Devotion

Manna

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As I sit at my desk typing out my Ash Wednesday sermon, I am being seranaded by the music of KLove. In between songs, the DJ plays this short devotional message. I can not remember their name, but I remember the message…

God has not forgotten the recipe for manna.

The person goes on to say that manna was how God faithfully provided for the people of Isreal while they journeyed in the desert for 40 years. God never failed to provide for their daily needs. And in the same way, He will never fail you.

Give us this day our daily bread is the prayer and God gives each and every day. He has not forgotten the recipe for manna, nor will He ever. He will continue to be faithful to you even when all seems desolate and dried up. You just need to go out into your desert and see that the manna is all around you, even before you ask. God’s gift of manna has always has been there and always will be.

The Words of the Preacher

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Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

It seems to me that many of our nation’s issues would be solved or at least more easily handled, if people would heed the words of the “Preacher” in his closing words of Ecclesiastes.

Fear God

Keep His commandments

Seems easy enough, at least for me. I mean, the more I read the Bible the more I realize how much I do not know. The more I hear God’s Word, the more I realize how weak I am. The more I engage scripture, the more at peace I am. And if more people would do this, well, then see my first paragraph.

But people do not fear God as they should and thus anything goes. People do not keep His commandments and thus truth is fluid to fit their heart’s desires from moment to moment.

God, help me hear and receive these words of the Preacher that all may be well with my soul and may that wellness shine out for the world to see.

This is the end of the matter.

The Cough Rendered Powerless

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“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

I have been dealing with some nasty crud that has been going around here for a while. For me, it has settled in my chest thus causing me to nearly hack up a lung every other moment. Of course, as Sunday appraoched I was getting a little concerned. How am I going to make it through a sermon without coughing? People will eventually get tired of it or be so utterly distracted that they will not get anything out of it. So, I took every drug and remedy I could in an effort to suppress this cough for a while. But when I practiced the sermon on Sunday morning, I was coughing nearly every few phrases. This was going to be awful. Now what? So…

…I prayed…

…and this verse came to my heart…

…For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Wow! Indeed, I was weak. I was powerless to stop this cough. There were no more tricks I could use. I was at the end of my rope. But that is exactly where God wanted me, a place of complete trust and surrender. And that was all I had left. And so, I reflected some more on that verse and continued my morning preparations.

Worship started and I coughed a few times, but part of me still wondered how the sermon was going to go. Eventually, I entered the pulpit, muted my microphone, coughed, and sipped some water. I thought about the aforementioned verse and turned to the congregation to began. Throughout the entire sermon, about 22 minutes or so in length, I coughed…only once (according to my wife). And I needed her report because I honestly never paid attention. God’s power took over and protected my throat. God’s strength became my strength. God’s faithfulness became my peace, and there was nothing that I did. God did it all.

Silly me for thinking I could win this battle, or at least put up a good fight, especially when so much was on the line. And therefore, I write this post, boasting in my weakness so the power of Christ may can be made known and thus God be glorified.

That is my story – actually, HIS story.

To GOD be ALL glory, now and forever.

Amen!

The Light Keeps Shining

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“…the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:16 quoting Isaiah 42:7)

And the Light is Jesus.

He shines on you right now, this moment. He never stops shining his love on you. Whatever the darkenss, whatever the trial, Jesus’ light shines infinitely brighter. No darkness can stop his light. No amont of time will ever dim its brilliance. No sin will deflect its glow from you. His light just keeps shining and shining, though you are unworthy. But that is what makes this light even more special, because it is bathed in grace and mercy.

Cling to that truth as that truth clings to you, and give God the glory.

Extol HIS Name

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Psalm 145:1-3 ESV
[1] I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. [2] Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. [3] Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.

Worship trumps any pain or anger, disappointment or frustration. No matter the situation, worship turns one’s heart to the One who is greater than any disappointment or frustration, pain or anger. But what if I do not feel like worshiping? Then do it any way. Satan would love nothing more than for you to turn away from God. Satan wants you to extol what he is doing to you. He wants you to remember and ruminate on the pain your feeling. He wants you to dwell in disappointment, frustration, anger, and despair. In short, Satan want you to worship him. But do not give in.

Extol GOD’S name instead. And when you do, truly looking at and dwelling with the Father, that which Satan is trying to hold you captive will become weaker and lose its power over you. Begin by recalling what God has done for you right now. You opened your eyes this morning. That is a gift from the Father. You took a breath. That is a gift from the Father. Jesus has died for the forgiveness of your sins. That is a gift from the Father. And you get my point.

Extol GOD’S name and His name alone, for HE is a great Lord, and HIS greatness is unsearchable.

Belonging to Jesus

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Mark 4:38 ESV
But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

I like this story.

A storm is raging about and Jesus is sleeping on a cushion in the back of the boat. The storm is doing everything it can to toss that boat to and fro and thus drive its occupants to fear, but not Jesus. The disciples, scared silly, accuse Jesus of not caring, but in fact, he cares very much. He just knows something they do not.

The storm has no power over him or those who belong to him.

I can think of many times when I accused Jesus right along with the disciples even though my boat never sank. It has come close a few times, but here I am, safe and sound with the Lord. As Paul says in Romans 14:8, “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” And so with that truth, I can be at peace no matter the storm. And so…

Rage on, o storm, rage on. I belong to Jesus.

Every Morning

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Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

The truth of this verse brings me great joy and peace. When I have a bad day, the closing of my eyes in the evening is like the turning of a page. The opening of my eyes in the morning is the new chapter. Though people may remember my sins, God’s mercy is neverending. When I confess my sins, in the name of Jesus, God never fails to forgive me. He never fails to refresh me. He never fails to pick me up. Though I am a sinner and mess up each day, God never turns His back on me. His faithfulness is great and awesome and endures forever.

Father, I praise You for You are a God of second chances. You renew me and sustain me. You show awesome mercy and grace through Jesus. Thank You for Your steadfast love. In Jesus name, Amen.

My Words

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Psalm 19:14 ESV
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

This is a prayer that I often pray before I preach and for good reason. I want to be faithful to the Word with the words I say, for He is the only Rock and Redeemer, worthy of all glory and praise. But not just when I preach. I need to pray this prayer at different times as well, for God is worthy of all glory and praise at ALL times. Therefore, I need to pray this prayer not just for the audible words that I speak in a sermon, but for any words that come from my mouth and heart. But not just audible words, but words in any form at any time.

Imagine if brothers and sisters in Christ kept this in mind and heart, and prayed this prayer each day. Imagine if people prayed these words before writing an email or posting on social media. Imagine if people prayed this prayer before speaking with their spouse, friend, coworker, or children. Imagine if people sought God’s glory through the words that they use in each moment of their lives and with EVERY person.

Yes! That is my prayer, and not just at sermon time.

God help me. May my words be acceptable to You in each and every encounter, that others may see You and give You the glory. Amen.

Seeking

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Colossians 3:1-4 ESV
[1] If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. [3] For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. [4] When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

What you seek, see, hear, and talk about affects your whole being.

I see a lot of political posts on social media and I find myself getting drawn in and thus worked up over the inflated or false images and rhetoric I see and read, and I do not like what it does to my being. I do not like it because none of it brings me the peace, only anxiety and discord with others.

But I want more.

Therefore, I need to redirect my seeking and not allow the world to drawn me into despair and disunity. I need and want to seek that which is from above, Jesus, and not the things that are on the earth. For that which is from the world, is sin-filled and will never last, and therefore it will never give lasting peace. Politics, that which is of the earth, will never bring unity or peace, only Jesus will. And so, just give me Jesus.

Just give me Jesus.

Treasure

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Matthew 6:21 ESV
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

A treasure is something that has value. No, not dollar sign value, but importance in your life and for your life. For some, and sadly, their treasurer has a dollar sign, but dollar sign values shift and thus will never last. A true treasure is something that has lasting value, and when I say “lasting” I mean something that cannot be measured. Jesus is the only treasure that fits the bill (and no, that is not a reference to a monetary bill). He is the only Son of God, who died and rose and now lives forever, and because he lives, through faith in him, so will you. That is lasting value and therefore Jesus is the only true treasure.