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promises

What Are You Looking For?

by TerryLema March 31, 2023

Last Sunday Pastor Laura’s message was out of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal found in 1 Kings 18, from verse 40 to the end of the chapter. Finally, Elijah gets to tell King Ahab of God’s promise to send rain, “…there is the sound of a rainstorm!”

God had given Elijah that promise before the confrontation on Mt. Carmel. Now Elijah released the knowledge of God’s promise to the king.

But still, the sky was blue and clear, no clouds in sight. Seven times Elijah’s servant goes to look toward the sea to try to spot a rainstorm while Elijah bowed to God and prayed. Seven times! Only on the seventh time does the servant see a small cloud the size of a man’s hand “coming from the seas.”

Pastor Laura said something that resounded in my spirit. “If you are looking for signs of God’s promise, or if you are looking for signs of doubt, that is what you will find.”

She likened it to “new car syndrome,” and that is why it hit me so strongly. My daughter just bought a new Hyundai Santa Cruz. It’s an unusual vehicle, SUV combined with a pickup. There has been one parked outside a house around the corner from me, but I never noticed it until I saw my daughter’s car. Now I see them everywhere!

What are we looking for … God’s promises or our doubts – because whichever it is, that is what we will find. For me, I want the Promises of God in my life. I want to keep my eyes on the things God has promised. I have waited a long time to see God’s promises come to fruition – I don’t want to miss out now!

March 31, 2023 0 comment
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Precious Promises

by TerryLema March 26, 2023

I am spending a few days in Peter’s Second Letter. I am in verses 3-8, titled in my Bible, “Growth in Faith.”

Yesterday I wrote about verse 3, which reminds us that God’s divine power has “given us everything required for life and godliness.”

Today it is verse 4 because, as if it were possible, there is even more! “By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.” [2 Peter 1:4 HCSB]

Not only do we have everything required for life and godliness, but we have “very great and precious promises,” so that we may “share in the divine nature.”

Our nature is what we are. It is our character, our individual personalities. We are born with Adam’s nature, a fallen sinful nature that has a natural proclivity towards pleasing ourselves. In other words, we live “My Way!” and are proud of it.

When we surrender to Christ Jesus, we undergo a radical spiritual transformation. We are new creations in Christ Jesus, born again in His divine nature. No longer do we have to answer to that old sinful nature, now we can live to please God, desire His desires.

We are children of God; His Holy Spirit indwells us. We now have the power to live “His Way!”

March 26, 2023 0 comment
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God’s Promises

by TerryLema August 2, 2021

Fear is all around us. We see it promoted every day in the media, by our politicians, in social media and in books, movies, videos. The world, the devil, even our own flesh in its rebellion want to keep us immobilized by fear. When the “spirit of fear” enters our life, it seeks to steal, kill, and destroy our spiritual growth and life.

To overcome it, we must instead replace it with the “Fear of the LORD.” That requires us to know God and His attributes. It requires us to reinforce the promises God has given us for our life. Sometimes that means going over them again and again until they take root in our heart and drive out all doubt.

Psalm 91 is our 911 Song. It teaches us that God is our refuge, strength, fortress, protector. It tells us all the things God protects us from (verses 5-10) and how we are victorious in Him (verse 13).

In addition, Psalm 91(1) gives us eight promises of protection.  Read verses 14-16 and as you do, make them personal.

“I will rescue you…” (God will rescue us and give us a way of escape)

“I will protect you…” (God will protect us; He will set us in the cleft of the rock)

“I will answer you…” (He will hear our prayers and He will answer us with His goodness)

“I will be with you in trouble…” (He will never leave us nor forsake us, no matter the distress)

“I will deliver you…” (He will deliver us from all the darts and attacks against us by the enemy)

“I will honor you…” (He will make us to sit in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus)

“I will satisfy you with long life…” (He will take us into His presence for all eternity)

“I will show you my salvation…” (He will grant us freedom from sin, shame, guilt and one day will wipe away every tear, take away all pain, and banish death to eternal hell)

If we focus on those eight promises, we will learn that we can trust in God and not be afraid of the enemy of our soul, the world or even our own rebellious nature.

August 2, 2021 0 comment
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A Hope Without Wavering

by TerryLema January 6, 2021

If there is one “let us” phrase in the Book of Hebrews that stands out as we begin 2021, it may be this one:

“Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” [Hebrews 10:23 HCSB]

As Christians, we are called upon to hold on to the confession of our hope – without wavering. If there is one dynamic quality of Christianity, it is hope.  Our hope is secured by the One who is faithful to fulfill all – yes ALL – His promises.

We have the promise of salvation. We have the promise of everlasting life in the Presence of God Almighty. We have the promise of new bodies, of sin and temptation being dealt with forever. We have the promise of an inheritance in the saints. We have the promise of God’s abiding Presence and Attention with us now. We have the promise of being predestined to being conformed to the image of God’s Dear Son. We have the guarantee of all those promises in the Holy Spirit who was given to us at the moment of our surrender to Christ.

Because all those promises are anchored in God, who is forever faithful, we have a confession of hope that goes beyond the norm. To many, hope is merely wishful thinking. To the Christian, hope is certain and assured.

We have no idea what 2021 will hold for any of us. The world is “hoping” it will be better than 2020 but has no assurance that it will.  But whatever 2021 holds for us, beloved, we have a “confession of hope” that God will be with us, will guide us, will empower us, will keep us in His loving care.

Let us hold on to that confession of hope without wavering. It is our testimony to a world without hope! Amen.

January 6, 2021 0 comment
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What are you looking at …

by TerryLema September 18, 2020

The election is still a few weeks away, but it is certainly consuming the news, both the media and social media. What each candidate is doing or not doing, and saying or not saying, is NEWS! Everyone’s attention is on the election. By saying that, I am really saying that everyone’s attention is on man, and as we know, man can and most certainly does disappoint.

As Christians, we need to be careful we are being good citizens, voting according to Scriptural principles and doing our civic duty. However, we need to be even more mindful that we do not place our trust in man – we must not think our country will be saved or doomed by who wins this election.  As Christians, we know that God alone is our hope, He alone will not disappoint us.

Psalm 121:1-2: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”  [HCSB]

Our trust must be in the LORD God Almighty. He alone will never fail us, never lie to us, never change in mid-stream. He remembers His promises to us … and even more He keeps His promises! He will never betray us for convenience sake. He will never walk away from us. He does not have a hidden agenda.

God is all-knowing, He already knows who will win the election and just how that will fit in with His plan.

We must face this election knowing that human leaders and political parties are not the solutions to our ills as a nation or a church. Only the LORD is.  So, we focus our attention on God and God alone, and we pray and repent and try to walk close by His side.

Whatever the results, the LORD will have His Will and His Way. Amen & Amen.

September 18, 2020 0 comment
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Waiting on the LORD’s promises …

by TerryLema August 22, 2020

One of the important things about the two auto-immune diseases currently trying to make their home in my body is that there is the possibility that they will go into remission or even simply go away in 1-5 years. That is something I have been working towards, because as bad as they are, the side effects of the medication needed to keep the symptoms at bay are almost as bad. So, I take the medications and do the infusions praying for remission and healing.

I had a setback recently. After reducing the medication dosage following my infusion, my right temporal artery became inflamed again with throbbing eye and head pain, with the risk of losing the sight in that eye or suffering an aneurism. So, the medication dosage was raised again to a level that might be described as uncomfortable. It was disappointing.

Of course, that happened right between two Sunday messages on “waiting on the LORD’s promises,” as illustrated by the life of Abraham. What do I always say? “You have to live it before you can give it!” Okay, LORD, I am back to waiting again.

Psalm 27 is a song by David about the LORD our Stronghold. It begins, “The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom should I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom should I be afraid?” [HCSB]

 After David describes the wonders of the LORD as his stronghold and refuge and prays for God’s intervention in his life. He ends the psalm on both a certain assurance and a command to his own spirit. “I am certain that I will see the LORD’s goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait for the Lord.” [vs 13-14 HCSB]

So, I am back to waiting on my remission or healing. Like Abraham, and David, and so many before them, I am certain that I will see (and I do see) the goodness of my Savior and LORD, Christ Jesus now, and have the promise that there is so much more of that coming. And waiting in a green pasture by still waters is not all that bad!

August 22, 2020 0 comment
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What a Day of Rejoicing!

by TerryLema February 13, 2020

The church at Corinth was going through many problems. They were heavy problems, materialism, selfishness, lawsuits against one another, sexual sins. There were factions, false teachings and pride. These problems were the result of one central issue – the people of Corinth had brought the world’s ways into the church. They would not separate themselves from the life they lived before coming to salvation in Christ Jesus. Sound familiar?

Paul deals with many issues in both his letters and some of the most beautiful thoughts ever put to words are found there. One of the first things he does is remind us that there are eternal glories waiting for the believer that outweigh any “perks” we might find in this world. He begins with a quote from Isaiah 64:4: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” [1 Cor 2:9 NKJV]

Then he immediately adds the most marvelous truth: “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” [Vs 10-11]

God has given us His Spirit. His Spirit has the job of revealing to us the heart of our Father and the beauty of our Savior. He reveals to us what the Father has already done for us, provided for us and is reserving in heaven for us. The Spirit brings the resurrection life of Jesus to our souls and makes us alive. He provides the illumination of the Words of Jesus that keep us steady and secure.

And still there is much we won’t really grasp until we enter the very presence of God. Like that old song “When We All Get to Heaven” says, “What a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory!”

February 13, 2020 0 comment
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Pastor Terry Lema

Pastor Terry Lema has been married for 53 years, and has 3 children and 3 grandsons. Terry graduated from Trinity Bible College, and and recently retired as Lead Pastor at The Way Church in Middleton, Idaho.

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Pastor Terry Lema's Daily Devotions
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