Month: November 2022

Sabrina

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“My God will supply all your needs…” Philippians 4:19

In the film “Sabrina” Harrison Ford plays Linus, an ultra wealthy business man who begins to fall for the chauffeurs daughter, Sabrina, played by Julia Ormond. In one scene Linus asks Sabrina to take a few photos of the family’s summer cottage in Martha’s Vineyard before they put it on the market for sale. Just before she begins to take the photographs she asks, “which angle do you want?” He responds, “I don’t know, all of them”. Sabrina’s response is an incredible life lesson for us as she replies,

“More Is Not Always Better, Sometimes It’s Just More.”

We don’t always know what we really need in life, but God does. There’s a trust factor that has to be implemented in our lives in order for us to be truly satisfied and fulfilled. Trust that God, who knows you better than you know yourself, has your best interest in mind every minute of every hour of every day. Perhaps that’s why Jesus when he taught us how to pray puts “Thy (God’s) will be done” at the top of the list of things for us to ask for.

May I Have Your Attention?

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“Do you not know? Have you not heard?” Isaiah 40:28

While walking through a park I noticed a dog owner who had his furry little friends rapt attention. Then I noticed that the dog owner had an orange ball that he was preparing to long throw across an expanse of grass. I could tell that the dog had a singular thought, which was, “keep your eye on the ball.” The instant the owner released the ball the dog was off at full speed to retrieve his prize. Once he had it, he trotted back while gripping that ball firmly between his teeth, tailing wagging at his achievement. Oh to have such simple and complete focus in life. Yet we as humans tend to overthink and over analyze everything rather than simply focusing on the one thing that’s important. Isaiah understands attention grabbing focus when he says to us, “Do you not know? Have you not heard?” In other words, pay attention for

What I’m About To Tell You Changes Everything!

Then Isaiah proceeds to lay out the incredible promises of God behind his life changing headline. “The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not feint.” Isaiah 40:28-31

Little Things

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Jesus said, “Do not worry about your life.” Matthew 6:25

I was chatting with my father-in-law years ago and sharing a host of seemingly little fears that I was dealing with. He was a story teller by nature, so he sat back with his cup of coffee and said, “you know there was a giant tree in Colorado that died. The tree was hundreds of years old, which they could tell by counting the rings when they cut it down. Through those hundreds of years it wasn’t the big things that killed the tree, like a drought or lightening strikes. It was a tiny little bark beetle. Only the beetle did not come alone, he brought its aunts and uncles and cousins and friends and they had a party killing that tree. The moral of the story is, when you let one little negative thought into your mind, it will never come alone. That negative thought will bring its aunts and uncles and cousins and friends and they will have a party while putting a negative hole in your mind.”

One Negative Thought Always Leads To Many.

I’ve never forgotten that story because it is so closely aligned with Jesus when He said, “Do not worry about your life.” When we fear the negative we leave very little room for trust in God. Big or small, hand your fears to God today. He’ll happily take them off your hands.

The Pause Button

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“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9

I’ve become addicted to the pause button on my television remote control. The ability to hit pause on a show I’m watching, for any reason whatsoever, and then to resume watching without missing a single thing is in a word, amazing. Yet I’m not so fond of the pause button when it comes to my life. Life interrupted are two words that I struggled with for years. Over time I have had to learn to

Let Go And Let God

I had to learn to put Proverbs 16:9 into action in my life. For I can plan all I want but ultimately it is the Lord who orders my steps. During times of pause I’m just waiting for Him to press play so the action can begin. Even still, times of pause can be incredibly valuable. Learning to trust God and His timing is one of the greatest lessons you can ever learn in life. Don’t be so impatient when God hits the pause button. For as David said in Psalm 23, “He makes me lie down in green pastures and beside still waters.” See the pause for what it is, a time to grow in your faith.

Overflow

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“It is better to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

When I was a child my grandmother gave me a gift I will never forget. It was an AFX slot car set with tiny indy cars and what seemed like miles of track to go with them. Excited beyond belief I was soon overwhelmed with how to put the maze of track together and get racing. Thankfully, Uncle Vern (yes the same Uncle Vern whom I wrote about previously in these devotional pages), was there to dive in and assemble. Somehow I remember the hug I gave my grandmother after receiving this gift with a thank you whispered in her ear. Her response was a simple ‘you’re welcome’, but her eyes were wet. Today, looking back I realize her emotion came from the effects the broken home her son, my father, was having on us all at the time. Giving was my grandmothers way of saying

I Care.

In Acts 20:35 Paul is actually quoting Jesus in saying it is more blessed to give than to receive. Giving to others, whether tangible gifts, or love and affection, has a very real effect on the lives of those you touch. Most of all, you will instantly be infected with the desire to give more. For you cannot give yourself away without being changed for the better. I’m sure you have been hurt in giving yourself away in the past. We all have. Past hurt should never stop you from loving others for there are blessings of overflow waiting in your giving.

Black Friday

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“If you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” Matthew 7:11

I have to admit that online shopping has taken a bit of the sport out of Black Friday for me. I used to love shopping the old fashioned way, going to the mall, or the downtown stores, and rubbing elbows with seemingly every other human being on the planet! It’s become far too easy to just point and click to purchase and give a gift. Oh I know all the “consumerism is bad” talk during the holidays but truth be told we love to give gifts to others. Giving is in our nature, and even when our supply is limited we give what we can. Now I have some good news for you.

God’s Supply Is Not Limited.

God has an endless supply, and guess what, according to Matthew 7, He loves to give to those who ask of Him! So, what are you waiting for? It does not matter how young or how old you are, start a conversation with God today. “Lord, what should I be asking you for? What amazing things do you want for my life? Whatever that is, bring it forth in abundance! I want what you want for me!”

Thanksgiving!

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“Enter His gates with thanksgiving.” Psalm 100:4

I’ve sat down to one too many thanksgiving dinners with one thought in mind, ‘leave room for dessert’. I know the pie is there. I can smell it when I enter the house, then I can see it as I enter the kitchen and it looks amazing. Yet, my eyes are always larger than my stomach during dinner and by the time dessert rolls around there is literally, as they say, ‘no room in the inn’. And yet, for all the feasting and celebrating, for me thanksgiving is truly about being thankful. It’s about family and friends and the life God has graciously given me. Some years were lean beyond comprehension, others held a sense of sorrow for loved ones gone, and others the laughter would lift the roof. Yet in the good years and the not so good years,

There Is Always Something To Be Thankful For.

That may sound cliche, but don’t let it become that for you. Thanksgiving is the very first word that should pass our lips each day as we pray to God. God is life and all that we enjoy comes from Him. Don’t miss your chance to be thankful. For who among you does not pour out your love when someone is thankful to you. Just think how much more your Heavenly Father will pour over your life when you are thankful for what He has already given to you.

The Power Of Joy

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“In God’s Presence there is fullness and joy.” Psalm 16:11

So many I have talked with in life approach God from a point of intimidation, or fear, or uncertainty, like they are entering a courtroom and approaching a stern judge with strong eyes and a large gavel. In fact, one word that I do not hear often from people as they approach God is the word “Joy”. And yet, scripture associates the word Joy with God over and over again. “The Joy of the Lord is our strength” in Nehemiah 8:10 is one of my favorite verses, as is, “May the God of all hope fill you with joy and peace” in Romans 15:13. Only a joyful God could create all that our eyes behold. Think about it,

You Have To Be In A Good Mood To Invent Daisies!

God is in a good mood and He want’s a relationship with you. All that guilt or trepidation you feel when approaching God, He wants to take care of that for you, and through Christ forgiveness put it behind you, then move forward with an incredible relationship. When God says to Jeremiah, “I have plans for you, plans to prosper you” He is speaking that to you today. Get past your fears and come before the Lord with thanksgiving! A joy filled life is waiting for you.

Sunrise

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“Behold, He (Jesus) is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him” Revelation 1:7

I love sunrises. The magnificence of color spread across the sky bring a feast for my eyes and warms my heart. And yet with each sunrise I can’t help but wonder what it will look like when Christ returns. Revelation says that, “every eye will see Him.” That means everyone. Everyone! I know on that day I will be rejoicing because Christ has returned, but I also have a feeling my heart will ache for my neighbor whom I didn’t get to know better. The neighbor I was too scared to talk with about Jesus. The one I was afraid would laugh at me for my faith. Still, each day I stop and think,

Everyone Should Enjoy The Sunrise.

I won’t sugar coat it, doing the work that Jesus has called us to can be hard. You open yourself up to criticism and ridicule. And that only grows when you say yes to full time ministry, for when times are tough you take the public blows from a crowded field of second guessers. And yet what drives me each morning is picturing the look I don’t want on my neighbors face when Christ returns. The look that says, “Why didn’t you tell me?” Perhaps you never thought you would be the one to change someones life, and yet today you can choose to drive the ambulance that brings someone you love to the Master Physician. Jesus is calling.  

The Mercy Rule

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“The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness”. Psalm 145:8

In 1st Corinthians 13 we read the familiar attributes of love. That love is patient, kind, does not envy or boast, is not arrogant or rude, is not irritable or resentful, does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. The passage completes by saying “love never fails”. To me, this passage about how I should strive to live life also points out one very significant thing. This passage describes God, for as 1 John 4:16 says,

God Is Love

How could God be anything but love, for over and over again He is so incredibly patient and merciful with us. If we were in charge we’d have thrown in the towel on us at least a few times a day. But not God. He is the very definition of gracious and merciful, slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. If you look up those words from Psalm 145 you’ll actually find them repeated many times throughout the Old Testament. So, the next time you feel unworthy of love, don’t believe the lie. God is love, whether we deserve it or not God is still love. Talk to Him.