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Devotions

Beauty’s Source

by TerryLema

If commercials can be trusted … stop and think about that! But, if commercials can be trusted, the newest fad procedure is cool sculpting. That is the name for a fat-freezing method that aims to get rid of stubborn fat in certain parts of your body. The method is called cryolipolysis.

Our area is flooded with commercials of women who have eliminated their “stubborn belly fat,” complete with before and after pictures. One woman asserted that whatever it takes, find a way to get this procedure, and then declared, “It’s the best decision of my life.”

I hate these commercials. If I wanted to look at stubborn belly fat, I could just go look in a mirror. I hate these commercials even more because they promote a beauty that is solely outward. They tell us that the only way we can be beautiful and happy is if we have a flat stomach. And getting that flat stomach is “the best decision” we can make in life.

But is a shapely body where beauty and happiness are found? Or is the true source of beauty to be found elsewhere.

 “Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.” [1 Peter 3:3-4 NLT]

The best decision we can make in life is to trust in Christ Jesus our Savior. In Him, we will find the source of true beauty. In Him, we can embrace that gentle and quiet spirit which is so precious to Him.

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Slowing Down

by TerryLema

As I age, I find I am slowing down. I walk slower (and use a cane for balance.) It takes me longer to clean my house. My mind is a bit slower too.

But one of the delights of aging is that I no longer rush through things. I have time to “stop and smell the roses” as that old saying goes. I can sit and watch the wind in the trees and not feel guilty or listen to the little girls next door squealing as they jump on their trampoline or watch the colony of feral cats cavorting under the trees in our back yard.

We are a people who rush through life, as if we could abandon our difficulties and trials by simply outdistancing them.

Mark Chapter 6 tells of a fast-paced time for Jesus and His disciples. After being rejected in His hometown of Nazareth, Jesus went through the villages teaching the people. He began to send his disciples out two by two also. Mark also records the death of Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, and ends the chapter with the Feeding of the Five Thousand and Jesus walking on the water.

But in the middle Mark records something we tend to overlook. Nestled among the big events is a small one, one that speaks volumes about the heart of Jesus.

“The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, ‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.’ He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.” [6:30-31 NLT]

Slowing down and resting awhile with Jesus is needed. When we stop the furious pace that we so often find ourselves on, we can find peace for our souls and health for our spirits.

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When You Have …

by TerryLema

I wrote this last Thursday while awaiting a scheduled 4-hour adrenal function test on Monday March 4. I am hoping to have the results by the time this devotion is posted, but right now all I have are the side effects and symptoms.

I hurt (everywhere), I am exhausted, I am nauseous. I guess that sums it up physically. Add in a little frustration with some circumstances and difficulties outside my control, and it is a recipe for tears and frustration. Maybe a little self-pity too?

So, of course, the LORD, who knows my every way put this in my email inbox. “Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.” [Psalm 73:25-26 NLT]

This is another one of those questions that only have one right answer. “Whom have I in heaven but you?”

God is the strength of my heart. The LORD is mine forever. Everything around me and inside me might grow weak or fail, but God remains strong on my behalf.

Augusten Burroughs said: “When you have your health, you have everything. When you do not have your health, nothing else matters at all.”

Oh, Mr. Burroughs, I strongly disagree. So strongly do I disagree that I am revising this statement.

“When you have Christ Jesus the LORD, you have everything. When you do not have Him, nothing else matters at all.”

 

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To Whom Shall We Go?

by TerryLema

Ever been asked a question to which there is only one right answer?

John records a conversation in Chapter 6 where Jesus said some difficult things to His disciples. The chapter opens with the feeding of the five thousand. Afraid that the crowd might try to take and make Him King, He withdraws and then later walks on the water to join His disciples who were traveling over the sea toward Capernaum.

When the people finally track them down, looking for another free meal, Jesus begins a conversation that confuses some and alienates others. Many of His followers were offended by His words and “turned away and deserted Him.” [vs 66 NLT]

Jesus asks the ones remaining, “Are you also going to leave?” [vs 67]

 That is a question that has only one right answer and Simon Peter gets it right. “LORD, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.” [vs 69a]

Ther are times in life when things get difficult. Trials and tribulations seem to surround us. We might even wonder where God is or why He seems so silent. It is then that the enemy of our soul will try to convince us that God doesn’t care, and we should just walk away.

BUT … where would we go? To whom would we go? Christ Jesus our Savior and LORD is the ONLY One with words of eternal life. Abandoning Him would be to abandon all hope.

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What’s It Worth?

by TerryLema

I have told this story many times but no matter how many times I tell it, I never grow tired of telling it. It ministers to my soul with each retelling.

When my son turned 18, I wanted to get him a special gift. His favorite football player was Walter Payton. I called around the Sacramento area looking for a Walter Payton rookie card and finally found one in Auburn.

When I arrived at the shop, I asked the owner how much a Walter Payton rookie card was worth. He told me it was worth what I “was willing to pay for it.”

That Walter Payton rookie card is nothing more than a piece of cardboard with a picture and some writing. It might have cost 5 cents to make. But because I love my son, that piece of cardboard is worth much much more.

That story always reminds me that I was not worth much until … UNTIL God paid for me with the precious blood of Christ.

“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” [1 Peter 1:18-19 NLT]

Now God’s love and what He was willing to pay for us (the precious blood of His Dear Son) determines our worth. How amazing is that!

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A Time of Reflection

by TerryLema

As we move closer to Resurrection Sunday (March 31), I always get a bit thoughtful. I remember what I was before Christ. I remember the darkness that was my future and the hopelessness that was my life.

I remember that August day in 1973 driving my mother to a small nondenominational prayer meeting, as I had done many times before. But this time was different. Instead of just sitting there waiting for it to end so I could leave and get on with my “life,” God met me right where I was and gave me “new life.”

I am always, ALWAYS, amazed that He did that. I had nothing to give Him. I was nothing special that He might take notice. It was only because of His richness in mercy and grace. It was only because of His great love.

“God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) [Ephesians 2:4 NLT]

I prayerfully will never take that for granted but will always bow humbly before the cross. Thank you, LORD.

 

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Easter Baskets

by TerryLema

Christmas candy canes gave way to Valentine’s Day chocolates. Now Valentine’s Day chocolates have given way to Easter baskets, bunnies, jellybeans, and Peeps.

That is the world’s view of the coming holy day. But Easter (Resurrection Sunday) is THE high point of the Christian calendar. It is the celebration of sacrifice and hope and life and love. That baby in the manger is now the man of the cross – the One who was mocked, scorned, spit upon, whipped, and crowned with thorns on our behalf.

He was crucified in our place and for our sins. He died and was placed in a borrowed tomb.

But … BUT … it did not end there. That was only part of that “first gospel” promise in Genesis 3:15. It was the “[serpent] will strike His heel” part.

The other part, the really Really Great Part, is found in those words, “He (Christ Jesus) will strike (the serpent’s) head.”

The devil who deceived mankind, who has plagued and sought to destroy God’s creation, is defeated. He still roams around roaring, but he is roaring from a position of defeat.

Christ has the victory! The victory promised in Genesis 3:15. The victory that was obtained almost 2000 years ago on a Roman cross. The victory certified by an empty tomb. Rejoice beloved!

Resurrection Sunday is ours every day!

 

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March!

by TerryLema

First day of March. Meteorologists consider this the first day of spring (for statistical purposes). Astrological spring this year is March 20.

The first day of March (no matter how bad the weather) always sounds like a promise that warm weather and flowers are on the way. March reminds me of the Genesis promise God gave following the flood. “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest … will not cease.” [8:22 HCSB]

This year the last day of March is very special. It is Resurrection Sunday. It is the celebration of another Genesis promise God gave following the fall of mankind. “I will put hostility between you (the serpent) and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” [Genesis 3:15 HCSB

Genesis 3:15 is called the “protoevangelium” or “first gospel” because it is the first promise of a Savior found in the Scriptures.

The most amazing thing about this “first gospel” is that it shows us that God had already planned the salvation of fallen man – and He revealed it as soon as sin entered the world through Adam’s & Eve’s wrong choices. God was not caught unawares, and was way ahead of Satan’s plan to bring God’s creation down.

God knew He would send a Savior, and He knew just whom that Savior would be. “The Son of God [Christ Jesus] was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the Devil’s works.” [1John 3:8 HCSB]

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Safe in God’s Love

by TerryLema

One thing I enjoy doing is reading my Bible. And one thing I enjoy most is reading different translations. I have a shelf full of Bibles in various translations, but I also have a Bible App that allows me to instantly change translations for comparison. I did that this morning reading in Jude.

Jude is an interesting letter, warning that evil prophets had brought false doctrine into the church and the saints were in danger of being deceived. It is a warning of the danger of apostasy – the abandonment of truth faith. It is certainly a book relevant for our times as we grow closer to the End Times.

Jude warns that we need to know the true Gospel if we are going to protect it against false doctrine. We need to personally have a life changed by surrendering to the LORDship of Christ Jesus. We must have an authentic faith that produces Christlike behavior.

All that to say that while reading verses 20-21 in a new translation, I came across a lovely, comforting thought. “But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will KEEP YOURSELVES SAFE IN GOD’S LOVE.” [emphasis mine NLT]

Amid the dangers of the End Times, we can “keep [our]selves safe in God’s love” by building each other up in holy faith, praying in the power of the Holy Spirit and eagerly awaiting the return of our LORD Christ Jesus.

Wow! “Safe in God’s love.”

 

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A Letter of Hope

by TerryLema

Jeremiah 29 contains a letter of hope. Jeremiah sent a letter to the exiles; those King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem to Babylon. In the letter Jeremiah tells them to build houses and carry on their daily life in Babylon. He tells them to pray for the welfare of the city to which they had been deported.

Jeremiah also promises that their stay in Babylon would not be a permanent one, but when 70 years pass, their captivity will be completed, and they will be restored to their homeland.

Part of that promise reads: “For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” [vs 11-13 HCSB]

Israel was living in ancient Babylon, the most corrupt and idolatrous nation in the world at the time. I think we are living in a Babylon-style nation today also.

But God had a plan for Israel. He had a future and a hope for her. And the same God who had a plan for His children then, is the same God who has a plan for His children now.

Notice what He says to Israel and to us:  You WILL call, come, and pray to Me. I WILL listen to you. You WILL seek me … You WILL find me … when … you search for Me with all you heart.

God has a plan for us beloved. His plan is for our welfare (not for our disaster). His plan is to give us a future (eternity in His presence) and a hope (Christ Jesus, our Living Hope). Let us truly seek Him.

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