I am going to be offline through August 12. My computer is going in the shop for a “spa day.” And Bob and I are spending time with family. I pray God ministers to you each day and gives you opportunity for prayer and praise.
God bless you all! I so appreciate you taking the time to read my daily thoughts. Terry
Yesterday I wrote that I came across two familiar verses from John’s Gospel this week. The first was John 1:12 and spoke of those who believe on Christ Jesus as LORD who have been given the “exousia” – the right, power, and authority to be children of God, birthed supernaturally of Him. That left me with such a sense of wonder.
But as enthralled as I was by that verse, I think the second one even more so. Jesus prayed for His disciples in John 17. The part of His prayer that left me awestruck was the first three words in verse 23: “I in them….”
Jesus was praying shortly before his arrest and crucifixion. He was praying for His disciples and all those who would come after them (you and I are included in that prayer). He spoke of sanctification, and glory and unity, but it was those three little words that brought me to tears today.
“I in them….” Jesus in me. Jesus in you. Jesus in us. The Creator of this universe, the Word of God, the One raised to the Right Hand of the Father, the One who is Alpha and Omega, deems to be “in” us by the power of the very Spirit of God.
It makes me cry out, “Why me, God? Why would you want me? I am a nothing as far as this world views me. A hyperactive child, a rebellious teenager, an imperfect wife and mother. I’ve been fearful and arrogant most of my life. I’ve not achieved any weight of glory in this world. I’ve made wrong decisions and done so many things I ought not have. I’ve been selfish and envious and things much worse. And You want me?”
Yes. He does. You see, it isn’t about what we were, it’s all about what He can do in us and through us. It’s all about “I in them.” Praise His Holy Name forever and ever. Amen.
I came across two verses in John’s Gospel that gripped me. One came to me through my Daily Bible Verse email this week, the other through my PC Bible Study Program. The first is John 1:12-13. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” [NIV]
The “right” to become children of God. The KJV uses the English word “power.” The Greek word is “exousia,” and carries with it the idea of authority.
Children of God. Children born supernaturally of God. I am not sure words can convey the sense of wonder I find in those few words. Christ Jesus has given those who surrender to Him, the “right,” the “power,” the “authority” to be children of God.
Me. You. Anyone. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done in our past. It doesn’t matter our social standing, our political affiliation, our financial situation. It doesn’t matter if we are sick or healthy, young or old, weak or strong. It only matters that we believe Jesus Christ is Savior and LORD, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Of course, that “belief” on Christ Jesus isn’t just words, it is a heart offered to Him, a life given over to Him. I remember a line in the chorus “I’m Yours LORD,” it says … “everything I am, everything I’m not.” That’s what we give to Him. And in return He gives to us the authority to be children of God, born supernaturally into God’s family. I know I got the best part of that trade.
I worked hospice for a few years and pastored for a lot more. I don’t think I would be exaggerating to say that I think I’ve seen it all. Let me toss out a few words and you’ll understand. Cancer. ALS. Alzheimer’s. Suicide. Murder. Accidents. Child Abuse. Domestic Violence. Infant Death. Most pastors could toss out the same words, and perhaps even more.
There have been times when I wondered how people could go on after experiencing such tragedies. When I get to thinking like that, I remember a phrase in a verse in 2 Corinthians, “the God of all comfort.”
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” [2 Cor 1:3-4]
I believe that the source of all comfort is God, that He truly is the Father of compassion. I believe that all comfort originates in and disseminates from Him, whether people are aware of that or not. When we display compassion, when we offer comfort to the wounded and hurting, we are offering them something straight from the heart of God.
I remember a lovely British man named David. He was living in a small trailer in a back yard, and he was dying. I visited him often. He refused to believe in my Jesus, but he still wanted me to come and talk. I would leave after each visit, devastated that I was unable to convince him of his need for salvation. I wept over him. I heard God tell me to continue to offer him compassion and comfort – as that may be the last time he’d experience that. Thoughts of David still make me weep.
Beloved, never hesitate to be God’s hand of compassion and comfort—even to those who might reject His salvation.
We had a BBQ after the service last Sunday at church. In the summer months, we try to have one monthly while the weather is still good enough for Bob to stand outside by the BBQ. I admit I have a love/hate relationship with these BBQs.
I can hear you thinking, “why would anyone hate a BBQ,” right? Well, it’s a lot of work. There is moving all the table and chairs, and then putting them all back for next Sunday. Getting all the food out and put away. And the cleanup! I’m usually tired before it starts because I’ve been on my feet for about four hours that morning already. Yep, I kinda hate these BBQs.
Yet, I also love these BBQs. I get to sit with people I love over a meal. We talk about things going on in our lives. We share about what the LORD has done for us. I cherish this time together. For me, it is one of the most precious times with our church family.
When Paul wrote a letter from prison to Philemon and the church that met in his house, he prayed that they would “be active in sharing [their] faith, so that [they would] have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” [Philemon 6]
There is something about sharing our faith with others that opens it wide for viewing. As our faith is displayed for others, it is also more “visible” and “alive” to us. We begin to understand even more all the good things we have in Christ Jesus. We see what God has done in and for us, and we see what He has done in and for others.
Faith expands in the sharing. It shrinks when we hide it out of view.
If I were to describe what I’m feeling this week, it would be eagerness. In five days, we head out to California to see friends and family. We are going to have breakfast with friends we haven’t seen in probably two decades, but whom we connect with on Facebook. I’m going to see my brother and his wife; it’s been a few years since we’ve seen them. And the best part, our family is gathering to celebrate the 16th birthday of our middle grandson.
Yes, eager is what I am. Eager to get packed. Eager to get on the road. Eager to get there. Eager to hug everyone. Eager to be right in the middle of all that joy.
Paul reminds Titus that Christ Jesus gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness. Christ purifies us and calls us a people who are His very own. Then he defines us as being “zealous” to do what is good. [Titus 2:14 NKJV]
The Greek word for zealous is “zelotes” – the word from which we get our word zealot. “Zelotes” comes from a root word which means “to have warmth of feeling for or against.”
When the NIV translators came to Titus 2:14, they translated “zelotes” as “eager.” Christ redeems for Himself a people that are his very own, “eager to do what is good.”
I think I like that translation better. Zealous often reminds me (and perhaps others) of negative feelings. Eager conveys to me that “warmth of feeling for” something. I should be as eager to do what is good, as I am to go see my family and spend time with friends. Yes, I vote for eager.
The shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival Sunday evening led me to Psalm 73. The songwriter was Asaph, and apparently, he was having trouble reconciling how evil seems at times to flourish, while the “righteous” are trampled upon. As he sorted through his thoughts, the Spirit of God led him to look into the future. There he saw the end of the wicked and compared it to the end of the righteous. He concluded that those who know the LORD as their Savior (AKA the “righteous”) have a far better end than those who don’t.
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” [Psalm 73:25-28]
I hope some of the phrases in those four verses grab your heart the way they grab mine. “my flesh and my heart may fail but…God is the strength of my heart…my portion forever….it is good to be near God.”
Wow. It is good to be near God. When we draw near to God, He draws near to us. He gives us strength to face each day; He is our refuge when trouble draws near. When it seems as if life has stripped us of everything, He is still our portion. And what a portion the Almighty One is! We may not have much materially, but we have contentment and great joy in Him.
When I think of someone who never had much materially, I think of my father. He never had much of this world, but from the moment Christ came into his heart, he became a rich man. Joy and a smile never left him.
Woke up Monday morning to the news that there was another shooting that left people dead and injured. It was at the Gilroy Garlic Festival and one of those dead was a six-year-old boy. Gilroy is in Northern California. I remember it as a quiet little farm town when we lived in California. It’s 88 miles from where my son, daughter-in-law and grandsons now live. I remember driving through Gilroy on several occasions – once when the garlic was being harvested. It was an aromatic experience to say the least.
Monday morning all I could think about was the evil that prompted such a senseless act. Thoughts like “What is our world coming to?” and “how can anyone do such a thing?” clouded my mind. I think the psalmist Asaph was having the same kind of morning when he sat down and wrote Psalm 73. He looked around and wondered what his world was coming to, and how evil seems to triumph over good. But before he ended his song, his attention was once more turned to the LORD God Almighty and he began to see not with his physical eyes, but with spiritual ones.
Asaph realized that knowing God Almighty gave him a far different future than those who did not. He said, “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.” [Ps 73:23-24]
If we only see this world with all its evil, we will live with hopelessness and in fear. But if we lift our spiritual eyes to the LORD and Savior of our soul, we will see that He is always with us. He holds us and guides us. And, however, we might exit this life – even by the hand of evil, our Father God will have the final say. He will take us into His Presence and glory.
I love music. I had musical parents. My mother played a mean piano. I can still hear her swinging out on “Just a Closer Walk with Thee.” My father could not play an instrument, but he played a mean record player. All kinds of music but especially Dixieland Jazz. And he loved to sing.
I learned to play the organ at that time when home organs became popular, but over the years lugging that organ around in our many moves became too difficult and we ended up giving it away. I miss that Baldwin!
Recently I purchased a used full keyboard. It plays like a piano. While I was never very good playing piano, I’m sitting with some old hymn and chorus books and playing music again – and loving it. I love the hymns and the choruses, both new and old.
There is an old hymn that was often played for altar calls, “Just as I am” by Charlotte Elliot. I love the words of the opening verse. “Just as I am, without one plea, But that thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!”
It reminds me how often Jesus invited us to “come.” He asked Peter and Andrew to “come, follow me.” He invited Peter to “come” walk on the water with Him. He invited all the weak and weary to “come” to Him and lay down their heavy burden in exchange for His light one. He told the disciples to let the little children “come” to Him. He invited His weary followers to “come” to a quiet place alone with Him to rest.
But perhaps there is no greater invitation than that one to come to His cross just as we are, asking for nothing from Him except His wonderful salvation. “O Lamb of God, I come, I come.”
It’s 6:30 Thursday evening. I’m in my PJs, sitting in my rocker. I have an ice pack on my sore neck and warm compresses on my blurry eyes. My glucometer is next to me because in about 20 minutes I need to check my blood glucose. My copper-fit sleeves are on my achy knees. Bob is on the couch with a small blanket over his shoulders. He alternately snoring and then snorting himself awake. A rerun of Wheel of Fortune is on the television and every now and again I’ll uncover my eyes to check out a puzzle. I’m laughing. How different my life is at 72 ½ from when I was 27 ½!
Yes, it is different. My body is certainly not what it once was. At 72 ½ it makes its limitations known daily. I need to adjust and accept the fact that I am not 27 ½ anymore and there are some things that are no longer within the realm of my abilities.
But … but … I am different in other ways also. My faith is stronger. I have almost five decades since 27 ½ where my Father God has proven Himself over and over. I have grown rich in His love. My Jesus is more precious to me now … I daily am reminded of His sacrifice for me. The Holy Spirit has given me wisdom. I recognize His voice as He leads me in the things of God. The Scriptures are even more alive than I could have imagined at 27 ½. I weep with joy more often.
And I readily understand what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
At 27 ½ I looked forward to the days ahead as I wondered what life would hold for me. At 72 ½ I am still looking forward, only now I know what life will hold for me … an eternal glory in the presence of my LORD and Savior. Praise His Wonderful Name.