Past Devotions

Someone said to me recently, “the days drag by and the years fly by.” Oh, how true!  I was thinking recently about three great vacations I’ve had in my lifetime. The first was a cross country trip with my brother and his two girls and my youngest son. We traveled from California to Pennsylvania in a small motorhome. It wasn’t a straight trip, it was ten days lazily traveling up through Wyoming to the Canadian Border states, and down through Indiana, Illinois, Ohio (the Football Hall of Fame!) and into Pennsylvania. It was a great time.

It was also more than three decades ago, thus I can understand David’s lament. “Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.” [Ps 39:4]

Earthly life is fleeting, whether it be 20 years or 120 years. Especially when we consider our earthly years in light of eternity. We only have a few and we need to make sure we seize every opportunity to be the kind of people God expects of us.

Three times in the New Testament, Paul urged his readers to seize the opportunities presented to them, Galatians 6:10, Ephesians 5:16 and my favorite, Colossians 4:5-6.  “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” 

When we allow Jesus to shine through us, we will have opportunities. People will ask, “how can you be so …” when they see our responses in trials, troubles, fears, and difficulties. And when they do ask, we need to make sure our responses are grounded in godly wisdom, grace and truth.

Have you ever wondered what the writers of the New Testament would think if they were able to be transported to our current time and culture?  I doubt if any of what is transpiring in our world today would shock them in the least. We think we are so enlightened, yet as Solomon said, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”  [Eccl 1:9]

Sin is sin is sin in any generation.  Sin just puts on the new clothes for each generation and culture thinking to disguise itself as something new.

I would, however, love to see James deal with social media!  After all, he wrote, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” 

But perhaps what I wonder about most would be what the New Testament writers would think if they were transported into our current churches. What would they say about us? What would they say about the fact that we call buildings, “the church?” Or that we “go to church” rather than “be the church?” I wonder what they would say about separating our “religious life” from our “secular life?” Or about the fact that some preach a gospel which ignores the virgin birth, the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus … that “other gospel” that Paul warned about.

Yes, I wonder what they would say about us today?

A few years ago this month, I took my then 18-year-old grandson on a trip to Washington, DC. We stayed one week, not nearly enough time to take in everything, but enough time to hit some of the highlights of the area. I especially wanted to go to Arlington Cemetery and be present for the Changing of the Guard. It was far more moving seeing it firsthand than I expected it to be from simply watching videos. I would love to go back and experience it again.

Luke tells the story in his Gospel of a visit Jesus and His disciples made to the home of a woman named Martha, her sister Mary and brother Lazarus. Martha, at one point during the visit complained to Jesus about her sister not helping with all the work that needed to be done. Mary, instead of helping, had spent the day at the feet of Jesus listening to Him. I can’t say I blame Martha for complaining. She had thirteen extra mouths to feed that day, and I can imagine that some of them ate a lot!

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” [10:38-42]

Too often this story is related as a battle between two incompatible ways of life. I don’t think it is that at all. Jesus doesn’t rebuke Martha for her service, in fact, the Gospel of Luke is all about service. Jesus rebukes Martha, in love, for her worry – which indicates her service needed to be grounded in the same kind of personal, firsthand, experience of love that Mary had chosen – the “what is better.”

The choice is not to be a Martha or a Mary. To serve the LORD is to be Martha and Mary. We are to generously serve, but always from a living, personal, firsthand, experience of knowing Jesus Christ our LORD. Service that flows from that will never have “worry” as its companion.

I am always amazed at what touches people when I write these devotions.  I try to be Scripturally correct. I try to explore word meanings or ideas that we may not readily think of.  I always try to encourage my own and others’ walks with the LORD Jesus Christ. I want to speak truth; but do it with compassion and kindness.  I know the Gospel is offensive to some; I know it is challenging to most. I also know that without that firsthand experience of knowing and loving Jesus, my life would be so much different, and not in a good way.

Still, I am amazed that often the devotions that seem to really resonate with people are the simplest—like a recent one from May 23 about my hugging a woman in a Cracker Barrel restaurant who missed her mom.  We were strangers and it was simply a compassionate moment between a mom who often misses her children, and a daughter who needed a “mom hug.”

I really should not be amazed, however, for it is often the simple kindness and compassion I see in Christ Jesus that most ministers to me.  Like the time he was approached by the leper who begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Mark tells us that Jesus was filled with compassion and he reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”  Immediately the leprosy was gone, and the man was cured. [Mark 1:40-42]

I often wonder when I read that story how long it had been since that leper had experienced a compassionate touch as the law dictated that anyone who did touch him would become unclean. Then Jesus came by, stopped to listen, and touched him. And in that touch, he was made whole. Sometimes it is simply a touch, or a hug, that ministers most.

This verse popped up this morning. Ps 138:8: “The LORD will perfect that which concerns me.” [NKJV]

The NIV translates it this way, “The LORD will fulfill [His purpose] for me.”

Then they both remind that the love / mercy of the LORD endures forever.

Occasionally, uncertain situations or circumstances can stretch out for long periods of time. Learning to trust the LORD while we are waiting to see the outcome can be difficult.  I would like to be able to say that my faith, my trust in the LORD is always absolute and perfect.  I really would like to be able to say that … but I can’t. Even at 72, after a half-century of serving the LORD, there are still times when my faith doesn’t measure up to what I think it should be.

It is during those times (one of which happened recently) that I need to remember that the fulfillment of God’s purpose for me is secure in Him.  The LORD will perfect, the LORD will fulfill. I may get a bit wobbly at times, but God remains steadfast in my behalf. He will make it happen.

My imperfect faith, my wobbliness, cannot change God’s purpose or His ability to perfect and fulfill it for me … it will only make me miserable in the waiting.

Once again, God proved Himself steadfast in my behalf. Once again, I made myself miserable while waiting to see Him do it. You would think after all these years I would have learned that, wouldn’t you?

It’s springtime in the Treasure Valley in Idaho, which means it’s also the beginning of wasp season. I’m not sure why, but this year the wasps seem especially plentiful. Overnight, they have their little mud nests built in every crack and corner.

Over the last couple weeks, every time I’ve gone over to the church, I’ve gone on a wasp search. Their coloring makes them almost invisible against our log walls and variegated brown carpet. I spray, wait for them to die, and then pick up their nasty little carcasses so no one will step on them. Before women’s fellowship last Friday night, I found five in the aisles and three in the nursery.

I remember a very simple little lady at the church in Loomis who would often show up just to tidy up the church, picking up little bits of trash that often got left. I was an associate pastor there and one day walked past a piece of trash about three times, never bothering to scoop it up and put it in the can. Then she came, headed straight to it and took care of it. I heard God speak to me, “she has pleased me greatly this morning as she did this in her love for me.”

I never forgot that lesson.  It doesn’t matter whether the deed is small (capturing wasps, picking up trash) or whether it is preaching to thousands. It matters the size of the love you have for His name and His people.

Heb 6:10: “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”  [NKJV]

Bob and I were in a Cracker Barrel restaurant the other evening. We were seated over in one corner. It was a weeknight and not very many people were present. We were quietly talking and laughing when a middle-aged woman exiting from the middle of the restaurant made a detour to our table.

She smiled as she looked at me and said, “I just wanted to stop and tell you how lovely you are and how much you look like my mother,” then she added, “She lives in New York and I miss her so much!”

I returned the lady’s smile and stood up. “I am a mother and I have a daughter,” I said, “do you mind if I give you a mom’s hug?”

There we stood in Cracker Barrel, two women, someone else’s mom and someone else’s daughter, sharing a hug. When she turned to leave there were tears in her eyes. (Bob just shook his head and smiled. I think my husband is finally getting used to me hugging strangers in public places!)

As a mom, I have often missed the hugs of my children when they lived far away or when I haven’t seen them for a time. I can understand how a child might miss the hugs of a parent. I also realize that as I have grown older, I might be seen even by strangers as more approachable. Or maybe, hopefully, they see the love, kindness and compassion of God in me.

Colossians 3:12: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

I remember from my English composition classes in school that when you begin a written work, whether a book, or poem, or short story, you need to grab people’s attention in the very beginning. You cannot wait until the middle of the piece for it to be interesting, most people don’t have that kind of attention span.

Paul must have had the same instruction because he really knows how to begin his letters. Ephesians is a prime example of that. After the salutation where he identifies himself and the people to whom the letter is being sent and offers a short greeting of grace and peace, “BAM!” he grabs our attention.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” [v 3]

Our God has blessed us (past tense). It’s a done deal.
His blessings are spiritual blessings. They are spiritual, which means they are supernatural. They are blessings, which mean they are bountiful.
He has blessed us with every blessing. There are no blessings withheld … we have them all!
They are reserved for us in the heavenlies where they are safely guarded in Christ. Nothing can destroy or steal them away from us. They are ours!

Yep, Paul got my attention this morning. Makes you want to read the rest of the letter, doesn’t it!

My inbox was full of free offers this morning.  I can buy a dozen Krispy Kreme’s and get another dozen free. With just Bob and me in the house, not sure we’ll partake of that.  Texas Roadhouse wants to offer me a free appetizer. I can choose from “Cactus Blossom (a breaded and fried onion), fried pickles, tater skins loaded with stuff, cheese fries, rattlesnake bites.”  Those all sound like they would send my blood sugars through the roof.

Every morning my inbox is filled with “free” offers.  I can get a “free” chapter of a book but must later pay for the rest of it.  I can receive a “free” sermon outline, well just the first part of it, and if I like it, I can pay for the remainder.  Few of these “free” offers are things I really need.  Or want. They are simply tailored to attract my attention and then get me to spend my money.

My Creator, however, knows what I really need and His “free” offer really is free. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”  [Rom 3:23-25]

I have often had that verse recited to me, usually with the focus on “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” part. That is important, but this morning I’m focusing on the “justified freely by His grace” part.

We all need God’s salvation. None of us match up to the Holiness He requires. And none of us can earn it or buy it with our “good” works. If it is not “freely” given by His grace, through what Christ Jesus accomplished on the cross … we will never be able to afford it because on our own we are spiritually bankrupt. (Oh, and His offer truly is free! All of it!)

I am surrounded by wonderful Christian women at The Way Assembly of God in Middleton.  At the Women’s Fellowship last Friday, the women literally surrounded me and prayed for me. I had been battling a bad attitude, a little impatience (maybe a lot of impatience), some uncertainty and other such things as I’ve waited for a situation to be resolved. None of the ladies knew any of this, they just spontaneously (under the guidance of the Holy Spirit) told me to sit in the chair and they gathered around and prayed.

Early Saturday morning I left for my worship walk. I turned on my music and headed out for a new subdivision across the way from my own. There are a few houses built in one section, but they’ve just finished all the sidewalks and streets in a new section yet to be opened for construction. I knew I’d be able to get my two miles there.

At the end of the first mile I began to sing and pray aloud. I felt an overwhelming sense of godly sorrow and began to repent and ask God for forgiveness. I wept, a lot. [2 Cor 10:11]

How could I have doubted God’s care for me … no matter how the situation is resolved. How could I have become impatient with a God who graces me with so much patience. How could I have let a bad attitude take root, knowing how much God loves me.  I’m not sure “how I could,” but I did.

By the end of my second mile, I knew my bad attitude had lifted and my heart was once again right with God. What happened Saturday morning in my soul began Friday night in a “prayer chair” surrounded by wonderful Christian women who heeded God’s call to pray over me.  I am so blessed. So very blessed. To be loved by God. To be surrounded with these Christian ladies. Thank you!

2 Corinthians 1:11:  “…you help us by your prayers…”