July 5, 2026

What Does Hope Look Like?

 We have this hope as an anchor for our lives, safe and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.

-- Hebrews 6:19 (HCSB)

What does hope look like? I'm not talking about a big theological debate. We know that Jesus is our hope. But what does it look like?

Sometimes hope means I don't have to always know the answer. I don't have to fix everything that is broken around me. That includes me.

Hope holds on tightly to the soul, to my soul, and says that today is enough. When I look too hard toward the distance, my chest tightens with anxiety and fear. I can't imagine what the days will become. I certainly never expected any of this.

Our nation is in turmoil, led by a liar who would be a king. We have forgotten how to disagree without hatred, violence, and bigotry.

Our Christian "values" have turned more toward bowing to a ruler that isn't Jesus. We tolerate everything Jesus fought against because our hearts fear change. What about us, we cry. But what about Jesus? What about hope that today is not the forever we long for.

The United Methodist Church split, both claiming theological issues. But how can we claim one verse over another? And how can we forget Paul's message to the Corinthians about loving each other? It was never intended to be the "wedding Scripture". It was meant to teach a church how to love one another even when we disagree.

Sometimes it feels like I lost my country and my church. Yet I gained something far more valuable. The hope I knew has become the anchor that settles my soul for the journey.

People leave. They lash out. They hold themselves up and yet push others down, telling everyone how right they are. It's so sad. Jesus said to love people. How is hatred and condemnation even in that conversation?

Yet, there is hope. We are to fix our eyes on Jesus. Anchor ourselves in His Word. Forget about the politics of life and those who preach words they do not live.

We have one King. One Lord. One Savior. He doesn't live in Washington, D.C. He doesn't reside in any particular church building. He lives in our hearts and He beckons us forward.

We are headed home. That is our hope and our secure foundation.

June 28, 2023

 

God is Faithful

 

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. – Hebrews 11:1

 

I struggle to see. Some days are worse than others but every day is frustrating. It was not what I expected in this season of life.

 

Isn’t that how it often is in our faith journey? Just as we enter a season of strong faith, we find ourselves rocked by yet another challenge. We do believe; Lord help our unbelief! (Mark 9:24)

 

Gratitude fills my heart. It could be so much worse. I know that. I am blessed that I can see some. I can still read, which is huge for me. And I am so, so grateful for a doctor willing to send me to a specialist who diagnosed my eye disease. I could easily have gone blind without that diagnosis.

 

Still, sometimes as I list my blessings, my heart wants to delve into self-pity. Isn’t it enough that I already deal with the side-effects of chemo? Must I add yet another issue? Then I look around and remind myself once again that I am truly blessed.

 

I know that God is in this place. I count blessing after blessing, the most important one being that He never, ever left me. When my world fell apart, He was there. When I was being blamed for sins that weren’t mine, He was there. When I was afraid of the future, He was right there.

 

We lose sight of that sometimes. We forget that God holds us tightly throughout our journey. He knows exactly what we need, and who we need, before we even realize it. God takes care of His own.

 

Several years ago we had some sweet friends going through a terrible trial. He was a pastor who’d lost his church. It got ugly as the pastor stood firm in his faith. During that season of renewal, God provided jobs and strength. Now this same pastor serves a church that adores he and his family. God has blessed them more than they could ever imagine.

 

What I remember most about his season of grief, is his attitude. He told me that God held him in the palm of His hand and there was no better, no safer, place to be. (Isaiah 49:46) He was so right.

 

I don’t know what you’re going through right now but know that God is there with you. Have faith that He sees you and has good things planned for you. (Jeremiah 29:11) Hold tight to your hope because He is faithful. Always. Forever. Faithful.

January 4, 2018

Take the Step

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. – Hebrews 11:8

The New Year is calling to us. It is inviting us to new places, new adventures, new roads to travel. Are you heading out or hunkering down?

Abraham didn’t have to go when God called him. Abraham could have said no. God gives us the freedom to make choices, good or bad, as we live life on this earth. Abraham chose to follow God, even though he had no idea where he was going or what challenges he might face.

In a very real sense, Abraham took a chance on God. He believed God and the promises God had made to him. We look at those passages in the Bible and, still, we hesitate on the calling God has made on our own lives. We explain that times were different then. We rationalize that Abraham was a very special person and, thus, much more qualified to follow God.

Except that we’re really no different than Abraham. We’re special because God made us. We’re qualified because God provides all that we need to accomplish the task He sets before us. The difference between us and Abraham? Faith.

Somewhere along the line we’ve gotten the notion that following God should be easy. We’ve come to believe that stepping out in faith should come without hardship and doubts. We truly think that God’s calling doesn’t involve actual work or sacrifice on our part. Where in the world did we get that belief? Certainly not from the Bible.

Jesus promised that in this world we would have trouble. I know. It’s not what we want to hear. We want an easy life filled with blessings and little to no heartache. That’s not the life Jesus promised. That’s just not reality.

Faith means we trust God when we can’t see the way forward. Faith means we trust God when doubts set in and naysayers abound. Faith means we trust God in the storm, certain that it will pass and God’s blessings will come in abundance.

Faith also means understanding that our journey here is not about us. Sure, God wants us to enjoy life. But this life He’s granted to us really isn’t about us. It’s not. But we sure do have a hard time with that, don’t we?

Putting God first doesn’t fit with who society tells us we should be. Isn’t life supposed to be about us? Isn’t it supposed to be fun, filled with blessings, with little to no sacrifice on our part?

This isn’t our home. We know that but sometimes we have a difficult time wrapping our minds around it. We are restless, hungry for something more but we can’t seem to understand that we’ll never really be content so long as we live on this earth.

So, what has God called you to do in this New Year? It’s probably won’t be an easy journey. It might not be something you particularly want to do. It might require sacrifice and hardship and skills you never thought you had. Do it anyway.

December 30, 2018

Where Were You Today?

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. – Hebrews 10:24-25

Once again they’d taken the boat and gone fishing. It was Sunday. She and her husband, their kids and their friends were all on the lake. It was a fun day.

They just felt so close to God on the lake, she explained. It was no different than being in church, she rationalized. They were enjoying God’s creation. It was all good.

Except it wasn’t.

Attending services on Sunday morning is about worshipping God. It’s about remembering who He is and all that He’s done for us. We pause and remember to praise God for all things.

Going out on the boat with friends and family for a day of fishing is all about us. It’s about enjoying ourselves. Sure, we’re enjoying God’s creation but it’s not about Him. It’s all about us. And that’s the difference between going to church and going to the lake.

I could substitute any number of activities for fishing on the lake. The beach is also a popular place for a Sunday trip. And we deserve to sleep in at least once a week. Doesn’t a lazy day watching movies sound good? We’re supposed to rest. Surely, God understands.

Do we understand when God delays in answering our requests? Do we make excuses when He says no? Do we believe that God is much, much more than a vending machine whose sole purpose is to grant our every wish?

It’s not about us. Oh, we know that. Except we don’t always act as though we believe it. We don’t live as though we believe it.

I’m all about having fun and enjoying life. God wants that for us too. But there has to be a balance. God must come first. Always. Because when you put the desires of the flesh before the worship of our Creator, your heart slowly turns away from God. He becomes an option and, well, options get moved further and further away from priorities.

What did you do today? Our services, and those at other area churches, had extremely low attendance. People are tired. People are traveling. People are otherwise occupied. Jesus’ birthday has come and gone and we’re back to normal.  Self is first. God is a distant option somewhere down the line.

The body of Christ is to gather regularly, to worship God and to encourage one another in our faith walk. When church attendance becomes an option, we’ve lost sight of our purpose.

December 10, 2018

Prophets

The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. – Deuteronomy 18:15

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. – Hebrews 1:1-2

We think of prophets as those who lived in the times of the Old Testament. They shared God’s words, proclaiming judgment and telling the future. Could prophets exist today? Absolutely!

The dictionary defines prophet as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God. These are not people who are clairvoyant. They aren’t people from the devil. They are God’s servants, proclaiming God’s Word.

Our pastor noted recently that there are many prophets in the storm-ravaged areas of the Gulf Coast. There are many prophets in the fire-decimated areas of California. There are prophets who work with the homeless, those fighting depression, those suffering from illness and substance abuse and violence. We don’t call them prophets but they are most definitely teaching others about Jesus.

It’s the prophets’ job to help us see God’s grace. It’s their job to point us toward hope in any and all circumstances. They help us refocus on Jesus.

The Israelites, much like us, put their hope in what they could see. Jesus told them they would be persecuted, that they would be betrayed by those closest to them. He spoke of anguish and terror. He said that heaven and earth will pass away but His words never will.

We don’t want to hear His words. We trust in our homes, our families, our bank accounts. We are assured that we can handle whatever happens. Until the day that everything is gone and our lives are filled with destruction and pain.

The prophets come to remind us that though we have suffered we can survive. The prophets tell us that God loves us and will restore us. Prophets see Jesus in the worst of circumstances and steady us as we struggle with shattered faith.

Life isn’t so much about the mistakes we make or the circumstances that destroy what we once held dear as it is about how we cope with those situations. We all make mistakes. And horrible things happen that are beyond our control, like a wildfire or a hurricane.

How do you handle it? Do you avoid dealing with what happened? Do you attack others, turn to drugs or alcohol, or become dependent on another person or circumstance? Or do you pray and seek wise counsel? Do you adapt to your new circumstances? Do you fill your life with friends and music and exercise?

There are pastors and lay people who have flooded the areas hard-hit by storms and fires. Some of them are victims themselves. They offer real help in the form of food, shelter, clothing. But, more importantly, they offer hope. They remind us that while Jesus never promised an easy life, He did promise to be with us through every trial. Prophets remind us of the hope we find in Him.

October 3, 2018

Show Mercy and Grace

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. – Hebrews 4:16

He mocks those who mock, but gives grace to the humble.

– Proverbs 3:34 (HCSB)

She isn’t well liked. She’s the first to point a finger at anyone who makes a mistake. And she’s the first to respond with denial if she’s the one who made the mistake.

She’s quick to judge but not so quick to show mercy. No one ever meets her standards. All of her coworkers have been on the receiving end of her nasty comments.

She’s not a boss. She’s not even a supervisor. She’s a co-worker with less experience than everyone else in her department. Her attitude sends a different message. She thinks of herself as superior to everyone else.

The saddest thing isn’t her attitude. The saddest thing is that her attitude simply covers up a deep insecurity. She feels like people look down on her. She talks about discrimination. She’s determined to “prove” she’s better than they are. All she proves is that she’s got a mega chip on her shoulder that has cost her job after job. She doesn’t understand grace or mercy or compassion.

As Christians, we think of grace as a gift from God. We can’t earn it through works or money. He gives it to us when we believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

What if we offered grace to others? What if we showed compassion, not because they deserved it or had earned it, but because of Jesus? What would happen to their hearts? What would happen to our hearts?

Where does mercy fit in? What is it? Because mercy and grace aren’t exactly the same thing. I think now to the movie War Room. One of the main characters had done something illegal. He’d confessed and made retribution. The company owner had a choice: forgive or call the police. He chose to forgive. Would you have made that same choice? Would your hard heart have softened when you encountered genuine repentance?

How often do we have the option of offering mercy or condemnation? Do we fail to forgive an offense, choosing instead to “punish” the offender? Or, after a sincere apology and changed behavior, do we grant mercy and forgiveness?

This young woman thinks she’s being smart and tough and strong by lashing out at others. She’s actually being weak. She doesn’t understand the concept of being part of a team. She’s doesn’t understand grace and mercy. And it shows in the vicious words she throws out.

She wants to get ahead in the workforce but she won’t. Who wants an employee who’s so divisive? Who wants to promote someone who won’t take responsibility for mistakes? Does it sound like anyone you know?

The next time someone you know makes a mistake, offer grace. Be merciful. I know. It’s not always easy. Do it anyway. Grace and mercy have a way of coming back to you in ways you never expect.

May 15, 2018

Let It Go

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

– Hebrews 12:15

Bitterness makes an awful companion. It will cloud your thinking, harden your heart, give the devil a foothold into a life dedicated to God.

The dictionary defines bitterness as anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly. It is also resentment. It is a small kernel that, if not dealt with, will grow into an all-consuming thing that directs the paths of our lives to a place we never intended to go.

In the Christian faith, we talk a lot about forgiveness. We forgive not because the other person deserves it but because God forgives us. We forgive because of what Jesus did for us, dying a cruel, merciless death, so that we would be washed white by His blood.

We don’t deserve mercy. None of us deserve forgiveness. But it’s what God gives us anyway when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. That kind of puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? When we complain about the sins of others, about the unfairness of it all, we are condemning ourselves.

I can do all things through Christ. That’s what the Bible tells me. But I am prone to give it to God, then take it back again and again. How about you? Every time we replay the offense over in our minds, we are filling our hearts with anger and bitterness yet again.

Don’t sin in your anger. That’s another jewel from the Bible. Anger causes us to be people of hate rather than people who reflect God’s love to the world. We can’t get past old wounds because we’re too focused on the very real hurt.

Forgiveness doesn’t make it all okay. Nor does forgiveness mean you should always invite those people back into your life. It took me a while to understand that. Some people simply aren’t safe to be around. One of those Pinterest posts reminds us that if God removes someone from your life, don’t chase after them. God did it for a reason.

Letting go can be hard. We want to defend ourselves. We want revenge. We want that lost dream restored. Walk away. Cleanse your soul of the filth that situation caused and move forward toward God’s calling.

Bitterness will only destroy you and cause you to sin repeatedly against God. Let it go. You are called to walk in freedom from the sins of the past. That happens one step at a time.

April 20, 2018

Embrace Sabbath Rest

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

– Hebrews 4:9-11

It’s a study I need. Desperately. It’s titled Breathe and it’s led by Priscilla Shirer. What’s the topic? Sabbath rest. Or, maybe I should just say rest. It’s about God giving us permission to rest.

Wow. There is power in that. Freedom. We know about Sunday. We talk about the day of rest. We just don’t think it applies to us. We haven’t earned a rest. We have too much to do. And don’t forget the kids. Their activities never cease, even on Sunday.

I’m not sure where I acquired the notion that it’s not okay to rest. Maybe it came from my parents, who questioned me pointedly if I sat down for even a moment to rest. I was expected to always be working, to always be serving, to always be doing their bidding. Few people realized how long my days were.

Now my parents are gone but their voices linger in my head. I don’t want to be lazy. I can’t be lazy. There are too many animals to tend, a farm to manage, and an income to earn. But I am tired. And I feel like I can’t sit down with a book or magazine and simply rest. Even on Sunday.

How about you? When do you rest? I know there are people who veg out in front of the television. We always hear about those people. I don’t personally know any of them. The people I know are too busy juggling life’s demands to sit down and do nothing, even for a short period of time.

I look at our children and wonder if they will ever understand the concept of rest or Sabbath. They attend school five days each week. They also have ball practice or dance or other after school activities. Even Sunday is now filled with dance competitions or ball tournaments.

I asked one mom, “When do they rest?” She looked at me as though I’d lost my mind. “Oh, they enjoy it,” she assured me.

Seriously? How can they not be tired? They never have down time to simply play and enjoy being a child.

It’s a vicious cycle. And we don’t want to set boundaries, for them or for us, because what would people think? Do we truly believe that the more we do the better people we become? Do we think we have to fill every waking moment with some activity?

I get it. I do. I’m there with you. I’ve only made it through one week of this study and my eyes have opened. It doesn’t mean I’ve changed my behavior. That’s a habit that will take some time to reprogram. But it really does reveal to me how destructive being busy all the time can be.

It also tells me that God never intended for any of us to be overworked and stressed all the time. He created Sabbath for us to rest and recharge. God modeled that behavior for us. He gave us the freedom to do nothing for a time. We have His permission. It’s time to embrace rest, to allow ourselves to be filled up again so that we might continue the work God has called us to do.

March 31, 2018

Hope Is Coming

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. – Hebrews 6:19a

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. – Isaiah 53:3-4

Today is the day in between. We have suffered through Good Friday but we haven’t yet seen the miracle of the Resurrection. We our lost, alone, abandoned. Where is hope in the midst of our circumstances?

If you’ve never experienced deep betrayal, harsh words thrown at you, sudden illness, even death, then count yourself fortunate. Jesus warned us that in this world we would have trouble. We see it all around us. We ache from the pain that rips our hearts apart.

We forget that He also said, “I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) We are not lost or alone or abandoned. Hope is coming. Jesus is coming. We just have to get through today.

In the deep valley, it’s sometimes hard to see the sun coming up on the horizon. We look around and see only darkness. The path is rocky, the way unclear. We have been abandoned, rejected by those closest to us. Lies surround us and we wonder if the truth will ever raise its head. It will. Hope is coming.

He was despised by those who didn’t understand. Jesus was mocked and ridiculed. He came to save us all from our sins but we wanted no part of it, of Him. We wanted to live and be a part of this world. We were greedy, arrogant even, in our demands. Until the moment it was all gone. Why did we fight so hard for something we were never meant to have?

This world is not our home. We hear that and nod in agreement. We know what we’re supposed to say, what we’re supposed to believe. Yet we live as though this is all there is. We puff up in self-importance, refusing to acknowledge that it was never about us.

Hope is coming. He hung from a cross. He died so you and I wouldn’t have to spend eternity separated from God. All we have to do is believe, to put our trust, our hope, in Him. Why is it so hard to let go of the things of the world in order to embrace the inheritance that awaits us in heaven?

Maybe we don’t really believe. We know the answers but our hearts tell a different story. Our actions push aside what really matters. We live with our eyes on the prize before us rather than the home that awaits us.

Hope is coming. Jesus was arrested, ridiculed, rejected and abandoned. And yet He loved us enough to conquer death and offer us a way to salvation. Hope in the midst of darkness. Hope in the midst of pain. Hope in the midst of rejection.

Reach out. Don’t you see? There is light just over the horizon. Hang on. Hope is coming.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

What Are You Waiting For?

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

-- Hebrews 11:8

The other day I came across a reporter’s notebook. It wasn’t one of those flimsy things newspapers doled out back in the day. This one was nice, with a hard cover and lines that were spread far enough apart that you could actually see what you wrote.

It was, no doubt, a gift. One I treasured so much that I’ve kept it all these years. One that I’ve held on to, waiting for the perfect story, the perfect moment, to use it. As I flipped thru those pages filled with nothing, I realized that a perfect moment would never come because ir doesn’t exist. And I’ve wasted an opportunity to use something I cherished because I waited too long.

I think we view the gifts God gives us like that notebook someone gave me. We treasure it. We hold it close. We marvel in gratitude at the rightness of that perfect gift. And we never use it because we’re waiting for a perfect time that’s never going to happen.

Many of us had childhood dreams of a glorious adult life. Some lucky ones, people who followed their call, reached the mountaintop. Others, like me, waited for a better day. And now I look back, amazed at the years that have passed while I’ve waited for a perfect time.

The simple truth is that critics will always abound. Their names may change but their voices are the same. I’ve got to move toward God’s call on my life despite the negative comments and putdowns.

I will never have enough time to do all the things I long to do. Not because the longing isn’t there. And not because I don’t work hard. But because for every thing I do, there are 10 other things that pop up on that long to do list. The list keeps getting longer and my time keeps getting shorter.

Why is it that we wait to live until it is almost time to die? What are we so very afraid of? Because fear is at the root of procrastination. We could call it a million other names. Laziness, busyness, practicality, steadiness. We don’t want to leave the comfort of what we know for the dream that may never be. We’re more afraid of failure than of remaining the same.

Abraham didn’t know where he was going when he followed God’s call. He didn’t need to know. Abraham trusted God. He believed in God’s character. He knew that God could do anything and that God would keep His promises. Abraham had faith. What about you?

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Our Lives Should Reflect Jesus

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. -- Hebrews 4:13

Do you ever wonder if others see the motivations of your heart? Do you see your own motivations? Are you honest with yourself? Do you look in the mirror and see what you’re really doing and why?

I am forever amazed by some of the things really good people do. I know. We’re all human. We all make mistakes. None of us are perfect. But what really gets my dander up is when a Christian who prides himself on living his faith does something wrong and then laughs it off.

I’m sure Satan is having a wonderful time with it all. This man who volunteers with a jail ministry one night a week, who brags about always spreading the gospel, did something to benefit himself financially while hurting others. And in so doing, he really diminished his voice for Jesus.

That’s what happens when Satan gets a foothold in our lives. It’s something we all have to guard against. And put me at the front of that group. I am aware every single day that Satan is working hard to silence all Christian witnesses. One of the best ways to do that is to discredit those who speak for Jesus.

Another man just resigned his job because he’s being investigated for an illegal real estate transaction. It would be sad under any circumstances. Taking money from local taxpayers hurts all of us. But the saddest thing is that this man really supported and encouraged programs to help people turn their lives around by developing a relationship with Christ.

So who loses? Well, obviously he does. But what about all those who believed what he said about living right and living for Jesus? What about all those who believed him when he said the way out of a past filled with drugs and theft and violence was to make a commitment to Jesus? Now you and I know that anyone can falter. We understand that Christians are still sinners. But what these new Christians see, what those on the edge of belief hear, is that Jesus doesn’t really work when it comes to living a different kind of life.

Which brings me back to the first man. He knows he did something wrong. I believe he does. I just don’t think he cares. It’s like there’s a separation between what he does for Jesus and what he does for himself. He doesn’t want to admit that his business ethics -- especially when his actions harm others -- make people not want to hear anything he might have to say about Jesus.

We don’t fool anyone when we shove Jesus aside when it comes to how we handle our business affairs and financial dealings with others. Our lives reflect Him. And if they don’t, we’ve got a problem.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

God’s Anger Nothing To Laugh About

Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief?

-- Hebrews 3:16-19

The room filled with laughter as they shared a joke about those Israelites with no sense of direction. Take a look at the map, one said. How could they not find their way? They really didn’t have that far to travel and yet they kept going in circles.

Ah, I think they missed the point. And the lesson. And let me tell you from experience, missing the lesson is never, ever a good thing.

The Israelites didn’t keep missing the Promised Land because they were directionally challenged. They kept missing it because God said they would wander in the desert until those who sinned against God died. Period. They weren’t getting in the Promised Land. No way. No how. Wasn’t happening. Because God said so and God doesn’t lie.

God knew their sin just as He knows our hearts. Why do we think we can pull something over on God? Why do we think we’re in control? Why do we believe -- even jokingly -- that we could have found the Promised Land even though God clearly said no?

It’s that arrogance that will get us into trouble every time. Because we get to thinking we’re smarter than we are. And that we can do anything we want. That we’re in control. That we determine our own destiny. And that we don’t need God as much as everybody else does. At least not when it comes to the details of life.

Yeah, the details. All those little things that add up and make a life. We’ve got the details covered. Or so we think.

Until we lose that high-paying job. Until we get sick. Until we’re in a wreck. Until we find out our spouse is having an affair. Or our child is on drugs. Or until our best friend betrays a confidence. Or, well, it doesn’t matter. Or does it?

Because it’s the details that can really destroy your life. It’s the details that can derail your dreams and send you to your knees. It’s the details that make you realize how little you really are and how very big God really is.

The Israelites didn’t make it to the Promise Land because they doubted. They didn’t trust God. We’re in danger of the same thing when we doubt God’s power in our own lives. God is mighty and Sovereign and Creator and Protector. He is everything, in the details or the big stuff. It’s nothing to laugh about. Just ask the Israelites.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Stay Strong Against Temptation

Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

-- Hebrews 2:18

Jesus was a homeless man. He was rejected and ridiculed. Threatened. Betrayed. Insulted. Murdered.

We try to gloss over all that as we see this God-Man who suffered so greatly for us. We don’t really want the details, unless it’s in a movie and everyone else is going. Even then, we convince ourselves that all that drama is, well, drama. Not real. Surely, not real.

But it was. And He did. And because He did, Jesus understands our broken hearts. He also knows that we can resist the temptations that lead to excuses that always end in disaster.

Oh. You weren’t expecting that? Well, we’ve always got an excuse when we do something we knew ahead of time we really shouldn’t have done.

Mistakes are natural. We all make them. But it’s what happens after the mistake that makes all the difference. Do we admit our mistakes, take responsibility, change what we can and move on? Or do we hide behind excuses, wallowing in internal guilt even as outwardly we deny responsibility?

I know. Jesus is, well, Jesus. He’s perfect. But because He came to earth as the Son of Man, Jesus was tempted in all the ways we are tempted. And He resisted. He did not sin.

It wasn’t easy. It couldn’t have been easy. No one could suffer that much abuse, give that much of Himself, and call it easy. But Jesus found strength in His Father. Our Father. He spent time every day with the One who is I AM.

That is the key. Jesus spent time every day with God. Alone. He poured out His agony. He sought advice. Guidance. Strength. He was One with His Father and Jesus called us to be the same.

We all face temptation. Those who say otherwise are only denying themselves and the reality we all face. It’s easy to say “walk away.” Because sometimes we can’t walk away when temptation is all around us.

We aren’t supposed to remove ourselves from this fallen world. We are to be the light amidst the darkness. How do we avoid that slippery path downward? Look to Jesus. See the Father. And surround yourself with people who do the same.

Satan loves to tempt those who belong to Jesus. It is not an easy path but we can find strength to stand and to begin again when we fall. Find it in Jesus and the Father. Every day.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Live Today Like It Was Tomorrow

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. -- Hebrews 12:2

What captured your attention today? Was it some gossip at work? How about the latest sports scores? Did your child have a recital? Or maybe you splurged and went shopping?

What part did Jesus play in your day? Was He an active participant in your day? Or did you even consider Him as you focused on more immediate things?

Because we tend to think that we’ve got time to spend with Jesus. We can read that extra Bible passage tomorrow. We can go visit that elderly relative over the weekend. We can donate to the food pantry next month. We can show kindness to a stranger when we have a little more time.

What happens when all those tomorrows are suddenly gone? You have today. This moment. That’s it. Maybe you’ll have the next moment. Maybe not. Because life doesn’t come with guarantees.

You know that of course. We all do. But knowing it in our heads and understanding it with our hearts is two very different things. We are fortunate if we never learn that firsthand. For most of us, that lesson came way too early.

I am forever amazed at the reckless way we sometimes treat our lives. The other day a young man sped by me on a two-lane road. And I do mean sped, as in a high rate of speed. I said a silent prayer that I wouldn’t come upon his car wrapped around a tree. I did pass him 20 or so miles down the road. A state trooper had stopped him. I wonder if he learned anything about showing more care for his life. Somehow I doubt it.

I think death really is the only thing that awakens our minds, our understanding, that today matters. A co-worker hurrying home to have lunch with his wife slams into a truck pulling out from a side road. The end. No second chances. No goodbyes. Just a life cut short by a tragic mistake.

Or a blood clot weeks after successful heart surgery. No warning. Just simple conversation followed by … nothing. Death can be as quiet as it is sudden.

So our challenge is to do today what we mean to do “someday.” Our goal is to live our lives focused on Jesus, doing what is important and taking time to live intentionally. Easy? Not at all. But necessary once we come to understand our purpose and our reality.

So pass on the gossip and spread a little kindness. Cheer on your kids and visit your relatives while you still can. Toss a football around with a friend. Collect food for the local food pantry. And give a stranger a kind word just because you can. Live today as you always intended to live tomorrow.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Show Jesus To Others All Year

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

-- Hebrews 13:16

The day after is always a bit of a let down. The presents are all opened. Did you get what you wanted? Are you headed out shopping with your gift cards snuggly tucked in your wallet? Are you disappointed yet again?

Christmas brings such excitement in to our lives. We look forward to Jesus’ birthday, of course. But it’s so much more than that. Families travel to be together. Friends reach out to friends. And, what’s so much more important, strangers reach out to strangers with love and kindness.

Then the day after Christmas, it all seems to end. We forget to be generous and compassionate. We forget to be nice to our family and friends and, yes, to strangers. We forget to be jolly and bright. We misplace the wonder that fills our hearts when we recall that first joyous night.

Why? Christmas may just be one day but Jesus Christ remains alive each and every day of the year. If He lives within each and every one of us -- and I pray that He does -- then why only celebrate His birth and not His life? Why not live as He taught us to live each and every day that we walk this earth?

Maybe the letdown comes because during the weeks before Christmas we’re focused on other people and not ourselves so much. We’re trying to find the perfect gifts for those we care about. We’re donating our time and money to various charities. Maybe we’re even adding a few strangers to our dinner table, all in the name of good cheer and a small baby boy.

So as we stand on this first day after Christmas, let’s all decide to remember that it lasts all year long. Let’s remember to be kind to those around us, to see good and to give generously. We can smile a little brighter, sing a little louder, laugh a little longer. We can reach out to the friends we don’t yet know and welcome them into our hearts and our homes. We can remember that the family and friends we do have deserve our best. We can love with the heart of Jesus and show others that He lives within us every day of the year.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

God Fills You Up

Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful and please God by worshipping him with holy fear and awe.

--Hebrews 12:28

Why do you go to church? Do you show up on Sunday mornings to worship God? Do you come because you were taught to attend church every week? Are you coming to see everyone and be seen? Maybe get the local “news”? Is it because of the kids? Or your in-laws? Have you ever even thought about why you attend church?

For those of you who rarely attend church, why is that? What are you avoiding? Who are you avoiding? Maybe you don’t want to spend time with God? Maybe you’ve lost sight of the reason for attending church? Maybe you’ve convinced yourself it’s just a social thing that you’d just as soon skip. Maybe you’re not willing to give up that extra sleep to honor God?

Church is all about God. Or it should be. It’s an opportunity for us to gather together and worship our Creator, our LORD, our God. We have a chance to tell Him again how much we love Him. In this country, we can do that without fear that we’ll be arrested or persecuted in any way. It’s just so awesome.

It’s also important to remember that the church really isn’t the building. That’s what we call it but the Bible refers to the church as the people. Yeah. That’s right. Me and you and other believers gathered together to worship our Mighty God.

I used to stay away from church because of all the hypocrites I knew who attended. I finally came to understand that church wasn’t about them. It’s about God and my relationship to Him. I am blessed when I show up and let His Glory wash over me with music and message.

Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites. -- James 4:8

Many Sundays I’ve grumbled when the alarm went off. Some days I’ve really not felt like going to church. Life has beaten me down and I just want a day off. But as the music begins and the words wash over me, slowly my foul mood washes away too. My heart opens and He feels me with His love and peace. I’m glad I made the effort. I’m glad I showed up. What about you? Will you show up this morning? Will you let God fill you up?

Friday, September 2, 2011

God Builds A Worthy Future

For every house has a builder, but God is the one who made everything. -- Hebrews 3:4

This year has been a difficult season in my life. It has been filled with broken promises and plans that were blown apart by others -- again and again. I’ve clung to my Rock but I am most definitely wind tossed and drenched from the waves crashing against me.

I realized just how shaken I was the other night when I spoke with a friend. She wanted to plan which fall craft shows we would be heading out to over the next few months. It’s something we both enjoy. I told her I was afraid to plan my day, much less activities weeks or months from now. The truth of that was really sad.

I don’t want to sound the gong of doom. God has blessed me in incredible ways. I now teach a wonderful Sunday school class. It was something I hadn’t planned that God personally delivered. It’s been an awesome experience. I’ll soon be the facilitator of a new women’s bible study. That, too, is a gift hand-delivered from God.

But for every step forward, it seems that someone else has appeared to knock me down. I’ve had orders that have never been picked up. I’ve got furniture pieces waiting for their owner to bring the rest or pick up what she’s already brought. It’s been a year and I’ve moved those drawers around one time too many.

I’ve made plans that got waylaid because someone else changed her mind at the last minute. I’ve been lied about and to. Repeatedly. I sound like a broken record even to myself. I guess you could say I’m just tired and the bruises keep coming.

And now I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.

-- Philippians 1:6

I am so grateful that my God never breaks His promises. I am so grateful that He never lies to me or misleads me or kicks me down again and again. My God is loving and kind. He has great things planned for me. He won’t leave me in this place of fear and discouragement.

So I take my cares and worries to Him. I lay them at His feet, confident that He will turn this season of turmoil into a season of thanksgiving and joy. I know that He will prosper me and guide me. I know that He will continue to grow me and use me for His purpose.

God hears my prayers. His peace descends. With a deep breath, I step forward to the future He has planned for me.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Confession Lightens Heart

Nothing in all creation can hide from him. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes. This is the God to whom we must explain all that we have done. -- Hebrews 4:13

The woman defended herself despite the evidence that she’d taken thousands of dollars meant for a family with a sick child. “God knows,” she told anyone who would listen.

Yes, He does. We can’t hide anything from God. That includes whatever it is we’re trying to hide from the world. God knows our hearts and He knows everything we do, right and wrong. We can’t hide our sins from Him anymore than Adam and Eve could hide their nakedness.

This woman’s fate is up to the courts. But she’ll have to live with the consequences long after the matter is settled. If she is indeed guilty, it won’t leave her until she confesses and does what she can to make it right.

When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long. -- Psalm 32:3

David knew a little bit about guilt. This is the man who slept with another man’s wife, then, when she became pregnant, David had her husband killed. He felt the weight of that sin. It’s evident in his words.

This woman will feel the weight of her sin as well. We all do because we’re all sinners. Trying to keep it hidden, pretending that it isn’t true, only makes us suffer more.

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. -- Psalm 32:5

What a blessed relief to lay it all before God! Oh, we still must suffer the consequences of our sins but our guilt is gone. God takes it away and shoves it behind His back. We are free from that awful, heavy burden.

Only God knows this woman’s heart. He knows her motivations, her intentions, her guilt or innocence. But if she is guilty, she’ll either confess and find His healing or the burden of her sin will destroy her inside and out.
　

Saturday, July 2, 2011

God Cares

Because God’s children are human beings -- made of flesh and blood -- Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the Devil, who had the power of death. -- Hebrews 2:14

Four people climbed into a Buick sedan and headed out. Two were grandparents, one was their 21-year-old granddaughter, and the fourth another woman. They were probably talking, enjoying spending time together. It was a beautiful, sunny Friday morning.

And then it happened. In the seconds it takes a car to end up beneath a dump truck loaded with asphalt, their lives were gone. Their days on earth finished. No time for goodbyes. No time to make things right. No time to do what they always meant to do.

Death comes like that sometimes. Suddenly. Without warning. Shaking our very core. Reminding us how fragile we really are and how very much we need our strong and mighty God.

Some things simply refuse to be put in a neat little box labeled with understanding. Because we don’t understand. We pray for protection and we expect to be protected. So how do we pray when our worst nightmares have become a horrible reality? How do we find peace and acceptance of a loss that is beyond anything we could ever imagine?

There are no simple answers or miracle fixes. And while time does ease pain, it never really goes away. Anyone who says it does has never faced the sudden death of a loved one. Yet, there is strength to be found in God’s arms. We find words of compassion. We remember that Jesus wept over the death of his friend, even though He knew that moments later Lazarus would emerge from the tomb alive. God cares and we hold on to that. On days when we can’t understand anything else, we understand that.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Trust In God Alone

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. -- Hebrews 6:19a

Hope can be so cruel. I know. You think I’ve lost my mind. Hope is full of promise and optimism. It is a light shining toward a better day. Sometimes.

Other times it is a tease, nothing but a cruel hoax. It is that dangling carrot that is tossed out of reach at the last minute. It breaks your heart to know that something you once never expected, then thought possible, is now once again out of reach. It would have been far better to never have hoped in the first place.

It is a possibility of a cure offered to a dying person. It is the possibility of a job advancement where once there wasn’t. It is the possibility of obtaining something where no chance existed. Hope. Where once none existed.

The cruelty comes when the claim was never true. The acceptance once felt by the dying person has now turned into despair. The contentment once experienced by the worker has now become brokenness. The peace that once ruled has become emptiness. False hope does that.

My Bible defines hope as desiring something with confident expectation of its fulfillment. We hope in the Lord. We trust in Jesus. We believe God. That is true hope at its finest. But hoping for things that involve people…well, that’s just counting on disappointment and disaster.

Put your hope in the anchor that is steady and firm. Place your faith on the rock that never waivers. Trust God, the only One who will never let you down.