Author

TerryLema

Joy & Gladness!

by TerryLema

I realized that I may have been a bit negative in a few devotions lately, and I do not want to dwell in negativity. Yes, our nation (society) is shaky at times. Yes, politics have become divisive. Yes, we do have personal times of trials and adversity.

But … BUT! We are not to dwell in the negative. We are to live in joy and serve with gladness.

“The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coasts and islands be glad …. Light dawns for the righteous,
gladness for the upright in heart. Be glad in Yahweh, you righteous ones, and praise His holy name.” [Psalm 97:1, 11-12 HCSB]

“Shout triumphantly to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.” [Psalm 100:1 HCSB]

While the Scriptures speak of adversity and tribulation, they also speak of rejoicing, and light, and gladness, and joy. They remind us that “The LORD reigns!” 

They remind us that, “Yahweh is good, and His love is eternal; His faithfulness endures through all generations.” [Psalm 100:5 HCSB]

As believers, we serve a good God whose love is eternal and whose faithfulness endures. What joy that should bring to our hearts! We, as the redeemed of the LORD (YAHWEH), alone can rejoice no matter what is going on around us (or even in us!).

The problems, the issues, the distresses of this life are limited. They will not (cannot) follow us into the presence of our Faithful, Good, Gracious, Loving, LORD! Hallelujah! Amen!

So, Today: I rejoice because You, LORD, reign! I will spend my day in rejoicing in You and serving You with gladness.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

Violence

by TerryLema

I am appalled at what I am seeing and reading in my daily news. Violence in our nation is rapidly becoming a way of life. If we do not like another person’s stance on a particular issue, we now regard that person as an enemy, one that needs to be silenced. And violence is becoming an acceptable means to that silencing.

We see violence in our streets, on our roads, in our homes. We see it on our campuses, in our workplaces, in our cities and in our government. You cannot post something on social media that another finds offensive without getting a backlash of nastiness.

We are supposed to be a “civilized society.” I thought that meant solving our problems apart from violence. Apparently, not. But then while I am appalled, I am not surprised. Violence has been around since God created mankind. Genesis, Chapter 6, tells the story of Noah and the violence that was on the earth during his day.

“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart …. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” [6:5-6, 11 NKJV]

The violence we are experiencing is not something new. It is not something outside of us. It is not even because of the issues we face … it is because “the thoughts of [our hearts are] only evil continually.”

Until our hearts are changed, nothing changes. We are as “uncivilized” as they were in the days of Noah when God saw the great wickedness of mankind and was “sorry that He had made man[kind] on the earth.”

God sent Jesus to open to us the way to change our hearts. But we must allow Him to do so.

Thank you, LORD, for the way provided in Christ Jesus our Savior and LORD. I pray for revival in our nation.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

Kiss the Wave!

by TerryLema

I came across the following quote the other day.  “I have learned to kiss the wave that slams me into the Rock of Ages.” (Charles Spurgeon, 1834-1892)

As a pastor and hospice chaplain (before I retired), I have cared for many people who have had to walk through things that they never wanted to walk through. You cannot be vaccinated against adversity.

Some of us have long periods in life where we have little to no adversity. Others seem to have a life of constant adversity. But I doubt anyone has a life without some adversity in it. When it comes, adversity often hits like an ocean wave, knocking us down and carrying us along with it.

That is when Spurgeon acknowledges that we need to allow those waves to “slam” us into the Rock of Ages, which is exactly where we need to be.

“Rock of Ages” is a phrase that is not found in the Scriptures, but there are a number of Scriptures which speak of God our Rock. Two notable ones I want to mention.

Isaiah 26:4: “Trust in the Lord forever, because in Yah, the Lord, is an everlasting rock!” [HCSB]

The LORD said to Moses when he asked to see God’s face, “Here is a place near Me. You are to stand on the rock, and when My glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice [cleft] of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.” [Exodus 33:21-22 HCSB]

When the waves of life slam us into the Rock of Ages, we can trust Him … He is our Everlasting Rock, and He will cover us until the storm passes by.

Today: Thank you, LORD, that you are my Eternal Rock!

0 comment
FacebookEmail

Another List!

by TerryLema

The same day that I found the list in Matthew 5 that I wrote about yesterday, I found another one in Psalm 1. This one is not quite as nice. It also begins with the word, “Blessed.”

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful.” [vs 1 NKJV]

The Holman Christian Standard Bible translates it this way. “How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path of sinners, or join a group of mockers!”

Notice the downward progression?

It begins with heeding the counsel or advice of those who do not belong to the LORD God Almighty. Every day we are bombarded with that kind of advice. It comes in the workplace, in educational institutions, it tempts us through various media, it woos us by lies and falsehoods. It promises, but never delivers.

Once heeded, it takes us down the path of sin. That path is wide and full of darkness and leads us away from our God.

When it comes to completion, we end up in fellowship with the scornful and mockers of all that is holy and good.

James outlines the same progression in his letter.  “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” [James 1:14-15 HCSB]

Today: Thank you, LORD, that you interrupted my downward progression and have set me on the path of righteousness through Christ my Savior and LORD.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

by TerryLema

I make lists, grocery lists, to do lists, things I want to think about lists, thoughts for devotions lists, all kinds of lists. I could say I do it because I am extremely organized, but lately I do it more so because I am old. (Remember that sign of being old from the October 29 devotion that said, “you forget at least one thing every day.”) Yep, that’s me.  So, I make lists.

I was reading in Matthew 5 recently and found a list. That lists begins the Sermon on the Mount. Verses 3 through 11 list a number of conditions wherein we are blessed. I like the way the Holman Christian Standard Bible translates them.

It begins “the poor in spirit are blessed …” and then goes on. “Those who mourn are blessed … the gentle are blessed … those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed … the merciful are blessed … the pure in heart are blessed … peacemakers are blessed … the persecuted for righteousness are blessed ….”

It ends with blessings for the insulted, persecuted and falsely accused.

That is quite a list. It is not a list to which most aspire. I wondered as I read that list what response we’d get if we applied it to the 100 most successful people in the USA, or to politicians, or to the rich, or to celebrities. (The list could go on.)

Yet, note the blessings for people who do aspire to those qualities. The kingdom of heaven is theirs, they are comforted, they have an inheritance, they are filled with the righteousness of God, they are shown mercy, they will see God, they will be called sons of God, the kingdom of heaven is theirs, and they will have a great reward in heaven.

When you think of that list in the terms of the blessings, maybe it is a list that we should embrace and aspire to throughout our lives.

Thank you, LORD, for the blessings that are ours both in this life and in our eternal life in Your presence.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

Thanksgiving! Revised?

by TerryLema

Thanksgiving month has arrived. So grateful! I have so much in my life that is difficult, but I also have so much in my life for which to be thankful. And, of course, when I start to count my blessings, I find they far outweigh the trials.

This year inflation is hitting hard. I read that turkeys will cost 75 percent more this year than last. Gas prices are still way too high compared to last year, so traveling will cost more. I heard cranberries are in short supply. That doesn’t bother some people – and I already grabbed some I found in the store. They are waiting in the freezer for the day!

We might have to revisit the way we celebrate Thanksgiving this year, with what we cook, who we gather with, and what we do. It can still be, however, a day we offer thanks for all we have in this country, for all we have as the people of God.

God loves us. He has pledged His fidelity to us. We are His children. If we have nothing else for which to give thanks, we can thank Him for loving us and calling us to His side. Even when we walk through dark valleys, He is with us. (Psalm 23:4)

Thanksgiving is more than a holiday; it is more than a holiday-month. In Ephesians 5, there is a section in my Bible titled consistency in the Christian life. Part of that section reminds us that we are to “be filled by the Spirit: speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music from your heart to the LORD, giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ.” [vs 18a-20 HCSB]

That sounds like every day to me!

Today: Thank you LORD for filling me with Your Spirit. May I sing and praise You with all my heart!

0 comment
FacebookEmail

Halloween

by TerryLema

It is Halloween. The last day of October. Tomorrow, we enter the month of Thanksgiving and soon it will be the Christmas month. The days are flying by, but I can’t say I am sad to see Halloween go. Just not a fan. My walk is so much more pleasant when the neighbors replace their dark decorations with the lights of Christmas (although in my neighborhood that may take several weeks or an entire month to accomplish).

The weather has finally turned to fall. We had a horribly hot summer, breaking all kinds of heat records even in the month of September. The warm temperatures lasted into October. Even the trees held on to their green leaves weeks longer than normal. But finally, the fall has arrived and with it the brilliant colors as the leaves turn from green to reds, oranges, and yellows.

I love fall. I love sweatshirts and sweaters. I love walking in the afternoon, rather than trying to get out early in the morning before the heat descends. I love the early nightfall, rather than the sun finally setting at 11 PM. I look forward to the change back to normal time, with more light in the mornings.

But that is me. So many others are bemoaning the coming winter months and lack of sunshine and warmth. They love the spring and summer and hate to see it depart in the fall.

Isn’t God gracious? We each have a season to savor.  And while it may depart and give way to one that we are not fond of, we know it will be back.  My beloved fall will give way to winter (my second favorite season). Then winter will yield to spring, and summer will come again. For now, I will enjoy my favorite time of year, my favorite season.

Today: Thank you LORD, that each of us are given a “favorite time of year,” to enjoy the beauty and wonder of Your creation, and to praise our Creator.

 

0 comment
FacebookEmail

I Will Praise!

by TerryLema

Last Sunday in church the worship team was singing “I’ll Raise a Hallelujah.” I love the chorus. “I’m going to sing in the middle of the storm, louder and louder you’re going to hear my praises roar. Up from the ashes, hope will arise, death is defeated, the King is alive!”

As we were singing, I heard the King say: “The world wants to keep you silent. Circumstance and difficulties seek to drown out your praise. It is only by an act of your will that you will praise God.”

I listened in the congregation and heard a few praises, but I don’t think I heard any that roared! I am not sure mine did either! When I looked in my Bible this morning, I found almost 50 instances in Psalms alone that say, “I will praise ….”

Praise is an act of the will.  I WILL praise. I WILL praise the LORD in the congregation. I Will praise the LORD in the silence. I Will praise the LORD forever. I WILL praise the LORD among the nations.

It does not matter if we like music, or whether we like the music we have. It does not matter if we are alone or if we are in the great congregation. It does not matter if we “feel exalted,” or if we “feel pressed down.” As believers we are to put forth our will to praise our Lord and Savior.

David tells us why. “You turned my lament (I was lost) into dancing (I am saved!); You removed my sackcloth (my sin, shame, and guilt are gone) and clothed me with gladness (the righteousness of Christ), so that I can sing to You and not be silent. Lord my God, I Will praise You forever.” [Psalm 30:11-12 HCSB, paraphrased]

Today: Lord, I will praise You with all my might for all You have done for me!

0 comment
FacebookEmail

Really, I Need a Sign?

by TerryLema

I opened my newsfeed the other morning after I had posted my devotions. The caption on one of the articles caught my attention. It read: “Undeniably True Signs You Are Getting Old.”

I just had to open that article. It turned out to be a slideshow with amusing thoughts, such as “you’re given the senior discount on sight,” “you take much longer to get up,” “you actually know what probiotics are,” “you forget at least one thing every day,” and other funny signs.

My first thought was that I no longer need a “sign” to tell me I am getting old. (Life itself is a sign.) My second thought was about what one of the other slides said, “you become more spiritual.”

When I was younger, a group of ladies from the church went to a convalescent hospital every Friday morning. My mom played the piano, and I played the organ. We had a sing-along of songs from when the residents were young, and then transitioned to Christian hymns and a small message about how much God loved them.

We would also ask them if they wanted prayer. Most of the time, almost all of the time, those who wanted prayer were already Christians. They were at the end of a life that had revolved around the LORD.

The hospital administrator (a Christian) told us that seldom did she see anyone turning to Christ at this stage of life. They came to our meetings on Friday because they liked the old songs from their youth, not because of the Christian message.

It reminded me of how important it is to introduce our children to Jesus at a very early age.  Proverbs 22:6 is so true, “Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” [HCSB]

Today: I am thankful for churches who make children’s and youth ministries a priority. Thank you for every teacher and helper who gives of themselves to bring little ones to Jesus.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

Dire Threats!

by TerryLema

The mid-term elections are around the corner. If you have not noticed, both sides of the aisles are issuing dire predictions about what will happen if the other side wins. Both sides claim they are focused on differing issues, claiming their issues are the most important and that is why we need to vote for them.

From what I have observed, I think the only issue is power. I read a statement that once elected to a position of power, the only goal going forward is to get re-elected.

Earthly leaders want power, dominance, authority to put forth their own agendas and ideas. Yet in contrast to our Blessed LORD, even the most powerful have no real power.

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn [preeminent] over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” [Colossians 1:15-18 HCSB]

And this Blessed LORD we serve was willing to not demand His own agenda but do the will of the Father and die for us.

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation….” [Colossians 1:19-22 HCSB]

Today: Thank you LORD that I live in a country which gives me the right to cast my vote, but never let me forget who has the real power and authority! Let me honor You in all I do.

0 comment
FacebookEmail