Devotions

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10, NKJV

 

When I was in the eleventh grade, a friend met me in the hallway one September day right after the school year began, and said, “My friend, Richard Sharp wants me to ask if you will go to the ‘Back to School’ dance with him next weekend?” My response… “Why doesn’t he ask me himself?” Well, after receiving a personal invitation to the school dance from the somewhat shy young man resulted in the most exciting fifty years of my earthly life. Although Richard went to heaven eleven years ago, I have two beautiful daughters and four precious grandchildren to prove I made the right decision by saying, “yes.”

 

What if Richard had not taken the time to ask me out, would our paths have crossed at a future date? Maybe, maybe not, but I do know this—without some type of personal interaction at some point in time, Richard and I would not have had any relationship at all. How do I know this to be true? The obvious answer is that humans require interaction to build any type of relationship, meaningful or otherwise; I believe most logical and reasonable people agree with this provable and pivotal fact.

 

God created human beings with a need for personal relationships not only to give us the opportunity to experience a deep emotional connection with each other but also the opportunity to experience a deep emotional connection with our Creator. Therefore, two thousand years ago Jesus Christ, Immanuel [God with us] entered the world in the flesh, into the human experience to give us an opportunity to get to know Him by having a relationship with Him. Like Richard personally inviting me to the school dance, Jesus invites you and me to get to know Him by spending time with Him, while building a meaningful relationship that promises a present hope and an eternal deliverance. Sixty years ago, I said, yes, to Richard’s invitation; forty years ago, I said, yes, to the invitation of Jesus. I have never regretted accepting either invitation!

 

At this very moment, Jesus is inviting you into a personal relationship so you can get to know Him. Friend, will you say, yes?

Previously published on Sweet Monday

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever, Amen” (Ephesians 3:20, NKJV).

 

The words of the Book of Ephesians “exceedingly abundantly…” echo in the recesses of my mind whenever I think of how much God loves me. No matter what is happening in my life or the world, holding onto the truth of God’s Word is paramount to the peace and contentment I feel. So often, we in our humanity make the mistake of facing our circumstances first on how and what we feel in the moment, rather than what we know to be true according to the Bible; when we allow this to happen, we risk facing challenges with unnecessary confusion about not only the present and future, but also about the faithfulness of our Lord.

 

How much does God love you and me? Our Creator Father has never and will never hold back on His affection for us. In the letter Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, he prays that “He [God] would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width, and length, and depth, and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:16-19, emphasis mine).

 

Sweet friend, please re-read the previous paragraph, keeping in mind that God’s promises are as relevant and powerful today, in your life and mine, as they were when the Apostle Paul penned them well over 2000 years ago. No matter what you are going through; no matter how impossible your circumstances may feel, trust and believe in the Word of God, who raised His Son, Jesus from death to life. The empty tomb is our Father’s guarantee, that He is still on the throne. This is the Truth! Do you believe it?

 

Father, help us to remember in times of what feels like complete hopelessness in this world, that nothing, absolutely nothing is out of Your reach and control. Give us the strength and the faith to have a heavenly perspective, no matter what. Amen.

Previously published on Sweet Monday

“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16, NIV).

 

If only we could “plug in” our desired destination to get through life and then have an app to click on to show the best and safest route to get there, I wonder how many people would use it? While the concept at first thought may sound enticing, probably many of us who have lived in this world long enough realize that the most difficult and challenging “detours,” though worn and weathered in places have made us stronger and perhaps a little wiser than we could have been otherwise; maybe you find yourself in this category? Let me tell you a story to lend visual aid to this metaphor.

 

A few weeks ago, I began working with a talented horticulturist on a landscape plan for my new home. When visiting the nursery supplying the inventory, one tree immediately caught my eye.

 

“What kind of tree is that?” I asked.

 

The expert helping me replied, “that is a Japanese Red Maple.”

 

She slowed the golf cart to a stop. I hopped out and encircling the beautiful, red-leafed specimen, I began noticing the trunk of the tree. Like photographs I have seen, the brown bark twisting and turning, the rough thickness, gnarled with age reminded me of a bonsai tree. The total width of the tree looked to be about eight feet in diameter and the height maybe five and a half feet. By the size of the trunk, I asked the next logical and obvious question.

 

“How old is the Japanese Red Maple?”

 

She replied, “Well, we are not positive, but we do know it is at least fifty years old, could be more like seventy.”The horticulturist went on to explained some of its history. “When the owner of the landscaping company bought his first home at around the age of twenty, the tree was already in his yard. He lived in the house for fifty years, so it could easily be seventy years old.”

 

“I would like that tree!” I said emphatically.

 

The Japanese Red Maple has now been relocated and rests, again, in the ground in a prominent location in my yard. I can see it from many different angles to remind me that the wear and tear of time can produce grace, beauty, and strength, not only in trees, but within the person who trusts in the Lord. With every twist and turn in the journey of our lives, God will sustain us and mold us into the being He created us to be by His Almighty power if we will trust Him.

 

“To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks [or an aged Japanese Red Maple] that the Lord has planted for his own glory” (Isaiah 61:3, NLT, paraphrase mine).

 

Father in heaven, Creator and Lord of all life be with us through every experience and circumstance. Give us the courage and strength to endure challenges that will surely accompany us on the journey this side of heaven. Give us a glimpse into what You see resulting in remaining steadfast, no matter the challenges that come our way. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Previously published on Sweet Monday

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore, it is not a great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, NKJV

 

Waiting in line with my husband to check into our hotel, my eyes caught sight of a beautiful flower arrangement just a few feet away. Knowing Richard was well capable of taking care of business without me, I made my way to the table where the colorful specimen was on display. A bright red/orange blossom drew me in for a sniff, but to my astonishment and instant pain, the once alluring flower penetrated the inside of my nose.

 

Ouch! What in the world? I had been fooled through ignorance by a cactus plant, believing it to be something it wasn’t. Lesson learned: do not trust everything you see. Looks can be and often are deceiving. Although this shared painful story happened to me many years ago, I have never forgotten it. However, deception, as you know, is not limited to “beautiful flower arrangements.” With technology, the dark side of humanity threatens even the savviest among us. Stolen identities, stolen property, bank accounts, and the list goes on, revealing how individuals are vulnerable and exposed to the tricks and fraud of modern-day perpetrators.

 

This same darkness has tragically infiltrated the Christian church. The apostle Paul warned the church in Corinth not to be naïve. He learned that in his absence, some in the church were buying into a false doctrine being peddled by false teachers. Paul was angry with the charlatans, yes, but he was even more frustrated that the people with whom he had spent time living among and teaching about the life and lessons of Jesus Christ could so easily be distracted and led astray. Now, over 2000 years later, people are still being fooled by false doctrine, disguised in the name of “love” and “acceptance.” “If it sounds, feels, and looks good, then it must be good.”

 

Read the words from the Book of 2 Timothy 4:3-4: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (NKJV).

 

Friend, I leave you with a final quote from Jesus Himself: “Behold, I send you out as sheep, in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

   

Previously published on Sweet Monday

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I the LORD, search the heart, and test the mind, even to give every man, according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10, NKJV

 

Sometimes I wonder why God did not stick with His original design and begin life for human beings in the adult years. Adam and Eve did not go through the “early childhood years,” or the dreaded teenage years. Oh, right – that plan did not end well! When I read that the human brain does not fully develop until the years between age twenty-five to thirty, the all too often poor decision making prior to this timeframe makes perfect sense. If only poor decision making had a cutoff date, then only God knows what the world could be like. Our Creator Father knew in the perfect Garden of Eden that when giving humans a choice, He was opening the door to rebellion, and history proves we walked right through it and have been defiant ever since. Choosing rebellion over obedience is part of the natural human sinful condition (Genesis 3).

 

Recently, I have had dreams with a repeated theme—choosing between doing the right thing, versus doing the wrong thing. The circumstances in each dream are different but the premise is always the same, will I make the right choice? In the dream, like a person with multiple personalities, instinctively, I know clearly what to do, but despite clarity, I make the wrong choice. These dreams are stressful. When finally awake, I am so happy knowing it is only a dream…or is it?

 

Gracious Father, how many opportunities do I have throughout each day, when I am fully awake and conscious, where I make bad decisions and poor choices? Do I make excuses for my careless words or unkind thoughts toward others? Do I express my actions to You with evidence of having been wrongly treated, and thereby believing myself justified? Forgive me, Lord! Cleanse me from within, so that both my heart and mind line up with Your desire for making choices wisely. In the name of Jesus, Amen.   

Previously published on Sweet Monday

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33, NKJV.

If you have ever bought something requiring instructions that have need of assembling, then you have no doubt discovered a section with the instructions entitled, “Quick Start.” Frankly, I must be honest and confess that I look first for the shortcut approach, because usually, I do not have the discipline, nor the desire to read through the longer version. Okay, maybe I am a little attention challenged, but I will pray about it…

 

In the meantime, let us consider the scripture reading from the Book of Matthew. Perhaps God had someone like me (or you) in mind when He instructed Matthew to write, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…(emphasis mine)” Many people claim to have read The Bible, who also say, that while it is inspiring, they believe the content to be allegorical and words written by mere flawed men, rather than the inspired infallible Word of God written down by fallible men (2 Timothy 3:16). Two principles are at play here: (1) anyone can read the Bible from cover to cover and still come to the end, missing the simple, yet deeply rooted meaning and purpose of discovering God; or (2) anyone can take the “Quick Start” approach, “Seeking God first,” and trusting Him to make His instructions clear, as one reads and ultimately chooses to study the Bible, knowing God is in the details.

 

Finding God is rooted in the human heart that longs to know God. Jesus Christ, Immanuel, God came into the world to lead the Way to the Father. Everything Jesus did on earth exemplified the love of God; He purposely sought out simple people as His followers, rather than the scholarly. Why? Because God is approachable to all people, who will “seek Him first,” not only to those who are well read. Oh, yes, Jesus also spent a lot of time in the synagogue, trying to reach the teachers of the Law, the Torah, which were the only Scriptures that existed at that time (when I get to heaven one day, I hope to find Nicodemus sitting at the feet of Jesus, read John 3:1-21).

 

After the resurrection, Jesus spent forty days showing Himself to those who sought Him. Friend, will you “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness?” Because if you do, then “all these things shall be added to you.” What are “all these things?” I am so glad you asked! Please read Matthew 6:1-24 for the Complete Instruction Version.

Previously published on Sweet Monday

“So, teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12, NKJV.

 

Gone are the “good old days,” when physical calendars were our only resource for keeping track of daily activities. One often had their calendar hanging by a magnet on the refrigerator (ah yes, magnet-ready refrigerator doors are “good old days” gone too!). In those days, each family member was expected to enter upcoming commitments for all to see, so that schedules might run smoothly. Large XX’s appeared in the blocks crossing off past days, no longer applicable except to document historical events. (Promise not to tell anyone, but I still keep a physical calendar because I am such a visual person).

 

According to the introduction of Psalm 90, we are told Moses is the author. We have no idea how Moses or the people of his generation kept track of time and events, but we do know he understood the importance of both. “Teach us to number our days…” is one way of saying, remember your past, “that we may gain a heart of wisdom” and learn from it. After spending forty years in the desert in search of the “Promised Land,” Moses, who was God’s appointed leader of the Israelites experienced the good, bad, and ugly characteristics of humanity, including those of himself. A journey that should have taken only a matter of days to complete turned into a generation of self-identifying whiners, and God-identifying “stiff-necked people” (Exodus 32:9).

 

Through the “magic” of technology, today we have a glimpse into the generation in which we now live. People like posting everything for all to see…what they eat, do, and think in real time. Life, for such people, is often unfiltered and raw. Friend, every new day offers unexplored opportunities for self-identification and God-identification through the characteristics of our human expression. As we number our days and learn from them, I pray, God if You determine our actions be made visible for all the world to see, Lord, let Your life lessons mold and make us into the image of Your Son, Jesus. Give us the kind of wisdom that lets the world see more of Jesus in what we say, do, and think, and less of ourselves. Amen.

 

Previously published on Sweet Monday

John 11:35, NKJV

The scripture verse above is often quoted as “the shortest verse in the Bible;” it is in reference to the story of Lazarus, the dear friend of Jesus. Lazarus, along with his two sisters, Mary and Martha, lived in the town of Bethany. Like family, Jesus would spend time in their home for fellowship, rest, and relaxation. Besides His twelve chosen disciples, Lazarus was Jesus’ closest friend. As John writes the story, by the time Jesus arrives in Bethany, Lazarus is dead and has been in the tomb for four days. Mary and Martha, in deep grief confront Jesus asking why He did not come sooner, believing He could have saved their brother. Weeping, Jesus asked to be taken to the tomb, where the story goes on to reveal the miraculous raising of Lazarus back to life. So, all’s well that ends well, right?

 

How is it that death, so predictable and absolute to the human experience, feels like a gut-punch when it happens? For anyone who has stood at the grave sight of a loved one the answer is obvious…loss, visceral pain so deep in the soul, that taking a single breath in the moment is the most difficult thing to do. I speak from personal experience. When I said goodbye to my husband, my life partner of almost fifty years, I thought I might die too. Richard was my first love at the tender age of sixteen years old. Now, soon to be eleven years since his passing, that “gut-punch” revisits me from time to time as though his death just happened.

 

Much has been speculated about why Jesus wept upon His arrival in Bethany at the death of Lazarus. Jesus was sad knowing His friend had died. Jesus cried at the sadness of Mary, Martha, and the others grieving. Jesus wept because of the lack of faith that He could raise up Lazarus from the grave. For another perspective, let us return to the beautiful Garden of Eden at the beginning of the creation story. In the middle of the garden were two trees that produced fruit for eating; the “Tree of Life,” and the “Tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” “God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may eat; but the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die’” (Gen. 2:16-17).

 

At any time, the humans in the garden could have eaten the fruit from the Tree of Life and never experienced death, but they chose to rebel. While death is “predictable and absolute,” death was never God’s desire in His design of creation. The first actual death came by the hand of God when He killed the first animal and “made tunics of skin, and clothed [Adam and his wife]” (Gen. 3:21). The “final death” also by the hand of God was when He clothed Himself in flesh and died on the cross, so that through Jesus Christ and His resurrection, humanity might live.

 

In the Book of Deuteronomy 30:19, God said, “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live” (NLT, emphasis mine). Jesus is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” This day, will you make the decision to choose Jesus? To choose life (John 14:6)?

Previously published on Sweet Monday