Past Devotions

The LORD Reigns!

by TerryLema

I love the word glad.  The Merriam-Webster simple definition is “feeling pleasure, joy, or delight; very willing to do something; causing happiness and joy.”  It also carries the idea of preparedness.

Scripture commands us to be glad. And there are multiple occurrences of that command in our Bibles.

“Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; And let them say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns.’” [1 Chron 16:31 NKJV]

“The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.” [Ps 97:1 NIV]

If there is any reason at all to be glad it is this, “The Lord Reigns.”  Heavens are to rejoice.  The earth is to be glad.  Even the distant shores (in Scripture the USA is probably a ‘distant shore’) are rejoicing.

There is no place where the Lord does not reign.  It may not appear to our natural eyes to be so, but it is so.  “And the redeemed of the Lord are to say so!”  [Psalm 107:2 NKJV]

Kings and queens, presidents and prime ministers, dictators and despots will all come and go, but the Lord God Almighty still reigns over all of the heavens and the earth.  Whatever the outcome of elections, the Lord reigns.  Whatever freedoms are granted or taken away, the Lord reigns.  Whether abiding in prosperity under good rulers or slavery under evil ones, the Lord reigns.

Just thinking about that today is more than enough to be glad and rejoice!

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A Tweet

by TerryLema

I was reading a response on Twitter that came to my email. I signed up for Twitter years ago for some project that was supposed to happen where I worked.  It never did happen, so I never did much more than sign up and follow a couple people.  I wish someone would teach me how to once again access Twitter and actually do something more than just see a tweet that comes to my email.

Anyway, this tweet was a one short sentence comment on what someone else tweeted. It said: “When politics steal your soul.”

Is that not a commentary on culture in our nation today (and maybe even in our churches today)? Politics of all kinds have stolen our souls.

We are more concerned with proving our points regarding medical approaches to viruses than we are with whether or not people are hearing the truth of the Gospel. And it isn’t just opinions on medical issues, we argue and debate elections, party platforms, our rights, our borders, our nation’s philosophy, and endless other issues—few of which will matter when we stand in the presence of God one day.

All the while we are focused on worldly issues, people are succumbing to the lies of the enemy of our souls. They are starving for truth, but we have none to give them. Our politics have stolen focus from our souls.

Those who were opposed to Jesus tried once to get Him involved in politics when they attempted to get Him to comment on the issue of Roman taxation.  His response was clear, “give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” [Matthew 22:21, Mark 12:17, Luke 20:25 HCSB]

We need to ask ourselves if “Caesar’s” concerns have replaced God’s concerns in our souls. If they have, we must repent and turn back to things of eternal importance.

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82nd

by TerryLema

Today is my husband’s 82nd birthday. In my wildest dreams I never gave a thought to being married to an 82-year-old man, but then I never really gave a thought to being a 75-year-old woman either.  Somehow those thoughts were pushed off into the future.  Well, I guess that future is here now.

Someone asked me the other day how we were doing.  I replied, “Well, we did the ‘for better and worse,’ and the ‘richer and poorer,’ parts, so, I guess now we are doing the ‘in sickness and in health’ part.”

It is hard to ignore the lessons our bodies are teaching us now.  The desires “to do” are still there, but our bodies usually veto the suggestions.  They much prefer watching television to exercise and reading over running. Our eyes see all kinds of things that need done, but our bodies say, “no way are you getting down on that floor!”

There are, however, things we can still do well. We can love each other, our families, and others. We can minister to people through prayer and hugs and lots of smiles.

We can love our God with the same fervency as we did when our bodies were younger and more vital, for loving God comes from our souls. We can work on our attitudes in the power of the Holy Spirit and blaze a way for those who follow us to approach their declining years.

When I think about declining years and limited time left on this earth, I remember Solomon’s words. “He has made everything appropriate (or beautiful) in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts….” [Ecclesiastes 3:11 HCSB]

There is a designated (beautiful) time for everything, even growing older. And God has put eternity in our hearts … we instinctively think of “forever” even when we cannot understand the concept of “forever.” In my heart I am about 35 years old, and I am looking forward to that “forever” when this old body that now refuses to obey me, will be made new “forever.”

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Fortitude

by TerryLema

His mother’s name is Yulia Pisetskaya. We do not know his name, only his age and his courage.  He is 11 years old. He traveled from Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, to the Slovakia border, nearly 700 miles. What is so notable is that he traveled alone with only a few possessions in a plastic bag, his passport, and the phone number of relatives in Slovakia written on his hand.

He and his family lived close to the nuclear plant that came under attack from Russian forces. In desperation his mother sent him off on his own. She herself was unwell and was taking care of her disabled mother and could not travel with him.

If I had to describe that young man (and his mother), I would use one word, fortitude.  Fortitude means courage in pain or adversity.

From what I understand, this young men began on a train, was on a bus, and walked. People along the way, along with the border guards, aided him in finding his family. Still, what courage it must have taken to say goodbye to your mother and travel nearly 700 miles in the midst of war. And what courage his mother must have had to send her 11-year-old son on his trip alone.

The Scriptures have a lot to say about being courageous. As people of the LORD, we are to face the adversities of this world with fortitude. Right before His death, Jesus reminded His disciples that an hour was coming when they would be scattered and leave Him alone.  “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” [John 16:33 HCSB]

Initially when Jesus was betrayed, His disciples were not so courageous, but following His resurrection and ascension, fortitude invaded their souls in the power of God’s Spirit, and they faced whatever this world threw at them with great courage.

Now it is our turn to display that same courage and fortitude.

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Come

by TerryLema

I often find that when I choose a Scripture for a daily devotion theme, that verse or theme will come as one of my daily verses within the next few days. When I would do a sermon, that same thing often happened. I would find other pastors using the same theme in their sermons. When the Spirit speaks to the church, His message is always consistent.

Last Sunday night as I was falling asleep, I hear the LORD say, “Come, everyone who is thirsty.”

That, of course, is from Isaiah 55:1: “Come, everyone who is thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” [HCSB]

And guess which verse appeared in my Monday Morning daily verse email. Yep, Isaiah 55:1.

In Isaiah 55, the Spirit of God sends out an invitation to Israel to return to Him. If they come, they will receive blessings upon blessings. The invitation, however, is not limited to Israel alone. God’s call to come is to “everyone,” with that one qualification – “everyone who is thirsty.”

There is refreshing that you can buy without money and without cost, but you must be thirsty. To be thirsty is to have a consciousness of need. It is to know that you have nothing – that you are poor and destitute. Jesus said it this way, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” [Matthew 11:28 HCSB]

We will not come if we think the things of this world will satisfy us.  We will not come if we will not acknowledge our thirst or need.

Oh, LORD, I am thirsty for the refreshing water of Your Spirit. Fill me, LORD!

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Attitudes

by TerryLema

I was born in 1946. That is the beginning year of the Baby Boomer era. It means I was born shortly after WWII. Images of war and the Holocaust dominated my early years. Despite that, I never thought I would see a World War III. Now I am not as sure.

Putin’s war against Ukraine (with threats of action against anyone who actively aids Ukraine) beside what is now being labeled an “economic war” have added up to a legitimate threat of a new global conflict.  It would not be hyperbole to say that most things are now out of our control.

That leads to a question, “So what is in our control?”  The answer, “Our attitudes.”

God directs a list of commands regarding our attitudes in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” [HCSB]

While maintaining these attitudes consistently is challenging, it is not impossible. God, through the power of His Spirit within us will empower us to do so. These attitudes enable us to hold on to God in the midst of difficult and uncertain times. They keep us from being discouraged and self-involved.

When we rejoice, pray, and give thanks always, we participate actively in God’s will for us. And being in the center of God’s will is realizing an awesome security that cannot be found in this world.

So will we have a WWIII? Maybe. Maybe not. Will we sink under the weight of economic disaster? Maybe. Maybe not.

Will we find awesome security in God if we obey His commands to “Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything?”  That’s a resounding and eternal YES!

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Sealed

by TerryLema

A few years ago, we replaced a fiberglass shower in our master bathroom. The shower was worn when we moved in years before and did not improve over the years after we bought the house. It was time for a change.

The replacement shower walls are all one piece with one long silicone seal in the corners and around the shower base. It looks like white subway tiles but thankfully there is no grout to deal with.  Over the years, however, the seal around the base seemed to have loosened its grip and mold and mildew began to build up.

Bob is almost 82, I am 75. We do not get down on the floors anymore. (We can’t get up!)  Our wonderful son showed up last week with new silicone seal, tore out the old and replaced it with the new. The shower is once again pristine.

As I looked at that shower after he left, I thought about that silicone seal–and I thought about the fact that it will probably need to be replaced in another few years as it once again loses its grip. Then I thought about another seal—one that will never lose its grip. “When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” [Ephesians 1:13 HCSB]

When we heard the good news of truth about the salvation God invited us to in Christ Jesus, we believed Him. When we believed, we were sealed with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our down payment on the Promises of God. “Now it is God who strengthens us, with you, in Christ and has anointed us. He has also sealed us and given us the Spirit as a down payment in our hearts.” [2 Corinthians 1:22 HCSB]

This Seal will never lose His grip on us and one day we will stand in the presence of God Almighty, blameless, sinless because of what Christ Jesus has done for us.  “You were sealed by Him for the day of redemption.” [Ephesians 4:3 HCSB]

HALLELUJAH! AMEN!

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Poor

by TerryLema

Inflation is out of control. Gas prices are rising; every day a new price is posted. Groceries are more expensive, along with just about everything else. Wages, unfortunately, are not keeping pace. And living on a fixed retirement income forces people to make choices of what to buy and when. The word “poor” is becoming part of many people’s vocabulary.

Sometimes, however, the word “poor” is a good thing.  Jesus used the word “poor” when He began speaking to the multitudes in what we call “The Sermon on the Mount.”

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” [Matthew 5:4 NKJV]

The word “poor” as used here means we are destitute, without resources, weak, powerless, and spiritually bankrupt. Jesus began the Sermon on the Mount with the foundation for all the other spiritual attitudes that please God.

To be poor in spirit means that we recognize our spiritual need. It makes us compare ourselves to God where we acknowledge that we have nothing within us that will gain us standing with Him. We see that in Him is all abundance, mercy, grace, and everything we need to be called His children.

Poor in spirit allows us to see through our pride and to know God for who He is and to know our own hearts for what they are apart from Him. Only then will we be blessed and enjoy the kingdom of heaven.

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Be Prepared!

by TerryLema

Ps 139:23-24: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns [anxieties]. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way” [HCSB]

I find it interesting that in Psalm 139, after David has sung about God’s making him a marvelous work, God knowing every day of David’s life and what it would hold, and David’s rejoicing in God’s specific thoughts for him, that David would pray this prayer … search me, know my heart, test me, know my anxieties, see if there is anything offensive in me.

 Hasn’t David been saying throughout his song that God already knows these things?  Certainly, God knows everything in David.  God knows everything in each of us. But David’s prayer is not about God understanding what is in David, it is about David understanding what is in David.

When God searches us, He reveals what is in our hearts to us … all our anxieties, all our offensive ways.  He does that so that we might come to a true, humble, right opinion of who we are.  He does that so that we might allow Him to then lead us in the way everlasting through His mercy and grace.

Without a true, humble, right knowledge of self, we will not be led.  We will continue to lead, to live our lives in the way we want, according to our own anxious thoughts and offensive ways.

When we pray search me O God … we need to remember one thing … God will more than likely find something! So be prepared when you pray as David prayed!

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Sifting Sand by the Seashore

by TerryLema

Ps 139:17-18: “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.” [NIV]

Let’s all go down to the beach. Get into your swimsuit, grab a beach towel and a picnic lunch and head to the ocean.  Don’t forget your pail and shovel.  Let’s scoop up a pail full of sand and bring it home with us.

Take the sand and spread it out on a large tarp. Start to count the grains, each grain individually.  One, two, three. Perhaps one million, two million, or more!  Now think about what David wrote … “Your thoughts, O God … would outnumber the grains of sand.”

 Not just the grains of sand in your meager bucket.  Not even just the grains of sand on your beach.  But the grains of sand on every beach and in every desert.  Endless grains of sand.  Innumerable thoughts of God that would outnumber even the endless grains of sands.

And the implication is that the thoughts of God that David found precious are not random thoughts, but thoughts God has specifically for David.

We can’t always put ourselves into a passage of Scripture and claim its promises and intent.  Some are aimed at others besides us … after all you wouldn’t want to insert yourselves into the promises God has for the enemy of our soul.  But in this instance, we can insert ourselves into the passage.

God’s endless, wonderful, awesome thoughts are for us.  They are precious, specific to us, and without number.

Rejoice, child of God!

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