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Devotions

Comfort

by TerryLema

As I wrote yesterday about the discouragement of having symptoms return from the two auto-immune diseases I battle, I thought more about the Scripture from 1Thessalonians 5:14. The entire verse reads:

“And we exhort you, brothers: warn those who are irresponsible, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” [HCSB]

Comfort the discouraged. Some translations use “encourage” instead of comfort.

For Comfort/Encourage the word is paramutheomai. It comes from two words that mean “Close beside” and “soothing speaking.”  It is comforting that shows sympathy (encouragement), cheering someone up by soothing speech with a personal touch.

It does not mean pumping someone up by false cheerleading! And yet, how often is that the way we interpret encourage. We say, “it’s gonna get better,” or “This too shall pass,” or we throw Scriptures at a person. We may get them revved up for a while, but I guarantee that discouragement will find its way back.

I associate the word “comfort” with a hug (that close beside part of the word), and with a quietness that springs from a gentle and peaceful spirit (that soothing speaking part of the word).

When I am disheartened or discouraged, I just want someone to put their arms around me, pray for me, tell me they love me. I know they usually cannot change my situation, but to know that someone is there for me when I need to reach out brings a deep peace of spirit.

Today: I am thankful for the hugs of fellow believers and their soft words of love.

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The Discouraged

by TerryLema

Recently I suffered a bit of a setback in my battle with these two auto-immune diseases. I have been trying to reduce one of my medications (the one that has the most long-term side effects). I thought I was having some success, less medication, no sign of the PMR or GCA. Then one morning, the symptoms returned in the form of a lot of pain.

I always have fatigue (which can be caused by the diseases, the medications, or the long-term effects of the virus I had a while back). I try to ignore the fatigue. When the pain returned, however, I knew my plan to get off the meds was not working. It was certainly discouraging. But then discouragement is often part of life. And it is certainly a tactic of the enemy of our soul.

When the Jews returned from captivity in Babylon after 70 years, Ezra energized the people to begin to rebuild the temple. The inhabitants of the land did everything they could to discourage them. “Then the people who were already in the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build.” [Ezra 4:4 HCSB]

Later when Nehemiah came to Jerusalem and set to rebuild the wall to protect the city, he experienced the same thing.  “For they were all trying to intimidate us, saying, ‘They will become discouraged in the work, and it will never be finished.’” [Nehemiah 6:9 HCSB]

If the enemy can keep us in a state of discouragement, he knows the work will not get done. It is difficult to walk worthy of the calling of the LORD in good times, it is next to impossible to do it when we are beat down with discouragement.

But there is help.  Paul reminded the Thessalonian church to “comfort the discouraged” in 1Thessalonians 5:14.

God has provided a comfort and as believers we are to bring that comfort to those who are beaten down by the setbacks of life.

Today: Thank you LORD for Your comfort, and for Your children who share it with those who are discouraged.

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Fear!

by TerryLema

I have been listening to the news coming out of Russia and Putin’s threats of a nuclear war if he does not get what he wants. It was clearly a fear-tactic, common among megalomaniacs and dictators. It has been used down through history because it clearly works. Fear of what might happen often cripples people into compliance.

The news reminded me of Luke 21 when Jesus’ disciples asked Him “What will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” [21:7 HCSB]

Jesus responded, “Watch out that you are not deceived.” [vs 8 HCSB]

Then He began to outline the signs that would take place at the end of the age. He told them many would pretend to be Him, there would be wars and rebellions. He talked of earthquakes, famines, and plagues. Then He told them about persecutions and captivity that would come.

Finally, He spoke of the signs in the heavenlies in verses 25-28. I found it interesting that Jesus does not mention fear until that part of the prophecy. “People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the celestial powers will be shaken.” [vs 26]

It is when God enters the picture that a fear unlike any other will enter mankind. “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” [vs 27]

And if you are reading along with me this morning in Luke 21, you must love how the next verse begins … “But …”

“But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near!”

Today: Amen, LORD, thank you, no matter what the world looks like, our redemption is assured!

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A Trip, A Chair, A Pizza

by TerryLema

Recently Bob and I took a little trip, and I do mean little. We got in the car and traveled about 20 miles to a nearby town. We ate lunch at a lovely little diner. Then we went to a furniture store in that little town and bought a chair.

I have been very uncomfortable lately. My back and neck ache. I thought maybe it was stemming from not having a chair in the house where my back is properly supported. We bought a mid-sized rocker/recliner and hopefully, that will help my back and neck.

We came back to Caldwell and decided to get a pizza from the local Papa Murphy’s to have for dinner. We were gone from a little before 11AM to 2 PM, about three hours. We spent the next few hours rearranging the furniture so we could put the new recliner in the same location as the old recliner. By the time we were done, it felt like we had worked a 40-hour week!

Growing old-er wasn’t so bad. Being old is a different story. Last night I would have traded every bit of wisdom I am supposed to have garnered over the years for a little strength from when I was young-er.

In one of Job’s discussions with his three so-called friends, Job spoke of old age and wisdom.  “Wisdom is found with the elderly and understanding comes with long life.” [Job 12:12 HCSB]

I agree with Job – and I also disagree with Job. Not all old-er people are wise. That is probably because they were not very teachable when they were young-er. If you will not learn at any age, you certainly will not become wise as you age.

Job went on, however, and in the next verse he told his comforters just where the wisdom of the elderly comes from.  “Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.” [Job 12:13 HCSB]

Today: Thank you LORD that I found life in You and the wisdom, strength, counsel and understanding that belong to You – and which You so graciously impart to Your children.

 

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Consistent!

by TerryLema

I heard once that people grow spiritually in one of two ways, either like a Leap Frog, or like an Inch Worm.

Leap Frogs make giant leaps in faith, and then stop while waiting for another giant leap to occur. Sometimes at that point Leap Frogs might even take a few steps backwards. Inch Worms inch along, slowly, persistently, seldom making great giant leaps, but hardly ever going backward.

What I have found personally is that often, the Leap Frog and the Inch Worm are married. (I’ll leave that one right there!)

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the LORD, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.” [Eph 4 NKJV]

There are 3 C’s involved in our walking worthy of our calling in Christ. To Choose. To Walk Continually. And also, to be Consistent in our walk.

Consistency is one of the most difficult things in life. Consistent is (according to Merriam Webster) marked by harmony, regularity: free from variation or contradiction.

That definition has great meaning for spiritual growth. We have to be regular in how and what we study, in when we meet with others, in how we read our Bibles, in watching our attitudes and actions.

Our spiritual walk also needs to be without contradiction. We do not do one thing on Sundays or when we meet with other Christians, and another thing on Mondays or when we meet with non-Christians. Our worthy walk must be as consistent as we can make it.

Today: Thank you, LORD, that you provide everything and all things that I need to be consistent in my walk with You.

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Continue

by TerryLema

I am a great starter. Eager. Energetic. Enthusiastic. I have always been a great starter. I think a lot about all the things I might like to start. However, I am not as great a finisher as I am a starter, as witnessed by my crocheting basket.

For some reason, I often get bored with the things I start and let them languish. While that is okay with my crocheting, it is not okay with my spiritual walk.

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the LORD, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.” [Ephesians 4 NKJV]

Paul beseeched, or begged, his Ephesians readers to walk worthy of their godly calling. Their lifestyle was to please God and bear fruit as he told the church in Colossae.

“…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]

To have a worthy walk means more than just starting off with God with a bang. It means continuing our walk through the tough times, through the difficulties of life, through temptations, through discouragements, through boredom, through all the differing enticements life flings at us. No matter what, we keep going.

Today: I am thankful for the encouragement and help of the Holy Spirit to continue in this walk to please my LORD and Savior.

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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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