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TerryLema

A Fragrant Offering

by TerryLema

The other day I was making gullettes, a Belgian cookie, from a recipe handed down through my father’s family. The house smelled so good. I was so enjoying the cookie fragrance inside. Then I went outside to get the mail.

We live a few miles (as the crow flies) from a sugar beet factory. When the wind blows from a certain direction, the “aroma” from that factory makes it to our house. I don’t know if you have ever been blessed by a sugar beet factory aroma, but it can be a bit unpleasant. (I rate it up there with the aroma from a pulp mill and a dairy farm.)

Today the wind was blowing just right for the sugar beet factory fragrance to reach our house. Thankfully it was outside!

Yesterday I wrote about Ephesians 5:1-2. “Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.” [HCSB]

As God’s dearly loved children, we are to imitate that love by having a walk marked by self-sacrifice. That sacrifice when offered to God is a fragrant or sweet-smelling offering.

The Greek word used for “fragrant” or “sweet-smelling” carries the idea that God is pleased with that sacrifice. When our sacrificial offering is made to God from a right heart motivation, God is pleased. In other words, our sacrificial lives are a fragrance well-pleasing to God.

God always loves us, nothing will change that. But to know that what we do can please our LORD and Savior – Wow!

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A Sacrificial Life or a Self-Serving Life

by TerryLema

A couple Sunday’s ago we were in Ephesians 5. The opening verses are an explicit challenge.

“Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.” [verses 1-2, HCSB]

Wow, look at the words and concepts used in just those two verses. “Imitators of God,” “Dearly loved children,” “walk in love,” “loved us and gave Himself for us,” “sacrificial,” “fragrant,” “offering,” and finally, “to God.”

The thought that struck my heart as Pastor Laura was speaking that morning was what a “sacrificial and fragrant offering to God” might require.

I think there are two kinds of sacrificial offerings, voluntary and involuntary. In the OT, the sacrificial offerings were animals. They had no choice in the offering. They were hauled into the Temple and their life was taken from them.

In the NT there is one sacrificial offering, that is Christ Jesus, who made the choice to offer Himself. He said, “No one takes [my life] from Me, but I lay it down on My own.” He did that for us.  [John 10:18 HCSB]

Now as imitators of God, as His dearly loved children, we have a choice to make. Do we live a sacrificial life, or a self-serving life? Are we trying to “grab all the gusto” we want and live a life that pleases only us? Or are we finding ways to sacrifice our own desires in order to lift others up?

I truly believe that if we invest our lives in others, not counting the personal cost, when we get to the end of these earthly lives, we will be far happier and more fulfilled having chosen sacrifice rather than gusto.

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Straight to the End!

by TerryLema

We have spent quite a few days in the Psalms, learning about Who God is and what we are in relation to Him. That has given us many and diverse things for which to thank and praise Him. And in doing this, we are barely one-third of the way through the Book of Psalms. There is so much richness and depth, we could spend the rest of our lives and still not capture all they tell us.

So, I figured this morning, Thanksgiving Day 2022, we should just zoom straight to the end, to the last Psalm in the Book. And while this song not only expresses why we should praise and thank God, it also outlines where and how and who should.

“Hallelujah!
Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in His mighty heavens.
Praise Him for His powerful acts; praise Him for His abundant greatness.

Praise Him with trumpet blast; praise Him with harp and lyre.
Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with flute and strings.
Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals.

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.
Hallelujah!”

We are to praise God for His “powerful acts” and “abundant greatness.”

We are to praise God in “His sanctuary” and in “His mighty heavens.”

We are to praise God with “trumpet blast…harp and lyre…tambourine and dance…flute and strings…resounding cymbals…and clashing cymbals.”

And who is to praise God?  “Everything that breathes!”

So, if you’re breathing today …. You should be praising and thanking this wonderful God we serve.

Amen

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His Purpose For Me

by TerryLema

I remember when I was first saved. The very first Scripture verse I memorized was Philippians 1:6: “I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” [HCSB]

I memorized that verse but was not in the least sure that God could actually do what was promised. Still, I clung to it, hoping that He could take a very broken life and turn it into something for His glory.

I wonder as I read that verse now if Paul remembered what David wrote in Psalm 57. “I call to God Most High,
to God who fulfills His purpose for me.” [HCSB]

David wrote that when he was fleeing from King Saul. Maybe he too wondered if God could actually do what was promised.

Well, God did complete His promise to David, and David became King of Israel. And I can see that God is fulfilling His promise to me also. He started a work in me, and I can see that over the past five decades He has been carrying it on. I have the promise that one day that work will be completed.

One day I will stand in the presence of my LORD and God will smile at me. I think He might say something like, “I told you I would do it, and I did. Welcome home, child.”

Thank you, LORD. Today I focus not on the on-going struggle, but on the promise that You will one day bring this work in me to completion. Thank you for Your purpose for my life. Amen

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His Love For Me

by TerryLema

One of my favorite albums is “Love Ran Red” by Chris Tomlin. There is a song in that album that never ceases to move my heart, never ceases to make me cry.  It is “Jesus Loves me.” [link below]

Two lines in that song take my breath away.

“Jesus, He loves me, He loves me, He is for me
Jesus, how can it be, He loves me, He is for me.”

I think David would have liked this song because he expressed the same thought in one of his.

Psalm 56:9b: “This I know, God is for me.”

Psalm 56 is a “Cry for Protection.” It is attributed to a time in David’s life when the Philistines seized him at Gath.

God is for me. For me. ME! How can that be? I know what I am. I know what I’ve done. I know all the things wrong that I have allowed in my life. And still, God is for me.

When I think of that fact – that God is for me – I sink down deep into the unfathomable truth that Jesus loves me, and I find rest for my soul and peace for my heart. I think I’ll listen to that that song again this morning.

Thank you, Lord. Today I focus on the fact that You love me, and You are for me. I will praise you for that profound truth. Amen

(38) Chris Tomlin - Jesus Loves Me - YouTube
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Abundant Compassion

by TerryLema

David sinned. He sinned big. He committed adultery with another man’s wife, then arranged for that man to be killed in battle. When confronted with his sin, he repented. He recorded that repentance in Psalm 51.

Now lest we think badly of David because he sinned, each of us must acknowledge that we too have sinned. Maybe it wasn’t as dreadful a sin as David’s, but sin is sin. And as David wrote, it was against God and God alone that “I have sinned and done this evil in [His] sight.” [Psalm 51:4]

David had no recourse for forgiveness under the law for the law did not provide for “willful” sin. His only hope was to go directly to God.  “Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.” [Psalm 51:1 HCSB]

David had one hope and He placed it in the abundant compassion and graciousness of God.

Exodus 34:6: “The LORD passed in front of [Moses] and proclaimed: Yahweh—Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God.”

Deuteronomy 4:31: “…the LORD your God is a compassionate God.”

Joel 2:13: “…return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate.”

Jonah 4:2: “…I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God.”

James 5:11: “The LORD is very compassionate and merciful.”

We have one hope when we sin. We place our hope in the abundant compassion and graciousness of God that sent His One and Only Son to open the way to forgiveness.

Thank you, Lord. Today I focus on Your abundant compassion and grace. I praise You for blotting out my rebellion through the forgiveness found in My Savior and LORD. Amen

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The Worst Form of Government

by TerryLema

“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”

That quote is often attributed to Winston Churchill. There are various thoughts on why he said that, and even what he meant when he said that.

While the USA is often called a democracy, technically we are not. We are a democratic republic, which is a bit different. We elect representatives to do the will of the people. Sometimes they do what we want and sometimes they don’t.

We just had a mid-term election. Lately, watching these elections is almost like going to the circus. There are things going on in any number of rings, high flying acts, elephants and donkeys performing tricks, and of course, bring in the clowns.

Still, democracy is considered the best form of government over the others. But is it?  I think I am more inclined to a different kind. One described in Psalm 47.

“Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our King, sing praise! Sing a song of wisdom, for God is King of all the earth.  God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.” [Psalm 47:6-9 HCSB]

Our God is King of all the earth. He reigns over every nation, over every form of government. He is seated on His Holy Throne, and no one can unseat Him. He cannot be voted out. He cannot be overthrown. The will of the people will not overrule Him. He is King. HE IS KING OF KINGS!

Thank you, LORD. Today I will focus on my God the King, seated on His holy throne. I will praise you because You reign forevermore! Amen

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Light & Truth

by TerryLema

Ever been depressed? I have. In fact, I think many of my younger years were marked by depression. Depression can be extremely debilitating. It affects how you feel, think, and behave. It can be a major mood disorder, marked by persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest. When people suffer with clinical depression, they often need medication and/or therapy to move beyond it.

Some of the new medications for various illnesses also carry the potential side effect of depression. Most of us at some point have probably suffered from mild depression (the blues) or even to something more intense.

The enemy of our soul loves to see us depressed. He seeks to remind us constantly how dreadful we are, what terrible Christians we are. He will dredge up our mistakes and sins and try to move our focus from our Savior. If he can convince us with his lies, depression is often a result.  That it is why it is so important to make sure that we are following our LORD and not the inclinations of the enemy.

When you read Psalm 43 you will notice that the psalmist admits his depression. Because of that acknowledgement, he asks God to “Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling place. Then I will come to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy. I will praise You with the lyre, God, my God.”   [Psalm 43:3-4 HCSB]

That reminds me of the fact that Jesus said He was both light and truth. As believers, we need to focus on the Light of Christ and the Truth of His Holy word. We need to let Him lead us out of the darkness the enemy of our soul wants to keep us in. When we keep our focus on Christ Jesus, and remain in the Presence of God Almighty, we will have joy! The darkness has to flee when light is present.

Thank you, LORD. Today I focus on you as Light and Truth. I thank you for leading me into the very Presence of God and filling me with joy. I will praise you God, my God! Amen

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Holler Down Instructions!

by TerryLema

I took a couple psychology classes in college. One particular one has always remained with me, that was when we studied sympathy and empathy.

Sympathy: an affinity, association, or relationship between persons or things wherein whatever affects one similarly affects the other.

Empathy: the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner.

Well, that’s clear as mud. And I am not sure how helpful either are when I am in deep trouble. That is why I love Psalm 40, especially verses 2 and 3.

“He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” [HCSB]

Our LORD reaches down and brings us up, sets our feet on a rock, makes our steps secure and even puts a song in our heart. He doesn’t just lean over the pit we are in and holler down instructions on how to get out!

I laugh as I think about how often I have dug myself a pit that I can’t get out of. I can see my Father in heaven looking down and saying something like, “Child, are you in that pit again? Didn’t I just get you out of it last week? All right, give me your hand – up you come!”

Thank you, LORD. Today I focus on Your amazing love that lifts me out of those pits I often find myself in. I praise You for pulling me up, setting my feet on My Rock, and making my steps secure. I lift my song of thanksgiving and praise to You! Amen

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by TerryLema

Oh to be wise! I look around at our society today and I often wonder where “wisdom” went. I see advertisements for some reality shows that just leave me speechless, often asking aloud, “can people really be that dumb?”  Apparently, they can.

The Bible is a wonderful guide to wisdom. The entire book of Proverbs is devoted to wisdom, and so is David’s Psalm 37, titled in my Bible, “Instruction in Wisdom.” One of the best-known verses is verse 4. “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.” [HCSB]

As I often remind people, that verse does not mean God gives us everything we want. You may want that Lamborghini; you may even think you need that Lamborghini, but this verse does not guarantee that you will get that Lamborghini.

What it does mean is that when God gives you that new heart in place of your old heart of stone, it comes complete with the desires He wants you to have. Now your desires are His desires.

There are two other wisdom instructions in Psalm 37 that thrill my heart. Verse 18 promises, “The Lord watches over the blameless all their days, and their inheritance will last forever.” [HCSB]

God is watching over me. I used to be afraid when people told me God was watching me, but that was before I knew God for Who He is. To know now that God watches “over” me brings a reassurance and security that cannot be found anywhere else. And He is also watching “over” my inheritance – nothing can touch what I have placed in His care.

Finally, verses 23 and 24 promise that “A man’s steps are established by the Lord, and He takes pleasure in his way. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the Lord holds his hand.” [HCSB]

As I have aged, falling is a very real hazard. I have to be so careful of every step. And when I do fall, it is almost impossible to get up without help. Spiritually, however, I am extremely secure! God has established my steps, He leads me on level ground. And if I should deviate from His path, and fall, the instant I turn to Him, He lifts me up.

Thank you, LORD. Today I focus on the delights you give my heart. I praise you for watching over me, for keeping my inheritance, for establishing my steps and holding my hand! Amen

 

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