Something I Read This Morning

I read this and it was very moving to me. It actually came from Mikey's Funnies which I have subscribed to for years. Usually there is a hilarious story or joke that comes into my email every day, but every once and a while he'll publish something that is not funny, necessarily, but meaningful.

Thus this piece by Michael Halleen

"By faith (Moses)...persevered because he saw him who is invisible." (Hebrews 11:27)

Abraham Lincoln, depressed and disgusted at the lack of progress Union forces were making during an especially low point of the Civil War, was asked why he did not resign and just leave these fools to their own devices. He replied sadly, "If I resign, they will perish." He had looked down the years and seen a united country standing tall, an inspiration to all humankind. Moses also had faced that question three thousand years earlier. He too saw the fate of a people as depending on his ability to endure, and he went to a mountain top, on retreat, to be strengthened and refreshed in his vision of God's purposes.

Sometimes success — or even survival — is a matter of endurance, of sticking it out. There are times when the road seems to wind uphill all the way. There are passages difficult to get through—days of illness, hours of worry, sleepless nights of concern, weeks of ordinary following hum-drum. Apsley Cherry-Garrard, in his book "The Worst Journey in the World," said, "All we could do was put one foot in front of the other because we believed that the journey was worth it." Many know that journey. The way to make it is one step at a time.

Along the way, occasionally we catch a glimpse of what the journey is for. Mist may cover the mountains most of the time, but once in awhile, just briefly, the clouds are lifted and the snow-capped peaks can be seen. A Robert Browning poem portrays a man seeking a city so surrounded by swirling fog that he feared he had lost his way. For just a few seconds the mists opened and he saw the towering spires of the city of his desire. Then...

..the vapors closed again,
But I had seen the city, and one such glance
No darkness could obscure; nor shall the present—
A few dull hours, a passing shame or two—
Destroy the vivid memories of the past.

ABBA, the Swedish pop music group of a generation ago, had a line in one of its songs that said, "And my destination makes it worth the while pushing through the darkness still another mile." Moses had been to the mountain top. Lincoln had seen the city's spires. Persevere. Your destination may be shrouded in uncertainty right now, but it awaits you nevertheless. Though invisible at the moment, it is worth putting one foot in front of the other.

LIving By Faith, Not By Sight

I'm changing my format a bit -- since I've started a new method of personal devotions myself.

This has been a difficult week for me. We, personally have had some challenges, but it has been more about hearing about other families and their challenges in adoption that have been so difficult. It is definitely a difficult road -- lots of challenges and frustrations and battles to fight. So when I read this this morning it really hit home.

It's long, but worth reading -- From First Corinthians 4:16 through 5:7 (NIV)

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight.

Amazing words. We cannot focus on the now -- because we will get discouraged. We have to focus on they way that God is going to work in us and refine us so that we can become better people. We need to realize that even when things on the outside seem to be impossible and we are literally wasting away, that God can renew us inwardly.

I feel like I am detracting from the passage by even trying to talk about it. It's such a powerful one.... I think I'll just leave it as is and state that I really needed to hear these words today.

If God is for us, who can be against us?

Psalm 38:17-22 Esther 2:1-18; Romans 8:20-33

Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. Deuteronomy 10:14 (NASB)

Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

When we look at your world, mighty God, we see how wondrously it has been wrought. When we look for your kingdom, we find that we have not lived as you and your Son Jesus have taught. Help us to create a kingdom on earth where unconditional love prevails. Amen.

The title of this devotional comes from a short verse found in the second half Romans 8:31. It is preceeded by the often memorized verse of Romans 8:28, "all things work together for the good." But are either of these verses ones we really believe?

God's on our side. It isn't a debatable issue. We have God working on our behalf at all times. And that means everyone else, as the kids would say, is going DOWN!

When we get all wrapped up in troubles and feel like people are coming at us from every side, we need to remember that God is for us. He's cheering us on. But not only is he involved in our lives, he has the power to change things -- something nobody else posesses.

Lord, help me to remember that nobody can be against me if you are for me. Amen.

Running to God When we Feel Like Running Away

Psalm 37:34-40, Nehemiah 12:44-13:14; Romans 7:7-20

My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all day long. Psalm 71:15

Paul wrote: The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Philippians 1:18 (NIV)

O God, we rejoice and celebrate what you have done for us in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Make this day a truly joyful day as we pray and forgive those who may have hurt us. As we feel our own pulse and realize how alive we are, we are glad to give you the glory! Amen.

Do you ever feel like you want to run away, or at the very least, crawl into bed, put covers over your head, and hide from everyone?

In reading through the Psalm 37 passage this morning, I came across these words that are ones that I have to continue to return to time and time again.

The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

The Lord can be our refuge when we feel like running away, but the key is in our running to Him instead of running away. God is a place of safety and the only place we should head.

it's our tendency as humans, I think, to go to God AFTER we've tried everything else. When nothing else is working, then we pray. When all our other options have been exhausted, we turn to him. When nobody else can meet our needs, we finally decide to try God.

Instead He should be our first thought -- and running to Him our first idea. Just like attached children run to a parent the moment they skin a knee or bruise and elbow, we should run to God the moment we feel a need. And unlike any human being, God will NEVER fail to meet our needs and deliver us.

Next time I feel like running away, I gotta remember to run to God.

Being Just is More than Just Being

Psalm 37:27-33, Nehemiah 12:1-43; Romans 6:17-7:6

Do not enter into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. Psalm 143:2

Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. 1 Peter 3:18

O God, you have placed us in this world. There is a rebellion going on against your standards of righteousness. We all join that rebellion and alienate ourselves from you, from others and even from ourselves. We thank you for Jesus Christ who reminds us to live righteous lives. Amen.

The Psalm passage contains this verse:

For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.

Here are some of the definitions of just:

used especially of what is legally or ethically right or proper or fitting;

equitable: implying justice dictated by reason, conscience, and a natural sense of what is fair to all;

fair: free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; or conforming with established standards or rules;

good: of moral excellence;

We know that God loves all of us. But it appears that the Lord makes a point of declaring that He loves the just.

But does being one of the "just" mean simply being a good person and being fair to everyone? Is "just" a being word or a doing word?

It seems to be me that being a just person would automatically lead to doing just things -- to battling injustice in whatever form it presents itself, to making a difference in situations where life, or the world, or our culture, are unjust.

Lord, help me to not only be a just person but to promoting justice throughout my world today. Amen.

Reverent Submission

Psalm 37:23-26 Nehemiah 10:28-11:36; Romans 6:5-16

My God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you. Psalm 42:6

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Hebrews 5:7

We thank you, dear God, for those who felt life so deeply and expressed themselves so strongly through the psalms. They knew you were present and did not hold back their cries for relief and adoration. Inspire us to express our feelings through their words and know that you always hear us. Amen.

Interesting things to note from the verse in Hebrews:

Jesus cried out to the ONE who was able to save him from death;
He cried out loudly and with tears
He was heard
The reason he was heard was because of his reverent submission.
He didn't get the response we think he probably desired.

How differently we do things. We cry out to everyone else first, whining and moaning.
We often hide our tears from God.
We do not approach God in reverent submision.
When we don't get the desired response, we assume we were not heard.

But it is the very reverent submission that Jesus came to God exposing that led him to the place where he could accept God's answer. "Not my will but thine be done" was his heartfelt prayer.

May God help me to come in reverent submission to cry out loudly with tears and then to truly be accepting of the response.

Erring in Spirit and Grumbling

Psalm 37:1-6 Nehemiah 6:15-7:73a; Romans 4:13-25

Those who err in spirit will come to understanding, and those who grumble will accept instruction. Isaiah 29:24

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses. Acts 1:8

O Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us. Equip us to live and express the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. May others sense that your Spirit indeed dwells in us, guiding people to the Savior. It is by your Spirit that we gain power and humility. Amen.

Wow, what a promise. "Those who err in spirit will come to understanding and those who grumble will accept instruction." I sincerely hope that the prophet was referring my children. Or even me for that matter.

Me, err in spirit? OK, I confess. I don't always have proper motivation. I don't always do things with a pure heart. I don't always feel like doing what I do.

And grumbling? I do it way too often. I find myself whining about many things..... Apparently all of us do, necesitating the concept of a complaint free world.

And teenagers? Errors in spirit and grumbling are their modus operandi.

But there is a promise that we will all come to understanding and we will all accept understanding. Thanks for a great promise.

All Things

Psalm 22:22-26
2 Chronicles 16,17; Acts 21:5-16

I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord. Jeremiah 39:18

Paul wrote: I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Lord our God, we thank you for daily protection and guidance through the Holy Spirit. Keep our hearts in tune with you through prayer, so we may discern your will for our daily walk with you. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

I can do all things. Nothing too tough, nothing to hard. I can do all things. But not in my own strength, but in Christ's strength.

Yesterday in church I had just completed one of the toughest mornings of my life getting into an endless control battle with a son who was quite out of control. I felt defeated, week, undisciplined, and tired. I wasn't sure I could face the next hour, much less the rest of my life. When you're facing the kind of challenges I was yesterday and the child is only 11, there are so many hard years ahead... we know this by experience because we have already parented three children almost to adulthood, and the years from 11 on did not get easier but harder.

Our first hymn of the morning was "Jesus Calls Us" and it begins, "Jesus calls us o'er the tumult of our life's wild restless sea." I thought to myself, "that's my life! A wild, restless sea." And I asked myself, "Can I hear Jesus calling?"

And his call? "Christian, follow me."

I realized then that the answer is not in me. The answer is in following Jesus and in looking to Him for my strength. My situation probably isn't going to change. It may not, probably won't be, easier. But it is ME who can change.

I can do all things... but not on my own. Following Jesus, day by day, relying on His strength.

Hope

Psalm 137
1 Kings 20:22-21:16; John 19:25-37

Israel is saved by the Lord with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity. Isaiah
45:17

By faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. Galatians 5:5 (NIV)

To You, our Salvation, we can but hope, when you decide the time, that you will find us "Not guilty." Give us peace until
that time comes, and may we live in eternity with you and our Savior, Christ Jesus. Amen.

I created an Icon for my instant messenger that says HOPE. I believe that hope is often the only thing that can keep us going. In Romans it tells us this,

Romans chapter 5 tell us: And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

I memorized these verses years ago, never know what my life would be like now. Though I realize that there are millions who suffer more than I, some days I feel like I am suffering. But I can be confident that the chain of events will occur: suffering leading to perseverence leading to character, which brings us to hope.

I think this video which my friend Cindy linked to in this post really demonstrates that hope is a must.

Why We Love

Friday, November 3
Psalm 119:137-144
2 Samuel 23:18-24:25; John 11:31-44

Do not fear, greatly beloved, you are safe. Be strong and
courageous! Daniel 10:19

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Almighty God, to you who loves us unconditionally, please
reconcile us to pass on the love in the same manner that your
Son, Jesus, has taught us. When we turn our backs on you, you
are always there to hold us. We pray for your guidance to lead
us to open our hearts to our enemies. In Christ's name. Amen.

Parenting kids with special needs who have mental illnesses, organic brain damage, and attachment issues has taught me a lot about God. Often our kids are unlovable and undeserving and downright mean.

But the bottom line with God's love is that God loved us first. He didn't say we had to earn it, nor that we deserved it. We love Him simply because, regardless of who we were or who we are, He CHOSE to love us first. It is an unconditional love that can't be stopped nor changed.

That is the kind of love that we need to have for others -- loving them first, in Jesus name. And if we do so then maybe, they will love us in return, and eventually learn to love God as well.

The Same Theme

Psalm 119:121-128
2 Samuel 22:1-25; John 11:1-16
All Saint's Day -- Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 24
Revelation 21:1-6a; John 11:32-44

He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. Psalm 18:30

Take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench
all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16

Dear King of Glory, we put our faith in you. You have protected
your earthly servants throughout the ages and we thank you.
Please continue to watch over us as we prepare for the new
heaven and earth that you have promised us through our
salvation. Amen.

Yesterday the scriptures were about the same topic, but from different passages in Scripture and I wrote about God being both a shield and a refuge. In my main blog this morning, before reading these scriptures and without remembering about my devotional thoughts yesterday, I blogged about Flight or Fright. And then I read the passages above.

It was like God was reminding me that in either mode, whether I am tempted to run away and hide from the world, or if I prepare to fight against it, God's my main tool. He can be my refuge -- my place to hide -- or my sheild as I tackle the problems head on and begin to fight.

God, help me to remember that when the troubles come that I can either rest in you to escape them or regroup or I can use You as my sheild in battle. Amen.

A Refuge and a Shield

Psalm 119:113-120
2 Samuel 21; John 10:34-42

O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your
wrath. Psalm 6:1

We believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord
Jesus. Acts 15:11

Dear Jesus, thank you for your grace that is greater than all of
our sin. Thank you for putting yourself aside to serve us and
save us. Help us to put ourselves aside for others so they might
see you in us. Amen.

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. (
Psalm 119:114).

Do you ever feel like finding a place to hide? Like you want to just bury yourself in a hole or hide under the covers all day? Do you need a refuge?

A refuge is defined as shelter or protection from danger or distress. When those things come our way, we want to hide. The Psalmist looked to God as that refuge. While we often are tempted to run to something else, the true comforting refuge is God.

The second metaphor that the psalmist uses is that of a shield. When trouble comes, not only do we have a place to go for safety and security and relief, but we have a sheild that we can put up in front of us to protect us from what comes. Whether they are troubles that come from the evil one or just from life's circumstances, God our sheild can protect us.

Comforting words: God is my sheld and my refuge. I can choose to either put him before me and fight off the trouble or, when I need to, I can run away -- and run to him for safety.

God, help me to remember today where to go and what to do when the hard times come. Amen.

Hiding the Word in our Hearts

Monday, October 30
Psalm 119:105-112
2 Samuel 19:31-20:26; John 10:22-33

When I think of your ordinances from of old, I take comfort, O
Lord. Psalm 119:52

God is a God not of disorder but of peace. 1 Corinthians 14:33

God of Comfort, thank you for the order and peace your word can
bring to our lives as we listen, read, study, memorize, and
meditate on it. Help us to faithfully mine the treasures in your
word. Amen.

When I was a child, teen, and young adult I was involved in a denomination that stressed Scripture memorization. I even coached a Bible Quiz team in my twenties. It is amazing how many times those verses have come back to me when I need them the most.

I can remember between 8th and 9th grade walking through the woods at a church camp with an index card memorizing I Corinthians 10:13 in the King James Version:

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

I can't count the number of times that verse has popped into my head since that day when I was only 13. With God's help I can make it through anything.

There are times when I feel guilty for not having time to memorize more Scripture now, but I am so grateful that I took time when I was young to "hide the Word in my heart". It has been the backdrop of my life.

Repair the Cracks

Watchword for the Week -- The Lord has done great things for us.
Psalm 126:3

Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalm 126
Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 10:46-52

God, you have caused the land to quake; you have torn it open;
repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering. Psalm 60:2

For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope.
For who hopes for what is seen? Romans 8:24

Dear Lord, our hope is in you. You do great things for us. Help
us to trust every area of our lives and our families' and
friends' lives to your care. You are the perfect answer to our
needs. Amen.

After a week like we've had I feel like the psalmist who wrote, "you have caused the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering."

While I do not always agree to the philosophy that the Lord causes the problems in our lives, it sure does feel like it sometimes. When nothing is going well we want to say, "Enough, God!"

But whether or not God is the cause of the issues, God is the one who can fix things. He can step in and make "the rough places smooth."

When we really believe this, we can, as Job did, say, "Blessed be the Name of the Lord" no matter what comes our way.

Spiritual Blindness

Psalm 119:81-88, 2 Samuel 17; John 9:35-41

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Psalm 118:26

Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" John 1:49

Lord, blessed is your Son. He is the King of kings. He is our Teacher. Help us to be eager students of your Son. Help us to
obey all his instructions, even when they are uncomfortable and hard to do. Amen.

Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. (john 9:41)

Jesus loved to use paradoxical phrases. If you were truly unable to see, you'd be off the hook -- but since you say you can see, even though you can't, I find you guilty.

Many of us have convinced ourselves that we can see. We convince ourselves that we can do things on our own and do not need help.

But Jesus reminds us that he knows us. He also calls us to recognize our own need and to admit that need. That is when we can begin to really see.

Fully Known

Psalm 119:73-80
2 Samuel 15:30-16:23; John 9:13-34

Show me your glory, I pray. Exodus 33:18

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I
have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12

God, show us your glory. Help us to know you more fully and to become more and more like you. Help us to find our greatest
satisfaction in you. How great you are! Amen.

Right now we just don't get it. We can't see things clearly. We don't have the big picture, so we really can't come to decent conclusions. We see our small slice of life and figure that is it, and we draw our conclusions based on that limited perspective. We are bound by time, space, and limited intelligence and so we often are fooled into believing things that simply are not true.

But Paul reminds us that there is going to be a day when we "get it." There will be a day when we understand things the way that God is -- with an eternal perspective, knowing the end from the beginning, and with perfect knowledge. And then it is all going to make sense.

In addiition we read that not only will we know fully, but that right now we are fully known. God knows everything there is to know about me, even stuff I don't know or realize, and yet God loves me and never gives up on me.

Comforting thoughts for the day: God knows everything about me and loves me anyway AND someday I'm going to understand all of it -- the pieces will all fit together and then as a fact, instead of as a statement of faith, I will be able to say, "God is Good -- All the Time, All the Time, God is Good."

How Can we Have Peace?

Psalm 119:57-64
2 Samuel 13:34-14:33; John 8:42-59

His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace. Isaiah 9:7

John wrote: There was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages,
standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" Revelation 7:9,10

Lord, all authority is yours. You are the Author of Peace. True peace can only come from you. Salvation belongs to you and your
Son, and you offer it freely to all. May our lives proclaim your peace and salvation. Amen.

It is interesting that these two verses in the Moravian text would be listed together. The idea of endless peace in Isaiah, combined with the great multitude encompassing every nation, tribe, people and language in Revelation.

Is it possible for peace to exist without harmony between those of us who are different? I don't believe so. To me it is very clear that for "peace on earth" to occur, we must focus not on our differences but on the One thing we share -- and that is the Lordship of Christ.

The Darkest Valley

The Moravian text for today is so appropriate as we remember what happened five years ago today. I’m not sure if it was planned or just one of those holy “coincidences” that the verses mentioned discussed walking through the darkest valley and being afflicted in every way.

Personally, I am not feeling as thought I am in a valley today. But seeing a few things on television and remembering the profound tragedy of 9/11 makes the Scripture seem all the more appropriate.

The other day I was reading an article in Good Housekeeping about the Twin Towers and the author mentioned a friend named Claudia, whose husband Bart worked in the building. For some reason, this unusual fact made me identify even more with those affected by the events of that day.

My prayer today is for the survivors and the families of the victims of the tragedy, that they will experience the truth of those passages