Past Devotions

His Sheep!

by TerryLema

I am delighting in Psalm 95 as we approach Thanksgiving. The psalmist reminded us as he began his song that we are to shout joyfully and triumphantly to our LORD and God. Then he gave us the first reason to do so, because our God is Creator and Sustainer of this beautiful earth He has given us.

Then the psalmist gets even more personal. Not only are we to be shouting thankfully because God created this earth and now sustains it … we are to be in awe before Him because He created us and sustains us.

“Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care.” [vs 6-7 HCSB]

The LORD is our Creator, our Maker. He is also the one who sustains us … we are the sheep under His care. The Good Shepherd loves His sheep.

Does that not make you pause? The One who sustains mountains and oceans and galaxies cares deeply for the people of His pasture. He knows what is going on in our lives, in our bodies, in our everyday challenges and desires. And He cares.

When things become difficult or troubles arise, we often fall into the devil’s trap of thinking that God does not care, nor does He notice what is going on. We think He has abandoned us or is punishing us, but beloved, that is a lie from the pit of hell. When troubles arise and all around me seems dark, that is when God’s care is so abundant.

So, this Thanksgiving week, let us remember to worship, bow down, and kneel before our Creator and Sustainer. He is with us. He will never leave us. He will not abandon us. We are His. Amen.

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It All Belongs to Him!

by TerryLema

How about we stay in Psalm 95 for a couple days as we head on over to Thanksgiving this week?  Yesterday we looked at those first two verses, which urge us to raise our voices in joyful and triumphant shouts of thanksgiving.

Now just in case we cannot come up with reasons to be thankful on our own, the psalmist gives us a couple. The first reason comes in verses 3-5.

“For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. The depths of the earth are in His hand, and the mountain peaks are His. The sea is His; He made it. His hands formed the dry land.” [HCSB]

The LORD we serve is the great God, the great King. He reigns above all gods. He is creator, His Hands made everything. He is Sustainer, He holds it all together.

Last week I drove down a particular highway to get to my doctor’s office. That road heads straight toward our foothills and mountains, which at that time were covered with snow from a recent storm. That drive always makes me feel like I am heading into the sky, it always reminds me of my God. I feel like I could just keep driving and end up in heaven.

God surrounded us with such beauty on this earth. The mountains, the oceans, the deserts, the flora and fauna. As we survey the beauty He has encompassed us with, we can only imagine what heaven must be like!

This week take a moment and look around you. Look at the beauty God has given us, the vibrant colors, glorious landscapes, and ever-changing sky! And be thankful. He could have made everything brown! But He chose to bless us with wondrous beauty.

Thank you, Father. You are Amazing God!

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Whole Lot of Shoutin’ Going On!

by TerryLema

As Thanksgiving approaches, my email inbox is full of reminders to be thankful. They come by way of my daily verse, offers for e-greeting cards, Black Friday sales announcements, and offers to buy some “thanksgiving messages” from well-known ministries.

I usually do not pay attention to most, but I always read the daily verse.  One that came last week is very familiar, out of Psalm 95.

“Come, let us shout joyfully to the Lord, shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation! Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout triumphantly to Him in song.” [Psalm 95:1-2 HCSB]

I like the three reminders in this verse to shout. We are to shout joyfully to the LORD! We are to shout triumphantly to our Rock of Salvation. We are to shout triumphantly to God in song. Oh yes, and then there is that wonderful reminder that when we enter His presence those shouts are to embrace thanksgiving.

Those things may not be easy to do this year what with this virus-and-fear pandemic raising its voice around us constantly. And if we focus on what is going on in this world, we may not find a lot for which to be thankful. One local mayor has instituted strict restrictions, many local schools are going back to online learning, things are shutting down once again. Washington and Oregon have issued travel and quarantine guidelines that are severe. And California’s governor has issued a 10 PM to 5 AM curfew! (Lot of shouting going on about that!)

The church’s focus, however, is not to be on what is going on in this world. Her focus is to be on the LORD, our Rock of Salvation, our Savior and King. When we “see Jesus” and know how blessed we are to be called His, there should be a whole lot of shoutin’ going on – with thanksgiving!

So church, raise your voice. Let the world know that we serve a King who will reign forever and ever! Amen & Amen!

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Can’t Sleep!

by TerryLema

It is 2 AM and I am having one of my Prednisone insomnia moments. I laid in bed for a while thinking about Sunday’s message out of Hebrews 12 and decided to just get up and find my computer and write down some thoughts. I opened my online Bible since I was sitting in the dark and decided to read through a couple chapters of Hebrews just to get a feel for what led up to the portion of Scripture I was going to use.

I started in Hebrews 10 and got as far as verses 24-25.  “And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” [Hebrews 10:24-25 HCSB]

There are twelve “Let us” phrases in Hebrews, everyone rich with a command or encouragement for our walk of faith.  This one caught my eye quickly. It reminds us that like Epaphras from Colossae, we are to be concerned about one another, we are to gather together, and we are to encourage one another. The reason for these three things is that “the day” is drawing near.

As I thought about those things this morning it is clear that “the day” is nearer now than ever before, and that we are facing opposition just as those Christians Jews were facing when the letter to Hebrews was written. It is even more important now that we look out for each other.

In many places, we are forbidden to meet in places of worship.  The fear-and-virus pandemic has affected what we took for granted, that in this country our constitutional right to practice our Christian faith would always be there. To me that makes the “let us” commands of these verses even more important.

We must make a determined effort to check on each other, to make sure we are promoting love and good works even while under attack and opposed. We must encourage one another to keep running this race and not be discouraged that we run now in the face of resistance and even hostility. And while we may not be able to be together in-person, we can for the time being, be together online, and in spirit and truth.

Now let’s see if I can get back to sleep.

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Where the Glory Resides …

by TerryLema

I visited my primary physician this week. I am blessed to have a doctor who listens and takes the time to respond to all my questions and concerns. She is a delight and I know she has my back … she has told me that on multiple occasions. She will also be completely honest with me – even when it is difficult to hear what she has to say.

At one point in my recent visit I asked a question about the cause/correlation of these auto-immune diseases and if a particular surgery done about a year before they developed was the reason behind them. I said, “did I do this to myself?”

She smiled, looked at me, and said “you can put that guilt aside right now! Even if there is a correlation, you did not know, and you need to give yourself more grace and love!”

I left with the reminder that the Spirit of the Living God abides in me … that means I am a temple of the Living LORD and I need to love this house wherein the LORD dwells.

In Psalm 26, a prayer for vindication, David tells the LORD how much he loves the house where God’s glory resides. “Lord, I love the house where You dwell, the place where Your glory resides.” [Psalm 26:8 HCSB]

David was looking at a temporal dwelling place, built with earthly materials that would eventually deteriorate. But we have a different house … an eternal one where the LORD God Almighty dwells in the power and presence of His Holy Spirit.

We need to love ourselves with the same love with which God loves us. Not always easy, but I got a gentle reminder this week that it is abundantly necessary.

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A Great Light

by TerryLema

November 19

A Great Light …

Our daughter and son-in-love have been taking such good care of us. They come over and do the hard work, maintenance, etc., that we can no longer do. It is a labor of love for them and I pray they are richly blessed.

This week they came over and put up our outside Christmas lights and outside nativity set. (I will wait until after Thanksgiving to do the tree and indoor decorations.) But I wanted … maybe I needed … those lights outside my front window.  It seems that 2020 has been dark since March, and to be honest with the election strain and rising COVID cases across our region, there is not much hope of it getting better any time soon.

“The people who live in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the shadowland of death, light (the birth of a Savior) has dawned.”  [Matthew 4:16, Isaiah 9:2 HCSB]

Now I look out that window and I am reminded of a couple things.  First, how a simple string of small lights can make the darkness recede and bring the hope and joy of Christ Jesus into my life.

I am also reminded that while each light is extremely small and insufficient to be seen from far away, when they are strung together, they provide light bright enough to be seen for blocks.

I alone am insufficient to light the world, but when I join with other Christians, we can truly set this dark world ablaze. Hallelujah!

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” [Matthew 5:16 HCSB]

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Who am I?

by TerryLema

November 18

Who am I?

This is a week of doctor appointments for me. I see both my general practitioner and my specialist. I do not know what to expect from either one as I tell them that my body is falling apart from one of the meds I take, and that at times I think the “cure” is worse than the “disease.” I wonder if I will walk away satisfied with their responses or realizing once again that they do not really have any solid answers. This is a hit or miss response to diseases that are not clearly understood and treatments that are “the best” they can offer now.

I could get discouraged and think that life is one trial on top of another, but then I remind myself that this life is a temporary one and the gift that God has granted me is more than I ever hoped for or thought possible.  When life gets heavy, when pain threatens to overwhelm, or disabilities affect the things I really want to do, I am reminded that I am a Child of God. God-loves-me. God-wants-me. How-is-that-even-possible? I-know-what-I-am.

In 2 Samuel 7, David looks around at all he has and decides he wants to build a temple, a permanent dwelling place for the LORD. Initially the prophet Nathan agrees with him, but then God intervenes. He sends Nathan back to David with a word that David is not to build the temple because he has been a man of war, but his son will build it.

Then he tells David, “Your house and kingdom will endure before Me forever, and your throne will be established forever.” [vs 16 HCSB]

That word from God drives David into the LORD’s presence and David utters words that I too have uttered.  “Then King David went in, sat in the Lord’s presence, and said, ‘Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far?’” [2 Samuel 7:18 HCSB]

Who am I, LORD God … that You wanted me, gave me Your love and grace, and have brought me this far?  Why me, LORD?

No matter what life may throw my way … God has brought me “this far” and will continue His loving kindness to me until I stand in His presence. I think I may be saying, “Who am I, LORD God” throughout eternity.

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Epaphras, the prayer warrior …

by TerryLema

November 17

Epaphras, the prayer warrior …

One of the most interesting things about Christian maturity and Christ-like character is that we are to be praying not just for that in our own lives but praying for it in the lives of others.

As Paul closes his letter to the Colossians, he reminds his readers that one of their own, a man named Epaphras is praying for them. And not just praying, but “contending” for them to stand mature in the faith.

Colossians 4:12: Epaphras, who is one of you, a slave of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always contending for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured in everything God wills.

 That word “contending” is a strong word. It means to struggle, like you are engaged in an intense athletic contest or warfare. It is the root word for our English word “agonize.”

Epaphras was struggling, agonizing, for his fellow believers to stand mature in God. It was important for him to see others strong in the faith … enough so that he was “always” contending for them.

How often I have looked at immature Christians and thought, “they need to grow up,” without taking them to God in prayer. I admit I have been frustrated but failed to pray for them. I confess that and seek God’s help to be an Epaphras, one who contends in prayer for maturity in others.

Help me, Holy Spirit, to lift in prayer those who are struggling with maturity so that they might be all they can be in Christ Jesus. Amen & Amen.

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The Choice

by TerryLema

November 16

The choice …

Salvation is an interesting experience. I was saved in 1973 when I was 26 years old. That is almost 50 years ago. It took me awhile to realize just how interesting salvation truly is.

now know that salvation is really a three-part journey. When we are saved through the cross and resurrection of Christ Jesus, we begin our journey. We are instantly set free from the penalty of sin. Romans 8:1 is quite clear, “Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus.”

 When we exit this life into the very Presence of Christ Jesus, we complete our journey. We are saved from the presence of sin. Sin will be permanently done away with, not even a hint of temptation will exist.

As we walk thru this life, however, we are to experience a middle part.  God wants us to be sanctified, meaning being saved from the power of sin over us. We are to be growing in Christ’s character. We are to become mature in Christ.

Paul wrote in Colossians, “We proclaim Him [Christ in you, the hope of glory], warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”  [Colossians 1:28]

This middle part is not just for a few, it is meant for everyone. Everything we do, every choice or decision we make will form character in our life, whether intentionally or unintentionally. And that character that is developed from our choices will either make us more like Christ … or make us less like Him.

The choice to be like Christ is ours to make.

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How tall are you

by TerryLema

November 15

How tall are you ….

I have always wanted to be taller. I have always wanted to reach above the first shelf in my kitchen cabinets instead of having to grab a stool to get what I need. Short is not fun. And as I have aged, I have “grown” even shorter, by about two inches.

I have lamented being short when in crowds, trying to reach the pedals in certain models of cars and when surveying weight charts. (I really am not overweight; I am under-height!)

But there is a way that I can be tall. I can be tall in my faith stature. Paul, in Ephesians 4:13 sets a goal for that: “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into a mature [person] with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.”

 God provided the church with ministry gifts. Paul says they are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. They are given to the church to train the saints so they can do the work of the ministry and the body of Christ can be built up into that maturity of faith and knowledge that reflects the fullness of Christ. [Ephesians 4:11-12]

We, as Christians, are to become mature. If you read through the New Testament you will find a “maturity theme.” We are expected to grow in Christ Jesus. We are expected to be wise with the wisdom of God’s Indwelling Holy Spirit.

God gives us everything we need to be mature. We have the revelation of Him in His Holy Word, and we have His Spirit in us to lead, guide, and instruct. But … and here is the point … we must choose maturity and cooperate with Him. Only then can we achieve “a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.”

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