Past Devotions

But God, Part 1

by TerryLema

But God. Two 3-letter words. But God. Have you ever thought about what you would be, what your life would be if those two little words didn’t exist?  But God. It is an interesting study looking up “but God” in a concordance. I want to spend a few days looking at some of my favorite “but God” occurrences in Scripture.

In Luke 16, Jesus tells the story of the master and the dishonest manager. He ends with a dynamic statement, “You can’t be slaves to both God and money.” [Luke 16:13 HCSB]

Luke then tells us that there were Pharisees listening, “who loved money…and were sneering [scoffing] at Jesus.” 

Jesus sees their sneers and tells them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts.” [v 14-15 HCSB]

But God knows your hearts. That is both a negative and a positive statement. For those who sneer at the things of God and hold themselves up for glory in the sight of men, God sees through the arrogance. He knows their hearts. But for those who by their very lives seek to honor Him in the sight of men, God also knows their hearts and they are pleasing to Him.

Father, my heart breaks when I see the sneers or read the insults to You. May I always remember to pray for those souls. May my own heart always honor You. Amen.

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He is Able

by TerryLema

“To him who is able … to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless [faultless] and with great [exceeding] joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.” [Jude 24-25 HCSB]

I do love this doxology that closes Jude’s letter.  Yesterday I wrote about our God and His ability to “keep us from falling,” the first praise expression of Jude.  But there is a second reason Jude is praising God, and that is God is able to present us before His glorious presence blameless and with exceeding joy.

Blameless/Faultless. The Greek word means simply unblemished, without blame or fault. Have you ever wondered what it will be like to be eternally faultless, no blemish on our soul ever again? Have you ever wondered what it will feel like to be completely, absolutely without shame?

I know that is the way God sees me now in Christ. I also know that is not how others see me, or even how I see myself. In this life, my blemishes and faults are often very visible. And inside my soul I am often reminded I have no one to blame but myself for my choices, my sins, my flaws.

But the day is coming … that day when all my blemishes, faults, shame will remain in the grave and I will exit into the presence of the Lord white as snow. No wonder Jude says that when that happens there will be great, exceedingly great joy!

Thank you, Father, for Christ whose sacrifice makes me white as snow. I long for the day when I will no longer be able to see (or perhaps even remember?) the faults and failures of this life. Amen.

 

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Fall Risk!

by TerryLema

Every four weeks I go to the hospital for an infusion of a medication to combat the two auto-immune diseases that have taken up residence in my body.  In the infusion center there are signs around the rooms that remind people of a “Fall Risk.”  From what I understand, now they even have sensors on the beds that sound when a “Fall Risk” patient tries to get out of bed without assistance. When in weakened conditions, patients don’t always think clearly and or realize there isn’t enough strength to walk without falling.

At the very end of Jude’s letter is a doxology – an expression of praise to God. The first praise Jude expresses is for God’s ability to keep us from falling. “To him who is able to keep you from falling [stumbling] …- to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” [Jude 24-25 NIV]

God is able to keep us from falling. Yes, He is! The problem seems to be that I often try to do it on my own rather than depend on God’s ability.  Remember the warning Paul gave in 1 Cor 10:12-13?  “So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it.” [HCSB]

When my children were very little and I would try to keep them from the everyday “disasters” of toddlers and preschoolers, they would often get miffed and yank their hand away and yell, “ME DO!” Ah, Lord, I think that is when I get in trouble also, when I think ME can DO anything apart from YOU!

Father, thank you! Thank you for enabling us to stand firm and not fall. Remind me, Holy Spirit, when I’m tempted to “ME DO!” life that I need You to keep me from falling. Amen.

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Live it to Give it

by TerryLema

I have always said that in order to give a message, you have to live the message. I think that may have colored the many messages that I brought at The Way, Middleton, when I was pastoring.  That thought was brought home in my soul recently as I have been listening to Pastor Laura now bring the messages. She has been hitting me squarely where I have avoided being hit!

One of her recent messages out of 1 Samuel was on jealousy and how that sin played in the downfall of King Saul. I sat there somewhat smugly thinking I had that sinful attitude licked, until that afternoon when it came back full force as I talked with a friend.  Sigh.

King Saul was annoyed, and jealousy flamed in him when he heard the songs of the people, “So the women sang as they danced, and said: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.’” [I Samuel 18:7 HCSB]

That song stung Saul and he was furiously about his reputation being less than David’s. I am not jealous about reputation. I am not jealous about what others have. I do not need a newer car or bigger house or more things. I am not interested in clothes or shoes or purses.

But, there is a spot in my heart that keeps flaring with jealously over a particular thing. I thought it was gone, but nope, it is still there.  Every now and again it raises its ugly head and reminds me that it is not yet dead.

So back to the cross I go.

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”  [Colossians 1:13-14 HCSB]

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by TerryLema

When we moved into this house in 2007, I hung beautiful lace curtains on our bedroom window. I loved the look of those curtains – most of the time. There was only one problem with them, at this time of year when it stays light in Idaho until about 11 PM, it was difficult to get to sleep. I am a morning person, which means I am usually in bed to rest and recuperate the day around 9-9:30 PM. Two more hours of daylight streaming in my window was just annoying.

A couple years ago I grudgingly replaced my pretty lace curtains with plain blackout curtains. They block out those final hours of daylight very well and I rest better.

The other night before I went to bed, I was in my bonus room watching Christian music videos. (Bob wanted to watch war movies in the living room.) One of the videos was David Phelps’ “No More Night.”  I love that song, and I love his rendition. The chorus says, “No more night, no more pain, no more tears, never crying again. Praises to the Great I AM, we will live in the light of the Risen Lamb.”

I have always focused on the part of that chorus that speaks of no more pain, no more tears, never crying again, but that night I realized that the name of the song is “No More Night,” and the words “We will live in the light of the Risen Lamb” thrilled my soul.

The end of the Book of Revelation has the marvelous promise, “The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.” [Revelation 21:23 NKJV]

The Lamb is the Light … for all time. And we will not need darkness to rest and restore our weary bodies or minds anymore because the Risen Lamb has given us an everlasting rest. Hallelujah!

 

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Bring Up the Rear

by TerryLema

“All the men assigned to the camp of Dan number 157,600. They will set out last, under their standards.” [Numbers 2:31]

There was a particular order in which the tribes of Israel camped and marched in the wilderness.  The tabernacle and ark were always in the center, with tribes in front, on both sides and behind.  The Danites were assigned to be the rearguard.  [Numbers 10:25]

I’m not sure any of want to be assigned to bringing up the rear, especially if a few million people are marching in front of us. I can only imagine what it was like for the Danites back there, eating the dust of people, dodging the droppings of the herds of sheep and cattle.  (I remember going to a 4th of July parade in Middleton one year. There were several horse troops and right behind them was the much needed “pooper scooper” crew. It reminded me of what the Danites must have had to deal with as they brought up the rearguard.)

And yet, the rearguard is vitally important.  They make sure the stragglers don’t get left behind. They also make sure that the enemy doesn’t go around and attack from the rear. The rearguard must be just as vigilant as those in the front and on the side, maybe more so. The enemy of our soul seldom comes knocking on the front door declaring his intentions to subdue us, but he will mount an attack from the rear and hope we have left that unguarded.

Our Father God thought it so important to have a rearguard that He Himself promised to be ours! “The LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” [Isa 52:12 HCSB]

Father, thank you for being my rearguard. Let me be mindful of the Spirit’s warnings and promptings. Help me to remember that the attacks against my soul are seldom from head on but will often blindside me or sneak up from behind. I know, Spirit, you send out the warning. Help me to be vigilant in hearing Your alert!  Amen.

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Gifted

by TerryLema

1 Peter 4:10-11: Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.  If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. [HCSB]

This quote from Peter follows a command to love each other deeply and to offer hospitality without grumbling.  He tells us to use whatever gift we have to serve and minister God’s grace in various ways.   Have you thought about the gifts God has given you?

All those “gift tests” tell me that I am primarily an encourager, and secondly a teacher.  Those are the things that motivate me to serve and minister God’s grace in every setting. And of course, the enemy of my soul knowing this often seeks ways to pervert those gifts.  Instead of encouraging, I can find myself enabling.  Instead of teaching, I can find myself drifting into manipulation (a primary trait in the family I grew up in).

So, I try to stay on my guard knowing that it is often our strongest traits and motivations that can be corrupted the easiest.  I try to stay open to the Spirit’s discernment so I can recognize when I’m getting too close to the line, when I’m beginning to move not in the motivation of God, but in the manipulation of my own worldly desires.  It isn’t easy, but oh is it necessary.

Our goal in life is always that “God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything.”  We should keep that as a plumb line and measure all we say and do against it.

Father, how often, how easily I slip. When I think I am strong is when I am in the most danger of trying to do things in my own worldly ways.  Keep me in line with Your Spirit. Keep my motivations pure so that in all things praise may flow to You.  Amen.

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Nothing is Easy

by TerryLema

I woke up yesterday with two thoughts in mind. The first one was that summer’s comin’ and I hate the heat. The second one was a bit different than just my yearly whine about summer. It is that “nothing is easy anymore.”

That line was uttered by a character in a book I was reading a few days ago. It stuck with me. It has popped up in my thinking over and over since reading it. It was one of the first things I thought about upon waking yesterday.

Personally, nothing is easy anymore.  Where once I bounced out of bed and made my way through the day with nary a thought to pain, or stamina, or strength, now all that has changed. I must plan my day and my way around my pain, and reduced stamina and strength. The days are much more difficult than they were.

But beyond just a personal level, nothing is easy anymore. We live daily with wars and rumors of wars, pandemics, inflation, famines in various parts of the world, mass shootings, deadlocked politicians, homelessness, and hopelessness.

When I think about nothing is easy anymore, I must admit that nothing in this world has ever really been easy. It just seems more widespread and intense in these latter days.  But like the promise of God’s covenant yesterday—that there will always be a springtime and harvest—we have the promise of our Savior Christ Jesus, “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]

No matter how difficult this world gets, nor how difficult our personal lives become, Jesus is with us. We can be courageous because He has conquered it all!

We can rest in that until we see Him face-to-face.

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Hot

by TerryLema

I woke up this morning with two thoughts racing through my mind. First, summer is on the way. I hate the heat.  (I will write about the second one tomorrow.)

Consider this my annual whine about summer.  I know many people love the warmer weather. I am not one of them.  I much more prefer cooler temps.  If I could find a place that was 50-60 degrees year-round, I might even consider moving!  At least here in Idaho, there are four seasons. We have both hot, cold, and in between.

There is a covenant promise found in Genesis 8:22: “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.” [HCSB]

That promise was given to Noah following the flood. God even confirmed that He will remember that covenant whenever the rainbow appears in the skies. “The bow will be in the clouds, and I will look at it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all the living creatures on earth.” [Genesis 9:16 HCSB]

I, too, remember the LORD’s everlasting covenant when I see the rainbow in the sky, but there is one other rainbow that thrills my heart this morning. It is found in Ezekiel, Chapter 1. Ezekiel had a vision of the Glory of the LORD. In that vision, he saw a rainbow.

“There was a brilliant light all around Him. The appearance of the brilliant light all around was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the form of the Lord’s glory. When I saw it, I fell facedown ….” [1:27b-28 HCSB]

One day, we will stand before that throne. We will see the Glory of the LORD. I think, just like Ezekiel, we will fall down and worship the One who loves us so much. In the meantime, the rainbow will remind us of Him.

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How Many Favorites?

by TerryLema

I noticed that I often use the phrase, “one of my favorites” when I am writing about a passage of Scripture. As I started to write that this morning, I began to laugh as I wondered, “how many favorites can I have?”

When reading my Bible, it seems I have many favorites.  Maybe a favorite is simply one that speaks to my spirit at the time. So, as I was reading “one of my favorites” this morning ….

That favorite is found in 2 Chronicles 20. King Jehoshaphat of Judah found himself in a difficult situation when a group of enemies (Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites) came to do battle with him.  Jehoshaphat was afraid, but he resolved to seek the LORD. [vs 3]

When he and the nation finished praying, the LORD sent a promise through a Levite, Jahaziel.  “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” [vs 15 HCSB]

The next morning Jehoshaphat and the people got up early and went out where the battle would be fought. All that seems pretty normal for Judah until you get to verse 21. That is where the “one of my favorites” enters. Jehoshaphat appointed some to sing for the LORD and some to praise the splendor of His holiness. In other words, the king formed a choir—then sent the choir out in front of the army.  What general sends a choir into battle first?

The choir sang, “Give thanks to the LORD, for His faithful love endures forever,” and the moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set an ambush against the opposition and “they were defeated.” [vs 22]

I do not know what battles you are facing or will face. I do know that in the midst of any battle, it would be well to remember “one of my favorites” and face the battle with shouts of thanksgiving and praise to the LORD.  Remember, “the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

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