Month: October 2022

In Spite Of

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Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” Luke 6:27-28

Love your enemies, Jesus says. I’ve heard this command since I was a child and yet it is difficult to follow. Just when I think I’ve come to the point in my life when I’m consistently praying for those who hurt me, POW, another blow blind sides me. Loving our enemies goes against every grain in our being. Revenge is what we want. Let those who hurt us have the same taste in their mouths that we have. Many think tales of revenge originated with Shakespeare but he was merely carrying forward the centuries old “eye for an eye” mentality. Yet what Jesus is sharing with us in Luke 6 is truly a mind bender. Something that must be divine for it goes against our very nature. Jesus is asking us to forgive those who hurt us. Not just give lip service to such forgiveness, but deep down forgiving and forgetting. Is it possible that there is a

A Greater Joy Awaiting In Forgiveness?

Just a few verses later in Luke 6:35 Jesus shares that when we love our enemies, “your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the most high God.” This is a reward beyond measure. When I think of God working in my life in this manor I often think of Philippians 2:13, “for it is God at work IN YOU…” Imagine God working in your life to the point where forgiveness becomes second nature. Imagine a life filled with such inner peace. When the blows come, and they will come, with God at work in you, you too will whisper the same words Jesus said from the cross. For in spite of what His enemies were putting him through, Jesus still said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Be Still

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“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

I walked into a Starbucks and found myself in a very long line of sleepy people looking for just enough caffeine to get them through their work morning. As I waited, just to my right was a news stand with a variety of newspapers. Each headline tried to outdo the next; negative stories on the direction of the Dow, interest rate hikes, recession fears, and of course mid-term election political posturing. I soon found myself looking around the crowded coffee shop and into the eyes of those living out these headlines, or at the very least with the results of them. Some eyes were dim, some bright, some masking anxiety, some lost in thought. What are you going through today, I wondered. Faces young and faces old. A carpenter in jeans, men and women in work suits, a mom with a toddler. What are you going through today, I wondered. Behind the counter, college age students and a woman in her fifties. What are you going through today, I wondered. YOU, at home, or at work, or at school, sitting at your computer or reading this on your cell phone. What are you going through, I’m wondering. Whatever it is, God has a word for you today! 

“Be Still!” 

His word, not mine. His promise, not mine. He can lift your burden. He can calm your troubled heart. “Be Still“, He says. “know that I am God,” declares your Lord. He’s whispering it to you at this very moment. Let Him in. Let Him fill your life with a calm only God can give. Be not troubled by your daily life. There will always be one more thing to worry about. One more problem to solve, and that’s okay because your Creator has a word for you today. Be Still, and know that I am God.    

The Nun

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“He who is slow to wrath has great understanding. But he who is impulsive exalts folly.” Proverbs 14:29

This proverb hit a little too close to home for me a few years ago. I’m driving along, and if I’m being completely honest, in a bit of a rush. It had been a long day and I was ready to be home and off the road. Just as the light turns green at the upcoming intersection a car from the street to my right turns in front of me and proceeds at a the pace of a snail. At this point there was no getting around the car in front of me so I did my best to take a deep breath and say to my wife, “you know they make cars with accelerators. That car is only a few years old, I’m sure it has one. Do you think they know where it is?” I said, pointing at the driver in front of me. “At this pace we can walk home faster!” “Be nice”, my wife said in a gentle, corrective tone, just as a second lane for passing appeared. As I accelerated by the snail pace car, the grin on my wife’s face began to grow. I noticed her looking at the driver of what was surely the slowest car ever built, and that’s when I caught my first glimpse at who was driving. It was a dear Nun from the local Convent just up the road from where we were. “You were scolding a Nun for her driving,” my wife said, trying to contain a grin. “Some pastor you are!” A chuckle finally accompanied her words. Needless to say, I felt more than a little foolish. Without even realizing it this Nun had taught me a lesson that day.    

Who Among Us Does Not Need More Understanding?

I certainly do! Whether driving on our congested roads, or our hectic lives moving at the speed of light on the information super highway, it’s so easy to become annoyed at those living around us. Just about the time you feel all steamed up and your annoyance meter rises into the red zone, that’s the time to turn down the flames by remembering Proverbs 14:29, “He who is slow to wrath has great understanding. But he who is impulsive exalts folly.” 

Above It All

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“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” Colossians 3:2

I’m reading Colossians today and upon reaching Chapter 3 verse 2 my mind is instantly transported to one particular day not too long ago. On that day my alarm did not go off so I’m already late for a meeting. A car then cuts me off on the freeway at breakneck speed (his alarm must not have gone off either). My friend is going through a real struggle in his life and I’m not sure my council is helping. I’m still stressed about a doctor’s report I’d just received. What do you mean my cholesterol and blood pressure are too high? They’ve never been “too high” before. My doctor tells me to watch what I eat and lower my stress levels. I tell him that I watch what I eat every night and those burgers and pizza look awfully good! Our lives are filled with stress and distress.

Help Is Closer Than You Think.


Jesus informed us in John 16:33 that “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” So how are we to be of good cheer with all we have to deal with, from little annoyances to life altering events? Jesus tells us to be of good cheer because He, through His grace and mercy on the cross, has overcome the world for us! Paul picks up on this theme by telling us to “set our minds on the things above, not on the things of earth”. In other words it’s time for you to see the big picture. Stop looking at the trees in front of you, get your mind in a helicopter and see the vast beauty of the forest. The further you get above your problems the smaller they will seem. Life may not always be a bed of roses, but no matter what you are going through, Jesus is always there for you! Set your mind on things above, and the things of earth will soon start to look much different.   

At Peace

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“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 12:18

A few years ago a very interesting question was posed to me by my then seventeen year old daughter. She was finishing a school project and asked me the following question. “Dad, what would be your perfect world?” Without hesitating I immediately said Heaven. She smiled and said, No, here on earth, what would be the perfect world for you. I quickly said a world without war. She smiled again and said, no Dad, understand that sin still exists and that you can’t control the sin or the lives of others. Now, what would be your perfect world? The question posed by my daughter that night needled me for years because the question is profound. Deeply profound. Knowing we can’t simply control sin in the lives of others, and that others will have radically different visions of what the world should look like, how does that affect our choices and how we live our lives?

What Does Your Perfect World Look Like?

Romans 12:18 cuts right to the heart of this question. “If it is possible, as much as depends on YOU, live peaceably with all men.” The Apostle Paul is saying we have a choice. We can choose love, peace, and patience or we can choose bitterness, gossip and retaliation. For me, the best nights of sleep I’ve ever had are after a day of practicing love, peace and patience. Give it a try. After all, what do you want your perfect world to look like?  

Trust

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“The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in, from this time forth, and even forevermore. Psalm 121:8

Most people believe in a randomness in life. “Life happens” is a quote you hear a lot whether something good or bad happens. I have to say that I do not subscribe to random thinking. God is a God of purpose and planning. Just take a look at the incredible detail that he poured into a flower petal, or a snow flake, or for that matter our DNA strand. Such an incredibly creative Creator would not just leave things to chance. I guarantee you He doesn’t. Don’t believe me, then read Psalm 121:8 for yourself.

Nothing In Our Lives Is Simply Left To Chance.

But what about the age old question, why do bad things happen to good people? Quite frankly, I’ve thought about this question a lot throughout my life and I’ve come to the conclusion that it comes down to trust. For we in fact live in a fallen world that started with one bite of a forbidden apple in the garden of eden. Trust is the antidote to that bite. Trust in a God who has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. Trust in Jesus as Savior in life after death. Trust that the Lord has our back no matter what hits us, for He will indeed “preserve your coming and going”. There is contentment that comes with trust beyond that which I can explain to you. You really have to experience it for yourself. The decision to trust is yours. It’s the best decision you will ever make.

Love Like…

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“For God so loved you that He gave His only Son….” John 3:16

On my walk through a local park a few days ago I was suddenly greeted by the distinct and unmistakeable rhythmic sound of country music. As the music grew louder I turned to see an older gentleman on a bike, cruising and singing along with the tunes coming from his backpack. It was a song I’d never heard before by an artist named Kane Brown. The chorus said, “I love you like I love country music”. I had to chuckle at the fun loving song, but it actually made me think.

How Much Does God Love Us?

The answer is simple. If God were to sing to you He would sing, “I love you beyond your comprehension.” When you think about it, those are not just idle words, but backed up with promise after promise starting with Jesus as our Savior. Remember that the next time you find yourself singing the blues. Perhaps you’ll change your tune.

Lost & Found

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Jesus said, “If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?” Matthew 18:12

A friend relayed to me that a package arrived at their company absent any direct addressee. Needless to say, the package floated from department to department, for a few weeks actually, until landing in a storage area. The person who had ordered the package did not realize that it had actually arrived so they were not watching out for it.

Something Was Lost That Needed To Be Found.

I thought about this story and immediately I saw the parallel in our daily lives. So many times we will become lost in life and not even realize it. We let stress take over and as a result our decisions become sketchy or our health begins to suffer. Then we do our best to bury the issue in a dark closet and try to forget that we have lost our way. Thankful we have a Savior who never tires of finding and healing lost souls. You may not realize that you are lost in some area of your life, but know today that Jesus is looking for you. Let his healing touch shine a light and heal that which you’ve worked so hard to lose.

Taco Day

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“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 106:7

We in America seem to have a day to “commemorate or celebrate” just about everything in life. Believe it or not, the list includes a National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day, a National Old Stuff Day, a National I Want You To Be Happy Day, and there’s even a National Banana Cream Pie Day! Look it up for yourself as the list is actually endless. A few weeks ago a friend said to me, “did you realize that today is National Taco Day?” I smiled and said that we live 15 miles from the border with Mexico therefore in San Diego every day is “taco day,” and with that I headed to lunch to my favorite taco stand. This myriad of commemoration days actually made me think of how every day in life should be celebrated as one more day to

Thank God For His Goodness.

The fact that we woke up this morning is a miracle worth celebrating. Just one more opportunity for you and I to say, “Good morning Lord, what do you have in store for us today. Whatever it is, we are truly grateful.”

Tug-Of-War

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“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” John 14:23

My freshman year in college, during orientation, my fellow new students and I were ushered to small field beside the library. There to greet us was what could accurately be described as a giant mud pit. Stretched across that muddy landscape was a large thick rope with a red flag at its center. We all groaned as we knew a sloppy game of tug-of-war was about to commence. I often think of that day as I deal with the endless series of emotional tug-of-wars in my life. For all of us, the war against stress wrapped up in fear, worry or anxiety usually top the list. So, if worry and stress are becoming your unwanted best friends then today is liberation day for you! What you don’t realize is who is standing in front and behind you on your tug-of-war rope. According to John 14:23: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit have come to make their home with you.

That’s A Formidable Tug-Of-War Team! 

In fact, picture a big thick heavy rope and let’s play tug-o-war with it. On one end of that rope I want you to put all your fears and worry and stress. On the other end of that rope, on your team I want you to picture Jesus up front, then the Holy Spirit, then yourself, then God the Father running anchor. Now some of you are starting to say, that’s not exactly a fair fight – and you are right. You are going to win! What are you so worried about? Your fear, your anxiety and your stress don’t stand a chance against the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Get on the winning team! Jesus is standing right in front of you and holding out his hand saying, I want you!