hope

Pick Your Emoji

/ James Penner / Leave a comment

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him” Romans 5:13

Years ago, as I would walk with my late father in law, Dr. Robert H. Schuller, he would frequently ask people passing by, “how’s your day going?” Invariably people would respond with a casual, “fine”, or “good.” Before the words fully left their lips I was already stopping my walk for I knew the lecture that was about to take place. Upon hearing the words “Fine” or “Good” Dad would stop on a dime, turn to face the person, and say, “No, no, no, good is not good enough,

You Have To Make It A Great Day!”

Years later I walked into a hotel lobby and found myself saying to the attendant behind the counter, “how’s your day going?” His response actually floored me. “Better than good, my friend, better than good. How can I help you” I smiled and soon found out that this young man had watched my father-in-law on television many times. He said simply having a good day was not good enough. You have to make the day what you want of it. The truth is, like it or not, we all choose our emoji’s daily. The day you make out of today is completely up to you.

The Sum Of All Fears

/ James Penner / Leave a comment

“I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from ALL my fears” Psalm 34:4

Of the many great Tom Clancy novels, the one where the title alone caused me to pull it off of a friends bookshelf was, “The Sum Of All Fears”. The words in the title foretold a tipping point at which our worst fears are realized and we are overcome. We don’t even have to know what the book is about to understand a countdown to destruction is underway. Today, you very likely carry such a countdown with you in your every day life. It’s called the sum of all those nagging little fears that don’t feel overwhelming yet, but, give them enough time and they have a way of compounding on you. So what’s the answer?

Give Every Fear, No Matter How Small, to God

So many times we pray to God over our overwhelming burdens, and yet we neglect the little dripping faucet of tiny fears that rob us of our minute by minute and hour by hour happiness in life. I’ve stopped counting how many times the Bible references God telling us not to fear but instead to bring our burdens to Him. Today is the day for you to take God up on His promise of relief. Give every burden you have to God! Pray for His leading, His wisdom, and His intervention, then stop worrying. He is all you need!

Wile E. Coyote

/ James Penner / Leave a comment

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” James 1:2-3

As a child my favorite day of the week was Saturday because “The Bugs Bunny Road Runner Hour” was on television. No kid could resist watching Wile E. Coyote, the self proclaimed “super-genius” try and outsmart the Road Runner. Whether falling off a cliff or getting flattened by an Acme road grader, it was all just too much fun to watch Wile E. work his antics. Of course, I’ve learned that what was fun to watch as a child now hits a little too close to home. For just like Mr Coyote, sometimes no matter what we do or what we try we encounter trials. Enter James 1 where he says,

When You Face Trials, Count It All Joy

Really? The easy temptation would be to say that James must be full of hot air. In reality, he’s not. Neither was Peter when he said, we can rejoice in trials, or Paul when he said that he had learned to be content whether he was experiencing plenty or want. The secret that all of these men held tightly to were God’s promises. They knew that God would never leave them, nor would He forsake them. This same promise is yours. All you have to do is ask Him. Look up.

Giants!

/ James Penner / Leave a comment

“There we saw the giants, and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight…” Numbers 13:33

When the children of Israel reached the promised land, Moses sent twelve spies to scout the land to see what they were in for. When the spies returned, one of the twelve spies, Caleb, quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” Joshua was right there with him, but, based on our bible verse today from Numbers 13 you can already picture the objections, and the rolling of the eyes from the other ten spies. “We don’t stand a chance”, I can hear them saying,

There Are Giants In The Land!

Caleb is one of my heroes of the faith. Here’s a man who was a slave in Egypt, watched the plagues take place, watched the Red Sea part, and remained faithful to God through 40 years of wandering through the desert along side a disgruntled nation who continually pestered Moses with a never ending chorus of “are we there yet?” Through all of that, Caleb, now 80 years young, says, “Come on, we can do it, Let’s take the Land. Caleb knew that with God all things are possible. Do you?

Stop Wandering

/ James Penner / Leave a comment

“The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord.” Joshua 5:6

In the Old Testament, the children of Israel were rescued from Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, then disobeyed God resulting in a trip that should have taken them 11 days taking 40 years. I love the words from famed author C.S. Lewis, who said, “There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done’, and those to whom God says,

“Alright Then, Have It Your Way”

With due respect to the famed Burger King commercial, which for a decade implored us to order burgers and “have it our way”, the worst decision we can ever make is to have our own way. God will certainly let us do so, but I’d advise against employing this life strategy. Saying “Thy will be done” to God is a time tested recipe for joy filled living. Jesus himself said in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” Searching for meaning? Contentment? Joy? Wander on home to Jesus.

I’m All Yours, Lord

/ James Penner / Leave a comment

“Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.” Jeremiah 1:9

Imagine standing before the Lord just as Jeremiah did. In that intimate moment God says to you, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Then, fumbling for words just as Jeremiah did, you respond to God by saying, “Behold I cannot speak for I am a youth” In other words, “Who me? Are you really talking to me? I’m no prophet, I can’t lead, not like that. Don’t you realize my background, my problems, my fears, my insecurity….”

God Is Not Phased By Your Insecurities

God responds, saying, “I am with you to deliver you!” Friends, God has not stopped speaking, even today. Yes that means He’s speaking to you. Are you listening or arguing? Submitting or ignoring? I have discovered a stark reality in my own life. When I let the noise of the world consume my thoughts I’ve soon tuned God out. But in those times when I can filter out the noise of the world and spend time in prayer, God’s voice suddenly comes through in digital surround sound. Give it a try. Filter out the world for an hour a day. Use that time to praise God alone. Such humble devotion stirs the Heart of God and He will use your devotion in mighty and remarkable ways. He will put words in your mouth that will change the world around you.

Assurance

/ James Penner / Leave a comment

Jesus said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age”. Matthew 28:20

In the year 1789 Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to his friend describing the permanence of the recently completed United States Constitution, saying that the document, “has an appearance that promises permanency but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” The phrase “nothing is certain but death and taxes” has since become ubiquitous in our culture through the centuries. And yet, Mr. Franklin made one crucial miscalculation, he side stepped the permanency of God. For Jesus said,

I Am With You Always

I have taken Jesus at His word. Throughout my day, sometimes a dozen times a day I’ll find myself saying, “Thank you Jesus” for I know He is near. I can feel His presence, His touch, and His love. I cannot possibly describe the sensation other than to say I highly recommend it. I’m not unique, I’ve just made a choice to live by faith and not by sight. You already have all the tools you need to live such a life yourself. Simply say, Jesus I need you. It’s a conversation you will enjoy.

Hope Beyond Tragedy

/ James Penner / Leave a comment

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

I can’t explain the tragedies of life. One child lost in a school shooting is one too many, just as one soul lost to war, or sickness, or famine in a distant land is one too many. When I see the tragic reports I am incensed at needless suffering, and, perhaps in that moment receive just a glimpse of what breaks the heart of God. Yet into the unspeakable tragic times in life the Psalms tell us that

God Is Close To The Brokenhearted

God is there to save those who are crushed in spirt. I’ve heard it criticized when someone says, “my thoughts and prayers are with you”, saying instead that tangible action is needed. Action is needed, and prayer is action step number one. Nothing on this earth is more powerful than prayer. For when I have no words, I use what few I have to say “Lord God, please draw near to those who are suffering heartbreak. Only You can comfort”. You’ve now enlisted the help of the creator of Heaven and earth. For when and where we can’t, He can.

Love Story

/ James Penner / Leave a comment

“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

I sat down with my wife a few nights ago to watch “The Lake House” staring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. This romantic time traveling love story hit home for me the instant I heard Paul McCartney sing “This Never Happened Before”. The Lyrics say, “This is the way it should be for lovers, they shouldn’t go it alone, it’s not so good when you’re on your own.” Paul is right, we should’t go it alone, we’re meant to have one true love in our life. So,

How’s Your Love Affair With Jesus?

I love and adore my wife of 37 years, but I’ve had a life long love affair with Jesus Christ. Why, because as 1 John 4:19 says, He first loved me, so much so that he endured the cross so that I would not have to go it alone. You’re not meant to be on your own. Look up. He’s only a prayer away.

Rejoice Always

/ James Penner / Leave a comment

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

One of the great mysteries of faith is the power of prayer. Proverbs 18 tells that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Frankly, we have no earthly idea of just how much power we possess when we pray. Perhaps that’s why Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians implores us to rejoice always, pray without ceasing and to

Give Thanks In All Circumstances

I can hear the skeptic in you saying, rejoice in my pain? My suffering? My hardship? Yes, that’s what I’m saying, and I’ll readily admit that’s not always easy to do! I’ll also say I’m continually amazed at the result when I do. Never grow weary in prayer. If you knew just how effective your prayers were, you’d never stop.