Category:

Devotions

I Want to Fix It!

by TerryLema

1 Peter 1:6-7:  You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials so that the genuineness of your faith—more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [HCSB]

Right now, I know many people who are enduring “various trials.”  Part of my heart wants to simply fix everything. I want to make everything right.  I think all of us think that way when we see people struggling through difficulties.

But fixing everything is not always the best.  Peter reminds us that trials come so that our faith may be proved genuine.  They come so that we might grow, might mature, and bring praise, glory, and honor to our Lord.

When parents “fix everything” for their children, the children never mature. They become adults unable to cope with life.  It is like giving candy to a child every night for dinner instead of the protein, vegetables, and fruits they need to grow up physically healthy.

Still, my heart wants to fix things for people in “various trials.”  And part of me wonders if that is not the desire of God’s heart also, except that He has the wisdom and knowledge to do otherwise.  He understands the greater good that comes when we come through trials stronger and victorious.

I know from looking at my own life, the trials that I experienced increased and matured my faith.  I became a better person, a better child of God because of them.  Still, I remember how miserable I was in the midst of them.  So I pray for those in the midst of them now.

Father God, be with Your children who are enduring trials right now.  Strengthen them for the battle. I pray they come through these trials more devoted to You, stronger in their faith, determined to bring glory and honor and praise to Your Son.  Amen.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

A Lesson

by TerryLema

2 Chronicles 18 tells the story of a foolish alliance between good King Jehoshaphat of Judah and wicked King Ahab of Israel. Jehoshaphat allowed Ahab to talk him into going to war against Ramoth-Gilead. Before they went to war, however, they decided to gather 400 prophets to see if they should go.

All the prophets but one told them they would have success. Only one prophet, Micaiah, was true to YAHWEH and prophesied the defeat of this combined military operation.

Despite God’s warning through Micaiah, the kings decide to go ahead with it anyway.

As foolish as that was, Jehoshaphat allowed Ahab to talk him into even more foolishness. “Then the king of Israel [Ahab] and Judah’s King Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth-Gilead.  But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal attire.’ So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.” [vs 28-29 HCSB]

I can understand the arrogance of kings, after all 400 prophets were prophesying success and only one was calling for defeat.  What I can’t understand is the seeming foolishness that overtook the usually wise Jehoshaphat.

It makes no sense to me why godly, usually sensible, Jehoshaphat allowed Ahab to talk him into wearing royal robes and displaying himself as king during the battle while Ahab disguised himself as a common soldier.  Doesn’t he realize that the soldiers are going to be on the lookout for the commander-in-chief?  Strike him, and the armies will flee.

That is exactly what happens, they go right for Jehoshaphat, but when he cries out, Yahweh draws the soldiers away from him and saves him.  Ahab, even though disguised, wasn’t so blessed. “A man drew his bow without taking special aim and struck the king of Israel through the joints of his armor…. Then he died at sunset.” [2 Chronicles 18:33-34 HCSB]

Father, even in the shadows of our own foolishness, You answer from Your holy heaven and save.  Thank you, Lord. Amen.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

Yet

by TerryLema

I had a rough night recently. No matter what I did I could not sleep. My body ached everywhere. I had repeated hot flashes. I could not get comfortable. I tried sleeping in the bed, adjusting the pillows, and finally tried sleeping in the lounge chair. I finally fell asleep around 4:30 AM and slept until 7:30 AM. I got up knowing that three hours sleep was not going to do me well for the day!

After I sent out and posted my devotions, I checked both my email accounts. My daily verse was one of my favorite verses … a verse that has become even more precious as I age and as I battle the things which want to control my body.

Habakkuk 3:17-18: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will triumph in Yahweh; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!” [HCSB]

There are two words in that verse that are vitally important. They are “though” and “yet.” Two simple words.

Though means “despite the fact that….” Yet means “nevertheless; in spite of that….”

Habakkuk had been lamenting everything he thought was wrong. He had debated with God, but in the end, he realized that no matter what was going on, no matter whether he understood it or not, he would see victory and he would choose to rejoice in his God.

As I read that verse again that morning, I made it a bit more personal.  “Despite the fact that my body hurts, despite the fact that there are times when I cannot sleep, despite the fact that I am fatigued and worn down, nevertheless; in spite of all that, I will triumph in the LORD, I will rejoice in Christ Jesus my salvation.”

0 comment
FacebookEmail

April Fools Day

by TerryLema

I have two favorite months in the year. April is one of them, October is the other. I love both months for their weather. I love the weather in October, even while hating the Halloween theme of the month. I love the weather in April but laughed this morning when I remembered that April begins with a celebration of fools.

I am not sure why we celebrate fools to begin this month. It is not like fools are a rarity, they are in abundance everywhere. I have met fools in the grocery store, at a theater, at work, and yes, even at church. Fools come in all sizes and shapes, both male and female. They come from every social background, ethnic group, and educational status.

How do we recognize fools and foolishness? Our Bible contains an entire book almost solely devoted to them. Read the book of Proverbs and before too long you will have a portrait of fools and foolishness. One thing evident about fools is that they will give themselves away when they begin to talk.

“The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.” [Proverbs 15:2HCSB]

There is a saying that has been attributed to both Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain (and others) that reflects this proverb in a slightly different way. “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.”

How do we cease being a fool?  Proverbs also has an answer for that. “The sensible man’s wisdom is to consider his way, but the stupidity of fools deceives them.” [14:8 HCSB]

A sensible or wise person will consider his/her way. That means we compare our way with God’s way, our thoughts with His thoughts, our will with His will. Then we chose God’s way.  To reject God, is to reject wisdom and remain a fool.

While it may be “fun” to celebrate fools one day a year, to choose to remain a fool in the eyes of God has deadly consequences.

 

0 comment
FacebookEmail

What Do You Hear?

by TerryLema

My husband loves to watch the news in the morning when he gets up. He starts with the local news and then goes to one of those national talk shows that begins with hard news and then merges into soft news about celebrities and events, fashion, food, etc. He is only content with that for a little while and then he heads to a national news broadcast.

That broadcast is nothing but negative hard reports. Even when someone being interviewed by the host might turn to something positive or something that disagrees with the host’s view, the host immediately turns it back to the negative. When Bob turns on that broadcast, I have to leave the room, or I become really irritated. That broadcast drains me.

This morning one of my daily verses was Proverbs 16:24: Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste and health to the body. [HCSB]

I read that just as Bob turned on that third morning news broadcast and I realized why I become annoyed every time I hear it … there are no pleasant words.

Pleasant positive words are sweet to us and bring health and strength to our body. Constant negativity saps our strength and drains our reserves.

God is the most positive Being in our lives. His words to us are always pleasant, sweet, and healthy. Even when He disciplines us, He does it to bring health to our souls.

When we let negativity invade our minds, wills and emotions, no matter the source, we are weakened. We are less able to deal with the complexities of life.

The world is filled with unpleasant words, let’s make sure our focus is not on them but on the pleasant words that flow from the heart of God toward us!

0 comment
FacebookEmail

One Person Can Change the World

by TerryLema

As I watch the reports and images coming out of Ukraine, I cannot help but wonder what Putin was thinking when he decided one day to invade a neighboring country? What prompts a man to order the destruction of hospitals, neighborhoods, schools, theaters? I also wonder why the people of his country cannot see what he is doing. How can they be so deceived to believe that these evil acts are justified?

One man, one day, decided to destroy his neighbor and he changed the world. History has proven over and over that one man can change the world. (Ah, you are reading between the lines and know where I am going!)

One Man not only changed the world, He changed eternity. He works where no other man can work, in the hearts of men and women.

He stands at the apex of history. Everything that occurred before His appearance pointed toward it. Everything that has happened since His appearance looks back at it.

Now we wait for that final declaration of God when the LORD Christ Jesus shall return, and the kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of our God. Sometimes it is good to remind ourselves of that when we see the evil of this world flourish.

“Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and He judges and makes war in righteousness. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on His head. He had a name written that no one knows except Himself. He wore a robe stained with blood, and His name is the Word of God. The armies that were in heaven followed Him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. A sharp sword came from His mouth, so that He might strike the nations with it. He will shepherd them with an iron scepter. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

0 comment
FacebookEmail

The Eyes of the LORD

by TerryLema

2 Chronicles 15 tells us about the Revival that happened in the Kingdom of Judah under King Asa. He removed the idols from the land, renovated the altar of the LORD and removed the obscene image of Asherah his grandmother had made.  The chapter ends with the notable declaration that “there was no war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.”

The nation lived in peace for 35 years, then everything changed in year 36. The Northern King of Israel, Baasha, went to war against King Asa. Asa’s response was not to turn to the LORD, but to buy the assistance of King Ben-hadad of Aram. God did not miss that and sent the prophet Hanani to King Asa to declare His displeasure.

God’s message was clear that He had proved Himself strong to King Asa in the past and that “You have been foolish in this matter. Therefore, you will have wars from now on.” [2 Chronicles 16:9b HCSB]

God’s message to the king through Hanani is pretty common for kings in the Old Testament. For many of them “being foolish” was a common trait. They looked past God and forgot all He had done for them in the past and sought help from men.

When Hanani declared God’s displeasure to King Asa, he also reminded Asa that “the eyes of [the LORD] roam throughout the earth to show Himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His.” [vs 9a HCSB]

Unfortunately, “being foolish” is also a common trait for many of us. Too often we look past God in times of trouble and forget all He has done for us. Too often, we seek help elsewhere first. In 1 Peter 3:12, Peter echoes a reminder similar to Hanani’s. “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil.” [HCSB]

God continually “searches” the world for opportunities to show Himself strong in our behalf. Let’s not be foolish but turn to Him first for help in times of trouble.

 

0 comment
FacebookEmail

A Dog on a Roof!

by TerryLema

The Hazleton Fire Department in Hazleton, PA, was called out recently to rescue a dog from the roof of a three-story apartment building. Passersby saw the large dog on the roof and were worried it could not get down. The dog, however, did not seem to be worried at all.

Neighbors informed the fire department that the dog likes to “sunbathe” on the roof and does this all the time. While the fire department was watching, the dog came down from the roof and entered a third story apartment through a balcony door. The fire department left and posted a picture of the dog on their Facebook page.

Have you ever wanted to be like that dog on the roof, high above the commotion of life on the ground, away from everyone and everything?  I know I have.

Recently the Pastor of The Way Middleton touched on one of my favorite passages in Mark. The disciples were just coming back from intense ministry and were probably tired. The crowds of people were surrounding Jesus, and no one could eat or rest, so, Jesus invited them to “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” [NIV]

That never happened, of course, because the crowds of people continued to follow them.  Still, I think that invitation from Jesus to come with Him to a place of quiet and rest extends to us when we get so busy with life.

Maybe we need to be like that dog on the roof. We need to find a place to get away from all the uproar of life. We need to spend a little time in that quiet place, simply enjoying the “son-shine” and finding rest for our souls.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

It Will Not Last Forever

by TerryLema

Ps 118:24:  This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. [HCSB]

“This is the day.”  Commentators say this means that we are living in the day or time of salvation and that this day will continue until the Second Coming of our Redeemer and LORD.  God gives us this period of time to respond to His call to return to Him, but it will not last forever.

The full passage reads, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This came from the Lord; it is wonderful in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” [Ps 118:22-24 HCSB]

The stone that was rejected, of course, is Jesus the Messiah.  He is the foundation and the capstone of salvation.  We rejoice and are glad in Him.

Yet, this day in time, this March 27, 2022, is also an actual day that the Lord has made.  It is contained within God’s time of salvation.  It is ours to live out, to enjoy, to celebrate, to worship and to praise Him.

We don’t know what it will hold for us.  Perhaps it will be a day of routine, predictable and unchanging from the day before.  Perhaps it will be a day of discovery or contain sorrows or joys unexpected.  Whatever this day holds, it is ours.  We have it in the moment, but it will pass and come to a close.  We need to find time on this March 27, 2022, to be glad and rejoice.  We may not have another.

And just as this actual day on the calendar will come to a close, so will God’s Day of Salvation.  We must remind people to seize the opportunity to return to God, there may not be another day to do so.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

NOW!

by TerryLema

Wait.  The word wait always conjures up images of long lines in grocery stores, traffic at a standstill and backed up for miles, long months leading up to vacations, another year without a cost-of-living increase or raise, etc.  Waiting and agitation seem to walk hand in hand.

There are other things that Scripture is quite clear about besides God’s desire for obedience and the fact that we are not very good at it (which we looked at yesterday).

One is that is, our Father wants us to learn to wait upon Him. I do not know how you are with waiting on God, but I am usually like the writer of Psalm 119: “How many days must Your servant wait?” [vs 84 HCSB]

We are just not very good “waiters.”  Remember the two-year-old’s we thought about yesterday.  They have another word in their vocabulary, “Now!”  It’s the same word in our vocabulary as adults.  We want it and we want it “Now!”

It doesn’t take very long to learn that God’s timing is not our timing.  And that some of the biggest messes we can create come when we fail to wait for God to move and try to do it in our own strength “Now!”

There is a much-sung chorus based on Isaiah 40:31. It starts with the Scripture quotation: “They that wait upon the LORD, Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” 

It ends with the prayer, “Teach me Lord, teach me Lord, to wait.”

Much good and much strength come when we learn to wait on God.

0 comment
FacebookEmail