Past Devotions

Thank you, Jesus, for …

by TerryLema

I was reading a book recently and one of the chapters ended with, “Thank you Jesus for ….” The book’s author thanked Jesus for a spiritual truth and then thanked Him for chocolate!  I chuckled, especially since I often reach for spiritual truths and a bitter chocolate square on a difficult day.

It is April, about five months past Thanksgiving. Maybe we have been slacking a bit in our response to God for all He is doing in our lives. I think I have. My attention has been on other things the past month and my thanksgiving and praise has ebbed a bit.

I had my 11th infusion on Tuesday. Do I feel any better than after my 10th? Not really. Thank you, Jesus, for doctors who are concerned and trying to find a solution for my auto-immune diseases.

I have had my 2nd COVID vaccine and was able to go to California and spend time with my son, daughter-in-love and grandsons. Was it enough time?  Nope. Thank you, Jesus, for those that developed that vaccine that enabled Bob and I to go to California and hug our loved ones.

I woke up this morning with aches and pains from the disease and side effects from the infusion. Does my body hurt. Yep. Thank you, Jesus, for walking with me today, for letting me sense Your Presence with me on these difficult days.

All our bills are paid for this month and there is a little left over. Do I worry about paying the bills after I retire from the church? Yes. Thank you, Jesus, for my “daily bread” and for the assurance that I need not borrow trouble from tomorrow since today is all I need to concern myself with.

I am thankful today, Jesus, for the blossoming spring flowers, for the beautiful blue sky, for the everyday beauty around me.  I am thankful that I have family and friends that I love and who love me in return. What a glorious day to be alive in the LORD!

“Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” [1Thessalonians 5:18]

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Great! Awesome!

by TerryLema

In Deuteronomy 10, Moses renews the covenant between the LORD and Israel as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The second half of the chapter outlines what God requires of them. The opening sentence sets the standard.

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear the Lord your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul?”  [vs12 HCSB]

 Our God never changes, so that standard applies to us as well. It is one we all work towards, yet none is able to achieve. That is why the Father sent His son. He lived that standard and when we place our faith in Him, He imparts that righteousness to us.  I am so thankful for that!

But the verse that impacted my heart this morning is found right in the middle of that section. Amid all the requirements outlined, Moses reminds us of the nature of our God.

“For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and taking no bribe.” [vs 17 HCSB]

Great! Mighty! Awesome! Showing no partiality and taking no bribe!  In every country, the rich, powerful, and politically connected are favored, but the common person is not. Often the rich and famous escape punishment, not so with the poor and unknown.  But that is not how God responds.

God is impartial, it means He will not bend nor ignore His holy standards for certain individuals. He saves everyone who believes in Christ Jesus. They do not have to do any good works in order to get to heaven. All are saved the same way, by grace alone, through faith alone and in Christ alone.

How can we not love and worship and serve such a God!

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The Bible

by TerryLema

I was reading a meme on Facebook recently about a Gallup poll. It began, “Americans revere the Bible-but, by and large, they don’t read it – Gallup.”

The post concluded that ministers of the Word cannot assume people will be familiar with the Scriptures, even well-known ones. One minister commented that we have our work cut out for us.

There are probably many reasons why people do not read their Bibles. How many have you heard?  “I don’t have time.” “I don’t understand it.” Etc. Etc.

There is a reason, however, that few will admit to, but it may be the primary one.  It is found in Hebrews.

“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.”  [Hebrews 4:12 HCSB]

The Word of God is alive and powerful. It is also sharper than a sword. And, as such it judges the thoughts and intents of our hearts.  The Word of God judges us, we do not judge the Word.

The Word of God reaches deep into our souls. It compares our outward parts with our hidden ones. It makes us see ourselves as we really are. To see ourselves in the Word usually highlights a need for repentance and change.

While that can be a difficult experience, it is the only thing that will set us free.

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One Big Toe

by TerryLema

Our main goal in going to California recently was to celebrate the 12th birthday of our youngest grandson.  We hoped to surprise him, and we certainly did!

One perk we had not counted on was that his older brother, a senior in high school, was finally going to be able to play football. (High school sports have been shut down in California for a long time because of COVID.)

When we arrived on the field, I felt an immediate urge to pray for our grandson to be kept safe from injury. This young man has a football scholarship from Arizona Christian University to attend in the fall.

The first play in the game, a player on our grandson’s team ran the kickoff back for a touchdown. Our grandson was sent in to hold for the kicker for the point after. The kicker missed, and our grandson was injured when a player from the opposing team leveled him illegally. He had to be helped off the field. The trainer was called, and our grandson had a dislocated big toe. The trainer popped it back into place and our grandson played the rest of the game.

An x-ray followed the week after, along with a c-scan, and much conflicting information before it was decided that there were no broken bones, but a tear in the ligament and some tissue damage. Thankfully, he probably will not need surgery, but he is in a cast for a month and cannot put any weight on his foot. That will be followed by physical therapy before he can get back in the game.

It was a big toe. One big toe. It is taking him out of the game for a while, and when any player is missing, the team is diminished.

That reminded me that all it takes to cripple the Body of Christ is one big toe being taken out by the enemy of our soul. We all depend upon each other in the Body of Christ. We may not be eyes or ears or heart or lungs, we might just be one big toe … still when we are taken out of the game, everyone is diminished.

We must pray for and watch out for each other; it is imperative if we are to be victorious.

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Everyday Miracles

by TerryLema

Our God is a miracle working God! I truly believe miracles are all around us and we just do not always notice them. When we do see them right in front of us, it amazes us—often beyond measure.

I saw a miracle on Monday when we drove into Reno to go to our hotel.  We needed to exit Highway 80 onto Highway 395 South. That exit is a bit confusing when it is not under construction. It can be dangerous when it is.

There are three “right-turn” exits there, one onto Highway 580, one to Highway 395 North, one to Highway 395 South. Bob got in the wrong lane toward 580 and had to correct. After moving over one lane he was still in the wrong one, heading onto Highway 395 North. When he realized his mistake, he faltered a bit. And in those few seconds, we ended up in the middle of both exits, with a car on our right and one on our left and a concrete barricade right in front of us.

I thought we were goners, there was nowhere to go. Miraculously the car on our right shot ahead as we swerved into its lane. We missed the car by inches, and the barricade by a couple feet.  After catching my breath, I began to praise God.

In those few seconds I did not have enough time to utter a prayer, shout a praise, offer thanksgiving – but God performed a miracle anyway. He made a way for us out of what could have been a fatal accident.

Do I believe He is a miracle-working God?  Yes. Do I believe in His faithfulness to us? I definitely do!  He must not be finished with us yet; we are here this morning to do His will because He made a way where there was no way!

Hebrews 2:4: God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to His will.

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What were you thinking?

by TerryLema

In 1995 a famous Hollywood actor and a sex worker were arrested for “lewd conduct in a public place.” The actor’s first public appearance following that arrest was on the Jay Leno late-night show. When the actor walked out and sat down, Jay simply looked at him and asked, “What were you thinking?”

I have always admired Jay Leno for that wise question. It broke the tension and there was no accusation nor animosity in it. In fact, we have probably all looked in the mirror and asked ourselves that question at some time in our life. “What were you thinking?” I know I have, multiple times!

I have that question on my mind this morning. A few things have happened recently that brought that question into focus.  However, I am not asking myself “What were you thinking,” I am asking God.

I am in good company asking that question of God … the Psalmists also asked it, although they phrased it a bit differently. They asked, “Why?”  (Psalms 22, 42, 43)

I do not know what kind of a response the Psalmists heard from God. I know God has seldom answered my “Why?” questions. Usually, I just feel His love around me as He softly whispers, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” [Hebrews 13:5]

For much of life, the answers to “why” types of questions are not given immediately. We can look back and see how God moved in difficult times or see how those tribulations and trials caused us to grow spiritually, but as for immediate answers … they are few and far between.

Today I am asking God, “What were you thinking?”  But, I am not expecting an answer, just the assurance of His presence with me.

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One Bright Yellow Mum

by TerryLema

The family in the house across the street was here before we moved in. At the time they had a young daughter and son, they now have two more daughters and one more son. We have been across-the-street acquaintances since 2007.

The eldest daughter and I often wave or call out to each other. She has graduated from high school and gone to work. She bought a shiny red car about a year ago and it is evident she takes great pride in it – it is always shiny!

A few days before we left for California, I saw her standing in the driveway looking at her car. She was in her pajamas and wrapped in a blanket. When I went outside, she called out to me that she had been in an auto accident. As I walked across the street, I saw that the driver’s side of her car was smashed in, her window broken. She told me that she was initially life flighted to a local hospital. She had severe whiplash and a concussion. She was holding her left arm close to her chest and you could tell she was in pain.

I asked her if I could pray with her. She agreed. I asked God to heal her body, comfort her mind, give her peace, and take care of her car. I never asked who was at fault in the accident. I just prayed and hugged her gently.

The evening before we left, she showed up on my doorstep with one bright yellow mum. She thanked me for praying for her and said that she went in the house after our meeting and was crying when she told her mom about our “driveway prayer.”

One of the greatest privileges we have as Christians is to come before the LORD to lift others up in prayer. We never know what others are experiencing, or how deeply a simple prayer might touch their lives. We should never miss an opportunity to not only prayer for, but to pray with someone.

1 John 5:14: Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

 

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Fifty-four Years

by TerryLema

Today Bob and I have been married 54 years. Bob always joked that we picked that day so he would remember when our taxes were due. It has turned out to be the other way around. When the taxes are due, he remembers it is our anniversary!

It has not always been easy. I always joked that while we never talked divorce, we did consider consulting hitmen on occasion.

Some of the years were better and some worse. We have been richer and poorer. We have been healthy and we have seen sickness. Old age is creeping in on us with all its difficulties and now at 81 and 74, we require a lot of patience and love just to get through many days.

We have moved 22 times in those 54 years and made the leap from California to Idaho, to California again for two years, and back to finally settle in Idaho.

We raised three wonderful children. We now adore and enjoy three precious grandsons.

Somewhere in those 54 years we both came to know Christ Jesus as Savior and LORD. I went to Bible College. Bob worked hard in construction to support us, not the easiest nor most comfortable and stable way to earn a living.

We can see the past but have no idea of what the future might hold.

And through it all God has been faithful.

“God is faithful; you were called by Him into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” [1 Corinthians 1:9 HCSB]

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Do you want to be rescued?

by TerryLema

I saw this humorous story in an encouragement email I receive monthly. It made me chuckle – and think!

“A shipwrecked sailor spent several years on a deserted island. One morning he was thrilled to see a ship offshore and a small boat pulling out toward him! When the boat arrived, its occupant handed the marooned sailor a bundle of newspapers and said: ‘With the captain’s compliments. He said to read through these and let us know if you still want to be rescued.’”

Looking at just the headlines this morning, if I were that shipwrecked sailor, I am not sure how I would answer when the captain gave him the option of being rescued or not.

Our Father, through His Son Christ Jesus, made the way for our rescue from death and condemnation. (We celebrated that rescue on Resurrection Sunday.)

Now He invites us to come to Him by faith through the grace He provides. He invites us to be reconciled. Even though we are enemies, He has made a way for us to become His Children.

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” [2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV]

Like that shipwrecked sailor, however, we have the option of accepting that rescue offer (reconciliation!) or spending the rest of our lives (and all eternity) shipwrecked.

The choice is ours. This is one time it is imperative we choose wisely.

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