Author

TerryLema

by TerryLema

Walking has been a part of my life since 1998 when I was first diagnosed with Diabetes2. I was overweight and did not move around a lot. My first A1C came back above 14. For reference, the normal range is 4-6.

My doctor wanted to put me on medication immediately, I asked her for a little time to see if I could do something apart from being medicated. I researched Diabetes, I went on a strict diet, and I started to walk. My next A1C was 8.6. She allowed me to continue that plan and before too long I was in a normal range.

When I first began walking, I could do about a block or two. But I worked on it almost every day until I could do three miles without any problems. I lost about 110 pounds and kept my diabetes under control until I was diagnosed with two auto-immune diseases. Then I was back to barely being able to walk more than a couple blocks. It was disheartening.

Now with the auto-immune diseases somewhat under control, but with lingering fatigue, I work to walk between ¾ and 1 mile. And it is work. It does not come easily. I have to choose to do it, even on the days I do not want to leave my recliner.

Choose. Yesterday I wrote that one of the 3 C’s of walking worthy of our calling it to choose. Pastor Laura highlighted that in her Sunday message. “I, therefore, the prisoner of the LORD, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.” [NKJV]

We get to choose the quality of our spiritual walk. That is a glorious choice. We get to choose to be fully pleasing to the One who died to save us. We get to choose to be fruitful.

God will provide everything we need for a worthy walk, just as He provided everything for our salvation. But we alone can choose to get up from our spiritual recliner and head out with Him on a gloriously worthy walk.

Tomorrow: I am so thankful, LORD, that I can still walk in the natural each day, and that you give me all I need to walk my spiritual walk with you.

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3 C’s

by TerryLema

The word is peripateó and the simple definition means “to walk.” Hidden within that word, however, is a deeper meaning. It is how “I conduct my life.”

One of the joys of going to church and listening to a minister bring the Word is that you come across words that alight your spirit to deep truths. That happened recently as I listened to Pastor Laura on a Sunday morning. She was using as her text, Ephesians 4, and while I listened to all of what she said, it was that little word “walk” (peripateó) that got me that morning.

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the LORD, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.” [NKJV]

When I went out to check on that word, I found two other verses where Paul used the word peripateó that also key in on that truth.

“…that you may walk worthy of the LORD, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” [Colossians 1:10 NKJV]

“…that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” [1Thessalonians 2:12 NKJV]

Pastor Laura noted a number of things about walking worthy, but three stood out to me. The three dynamics of a worthy walk are: 1) We must choose to walk worthy, 2) We must continue to walk worthy, and 3) We must be consistent in how we walk.

Today: I am thankful that we are given opportunity to walk worthy of the calling with which we were called.

More tomorrow.

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Abundant

by TerryLema

I was catching up with a long-time friend recently who has endured a lot in the past few years. One difficulty after another with little time in between to catch his breath.

Compounding trials are some of the most difficult times in life to endure. It is hard to get the victory when you become more and more worn down.

As I prayed for my friend, two words came to mind – compassion and abundance.  I found those two words in a psalm of David. But before we get to the verse with those two words, listen to how the psalm begins: “Bow down Your ear, O LORD, hear me; for I am poor and needy.” [86:1 NKJV]

Interesting that David asks God to bow down His ear to him. It is as if David cannot lift his own head up to the LORD but must ask God to bow down to his level. I know I have felt that way a few times in my life. Trials and difficulties had beaten me into the ground and unless God came to my level, I would have been bereft of any comfort.

But God did bow His ear to David’s need and He did bow His ear to my needs also. David acknowledges that in verse 15.

“But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering, and abundant in mercy and truth.” [Psalm 86:15 NKJV]

God is full of compassion. God is abundant in mercy. No matter how many trials or difficulties assault us, they will never exhaust God’s compassion or abundant mercy.

Today: Thank you LORD that you are willing to come down to us when we are beaten down by life, and that the deep wells of your compassion and mercy never run dry.

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MVPs

by TerryLema

For those of you who may not follow sports, 2022 has been a VERY unusual year.

*On February 13, the LA Rams won the Super Bowl, the MVP was Cooper Kupp. (Also NFL offensive player of the year and Triple Crown Winner.)

*In April, the Golden State Warrior won the MBA playoffs, Stephen (Steph) Curry was the MVP.

*In September, Scottie Scheffler, who won the Master’s along with other tournaments, was named the 2022 PGA Golfer of the Year.

*On October 4, Aaron Judge, a New York Yankee, hit his 62nd home run this season, breaking the AL record of 61 set in 1961, 61 years ago.

I am writing this because the MVP’s of these four major sports are all openly Christian men who have acknowledged their dedication to Christ Jesus.

Cooper Kupp: “God is good. On the mountains and in the valleys, He has been with us every step of the way,” he said of his wife, Anna Marie, and their children.

Steph Curry: “My faith gives me purpose in life. It gives me purpose in playing basketball. I know not to get too high off of wins and not too low off of losses because there are much bigger things going on than winning and losing.”

Scottie Scheffler: “People a lot of times think, well, if you become a Christian, God’s just gonna make everything easy for you, and that’s not the case. But having the God of the universe, the Creator, on your side just makes things a lot easier to deal with. And the principles of the Bible are something that, when you use them, you can see it manifest in your life.”

Aaron Judge: The first words that are in his twitter account are: Christian, Faith, Family and then Baseball. In his own words he thanks God for choosing his adoptive parents. The background image at the top of his Twitter account reads: 2 Corinthians 5: 7 «Because we walk by faith, not by sight». 

God gave these four young men a platform on which to highlight their faith through their athletic abilities. With all the bad examples in sports, the MVP’s this year are all strong Christian men who excel in their sports, live a life dedicated to Christ Jesus, and serve as faith-filled examples.

Proverbs 18:16: “A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.” [HCSB]

Today: Thank you LORD for Your hand upon future generations.

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I Know the King!

by TerryLema

I have a playlist from YouTube that rotates as I go for my worship walks. One of my favorite songs of all times came up this morning (No More Night). As it does every time I hear it, it brought tears to my eyes.  The chorus has always been so dear to my heart.

“No more night, no more pain, no more tears, never crying again. Praises to the Great I AM, we will live in the light of the risen Lamb.”

This morning, however, it was a line in one of the verses that gave my heart pause.

“Slowly the names from the book are read I know the king, so there’s no need, no need to dread.”

There was a time when I had a great deal of dread about meeting God one day. The denomination I was raised in did not offer much comfort. It oft reminded me of my sin, shame, guilt and left me fearful of meeting God. I seldom heard about God’s love.

Then I met a pastor who taught me about the love of God, about His forgiveness, about His abundant grace, about His mercy and compassion. Suddenly knowing the King of Kings, Christ Jesus my LORD and Savior took away my dread and fear.

That line in the song reminded me that I no longer live in dread of meeting God. I now live in the light of the Risen Lamb.

“Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless and with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.” [Jude 24-25 HCSB]

Today: Thank you LORD for taking away my fear and giving me great joy in knowing you, now and forever.

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What We Will Be

by TerryLema

I have a great curiosity at times. I wonder about a lot of things.  Like, what will heaven be like? Will we be busy? Will we remember what it was like here on earth, only without the tears. Will we have opportunities to create, as well as praise?  How will we recognize each other?

I think the Apostle John had a bit of curiosity also.  He reminded us in his first letter: “Look at how great a love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children.” [1John 3:1 HCSB]

That is what we are now. John knows that, but then his curiosity gets the better of him and he begins to wonder what we will be like then.

“We are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is.” [1John 3:2 HCSB]

John acknowledges that we do not have the full picture of what eternal life holds. We do not know everything; we only have glimpses. But John says we can know one thing … when Jesus appears, we will be like Him.

Romans 8:29 promises: “For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son ….” [HCSB]

As believers, we are to begin that conformation here in this life. As we grow and mature, we are to reflect Jesus more and more through every part of our life. As believers, John promises, that conformation process will have a glorious conclusion – when we see Him as He is we will be like Him.

Today: Thank you, Father, for that glorious conclusion!

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Loved

by TerryLema

A friend posted a meme on Facebook the other day. It said, “If you understood how much God loves you, you would break down and cry.”

I replied, “I do. And we only grasp a little bit.”

I think the Apostle John could have posted that meme, as well as posted that reply. His entire first letter is all about loving God, loving each other, and being loved by God Himself.

By coincidence, the day before I read that meme on Facebook, I was reading through John’s first letter, I drew up short at the beginning of Chapter 3.  “Look at how great a love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children.” [1John 3:1 HCSB]

I could barely get by that first word, “Look.” The KJV translates it as “Behold,” and it means “I see, look upon, experience, perceive, discern.”

Wow! We are to look upon, as well as also experience the great love the Father has given us. The great love the Father has given us is not just to be something we know as truth in our minds. It is to be experienced throughout every part of our lives.

That great love is to govern everything … the great times, the difficult times, the times of success, the times of failures, the time of joy and the times of sorrow. It gets down in the trenches with us. It travels with us through grief and regret. It lifts us up when the world seeks to press us down. It causes us to thrive in times of tribulation.

Look, Experience, that great love the Father has given us.

Today: Thank you Father for calling me Your child.

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Sealed

by TerryLema

While on my walk this morning a song that I had not heard in a long time came up on my phone.  It was, “I Will Sing of My Redeemer,” by P. P. Bliss (1876), published in 295 hymnals.  I love the chorus!

“Sing, Oh sing of my Redeemer, With His blood, He purchased me, On the cross, He sealed my pardon, Paid the debt, And made me free.”

There is one word in that chorus – yes, I admit I love one words and two-word phrases!  That one word is “sealed.”

“Sealed” is “sphragizó” and means to set a seal upon, to attest ownership and the full security carried by the backing of the owner. It is a legal signature which guaranteed the promise of what was sealed. So what was sealed for us?  Well …

Ephesians 1:13-14: “When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory” [HCSB]

Ephesians 4:30: “You were sealed by Him for the day of redemption.” [HCSB]

2 Corinthians 1:22: “He has also sealed us and given us the Spirit as a down payment in our hearts.” [HCSB]

Our redemption is sealed. We have been given the Holy Spirit which guarantees the promise of God and carries the full, authoritative, backing of our owner.  We have the full security of our redemption, nothing can change it, nothing can diminish it, no other requirement will be added to it.

Today: Thank you Lord, for sealing my pardon, paying my debt, and setting me free.

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Chosen

by TerryLema

Chosen is a word that has always made me wonder. The first time it made me wonder is probably the first time I read 1Peter 2:9. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” [HCSB]

I am a product of a dysfunctional family. I was raised in a traditional religion which often reminded me of my own lack of worth. Then Peter tells me that I am now part of a “chosen race,” and everything changed. Not only that, I am also part of a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people of God.

That verse has always made my soul sing, still, it has always been that word “chosen” that intrigues me.  I looked it up and the word is “eklektos.” It means select, chosen out, by implication favorite. It can mean “chosen out by God for the rendering of special service to God.”

Then I noticed that “chosen” must be a favorite word of Peter because he uses it three more times in his letter.  He uses it in Chapter 1:1, and in Chapter 2:4 and 2:6. Maybe the thought of being “chosen” by God intrigued Peter as much as it does me.

I must admit I do not understand the working of God’s mind in the how of His choosing. I do not comprehend the great theological truths behind the word or how my being part of God’s chosen is even possible.

I do know that the word fascinates and captivates my heart, and I am forever thankful for being included in that one word “chosen.”

Today: Thank you Father for including me as part of Your family.

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Freely Given

by TerryLema

In the past few years there have been enormous lottery payouts.  A few have been over $1.5 billion. Much of the world was captivated by the idea of spending $1 on a ticket and walking away with over $1.5 billion. Of course, if you decide to take the money all at once (and most do) that payout is reduced by nearly half. Then the government gets its share. Still, that is a lot of money.

A lot of money and very few who end up with it. Most walk away with a worthless piece of paper and a hope that next week’s drawing will be different – they’ll be winners.

It would be nice to get billions for a buck, but it will never happen to me. I think you actually have to play a lottery to win one, and since I don’t, I guess I’ll always be a loser.

I am okay with that because I am a winner in a much bigger event than the drawing for $1.5 billion. One of my daily verses reminded me of that this morning.

“Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” [1 Peter 1:3 HCSB]

I have been freely “given a new birth.” Praise God.  That “new birth” is a “living hope.” Living hope, not wishful thinking.

That “new birth” into a “living hope” is backed by the power that resurrected Christ Jesus from the dead.

Today: I am so thankful for that powerful living hope that infiltrated my old life and brought me to a new birth.

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