Pastor Terry Lema's Daily Devotions
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Coincidence?

by TerryLema November 2, 2021

Today is my infusion day. Happens every four weeks. The rheumatologists ordered the infusions for my PMR and GCA about a year and a half ago. They are meant to keep the Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) from damaging my arteries. (Blindness is often an outcome of GCA.)

I noticed that last July, the symptoms of GCA (and the PMR pain) seemed to be gone. I was not sure how permanent that might be, but they were still gone in August, and then again in September. I suggested to my specialist that I might be able to stop the infusion. He said he wanted me to continue on them for a few more months – and in that I now see the Hand of God.

Right after my September infusion I came down with a lousy bout of COVID (even after having been vaccinated in January). I have a compromised immune system, and am old, so risk factors could be dangerous. I was pretty sick but discovered that one of the drugs used to battle the inflammation that often accompanies COVID was my infusion drug.

Maybe you cannot see the Hand of God in that, but I sure can. I am so thankful that I got my infusion just a few days before COVID invaded my body.

We do not always see the way God weaves the various parts of our lives together to bless us, but I have experienced so many “coincidences” that I believe that God moves in ways we cannot see to accomplish what is best for us.

There is a song that has special meaning to my heart. “God Will Make a Way.” There is a link below. This song always ministers to my soul. I pray it reminds you today to be thankful for the things “we cannot see.”

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=God+will+make+a+way&&view=detail&mid=D682A2341D5B28F7D747D682A2341D5B28F7D747&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DGod%2520will%2520make%2520a%2520way%26form%3DSWAUA2
November 2, 2021 0 comment
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At Last

by TerryLema November 1, 2021

I have a love-hate relationship with the month of October. Weather-wise it is my favorite month of the year. Atmosphere-wise (Halloween), it is my least favorite. So, when I turn my calendar and see “November 1” each year, I rejoice!

Ugly is behind us and thanksgiving is before us. Of course, thanksgiving is always before us and with us, but too often our attention is drawn away by other things. Something about November 1 pulls my attention back to where it belongs … with all the things for which I am (and should always be) grateful.

I am thankful for so much this year. It appears after two plus years the PMR and GCA I have battled have gone into remission (or maybe totally disappeared). I survived a bout with COVID and am regaining strength and stamina. I will know shortly who my successor is at The Way, Middleton, and I see a new chapter of my life ahead beginning the first of the new year.

I know much is in turmoil, being sure of a new church, at 75 probably other health issues, finances, and such, but I have the assurance that my God knows … and cares … and nothing in His love for me will change.

James 1:17-18: “Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning. By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth so that we would be the firstfruits of His creatures.” [HCSB]

Read that verse again!  Our God is unchanging. He has declared His love for us “by His own choice,” and nothing will change that. People of this world often like us for what we can do for them, and we are constantly striving to impress them so that they will continue to like us. When we are sick, or old, or become less than useful by some circumstance, they will cast aside.

Not so with our God. He chose to love us. While we change, He never does … NEVER!

So, this November 1, I am most thankful that God’s love for me is not based on my changing nature, but on His unchanging one. Glory!

November 1, 2021 0 comment
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My Baby

by TerryLema October 31, 2021

Last Sunday as I was praying and waiting to head over to church, I thought about leaving The Way at year’s end and how hard it was to “turn my baby over to someone else.”

As I prayed about what I was feeling, I distinctly heard God say, “It’s not your baby, it’s mine.”

Ah. Yes. It is “His baby.” The only reason there is a church in Middleton, Idaho, is because God ordained it and provided the wisdom and the power to give it life.

In the Book of Revelation, Chapter 4, we are given a peak into the Throne Room of God. John looked around and tried to describe what he was seeing. There were rainbows, fiery torches, thrones, gold crowns, a sea of glass and four beings he can only describe as “living creatures” which worship God day and night.

Whenever these living creature give glory to God the elders cast their crowns before the One seated on the throne.

“Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne, the One who lives forever and ever,  the 24 elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, worship the One who lives forever and ever, cast their crowns before the throne, and say: “Our Lord and God, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because You have created all things, and because of Your will they exist and were created.” [4:9-11 HCSB]

Some scholars claim we, the church, are represented in those elders. Whether or not that is accurate, it reminded me that the only way we have any reward, any crowns at all, is because our God shared “His babies” with us. He allowed us to be part of His vision for His church. He provided the encouragement, the power, the wisdom, the desires to work alongside Him. And because we accepted His invitation and allowed Him to use us, we receive rewards and crowns.

Amazing, isn’t it! He does it all and we get crowns.

October 31, 2021 0 comment
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Christmas

by TerryLema October 30, 2021

After battling the virus through most of the month of September and battling the lingering shortness of breath and fatigue through most of October, I have been thinking ahead to Christmas.

Add to that the daily alerts of shortages, increasing cost of goods, the uncertainty of shipping and other “threats” to the Christmas festivities, I wonder if maybe we should not return to the simplicity and atmosphere that marked that first Christmas.

I have three children, a daughter-in-love and son-in-love and three grandsons. My heart this Christmas is not to go out to buy “stuff,” nor order “stuff” to be shipped in. To be honest, I think we all have more than enough “stuff.” I know my closets are stuffed with “stuff,” so are the garage and bookcases and pantry.

I am sitting here pondering the command God gave the nation of Israel. Leviticus 19:10: “And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the Lord your God.” [HCSB]

I wonder if we have been stripping our vineyards and claiming every grape as ours, leaving nothing for the less fortunate.

Then I remembered what Jesus said about the ones we invite to our feasts. Luke 14:13-14: “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” [HCSB]

I want to do something meaningful this Christmas season, something that reflects the wonderful gift of our Savior to us from Father God.

Maybe I need to think more about this and see whom to bless this year. Got ideas?

October 30, 2021 0 comment
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The Rock

by TerryLema October 29, 2021

In Deuteronomy 31, God reminds Moses that his time on earth is coming to an end. Because of his disobedience he would not be going into the Promised Land with the people. The LORD tells him to hand over the leadership of the nation to Joshua. Then Moses addresses the people. His address is called “The Song of Moses” and it begins in Chapter 32.

One of the verses always touches my heart.  “The Rock—His work is perfect; all His ways are entirely just. A faithful God, without prejudice, He is righteous and true.” [Deuteronomy 32:4 HCSB]

The rendering of the words in that verse in the NKJV are just slightly different.  “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.”

The one thought that makes me thankful this morning is that our God is a “faithful God, without prejudice,” or “A God of truth and without injustice.”

I am thankful today that there is no prejudice, no injustice found in our Rock! So much of our world is filled with injustice and prejudice. Not just racial prejudice, but social status, political allegiance, etc., also lead to prejudices … and then to injustices. They lead us to view people who do not hold the same views or opinions as our enemies and drive us to silence their voices.

Our God, however, is perfect. All …. ALL … His ways are justice. There are no favorites because of the good things we do. No one has preferential treatment when they come to the cross. Neither does He hold our imperfections against us but comes alongside and gives us the invitation to His salvation and provides the Holy Spirit to guide us to be conformed to our Savior and LORD.

I am so thankful He is my Rock! Amen!

 

October 29, 2021 0 comment
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Always Right?

by TerryLema October 28, 2021

As I was studying for a recent message, I came across a quote … “The people who think they are always right are in the most danger.”

Right after that my daily verse was James 1:19: “My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” [HCSB]

It was at that point that I needed to check my attitude. I began by examining my heart and asking myself a few questions. Do I think I am always right … not just about my Christian views, but about my political views, my views on viruses, vaccines, or other hot topics? Do I approach others, either in person or in my posted items from a zone of superiority or pride? Am I teachable?

Examining my heart is not always a pleasant experience, because I find a lot there that I wish wasn’t! I find pride and arrogance and a stubborn spirit. I find I am not always quick to hear but instead am quick to express my “opinion” and even find a quick temper rising up.  As I survey those things, I cannot escape what James says later in his letter when he quotes a verse from Psalm 3.

James 4:6-7: “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.  Therefore, submit to God.”  [HCSB Psalm 3:34]

 I guess I will be doing some repenting, submitting to my Father, and asking for His grace. I do not want to expose myself to the danger of pride and always thinking I am right in my opinions and views.

I do not want God to resist me!  Instead, I want a humble spirit full of grace for others … as well as for myself.

 

October 28, 2021 0 comment
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Halloween

by TerryLema October 27, 2021

I acknowledged yesterday that I abhor Halloween and gave my reasoning for that attitude. Anyone who knows me even a little will find out that I hate what Halloween has become, a display for the evil and wickedness that this world and the enemy of our soul promotes.

Every year around this time I leap over Halloween and head straight to Thanksgiving.

As always, rather than the evil, ugliness, and horror, I want to focus on the things of Philippians 4:8: “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.” [HCSB]

I want to live in thanksgiving. I want to end the year in thankfulness and begin the new year the same. I want the “words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart [to] be acceptable to You, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.”  [Psalm 19:14 HCSB]

These last couple years have been difficult for many. The rhetoric on social media has been severe as many express their opinions from every corner. Too much of what we read and see … from whatever political point of view … is arrogant and harsh. I wonder at times if we would utter such words standing in the presence of our LORD.

So, for the next few days, I intend to do my best to ignore Halloween and lift up Thanksgiving instead … not just the one-day Thanksgiving holiday, but the thanksgiving that assures that the “words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart [are] acceptable to You, LORD, my rock and my Redeemer!”

 Amen and Amen

October 27, 2021 0 comment
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Wonders

by TerryLema October 26, 2021

Because I am still dealing with the fatigue from the virus, I have been watching a little more daytime television than normal. May I say upfront, daytime television is awful? It is talk shows, reruns, true crime, and some of the worst ads for the worst movies and television shows imaginable.

I think it is particularly bad this time of year because of the upcoming holiday, Halloween. May I also say upfront that I abhor what Halloween has become. We dress our children in evil and we promote everything that is ugly. Just driving around the neighborhood and looking at all the symbols of death and wickedness turns my stomach.

The world seems to be doing a better job of conveying its way of life than we are.

One of the missions at The Way Middleton is that we are to “tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD.”

That comes from Psalm 78:4: “We must not hide them from their children but must tell a future generation the praises of the Lord, His might, and the wonderful works He has performed.” [HCSB]

I often think about that command. Have we been good at conveying to the future generations the wonderful things our God has done (and continues to do)?  Or have we been better at showing them our judgmental attitudes?

The world is not at all shy about conveying their philosophies. We need to be even bolder at conveying the praises of the LORD, His might and the wonderful works that are found in Him.

LORD, loose our tongues, infuse our hearts with boldness, give us opportunities to convey your praiseworthy deeds to future generations. Amen.

October 26, 2021 0 comment
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Choose

by TerryLema October 25, 2021

A word grabbed me the other day as I was scrolling through my email.  Just one word – Choose!  I am not sure what the email wanted me to choose, but the word itself got my attention.

I opened my Bible concordance to my “new” favorite translation (HCSB) and checked out “choose(s).” I found 67 occurrences. I thought it interesting that the first 25 references talked about God doing the “choosing.”  It was not until the 26th that men and women were commanded to make a choice. And what a choice it is!

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, love the Lord your God, obey Him, and remain faithful to Him. For He is your life.”  [Deuteronomy 30:19-20a HCSB]

God calls on the Israelites to “choose life.” When they do that, God becomes their life. That choice gives them the ability to love the LORD, obey Him and remain faithful to Him. Even more, that choosing life seems to “influence” the choices their descendants make.

God gives us a choice. He presents life and death before us. While He desires all to come to repentance and salvation and is delaying His judgment to give people further opportunities to repent (1 Peter 3:9), He knows not all will make the good choice. It is undeniable that many will perish (Matthew 7:13-14).

God gave Adam and Eve a choice … and they chose wrong, and sin entered the world. God gave His Son a choice … to be betrayed, brutally tortured, and murdered … and He chose to do His Father’s will, and salvation entered came to us.

God gives us a choice … life or death. It is up to us to choose wisely.  

October 25, 2021 0 comment
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Hold My Hand

by TerryLema October 24, 2021

Isa 41:13: “For I, Yahweh your God, hold your right hand and say to you: Do not fear, I will help you.” [HCSB]

God takes hold of our right hand. God speaks His assurance into our lives – “do not fear, I will help you.” Not, I might help you, nor I can help you, nor I could help you. His word to us is “I will help you.”

 One of the things I miss most now that my children are all grown is little hands reaching up for me to hold. I miss that little hand in mine walking through stores or along pathways. I miss those little hands so trusting. Even my grandsons have grown beyond that hand-holding stage.

There is something exceedingly precious about holding the trusting hand of a child. I wonder if God feels the same way when we lift our hands to Him, when we ask Him to take hold because we are in need of help, or are fearful, or need comforting. I wonder if His heart soars when we place our hand in His and seek His guidance along unknown pathways or ask for His strength when we grow weak and weary.

Jesus said in Mark 10:15 that we must accept the kingdom of God as a little child. I’ve heard many a sermon on what that means, and not all the preachers arrived at the same conclusion. Perhaps it is this, the simplicity of placing our hand in the Mighty Hand of God—just as our children placed their little hands in ours.

Father, may I never think I can grow beyond my hand in Your hand. Amen.

 Marshall Hall, Angela Primm, Jason Crabb - Take My Hand, Precious Lord (Live) - Bing video
October 24, 2021 0 comment
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Pastor Terry Lema

Pastor Terry Lema has been married for 53 years, and has 3 children and 3 grandsons. Terry graduated from Trinity Bible College, and and recently retired as Lead Pastor at The Way Church in Middleton, Idaho.

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Pastor Terry Lema's Daily Devotions
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