday Pastor Jerrod brought a message out of Psalm 91. He titled it “The Secret Place,” drawn from the first verse. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” [NKJV]

The message was full of truth as Pastor Jerrod took verse by verse, pointing out so many wonderful promises of God to those who “dwell” in God’s protection. The church rang with “Amens!” so it must have been something we all needed.

He said one thing that ministered to me. We have a purpose—to love and be loved by God. That is what we were created for.

Among all the wonderful truths and promises pointed out, I think that stood out the most Sunday morning because of what I had heard just an hour before. Bob had on a news broadcast before we left for church. One story was about an actor who died this week. It ended with the actor saying, “Acting was my life.”

The second story was an interview with another personality. He said several times that “woodworking is my life.”

If we were asked what our life is all about, I wonder how we would respond. I was reminded this morning that this life is truly about one thing – to love and be loved by God. To dwell in that “secret place” of the Most High.

Amen.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

An Expression of Freedom

by TerryLema

Yesterday I spoke about the true eternal freedom we have when the Son of God sets us free. While granted freedom through our Declaration of Independence and Constitution, that freedom can be taken away at any time, either through internal events or from outside sources.

But when the “Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”  That is a freedom that overrules every other freedom a government controls.

To me one of the most precious parts of that freedom is expressed by the writer of the Book of Hebrews. “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” [Hebrews 4:16 NLT]

We have the freedom, expressed with reverent confidence (boldness) to come to the Throne of our Gracious God. There we can present our requests and be assured that God’s mercy and grace will flow to us.

Yet, while I think of that precious part of freedom with great joy, I am saddened at times by how few really partake of the opportunities to pray. There are 168 hours in a week. Jesus once asked His disciples if they could spend just one hour with Him.

I remember holding one hour prayer meetings. Often it was just a few of us who came to pray. At times, I was the only one there.  That is a sad expression of our glorious freedom.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

Free Indeed

by TerryLema

Citizens of the United State of American celebrate their liberty on this date. It was on July 4, 1776, that the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress. The document explains to the world why thirteen colonies regarded themselves as independent sovereign states no longer subject to British colonial rule.

Almost all citizens of the United States are familiar with the beginning sentence of the second paragraph (even when they can’t quite remember that it comes from the Declaration of Independence).

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Independent. As a nation we are definitively independent. As citizens of that nation, we loudly proclaim that Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness are ours.  But do we really have life? Are we truly free and happy?

May I say, we cannot be truly free until the Son of God sets us free from our sin, our shame, and our guilt before our Creator and Father God. Jesus reminded His listeners that when we “know the truth, the truth will set [us] free.” [John 8:32 HCSB]

He also declared that He Himself was Truth and the only Way back to God the Father. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” [John 14:6 HCSB]

 While the Declaration of Independence declared freedom for the future United State of America and its citizens, we can only be fully and eternally free when we are set free by the Son of God. “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” [John 8:35 NKJV]

Free Indeed! Amen!

0 comment
FacebookEmail

What A Sight!

by TerryLema

I mentioned in yesterday’s devotion that I attended a class at Christian Faith Center (CFC) Nampa. I want to be involved in ministry when Middleton launches in the fall and the class was required.

Arriving a bit early, I could hear the music signaling the end of the service. As I waited to sign in for the class, I had the wonderful opportunity to see the doors open and people flooding out of the sanctuary.

What a sight! The first group I saw looked as if they’d be more at home in a biker bar. Right behind them was a young man and woman. She was carrying a tiny baby in a carrier.  Behind them was an older couple decked out in Sunday best. Everyone was wearing a smile.

I thought about the Phil Wickham song “Joy in the House of the LORD.” I have been trying to learn the lyrics and thought how one of the verses described what I saw. “We were the beggars. Now we’re royalty. We were the prisoners. Now we’re running free. We are forgiven, accepted. Redeemed by His grace. Let the house of the Lord sing praise.”

Those words do not just apply to the ones looking like they are refugees from rough and tumble biker bars. They apply to the young men and women beginning their walk with God and to the older couples who have walked with God for decades.

We all were beggars having nothing to offer God for our sins. We all were prisoners of our old sin nature, guilt, and shame. We all needed to be forgiven, accepted, and redeemed by His grace.

Now we are all singing our joy in the house of the LORD–together. Amen!

0 comment
FacebookEmail

Steps

by TerryLema

Last Sunday after early service at Christian Faith Center (CFC) in Caldwell I went to CFC Nampa to attend a class called First Steps. I want to be involved in ministry at Middleton after the launch and the class was required.

I wasn’t sure what to expect. It turned out to be a time when I learned more about the heart of CFC and CFC learned more about my heart. Pastor Laura was there, and we had opportunity to sit and talk a bit before and after (always a joy for me!).

I took a provided Spiritual Gifts Survey prior to the class and had an opportunity during the class to turn in a form expressing my interest in different ministries. Some of my survey scores I expected; some of my scores were a surprise. My high score was the same in four areas.

#1Exhortation. I expected that one to be high since encouragement is my motivation in everything I do. (It was prophesied over me when I was first saved and has proven to be true).

#2Teaching. I love to teach and was a much better teacher than preacher behind the pulpit.

#3Faith scored the same level. Thankfully. My life, while not easy, has been blessed. My son calls me resilient. I take that to mean that my faith has gotten stronger through many trials (count it all joy!).

The one score that startled me was that #4Mercy was on the same level as the others. I have never thought of myself as merciful. While a surprise! I have never scored high in mercy in previous spiritual gift surveys. Maybe it is because I am older or more aware of the struggles that life can present.

Whatever the reason,  I am so thankful that I reflect this trait of my Father God.

“Be merciful just as your Father also is merciful.” [Luke 6:36 HCSB]

0 comment
FacebookEmail

Half a Year Gone

by TerryLema

Can you believe half of 2023 is now behind us. As I was mulling over the half behind and what is ahead, a few things raced to the front of my mind.

-I really do not care what Whoopi Goldberg thinks about God, life, politics, or anything else. Not sure how she became an expert.

-I am tired of Megan and Harry. Please go away. If you don’t want to be in the limelight, then stop talking.

-I am already exhausted with the next election and shudder to think we have 493 more days of listening to the strident rhetoric from politicians and media on both sides.

Ok. Now that I have brought everyone down, let’s see what I can reflect on instead.

-“Grace and peace to you from the One who is, who was, and who is coming.” [Revelation 1:4 HCSB]

-“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” [Hebrews 13:8 NLT]

-“Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning.” [James 1:17 HCSB]

-“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” [John 3:16 HCSB]

God never changes. Everything He does is perfect. He loves us so much that He sent His son so we could have eternal life with Him.

I guess considering that, I can put up with Whoopi, Megan and Harry, politicians, and the media for a little while longer……. until I see Him face to face.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

Want My Jump Back!

by TerryLema

There are many things that I want to do but cannot do anymore because of aging and health issues. Some are trivial, some are important. But probably the one thing I really want to do again is jump! Oh, I don’t mean that I want to play hopscotch or jump rope with the little girls next door (although that would be fun!). I mean I want to dance and leap in worship again!

I have been watching videos of the new songs I am learning. When I see Charity Gayle jumping for joy as she sings “Echo (In Jesus’ Name),” or I watch Phil Wickham dance when he sings about the joy in the “House of the LORD,” I want to join them. Unfortunately, I lost my jump a decade ago.

I want to dance and leap as David danced and leaped.  “David was dancing with all his might before the Lord wearing a linen ephod….King David leaping and dancing before the Lord.” [2 Samuel 6:14-16 HCSB]

David’s wife was ashamed of him for his exuberance before the LORD. I am sure there are those today who think being exuberant in worship is excessive – BUT I LOVE IT! I want to see our young people so full of the joy of the LORD that they are dancing and leaping as David did before the LORD.

And I am promised that one day when the Redeemed of the LORD return to God, I will have my jump back. Because then “the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy, for water will gush in the wilderness, and streams in the desert….” [Isaiah 35:6 HCSB]

For now, I will have to settle for leaping for joy in my heart!

 

0 comment
FacebookEmail

Annual Visit

by TerryLema

I had my annual Medicare physical recently combined with my regular diabetic check-up. I got my lab work done ahead of time so we could discuss the results. As with all doctor visits, especially as I age and battle a couple auto-immune diseases, there can be good news and not-so-good news. That was the case this time.

I have been a diabetic type 2 since 1998. I have kept my diabetes under control most of that time. My labs show that I am right where I should be (good news) and that my kidneys are normal (that is great news). All in all, I am in pretty good shape for the shape I am in.

Only one bit of not-so-good news, my feet are “buzzing inside,” which means I am developing some peripheral neuropathy. My doctor gave me the option of treating the symptoms with medication, since at present medicine has not found a way to fix the underlying condition. I declined since it is just an annoyance now and I do not want another medication.

Too often in life, we opt to fix the symptoms instead of diving into the underlying cause. That may work with our physical condition, but it certainly does not with our spiritual one.

When it comes to our hearts, we need to get to the heart of the matter and not just opt to treat the symptoms of our spiritual ill health. We need to recognize we need God to create in us a new heart (since we cannot do that ourselves. Thankfully, He has made the way through His Son’s sacrifice on the cross. And He has given us the most precious promise …

 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” [Ezekiel 36:26 HCSB]

0 comment
FacebookEmail

Nothing of Importance Has Changed!

by TerryLema

I went by the old “The Way” property the other day. It has certainly changed in appearance. The paint is a different color, concrete has been poured around it. The old sign (that I hated) is gone. There are concrete planters in front that will soon be filled with shrubbery. It is still a work in progress, but there is the beginning of a new design around the building (and one going on inside that I hope to see soon).

It is becoming Christian Faith Center (CFC) Middleton and will soon bear that name on the outside.

I realize some will love the new design and some will want to return to the old, but as I thought about it, God reminded me of something that we need to keep in mind. The building may be getting a face-lift and becoming something a bit different than what it was, but the message that will flow through it is the same Good News that has always been preached there. That is not changing.

I always determined to preach the Gospel at The Way – the Good News of God’s salvation for all. I was determined to preach truth, from the Scriptures, not my own opinion. (I probably failed at times, but hopefully succeeded far more often). After spending months now listening to the messages at CFC, I see that same determination to be faithful to the true Word of God.

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight.” [Romans 1:16 NLT]

That old building may be changing in appearance, those who meet there may know it by a different name, but, BUT, the Good News that will be proclaimed there is the same Good News about Christ Jesus that has always been proclaimed! Nothing of importance has changed.  Hallelujah.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

The Love Paradox

by TerryLema

I post a quote daily on my personal Facebook page called “JoyBook.” Sometime the quote is comical (“Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t come to yours.” Yogi Berra). Other times the quote is more serious.

Recently I posted one that really made me think. “Here’s the paradox. We can fully embrace God’s love only when we recognize how completely unworthy of it we are.”  [Ann Tatlock]

Paul wrote. “This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’—and I am the worst of them.” [1 Timothy 1:15 HCSB]

I am a lawbreaker. I have failed to keep the first and greatest commandment—to love God with all my heart and soul. I have gone astray. I have rebelled against God’s laws. I have tried to run as far away from God as possible.

I may not have persecuted the church, as Paul did, but I am a lawbreaker nonetheless. My sins are many and have dotted my life with stains that nothing I tried would wash away.

BUT GOD.  But God loved me. And because of His great love shown through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus, my status was changed in 1973 from lawbreaker to child of God. My stains were covered with the precious blood of Jesus. I now strive each day to keep as near to my Father as I can.

I deserve none of God’s love. I am completely unworthy of it. AND YET. Still. He loves. Me. You.

As difficult (and as glorious) as that is to fully embrace, embrace it we must.

0 comment
FacebookEmail