Past Devotions

It Is Christ

by TerryLema

I came across this quote from Charles Spurgeon the other day. “It is not thy hold on Christ that saves thee; it is Christ. It is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee; it is Christ. It is not even thy faith in Christ that saves thee, though that be the instrument. It is Christ’s blood and merit.”

It is Christ. The LORD Christ Jesus is everything. He is the heart and soul, the core of our life and discipleship.

“You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.” [Colossians 3:11 HCSB]

Christ is all and in all. All the things that we use to identify or distinguish ourselves, our ethnic identity, religious identity, social standing, political standing, economic standing, educational standing, all of that comes to naught in light of our renewal in Him. Christ is all and in all.

How far short we come in knowing and experiencing the all-sufficiency of Christ in us. How far short we are in being Christ-centered in our personal life (our relationship with Him) or even in our “religious” life (our ministry).

The last couple of years have sought to draw our attention away from this truth. We have been bombarded on every side with fear. The enemy of our soul and the world have joined forces to wrestle our peace, our attention, and our faith away from our Lord and Savior.

But, the truth is found in those three little words that Charles Spurgeon spoke long ago … “It is Christ.”

Alone, He is our all in all.

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Doing

by TerryLema

I asked the LORD yesterday to open my spiritual ears so that I might hear what I am speaking out of “the abundance of [my] heart.”

It did not take long for the LORD to answer that prayer. One thought kept repeating, “what am I supposed to do now that I am retired from pastoring?”

Do. That is what my heart is focusing on. Doing. I have been doing for a long time. Lately with limited energy and having to accommodate days of pain and fatigue, my focus has been on what needs to be done. Even studying the Word has been focused more on what I have needed to do for a message, not on what nourishes my own soul. I had to ask myself when was the last time I just read my Bible for my soul’s sake?

God led me this morning to Luke 10:38-42, the story of Martha and Mary. When we look at this event, we need to realize that this is not a story about two women, it is a story about discipleship. In Jesus’ day, men rejected women as marginal, and their work equivalent to that of a servant. For Jesus to even be concerned with Martha’s frustration was unusual.

Also, it doesn’t mean that activity is inherently bad, but points to the truth that discipleship is more than merely action. It also involves relationship, reflection, quiet and rest. Jesus was not condemning Martha’s activity as much as He was commending Mary’s.

Our LORD wants our affection more than our service. We need to be occupied with Him, not with what we are “doing” to serve Him. That is what He nudged my spirit with this morning.

My LORD Christ Jesus is reminding me to reorder my priorities. He wants me at His feet. Now to quiet my spirit to rest in Him.

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“Whatcha talkin’ bout?”

by TerryLema

In 1978 a comedy called Different Strokes came on the air. It ran until 1986. Gary Coleman was one of the children on the show and always got the biggest laugh with his line, “Whatcha talkin’ bout, Willis?”

In Luke 6, Jesus was teaching his disciples and one of the lessons he taught them was “A Tree is Known by Its Fruit.”

“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.” [6:43-44 NKJV]

Jesus was not really talking about trees because He goes on. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” [6:45 NKJV]

Jesus’ lesson is about people. Our heart’s priority is what we talk about the most. That made me ask myself, “Whatcha talkin’ bout, Terry?”

What do I talk about the most? Am I focused on what is pleasing to me, or even what is not pleasing? Or do I focus on what pleases the LORD? I think if I want to deepen my faith, I need to start by listening to myself and what the abundance of my heart is speaking.

Holy Spirit, open my spiritual ears and let me hear what my heart brings forth. Amen.

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Next Path

by TerryLema

At my retirement celebration on December 28, one of the wonderful ladies of the church brought a cake. It had 11 candles gathered in one corner representing my 11 years with The Way Middleton. Close by was a 12th candle all by itself. That was to represent the new path my life is to take.

So, what do we do whenever we are standing and waiting on God to show us the next path? I sense God is calling me to deepen my faith and strengthen my relationship with Him as I wait for the that path.

I wish I could find an “Easy How-to-Guide to Deepen Your Faith.” Perhaps one that has five or ten easy steps and guarantees “Do these steps in order and increase your faith in 30-days!”  Unfortunately, God, faith, my own heart, and my relationship with Him doesn’t quite work that way.

I do know that one of the first “steps” to deepening my faith means being humble enough to believe that God knows so much more than I do. He is God, I am not. He alone can teach me about myself and about Him.

I also know that it is more than just reading my Bible or studying more. It is more than intellectual, it requires application, prayer, time, and a desire to be led (that’s where the humility comes in).

I will admit I have no idea where I am going with all this but stay tuned. I will keep you updated (smile!). I think this will be an exciting and extremely challenging journey.

(Isaiah 55:9: “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”)

 

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What?

by TerryLema

There are times when I just want to shake my head and wonder what in the world? That happened today when I read a Facebook advertisement for a blog. It read: “Are Christians authorized to clapp [sic] their hands during worship?”

Huh? Well, first they spelled clap wrong, but then the question itself left me dumbfounded. Are we so bound by the rules of men that we are trying to decide if Christians can clap while they worship? And that word, “authorized.”

Authorized?  Psalm 47:1 sounds to me like authorization: “Clap your hands, all you peoples, shout to God with a jubilant cry.” [HCSB]

And if the trees out in the fields are allowed to clap their joy, should not God’s children also be authorized to do so? “You will indeed go out with joy and be peacefully guided; the mountains and the hills will break into singing before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” [Isaiah 55:12 HCSB]

Have you ever watched a child waiting in anticipation to see someone they love? They hop up and down and they clap their hands with joyful excitement. I want to be like those children before my Father, clapping my hands joyfully in His presence.

Why do we make it so difficult? Why do we bind ourselves with rules of men when Jesus is so simple? I would imagine that however we express our joy to be in His presence, it delights and honors Him. (Even clapping!)

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Good News!

by TerryLema

Recently Dr. Fauci said, “It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”

Jeff Zients, coordinator of the White House’s C_V_D-19 Response Teams said: “For the unvacc__ed, you’re looking at a winter of severe illness and death for yourselves, your families, and the hospitals you may soon overwhelm.”

Newfoundland & Labrador’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald declared, “C_V_D-19 will be with us forever.”

Well, that was not very encouraging news—and if we depend only on the world for our “news,” we are going to be continually discouraged. Discouragement, however, is not to be the atmosphere of children of God!

Instead, Jesus came and brought us Good News and He did not hesitate to spread that Good News wherever He went. “Then Jesus went to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness.” [Matthew 9:35 HCSB]

So, Good News it is! “For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” [Romans 8:38-39 HCSB]

Is there any better news than that! Nothing has the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our LORD! (No matter what the world asserts!)

I’m tired of the world’s news, so let’s spread that Good News of the Kingdom everywhere we go!

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Can it be more simple?

by TerryLema

A new year. Seems like each new year lately has brought new social problems, new controversies, new debates, new political aspirations, and lots of other new “stuff.”  Seems like each new year I look to my own attitudes, my faith, my love, my desires to see if they have become more Christ-like or not. And every new year I am somewhat satisfied and at the same time somewhat disappointed in my spiritual life.

Someone asked me a question recently that brought my focus back to the simplicity of Jesus. Too often men complicate faith by adding their own sets of rules. The Pharisees did it to the commandments of God by adding rules and regulations that hampered the ability of people to live for God.

The church has been pretty good at that also. We like our details, our rules that bind our faith – even to the point of excluding others from it.  Yet, serving God is not complicated.

John tells us serving God is keeping His commands and doing what is pleasing. Then he takes it one step further and defines God’s commands (and surprise—they can be reduced to two). “…we keep His commands and do what is pleasing in His sight. Now this is His command: that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another as He commanded us.” [1John 3:22b-23 HCSB]

Two commands: We are to have faith in Christ Jesus, and we are to love one another. Can it be more simple than that?

I sense that God is leading me to search and discover the simplicity of faith in Jesus this year – a straightforward faith bound up in two commands. I know God wants me to discover what really is pleasing in His sight, unfettered by the rules of men.

LORD, lead me by Your Spirit, change my heart to focus solely on You this year. Help me to discover depths of faith I have never know, and a love for mankind that never loses its passion. Amen.

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Disappointments

by TerryLema

I wonder how many people were hoping that 2021 would end better than 2020. If they were, they may have been a bit disappointed.

I know I entered 2021 anticipating that the v- and fear-pandemic would decline around the country and the world. Instead, it developed variant after variant, people I knew died, the media and science and politicians each tried to assert their own view. We were fed truths and falsehood and had to try to determine which was which. That was not easy. (Still isn’t!)

I also experienced a few personal disappointments that I need to reconcile in my heart. Suddenly, as I am beginning the new year, the first part of Romans 5 has become more vital for my life. Promises such as “declared righteous by faith” and “peace with God through our LORD Jesus Christ” have become promises to cling to daily.

But it is those words in verses 3-6 that truly hit every day living “…we rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.”

Paul reminds us that “This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly.” [HCSB]

Our hope in God’s love does not disappoint us – unlike the events we experience in the world. God’s hope is a steady, secure, proven hope. It was proven at the cross … for while we were still helpless (and I don’t know about you, but I am still helpless apart from Christ Jesus) … Christ died for us (the ungodly).

Knowing that means that despite the disappointments found in this life, we can (and should) rejoice daily in the hope of God’s proven love! A great reminder for a new year!

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Feelings, nothing more than feelings …

by TerryLema

I am a bundle of feelings this morning, many left over from last month and some new ones from this month already. I used to be constantly overrun by my feelings, but over the years the LORD has taught me a few things. (Still there are times when it seems my emotions have control.)

One thing I have learned is that feelings are neither good nor bad, they just are. They are common to all people. How we handle our feelings, however, is what is really important.

Another thing about feelings is that feelings are not facts and don’t always express the truth. Many times they are far from what is true.

The third thing about feelings is that they are not to lead, they are to follow.  Scripture is quite clear that believers are to be led by God’s Spirit. “All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s [children.”  [Romans 8:14 HCSB]

Being led by the Spirit of God is the same thing as walking with the Spirit. That is not always easy because walking with the Spirit is not simply a matter of passive surrender. It means we actively and knowingly yield to His control. We follow His lead with purpose. We allow Him to exert His influence over our decisions, our choices, our activities, our attitudes, and yes, even our emotions.

Believers do not need to pray for the Spirit’s leading, because He is already doing that. What we need is to seek for willingness and obedience to follow His leading.

So, feelings, get in line with the Spirit’s leading!

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Goodness of the LORD

by TerryLema

Standing at the beginning of a new year, filled with questions about what this year will hold. I know I will spend some of the time looking back, wondering if I did all I could, wondering if I should have done something differently.

I know I will also spend time looking ahead, seeking for what the LORD has for me in this new time of life. Retirement is something I have not really done before. I did “retire” from an administrative role at St. Luke’s a while back, but somehow “retirement” and serving the LORD seem like an oxymoron.

I woke up recently with the opening verse of Psalm 27 going through my mind.  “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom should I be afraid?” [vs 1 HCSB]

As I read through the Psalm, I was drawn to verse 13.  “I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.”  [HCSB]

I am certain that I have repeatedly seen the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Perhaps looking ahead to not only a new year but a new chapter, I should turn that verse into my prayer this year.

“LORD, show me your goodness this year. Show me, while I still have breath in this old body, how to acknowledge Your goodness and lead others to Your goodness. My life has changed, but You have not. My desire remains to serve You as long and as strong as I can. Grant me that promise, to see and share Your goodness in this land. I wait expectantly. Amen.”

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