Past Devotions

He Cares

by TerryLema

When the disciples were in the storm recorded in Mark 4:35-41, they asked Jesus a question. “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” [vs 38 HCSB]

A violent storm had risen on the Sea of Galilee. That was not a rare occasion, the fishermen on this boat would have experienced many storms on this sea. This one, however, must have been especially bad as the disciples were sure the boat was about to capsize. So, they woke Jesus who was asleep in the back of the boat on a cushion.

“Don’t you care” they asked Him. What they were really saying was, “if you really cared about us, we would not be going through this storm.” 

Ah, how many times have I thought that! And I know lots of others who have come to me with doubts thinking the same thing. I love the LORD. I try to be obedient to what He asks of me. Yet, bad things happen. That is so common a thought that books have been written to try to explain why bad things, storms of life, invade the lives of God’s children.

I find it very interesting that Jesus did not answer the disciples’ question. He did not remind them how much He cared for them. He did not explain why they were in the storm. Jesus simply quieted the wind and waves leaving a terrifying calm, then asked them a question.

“Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?” [4:40 HCSB]

Jesus displayed His power to His disciples, power over the creation He brought into existence. And by His actions both in the storm and later on the cross, Jesus displayed to His own just how much He cares.

Peter, one of the fishermen in that boat that day would later write, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.” [1 Peter 5:6-7 HCSB]

 

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Don’t You Care?

by TerryLema

One of my all-time favorite events in the life of Jesus (perhaps my favorite all time event) is The Storm in Mark 4:35-41. It was the text for last Sunday’s message.

Jesus had been teaching the crowds from a boat along the shore. When evening approached, He told His disciples to go the other side of the lake. They set out and one of those Sea of Galilee storms arose. This storm was so violent it threatened to sink their boat. The disciples were bailing as fast as they could.

Where was Jesus? In the back of the boat sleeping on a cushion.  Desperate, they wake him up with the question “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” [vs 38 HCSB]

Jesus never does answer that question. He gets up and tells the wind to “Quiet!” and the waves to “Be still!”. And they obey. The wind quiets immediately, and the sea becomes like glass. [vs 39 HCSB]

Ever felt like those disciples? Your boat (your life) is in the storm, and it seem you are about to be swamped. The heavens seem like brass, prayers go unanswered, all the while you are bailing as fast as you can against the rising flood.

Where is God? If He really loved you, would you be in this storm? If He really loved you, would He allow bad things to happen?

Two things to think about this morning. One, the disciples had done everything Jesus asked of them. They set out for the other side of the lake. They were in this mess precisely because they were obedient.

Two, in the storm Mark tells us the disciples were afraid. After the storm, the disciples were terrified! Why? Because Jesus was even more uncontrollable, more powerful than the forces of nature aimed at them. That’s both a terrifying and a comforting truth.

“They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’” [vs 41 HCSB]

Who indeed!

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“Thank you for … “

by TerryLema

A couple days ago (October 31), I wrote about how God invites us alongside Him to work for His will and His purpose. He does it all, calls us, empowers us, gives us His vision, and then when we accept His invitation to work through us, we get the rewards. God gave me a demonstration of that the other day.

I had a tooth suddenly become sensitive to cold and hot. I called my dentist. He was booked solid, but his associate had an opening. After testing the tooth for sensitivity and taking x-rays, it was determined that I needed a root canal. I started an antibiotic and went back one week later.

The root canal was not all that bad. The dentist is very good, hardly felt anything. I had a delightful dental assistant who tucked a blanket around me and was kind and considerate, funny, and very caring. When the dentist completed the root canal, he patted my shoulder and said, “Thank you for letting me help you!”

I was stunned. After 16 surgeries, numerous procedures, numerous root canals, office visits, infusions, and other such stuff, I have never had a provider thank me for letting him/her help me. I have gotten postcards thanking me for my ‘patronage,” but never thanking me for allowing them to relieve my pain.

In those few simple words, I saw my Savior and LORD. He moves into our lives when we are without hope, without help, without a future. He relieves our pain and gives us life. And in the end, when we stand before Him in glory, He thanks us.

There are rewards in glory, there are even crowns in glory waiting for us. Five of them are mentioned in the New Testament. (The imperishable crown, the crown of rejoicing, the crown of righteousness, the crown of glory, and the crown of life.)

Isn’t it amazing! Our LORD will one day say, “Thank you for letting me help you.”

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Coincidence?

by TerryLema

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
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At Last

by TerryLema

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!

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My Baby

by TerryLema

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.

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Christmas

by TerryLema

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?

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The Rock

by TerryLema

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!

 

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Always Right?

by TerryLema

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.

 

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Halloween

by TerryLema

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

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