Past Devotions

Confirmations!

by TerryLema

I am often amazed by the LORD. I will sense His presence with me and stop in amazement that He loves me and wants to be with me. He will do something unexpected and delightful (like that parking place!) and I am amazed that He cares for even the smallest things in my life.

Then there are the confirmations – perhaps they surprise and amaze me the most.

I had spent the last few days reviewing the resumes and listening to sermons of candidates applying for my position. I had picked my top three and sent them on to the committee chairman. Maybe I was thinking a bit about what the new year might hold for me.

Then in the middle of the night while I was in one of those times when I was not sure if I was dreaming or awake, I heard the wonderful verse from Jeremiah 29:11: “’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.’” [NKJV]

When I opened my computer the next morning, I checked one of my daily verses and just gazed at it. It was Jeremiah 29:11. God confirmed to my heart what He spoke to me in the middle of the night.

God loves us. He speaks to us often. He wants us to hear Him! He will confirm His word to us to assure us we are hearing correctly! Bless His Great Name!

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Seeing the Invisible!

by TerryLema

As I was reading in 2 Corinthians 4 yesterday about having the Light of the World treasure in our earthen vessels, I came to the end of that chapter and to verses that seem to take on more of an importance in my life as each year passes.

 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” [verses 16-18, NKJV]

Paul, a few verses earlier described his “light affliction” using words like “hard pressed,” “perplexed,” “persecuted,” and “delivered to death.”

Those words do not sound anything like “light affliction!”

The thing about those words that is extremely significant, however, is that they are “temporary.” They are what we see now, but they are not what we will see in eternity.

The eternal words found in those verses are “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!”

Whatever temporary light affliction we experience here remains here. Whether it is “hard pressed,” “perplexed,” “persecuted,” “delivered to death,” or cancer, ALS, old age, or anything else, they remain in the grave while we walk straight through into that “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!”

It is those yet unseen things that we live for now! Amen & Amen!

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Broken Vessels

by TerryLema

I have one more thought about light this morning. It is a story I have told often, so you are probably already familiar with it.  But it is a story that illustrates the light in us that I want to think about again today.

My grandson Carter and I used to love to go to the Boise Art Museum (BAM) on our frequent excursions around town when he was younger. We usually timed our visits to the arrival of a new exhibit. One of those exhibits was vases. Now looking at vases is probably not high on my list of things I want to spend an afternoon doing, yet these vases made more of an impression on my life than any other art exhibit I viewed.

The vases were all different sizes and shapes and were uniquely “decorated” with woodland and ocean scenes. I originally thought they were simply painted, but when we watched a video of their creation, I was awestruck.

First the artist made the glass vase. Then he proceeded to cover it with applications of color, one on top of another, layer upon layer – browns, greens, yellows, blues, reds … firing each one after application.

Then he scored the vase, digging down into each color by cutting into the layers of color to “create” a scene. Finally, a light was inserted into the vase so that the beauty was revealed. Light shown through each “scar” created. As I stood there the Scripture from 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 flooded my soul.

“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” [NKJV]

The Light of the World indwells us. In our earthen vessels, which are often beaten, scarred, and broken by life, He abides.

Often the more broken and scarred we are, the more of His light is revealed.

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Light on a Hill

by TerryLema

Jesus declared that He is the “Light of the World.” He said that if we follow Him, we “will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” [John 8:12 HCSB]

Jesus also said something even more amazing. In His Sermon on the Mount, He declared, “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.”  [Matthew 5:14 HCSB]

When I have heard messages about our being “the light of the world,” I have usually heard that Jesus is the like the sun generating light, and we are like the moon reflecting light. I am not quite sure that is the way I would define it since that seems to describe things that are “far apart” (like the sun and moon).

Surrendered believers are indwelt by the very Spirit of Christ Jesus. The true “Light of the World” takes up residence in our hearts (that is about as close as it can get!).

As we commit more and more to obedience and to His guidance, we “allow” more and more of the brilliant Spirit of Christ to be seen in and through us. We become like that city on a hill that turns on all its lights when the darkness falls.

As the world becomes darker around us, our light should become brighter.

That is our prayer, LORD Jesus. Amen!

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Victorious Light!

by TerryLema

The days are getting darker.  The first day of autumn was September 22. This is also known as the autumnal equinox. An equinox happens twice a year, in the spring and in the fall. The equinox is when the sun’s center crosses the equator and day and night are of equal length everywhere.

Since that first day of autumn, we have more dark in our day than we have light.  For many, that signals a seasonal affective disorder from lack of sunlight. Energy depletes and moods are less stable. Treatment usually involves adding light therapy to our days.

I actually like the change from summer to fall. I do not mind the darker winter evenings. Summer where we live with the heat and light until 11 PM at night is much harder for me to handle.

What started me thinking about light and darkness was reading John 8:12 this morning. “Then Jesus spoke to them again: ‘I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.’” [HCSB]

I was reminded once again that when I surrendered my life to Christ Jesus as Savior and LORD, the Spirit of God came to indwell. Now the “Light of the World” is the “light of [my] life.” I never need be in the dark again.

Our days are getting darker – literally since the autumnal equinox. And if we look at the climate of our world, we might say that our days are getting darker socially, politically, and spiritually.

No matter what is happening outside of us, inside our hearts the light of life always shines. Nothing can put it out, overcome it or diminish it. Christ is victorious over my darkness.

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Cravings

by TerryLema

My brand of COVID did not include losing my sense of smell and taste. It was, in fact, the opposite. The nausea and stomach upset seemed to be affected by an increased sense of smell. Even the wax burner with the pleasant apple and cinnamon wax (which I usually like) was disagreeable.

Since I am now in the recovery phase, I find that my food desires have definitely changed. All I want to eat are carbs. My dinner last night consisted of half a baked potato with a little butter, salt, and a skim of shredded cheese. I crave potatoes, rice, pasta, bananas, apples … and, of course, cookies.

None of those things make a good diabetic diet. Usually, I eat a little lean meat, lots of veggies, and some fruit.  Now I don’t even like to think about veggies. And meat – not so much. I hope this doesn’t last … I want to get back to managing my diet as I should.

I find in my recovery that I have another craving … this one is a delightful one.  I want more of the LORD today than I had yesterday. I look at each day now as a gift from God. I need to … I want to spend more quality time with Him.

The psalmist put it this way: “As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, God. I thirst for God, the living God.” [Psalm 41:1-2 HCSB]

I do not know “why” God allowed COVID into my life. I do not know “why” the fatigue seems to linger. Maybe it is to remind me that my longing for Him had waned a bit and my focus on Him had dimmed.

This morning, my longing and my thirst for the living God has my attention. Thank you, LORD. Amen

 

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Oh my …

by TerryLema

I had an appointment last Friday with my Rheumatologist. Just a standing three-month appointment. He is located in a neighboring town about 17 miles from our home. I decided to drive myself, but Bob came along for the ride – just in case.

We got into the building and took the elevator up to the third floor. As we walked into the lobby, there were about 20 young men, all extremely fit, sitting on the left side in rows. On the right side was my Rheumatologist’s office waiting room with one old lady on a walker (and then me with my cane).

I immediately wondered about the young men until I walked past them and saw the title of the office on the left – Sports Medicine.  That explained it.

The comparison – youth vs elderly – was striking. I was reminded how fast time seems to fly when we look back. The saying is true … “Days drag and years fly.”

Psalm 90 is a song of Moses. It speaks of the eternal nature of God and compares it with the frailty of man. One verse is probably recognizable to all of us. Verse 12: So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. [NKJV]

To “number” our days is an act of recognition of the vast difference between the Infinite God and finite humanity. The wise think continually about God’s existence and their purpose and accountability to Him. The wise continually pray for “a heart of wisdom” and are receptive to divine revelation/instruction. “Teach us” is the cry of their hearts.

We know that a heart of wisdom begins and ends with the fear of the Lord. This much is sure: it should make us value every day of our lives and spend each one in obedience to Him, and in such a way that it will count for eternity.

Teach us LORD. Amen!

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A Parking Place

by TerryLema

Last Tuesday I had to go for an infusion. Since getting COVID the first week of September, I had not driven much, and the little I had driven, I had Bob with me in case I got too tired. This was the first time I decided to drive alone. It isn’t very far, just a little over three miles. I thought that would not be too difficult.

The one thing I was a bit worried about was where I had to park and how far I might have to walk. The building houses a hospital as well as doctor offices and outpatient centers.  That means there are always a lot of cars and sometimes you have to park pretty far away. Fortunately, the location of the infusion center is on the first floor and not far from the entrance.

My plan was to simply drive over early, rest in the car, then walk in. When I pulled into the parking lot, a car was backing out from the closest parking space to the entry. Wow! I could not have gotten any closer had I reserved it.

As I sat in my car, I began to praise my Father for His great love and kindness. I know it might sound silly, but at that moment I sensed the LORD’s smile and His delight.

I love doing things for the people I love. I love surprising them with gifts when they least expected it. I love showing my love and delight in others. When I do these kinds of things, they always made me smile.

As I sat there, I knew God was smiling … He surprised me with a gift of kindness knowing my weakness.

It was just a parking space, but sometimes it is the little things that drive the deepest into our hearts. God’s smile. God’s kindness to His child that morning still brings tears of joy one week later.

Psalm 36:7: How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! [NKJV]

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Great is the LORD!

by TerryLema

Ps 145:3-5: “Yahweh is great and is highly praised; His greatness is unsearchable. One generation will declare Your works to the next and will proclaim Your mighty acts. I will speak of Your splendor and glorious majesty and Your wonderful works.” [HCSB]

Psalm 145 is a praise song of David. It seemed fitting to me that we should read this song today and do what it says in verse 5 … “I will speak [meditate] on God’s wonderful works.”

I was blessed yesterday to be back in church after five weeks dealing with COVID. I so missed the Family of God!

Is the church in America what she should be? No. But making no excuses, I will remind us that the church has often not been what she should be. And still, God. God has fought for her attention and has cured her over and over of her sin.

He has provided the rain of His Spirit when she was dry. He has blanketed her in a spirit of holiness when she was devoured by the world. He has overpowered her sin and arrogance with His love and grace, drawing her to a time of repentance. We call that revival.

I agree with David, no one can fully fathom God’s greatness. We simply experience it and commend it to others.

We have a choice on what we meditate on today. We can focus on all that is wrong, and there is plenty of that to fill our thoughts. Or, we can focus on the greatness of the LORD. We can speak to others of His mighty acts and spread the praiseworthiness of our God.

I choose today to do the latter. My God is able … My God has a purpose … My God, my God, is glorious in majesty and has all power. My God will fulfill His purpose for His church. On that I rest my hope.

Thank you, Father, that You have called Your church for Your purpose. Amen

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Testing

by TerryLema

Yuck. No one likes to be tested. Probably because being tested means being thrown up against the most difficult of adversities. They test cars and airplanes in re-created adverse weather conditions. Who would want to be in an airplane that hasn’t been tested against such?

I wonder how many times they drop phones, tablets and laptops while testing them in labs? Or how many times labs test appliances, both large and small, before they go on the market. Testing is important. I certainly don’t want to buy a slow cooker that doesn’t cook, or a pressure cooker that builds up too much pressure and explodes.

Often God will put us to the test. In Deuteronomy 8, Moses explained to the people why God had led them through adversity. “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna…to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD…. He gave you manna to eat in the desert…to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you.” [vs 2-3, 16]

God brought His people through adversity so that in the end, it might go well with them. He exposed them to what was in their own hearts, and that wasn’t very pretty. He showed them their rebellion, their lack of dependence upon Him. In their testing they often came up wanting. Even Moses was disobedient at Kadesh and ended up losing the Promised Land.

But there were some whose hearts remained steady. Joshua and Caleb, to name two. They kept their hearts centered on God, and in the end, it did go very well with them in the Promised Land.

Father God, give us steady hearts like Joshua and Caleb. Center us in You. Amen

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