Reach for Encouragement

A Rest in the Middle of the Music

2011-01-06T06:15:00.005-05:00

In music, we are always attentive to rhythms, intonation, etc. Often overlooked, especially by novices to instrumental studies, is the rest. Beginning players want to keep playing and will often play right through the rests.
As you may have noticed, I am choosing to take a rest from the "March of Words" I have been creating. Keeping with the musical theme, it takes daily discipline to write a devotional for each day. My initial motive for this devotional was for the simple discipline of writing in response to God's Word, rather than just thinking and praying. I had intended to do it for one year, but I have found fulfillment in the process and continued months beyond.
One of my favorite men of prayer was Harry Emerson Fosdick. I often read his collection of pastoral prayers and will begin to focus a portion of my daily study to his prayers and a book on prayer he authored, The Meaning of Prayer. I hope you will continue to use one of the many online devotional sites to strengthen your faith.
I suspect I will return to this devotional practice in the future, but for now, I ask you to listen to the rest, for within it, God speaks.
I am grateful for readers from each of these countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Philippines, Russia, Germany, South Korea, India, France, and pray all readers have been blessed as I have been blessed.
I am interested in your feedback. What aspects of this site have been helpful? In what ways could I improve it if and when I return to writing? Any and all of your thoughts are welcomed and appreciated.
All of the devotions will remain online for your perusal. The alphabetized index includes scriptures and themes. I hope you will continue to find the devotions useful circumstantially for your life.
As always, I end with these two phrases -- "Reach for Encouragement." and "To his glory." I am a firm believer we need to reach out to the Lord to receive all the encouragement he offers through his love and grace. We cannot be passive! Likewise, I pray that your life and mine will continue to be lived each day to his glory.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

Be Number 1 for today is 1-1-11

2011-01-01T08:39:00.000-05:00

Today is 1-1-11 and you are number 1. What a great start to this new year!
Consider six sure-fire ways you can remain number 1 throughout the year. Use your refrigerator magnets to keep these 6 steps to a new and abundant life in front of you. Recite the scriptures and claim them for your life:

Be number one by putting the Lord first in your life. Jesus reduces all the commandments down to two -- the essential two. To follow these means you will worship the Lord each week with your church family and honor him daily in how you life. Celebrate this verse: Jesus said these are the two greatest commandments: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[c]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10: 27)
Be number one by letting go of the past. Forget the failures, Forgive the hurts. Forgo the disappointments. Celebrate this verse: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Be number one by looking to the future. The future is where your life is, lean into it as you celebrate this verse: Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)
Be number one by accepting God's plan for your life. The Lord desires only good for you, and has a plan for your life that will give you hope! Celebrate this verse: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Be number one by keeping a positive perspective. You have the choice to be affirming of others and to see the positive in every experience. Celebrate this verse: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
Be number one by choosing to intentionally love. The most excellent way of life is love. Strive to express love in all you do. Celebrate these verses: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)

Don't make this list your resolutions for the year. Instead, read them daily in the morning. Find a a friend to spend ten minutes together (in person or by phone) to help your keep at it. And, pray for perseverance; for if we let perseverance finish its work we will become mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:4)I hope that you will join me in being more intentional about being number 1 -- being the best Christian I can be. In doing so, I will be the best husband, father and friend that I can possibly be. That is a goal worth achieving in 2011.
Grace and peace through our Lord Jesus Christ
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

It's Resolution Time!

2010-12-31T05:00:00.001-05:00

If you have not already written your new year resolutions, you may consider the top four resolutions for the last two years.* (By ranking):

Get out of debt or save money.
Lose weight.
Develop a healthy habit (e.g. healthy eating, exercise).
Get organized.

Would any of these make it on your list? The trouble with "New Year Resolutions" is that we forget the "resolve" part. More than 75 percent of people who set New Year resolutions will break them within 3 months and almost one-third will break them by the end of January.* Isn't that fact a depressing way to start the New Year?
If we explore this a bit further we can see the pattern of most people's lives. Dreams are dreamed, goals are set, and we even have some resolve to make it happen. Studies have shown this is where most people stop. They/we fail to plan the steps necessary to enact our goals and resolutions. We need to plan our strategies step by step to bring real change into our lives.
We face a similar failure to plan in our spiritual lives. We want to be a disciple of Jesus, but rarely consider the cost. Jesus addressed this: "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'" (Luke 14:28-30)
We need to count the cost of real change. What are the pieces we need to put into place to make it all happen? Anyone can believe in Jesus, but to follow him takes personal adjustments -- the things we will change, give up or add on to be a disciple of Jesus.
I encourage you to take the steps necessary to put your goals and resolutions into action, both for your personal life as well as your spiritual life. Among the benefits of your success will be the increased confidence you will have. And, success breeds success.

As you begin this new year, claim the acclamation from the apostle Paul: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Claim the new you in Christ! Do a 180 in one area of your life. Trust in God to do his part and commit yourself to a plan of action that will maximize the power of God at work in you.
A new year can truly bring a new you -- no less than a new creation!
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

* http://eon.businesswire.com/portal/site/eon/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20081218005288&newsLang=en

Generosity Is A State of Mind

2010-12-30T05:00:00.000-05:00

No one could predict the outpouring of generosity after a house fire in Fruita, Colorado on Christmas Eve, 2009. Neighbors donated clothing and gift cards. Businesses responded, too. Two acts of kindness stand out above all the rest: "A homeless man collected canned goods for the family, and a woman gave the children teddy bears that the woman had when she was a child."*
There are some people of every walk of life who have discovered the life-enhancing, joy-producing grace of giving. The apostle Paul shares his own insight: You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:11)

Have you found this principle true in your life? God continues to pour out his blessings in your life so you can be a blessing to others. Generosity of time, talent and treasure always results in thanksgiving to God. Thanksgiving is shared by those who receive, but it is the joy that results in your heart that is the most profound. You become thankful to the Lord!
I know many people who nibble around the edges of this principle of giving. They never quite take the step into the richness of a truly generous spirit. I also know people who have taken the step of faith whose generosity is evident to all. It becomes a lifestyle of blessings and joy.
This is my observation: "If you feel you don't have enough to give, you never will. If you begin giving what you have, you will always have more than enough." I find that generosity is a state of mind in people. You can develop it, if you will give it a try. I guarantee it will change your life.
Try it out. God will, indeed, make you rich in every way so you can be generous on every occasion. Watch what happens to your heart. Discover how life will change. Enjoy.

* http://www.gjsentinel.com/hp/content/news/stories/2010/01/02/010310_2a_Hanveys_grateful.html

Blessings Beyond Measure

2010-12-29T05:00:00.001-05:00

I have a hard time accepting complements. I get embarrassed and uncomfortable. I often find myself mumbling a few words to divert the comment. I was brought up that way.
I was also brought up to accept the idea that I had to prove myself worthy of God's blessing. Oh, yes, the grace of God is by faith alone, but I was taught I had to work to receive his blessing after my salvation.
I wasted far too many years in the frustration and anxiety of trying to measure up. I did not get the idea that God wanted to bless me, and from his blessing, I would be empowered to live in a manner worthy of Christ. I thought I had to keep running to stay in his light as it continued to move forward. It was exhausting.
Along comes the apostle Paul who had lived fully in a system of laws all his life. His whole being changed when Jesus came to meet him face to face. He left all the restrictions behind and accepted the full measure of God's grace. He also walked in and lived with the blessing of Jesus: I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ. (Romans 15:29)
What a 180 degree turn! Paul knew he had the full blessing. His confidence is evident.
God wants us to live in the full measure of the blessing of Christ! God wants us to have total confidence and know that his blessing is upon us -- not just a little, but in full measure.
I believe we settle for far less than the full measure. Our previous experience and self-perceptions lead us to believe we receive drops of his blessing --- measured one drop at a time. He offers the full measure.
Will you believe it and receive it today? Will you begin telling yourself, "I know I have the full measure of the blessing of Christ."
God wants you to have nothing less than all of him. You have joy to enjoy, love to share, and hope to offer.
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

A Final Stronghold Demolished!

2010-12-28T05:00:00.001-05:00

Fear can easily control us. A friend of mine had a fear of bridges. He painstakingly worked out driving directions to avoid using bridges. Twenty minute trips became three times as long. Can you imagine having a fear of bridges and trying to travel across the country? Whew!
There are many fears that people possess, but the fear that is a factor in almost all our behaviors is death. Humans fear death. And, if they do not fear death itself, they often fear the manner in which they will face death. Fear equals death.
God does not want us to live with any fear. His design for us is one of perfect peace, surrendered to him and living in the freedom he alone gives. At the end of life, and particularly as we live each day, the Lord wants us to be at peace. This is the measure of faith that Isaiah had in his life. He wrote, "Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death." (Isaiah 57:2)
There is no need to fear death for those who have gone to the manger and have worshiped Jesus as their Lord. In fact, we find rest even as we lie in death.
I can testify to the miracle of death for those who know the Lord. The Holy Spirit fills their room, the peace of Christ is over them and they are truly at rest as they leave the boundaries of this physical sphere.
No one, except, perhaps, the prophets, could foresee all that this tiny infant would do. He not only shook up kingdoms with his Kingdom, but he also demolished the last and final stronghold Satan had on God's children -- death itself.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

Pictured above is the Donghai Bridge which is the longest cross-sea bridge in the world and the longest bridge in Asia. It was completed on December 10, 2005. It has a total length of 20.2 miles and connects Shanghai and the offshore Yangshan deep-water port in China.

A Mission Accomplished: Reconciling the World

2010-12-27T05:00:00.000-05:00

Remember President Ronald Reagan's famous lines from his speech at the Brandenburg Gate commemorating the 750th anniversary of Berlin? In that speech on June 12, 1987, Reagan challenged Mr. Gorbachev, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union:

We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace. There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!*

That wall finally came crashing down in 1989 and the two Germany's became one in 1990. Those two events were historic in their magnitude. Yet, Berlin Wall coming down and the reunion of Germany pales in comparison to another wall that was destroyed:

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (Ephesians 2:14-18)

The dividing wall of hostility that separated humanity from our Righteous and Holy God was destroyed by Jesus. He brought peace to our souls and peace between each of us who have faith in him and the Lord our God.
God's great plan to redeem his world went into motion as Jesus was born into the world. This innocent child has become for us a symbol of peace. When he grew and began his ministry he preached peace to all people, those near and those far away. His death on the cross reconciled us to God so that everyone could have access to the Father.
God said to his son, "Tear down this wall!"
It all began in a stable and ended on the cross, but he did it. In fact, this peace he brings to our lives and our relationship with God, was part of the meaning of his final words on this earth, "It is finished."
Jesus did it.
Peace to you who are near and peace to you who are far off.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

* Remarks at the Brandenberg Gate". Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. http://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan/speeches/wall.asp. Retrieved 2008-02-09.

The Good News of Peace

2010-12-26T05:00:00.001-05:00

There is good news for Aden Eshetu and her mother. She was selected as the outstanding student in her Etheopian Kindergarten and played with all her friends. A year ago she was facing probable death due to a congenital heart defect.

Her life was saved after a heart catheterization lab was donated to a hospital in her native land.
The lab will help save the lives of some of the estimated 50,000 Ethiopian children who suffer from a similar condition -- more good news!

We all like to hear good news. I look forward to certain people because they always bring good news. They have a positive attitude and see life with lots of pluses rather than minuses. They see the best in others, and in me, and choose to emphasize the positive traits of each person they meet. They are bring good news and everyone , well, almost everyone is happy to see them. This is the message Isaiah offers us about people who speak for the Lord: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" (Isaiah 52:7)

The shepherds are still heralded today for recognizing the birth of Jesus and spreading the good news. The apostle Paul planted churches and spread the news that has eventually circled the globe. Children in nativity programs, Christmas choir programs, bell ringers, shoppers risking a greeting of "merry Christmas" bring good news and glad tidings. They proclaim peace and salvation and recognize that the Lord reigns!
Peace has come to our war-weary, torn by strife world. It may not feel like peace. It may not sound like peace. The guns may fire and missiles continue to be launched. The living room arguments and road-rage encounters may still cause the consternation of many. But peace has come.

His peace transforms swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. Lions will lay down with lambs. Infants will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child will put his hand into the viper's nest. No one will be hurt for we will live in peace -- learning to play together, walk together, and be responsible for each other.

I can only imagine it now, like looking through a mirror dimly. But the day is coming when peace will be upon the earth. Immanuel, Jesus, our Savior is born and his Kingdom will reign forever and ever.

Bear good news, proclaim the peace he brings, and declare, "Your God reigns!"

Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

His Birth Warms Hearts and Saves Souls

2010-12-25T05:00:00.003-05:00

At age six Andrew Mitchell was a victim of a drive by shooting and remains paralyzed as a result. He has not let that stop him from body boarding (think skate boarding), playing basketball, and helping others from his wheelchair.

Yes, helping others.

Andrew and his mother made a wrong turn one day last year which led them past a group of homeless under a bridge. Andew decided he needed to do something to help them. With the help of his parents and his church, Pearly Grove Baptist, Andrew collected 100 sleeping bags and 100 duffle bags filled with toiletries. This week, four days before Christmas, Andrew and members of his church gave them all away. He wanted to offer them hope -- to let them know that God cares.
I think Andrew understands what happened to the world on the day Christ was born.
God showed he cared for a world of homeless people. His gift was not sleeping bags to keep us warm, but the gift of his love which warms our hearts forever. His gift was not duffle bags filled with toiletries, but the real necessity of life, the salvation of our souls.
The birth of Jesus shook the world more powerfully than an earthquake. His presence sent waves of his Spirit across the earth with more power than the combined force of all the world's hurricanes. His birth brought a power to overcome sin and death that was greater the all the nuclear weapons earth can muster. The heavens opened and angels appeared. The stars in the heavens were shuffled. Shepherds left their flocks. Magi veered off course. Kingdoms of man were threatened.
His birth sent shock waves across the earth. And those shock waves of his Spirit continue to shake up our world today. Modern day kingdoms from China to the United States vainly attempt to harness his presence and limit his power. They cannot accept the very promise of Jesus: "On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." (Matthew 16:18)
Though threatened by death before the age of one, cornered by crowds wanting to kill him, plotted against, captured, crucified, and entombed by the forces of earth, nothing could contain him. He lives today and continues to bring salvation to souls and hope to hearts.
Jesus was born to reach us and all the restlessness of souls still homeless, wanting everyone to find shelter in his heavenly home. Nothing this world can throw at him will stop him from being born for you so your destiny may be with him.
Christ's birth was meant to shake up your world. His coming convicts us of our sins, converts our hearts to believe in him, and completes his work of salvation in us.
May Jesus shake up your world and change you forever -- really forever!
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

Always and Forever

2010-12-24T05:00:00.004-05:00

Faron Hall was one of the world's forgotten. A homeless man, living along the banks of the Red River in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada for the last seven years, spent his days drinking and his nights sleeping under a bridge. In the last six months his life has taken a radical reversal.

In May, drinking as usual along the river, he heard the screams of Joseph Mousseau, 19 who had fallen off a bridge into the river. He swam diagonally against the strong spring current in frigid temperatures to pull the young man to safety. He was dubbed the "Homeless Hero." and was awarded the city's medal of valor.
The story doesn't end with one heroic rescue. In September he rescued Tara Beardy from the same river. It gets better.
Those recues became a turning point in his life. He moved into the Main Street Homeless Shelter and slowly he found himself again. He recently graduated from an addictions program.
Faron Hall is a living example of what the Lord can do in a person's life. God uses every encounter of our lives to draw us closer to him.
For those who know him he offers this promise: For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever. (Psalm 37:28)
Even as the Lord seeks to care for and restore the homeless, the outcast and the poor, he is also faithful to those who walk in his ways. The Lord loves all his children, but his love is experienced by his followers in those intimate ways that only a relationship can bring. We learn to trust that he will always be with us. We discover that he protects us and leads us through the rough times. We discover the genuineness of his love as his mercy and grace transform our lives.
The birth of God's son, Jesus, is the most tangible way God's love is seen, felt and known. He shows us that he has not, nor will he ever, forsake us. He proves his faithfulness to us. And, he surprises us with the extent of his love in the protection he give us by taking away the stain of sin and the sting of death.
May these be your words today: Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8)
Emmanuel: "God with us." Always and Forever! We can trust God to show us the way we should go because we have the assurance of his love and faithfulness.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

Love's Compelling Desire

2010-12-23T05:00:00.007-05:00

The love of a Mother and the love of a daughter. The mother had carried her daughter for nine months and given birth to you. She nursed and nurtured her into adulthood, marriage, and child birth. Mothers' love is always at a great sacrifice and surrender. Mothers no longer live for themselves, but for their children.

Now for the love of the daughter. Her mother needed a kidney transplant in order to survive and time was of the essence. Her daughter, so grateful for all the love of her Mother, donated one of her kidneys out of love for her mother. Her sacrifice was a tangible gift of love.
This is the hope God has for us. The Lord wants us to accept the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, allowing him to live within us. The Lord hopes that we will surrender our will to him, having our self-centeredness crucified with him so we may live for him. This is the apostle Paul's point when he states, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)
The love of Jesus compelled him to give himself up for us. Loving him and living by faith in the Son of God, does not mean giving up a kidney, but giving up our will to the will of the one who gave himself for us.
Sacrifice and surrender. They are a very natural love for a Mother. They are a very willing love of a daughter. They are a very decisive love for a Savior. May your love be as natural, willing and decisive in response to him.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

Note: If you are interested in considering donating a gift of life, try one of this site: www.donors1.org

Make It From the Bottom of Your Heart

2010-12-22T05:00:00.000-05:00

The husband had worked hard to figure out the perfect gift for his wife. He knew how much she loved to watch golf on TV. On Christmas morning she opened a large carton with a set of golf clubs inside. She oo'ed and ah'ed her way through opening the gift and commented what a surprise the gift was throughout the day.
Spring came and summer moved to fall. The clubs remained neatly tucked in a corner in the garage. The husband's best laid plans and expression of love gathered dust year after year.
Sadly, we sometimes give a similar response to the Lord for his gift of Jesus, our Savior and Lord. We gratefully oo and ah when we begin a relationship with Jesus and gradually place him in the corner of our hearts. Our joyous celebration of our Savior's birth quickly gets boxed up with the nativity set and put in storage until the next year.
Jesus summed up all the teachings and commandments into two simple statements which show us how our Christmas present from God should translate into a year-long, life-long response: Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' (Matthew 22:37-39)

God has given us his complete love, even his sacrificial love, through Jesus. He looks for us to respond with our love, a love welling up from every aspect of our being -- body, soul, heart and mind. A love that is not momentary or seasonal, but daily as long as we live.

I cannot imagine the disappointment of our Father in heaven when we set his gift aside or pull it out each Christmas season with our nativity set. His love is unfailing and eternal, from before we are born and after we die. His love is offered from the fullness of his being, even sending his son and having him be the sacrifice for us.
May your response be your love, from the bottom of your heart, from the fullness of your soul, and from the focus of your mind, today and everyday, for the birth of our Savior and God's love for you.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

The Lord Speaks Your Language

2010-12-21T05:00:00.001-05:00

One way of looking at love in relationships is through an approach by Gary Chapman. He identifies five love languages* people different people look for in their relationships. One of those five languages is "acts of service." Some friends or spouses look for people to show their love by doing acts of service. Some people will see vacuuming the house, doing the laundry, taking out the trash, or mowing the grass as expressions of love. The key is to do your acts of service out of love rather than obligation or with resentment. God used the love language of acts of service to reach us, his children. He knew we would find it difficult to understand how much he loves us, so he showed it through his act of service: This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:9-11)

This act of service God performed was having Jesus die as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Jesus' sacrifice is the only way we can ever capture the immensity and intensity of God's love for us. It was the ultimate act of service.

If we think about it, God actually used all five languages to express his love for us. Jesus offered words of affirmation. Jesus gave humanity quality time. Jesus was a gift to all who will receive him. Jesus reached out to touch the lepers, the blind, and all humanity by his presence among us. Accepting his place on the cross as the final sacrifice for our sins was the paramount act of service God offered us in Jesus. As the apostle Paul stated it, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

Sometimes the hardest part of love is being humble enough to receive it. I pray you will open your heart to receive the incomparable love God has given you in Jesus.

Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

*Chapman, Gary D. "The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate." Chicago: Northfield Pub, 1995.

You Are Worth the Cost of His Love!

2010-12-20T05:00:00.001-05:00

It was a normal day at the Goodwill Store in Toronto. One of the workers casually looked through the stack of paintings when she noticed two pictures that stood out from the rest. Investigating further, the store discovered they were original paintings of Federico Del Campo, a renowned 19th-century painter. The two paintings, a sunny Venetian backwater and of a Venetian canal with two ships, both were dated in 1895. The Goodwill donations landed a whopping #134,000.00.

Many of us live life underestimating our own worth. Our sense of inadequacy can make us feel useless -- like items thrown into a goodwill bin. Along with those feelings we sometimes feel judged by others and even condemned.

We transfer those human feelings onto God. So many people feel they are condemned to be judged by the Lord for everything we do. Nothing is further from the truth. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17)

God sent his son to you and me out of his love for us. Love also drove the Lord's desire to save us rather than condemn us. 1 John 4:8 says it all and says it succinctly, "God is love."

God's very essence is love. He loved us into being, his love sustains us, his love redeems us, his love perfects us, and his love lifts us into his presence in death.
The birth of Jesus is God's defining moment in which he made the choice to send his son out of his love for us. He could not stand the thought of losing us.
Jesus is the love of God in the flesh.-- wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger -- nailed to a cross and breathing his last -- freed from death's grasp and on the roads to your house and mine - delivering his presents just like Santa, not wrapped in colorful paper, but wrapped in his glory -- gifts of redemption and eternity. God in human flesh -- God's love given to us.
May Jesus and the love he is replace any sense of worthlessness and judgment. For his judgment was that you are worth it -- worth all his love, every bit of it, at a cost greater than any measure of wealth, even his very life!
Reach for encouragement. To his glory

Forever In Love

2010-12-19T05:00:00.001-05:00

Phenethylamine, dopamine, and oxytocin -- ever hear of these chemicals? They are the chemicals of love. They function much like an amphetamine, causing the feeling of euphoria. Your mood is elevated, your senses are alert, often causing the feeling of light-headedness function like an amphetamine, keeping our mood elevated, senses extra alert, and giving us the urge to bond and attach to others. As these secretions increase, our attraction to the object of our desire intensifies, and we get more and more of those dizzy feelings. People in love seem totally and fully alive!
Jesus causes similar reactions: But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5)
The forgiveness and new freedom we experience as a result of God's mercy offered to us is euphoric. We are alive with Christ. The chemicals of love flow in us in response to the love he shows to us.
You don't feel the love chemicals when you think of Jesus? You are not preoccupied with thoughts of him? Your heart is not lifted instantaneously when you think of him?
Ah ha! You must have a relationship with Jesus for longer than two years. The love feelings as a result of those chemical surges only last sometime between six months and two years.
When you get a chance talk to someone who has recently accepted Jesus as their Savior. You will find their senses are alert, their mood elevated. They are experiencing the powerful psychological, physiological and emotional results of their new love relationship with Jesus. They are alive with Christ, no longer dead in their sinful ways.
Is it too late for you? Has your relationship lasted beyond the expiration date of the active ingredients? Have you slid into that phase of commitment long after the love has subsided?
Experts say that those who are in love after two years, who still get excited about the other person when they think of them or see them, have actually graduated into real, lasting attachment.
There was a day when God made you alive with Christ. Reclaim that day and renew your love for him. Seek a spiritual revival for your love of Jesus. Fall in love with him again so your attachment is real and lasting.
One thing is sure: His love for you has never waned. His love for you is as strong and powerful as it was the first day you believed. In fact, he is sending a new wave of his love in a newborn babe wrapped in swaddling cloths. Be in love with him all over again!
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

The Crown of Joy

2010-12-18T05:00:00.001-05:00

Pilgrimages are part of the religious experience for a variety of faiths. Some require it while others encourage it. I once made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to be where Jesus walked. It was a life enriching trip.
At the time of Jesus' birth people were making a pilgrimage to the towns of their birth. Joseph headed to Bethlehem. During his life, Jesus and his disciples made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast.
Scripture contains a day when the pilgrimage will be a victorious one: The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (Isaiah 51:11)
This is the hope held out for the Messiah. He would come and bring the ransomed home. The image most accepted was that of a victorious Warrior who would be king and reverse the fortunes here on earth.
No one anticipated that his birth would be in a stable and his death would be on a cross, crucified between two common criminals. They looked for one who would rule a kingdom on earth in the holy city. God sent one who rules the Kingdome that spans both heaven and earth from a heavenly city with streets of gold. The joy this Messiah, this Savior of the world brings, is an everlasting joy that crowns our heads!
God made his own pilgrimage to earth in the form of a tiny, newborn baby. This is why the world continues to make a pilgrimage to his manger to this day, two thousand years after his birth, and why Jesus continues to reach more people today than ever before.
He ushers in an everlasting joy that crowns our heads. "Joy to the world, the Lord has come, let earth receive her King!"
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

Nourished by A Constant Supply of Joy

2010-12-17T05:00:00.001-05:00

Years ago I met the most amazing couple. They lived right in the middle of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They built their own home from the stones and trees on their land. They were totally self-sufficient, and they were alone. They were immigrants, unrelated to any of the Mennonite or Amish sects so prevalent in that area, and without any family at all.

The husband took me out to the barn where he showed me the elaborate tools he had, most of which were handmade. As we returned to the house we went to the well to get water for the house. He explained to me that he and his wife had dug the well themselves. I still cannot fathom how they accomplished it.

Each glass of water they drank must have brought a sense of satisfaction.

The Lord wants us to experience joy as we draw from the well he supplies: With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: "Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. (Isaiah 12:3-4)

Jesus once sat by a well and had a discussion with a woman who came to draw water from the well. He explained what his well produced: Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14)

The Lord wants us to draw from the well of our salvation, from Jesus, the source of water that wells up to eternal life. Each time we draw from his well we experience joy. Each time we drink of his Spirit, we are filled with joy. The joy he brings wells up in us in this life and in the life to come.

Joy is a permanent fixture of our spirit once we receive his Spirit. It is part of the package of salvation which began in Bethlehem and was completed on a hill outside Jerusalem.

Draw from the well of your salvation, Jesus, and be nourished by the joy he gives.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

A Joyous Reaction

2010-12-16T05:00:00.001-05:00

Santa is multi-tasking in big ways. I have seen him at two malls and I hear he is at others as well. He is also preparing to deliver the lists of gifts to every home. I get tired just thinking about his schedule.
Most kids can't wait to see him and look forward to sitting on his knee and letting him know what they want and need. They are excited as they see him from afar. They hurry forward, climb aboard and answer his questions, always in the most angelic manner. These kids are filled with joy and wonder as they come into his presence.
Many adults will have similar experiences as they look forward to seeing loved ones coming home for the holidays. Can you imagine what it will be like for the loved ones waiting at airports across the country as their military sons or daughters, husbands or wives come into view. Sheer joy will fill them.
This was also the experience of David. He was filled with joy when he was in the presence of the Lord: David said about him: " 'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ (Acts 2:25-28)
How do these words apply to our lives?
Hiking up a mountain I struggled with the upward climb. There was no path, so the hike was a zig zag around thick underbrush. Briers and limbs seemed to reach out to poke me. Finally, I reached the top which opened up to a level path that went along the ridge. From that point on the hike was a breeze and the enjoyable scenery.
In much the same way, most Christians find their walk with the Lord a struggle, like the first half of my hike. Only when we hit the path, what scriptures note as the Lord "making known the paths of life," do we find that we are constantly in the Lord's presence. Once we surrender to his Will, choose to follow the instruction of his Word, and walk the narrow path we begin to experience the presence of the Lord with each step we take. Life is easier, more scenic, and filled with joy.
This was David's experience. It was the shepherds' reaction to their visit to the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes. May it also be your reaction to his birth this Christmas. With his presence on earth, and in your hearts, you will be filled with joy.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

A Joy That Is Yours Forever

2010-12-15T05:00:00.001-05:00

The bell-ringer stepped inside the door momentarily to use the rest room. When the volunteer returned, the red donation kettle was missing from its tripod stand. Yes, someone stole a Salvation Army kettle from a store in Dover, New Hampshire on November 29, 2009.
Now I heard of everything -- stealing a Salvation Army Kettle.
I have heard of people robbed of jewelry, money, cars, almost every possession, but really!
Have you ever been robbed, not of possessions, but of your joy? I think it happens often and all too easily. So many Christians find their joy stolen from them by the thief who steals your well-being, through death, or illness, depression, divorce, job loss...the list is lengthy because Satan uses our circumstances to cause weeping and sorrow, angst and lament.
Jesus knew the deceiver would use his death to confuse and discourage his followers. Jesus knew the devil would bedevil the disappointed and despaired.
So, he prepared his followers for the worst and offered them the expectation of hope. Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy… Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. (John 16: 20, 22)
All of our heartaches will be turned to joy. That is a cause for celebration for the world. This joy no one will take from us. The one who proclaimed that no one would snatch us from his hands also tells us that the joy he gives us cannot be snatched from us either.
His joy is permanent because his gift of salvation is forever.
His kingdom is ushered in with the advent of his birth. The coming child of Bethlehem is also the redeemer of the world. There is no looking back. And forward is a gaze into the forever and hereafter. There is no end in sight.
Our joy cannot be taken from us. Satan by any other name -- thief, robber, deceiver, the evil one is powerless in the kingdom Jesus establishes.
Joy will be yours when Jesus is born. Joy will be yours when he comes again. Joy will be yours in your heavenly home. No one can ever take it away again.
Claim it for now and forever. It is a promise only Jesus can keep.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

The Joy of the Lord In You

2010-12-14T05:00:00.001-05:00

I taught my three sons well. They know the value of hard work. They know to give their all to all they do. As a family we laughed much. We had many good times with a lifetime rich with memories. I remain immensely proud of each of them for the men they have become, the faith in the Lord they posess, and the positive influence they have on all the people they meet. They are great guys!
Along the journey of parenting and preparation for life I may have left one thing out.
I do not know if I gave them the gift of joy. Our Lord wants us to be filled with joy. Jesus said, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." (John 15:11)
Truthfully, I am not sure how to instill joy in others, even when I possess it. I know the Lord wants it to be a significant result of his presence in us. In fact, I think the Lord would want us to join David in exclaiming, “…In Your presence is fullness of joy…” (Psalm 16:11)
Joy is not only a reaction to the arrival of Christmas, and the birth of Jesus. Joy is a state of being -- a perpetual expression of the Lord's continuing work in our hearts and lives. Joy flows out of us as a result of what the Lord does within us.
A joyous reaction will fade as the excitement of spontinuity wanes. Joy as a state of being in relation to Jesus is perpetual and enduring. It doesn't matter what the circumstances are. Paul and Silas sang hymns in prison. James tells us to consider it joy when we face trials. (James 1:2) Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before him.
The Lord's work in each of us personalizes our joy. For me, joy comes in the faces of those I meet and come to know and love. Joy comes for me as the Spirit takes hold of me as I preach and sends me into homiletical orbit For Deb and all three sons it comes through God's brilliant gift to hunanity in music. Some of my friends experience joy because the Lord has given them hearts to help others. What a joy for them to touch lives with acts of kindness such as dinners delivered or gifts given.
What gives you joy? Among a long list of potential answers try to identify the joy the Lord gives you through the special, personalized joy he has placed within you. Try to see how the Lord is personified in you as you use the gifts he has given you. This is the sweet spot of joy for your soul.
Enjoy it! For Jesus has come so his joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. Joy is quite a gift wrapped in such a tiny package.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

Looking for the Joy Ahead

2010-12-13T05:00:00.001-05:00

Mornings can be tough, and the toughest part of mornings is crawling out of bed. Remember the old story of the husband insisting his wife get out of bed, "Let's go, you gotta get up, we have church this morning." After her complaints, she adds, "Give me one good reason I should go to church today?" To which he replied, "Because you are the pastor!"
There are those days for which getting out of bed is the last thing we want to do. We dread the day ahead.
This state of the slumbering soul is counterproductive and lacking the strength the Lord gives us. Here is the perspective on the start of each day the Lord wants us to have: This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)
Every day is sacred because the Lord is in it. He is the author and finisher of our faith, and he is in the midst of our daily lives. We live in the security of his refuge and underneath are his everlasting arms. (Deuteronomy 33:27) He is our Deliverer and our Redeemer. There is no need to dread the day ahead for the Lord is in it.
To face the day in his strength does not go far enough. The Lord wants his strength to take us to the next level -- to joy. Imagine how life is when you begin to grasp his strength and no there is nothing you will face on any particular day over which he will not conquer.
Jesus lived his life relying on the strength of the Lord from the moment of his birth, even to death. Jesus faced each day with the joy of the Lord, even as he approached the cross: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
Jesus knew where his destiny would be. He knew the homecoming party he would enjoy with a banquet fit for a king. He knew the heavenly music that would be sung and played. He knew the reunion he would have with his Father in heaven. For the JOY set before him he endured it all -- the humiliation, the flogging, the road to Golgotha with a cross on his back, the nails piercing his flesh and the jab to his side, all leading to the greatest agony of humanity -- that old wooden cross. For the JOY set before him.
The joy of the Lord was his strength and it is meant to be our strength, too.
Be strong in the strength of the Lord. Adorn your heart, soul, body and mind with the joy of his strength.
"Joy to the world, the Lord has come," ...may you receive your King!
For the joy set before you live in the power of his strength...each day.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

Joy -- The Surpise Gift to Your Soul

2010-12-12T05:00:00.001-05:00

I have been to many surprise parties. Birthdays, showers, anniversaries are the standard variety. As the person enters the crowd usually shouts, "Surprise!"
Unless they had an inkling of what was going on they respond with surprise. Some women cry. Some people smile broadly with their eyes wide open. Some exclaim, "I can't believe it!" All of these are the surprised reactions people have hoped for.
Some, however, respond in a totally different manner. They stand dumbfounded. They stare in disbelief. Their response is just as natural. It shows the level of their shock.
We can only guess how the shepherds responded when the angel appeared and said, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11)
We don't know how many shepherds were heralded by the angels. The scriptures do not describe their reactions. I suspect that every response to the surprise of their appearance was expressed by one or more of the shepherds. Some stood in disbelief, dumbfounded by what they saw and heard. Others likely had stood with their eyes open wide with a smile on their faces, and perhaps an audible exclamation of joy.
The angel told them the news was good and that it would bring great joy to them. The angels words were a comfort for the shepherds facing such a mysterious presence.
Regardless of their immediate reactions, they accepted the newsin faith and headed to see the newborn. They wanted the joy.
Do you? Joy comes when we receive what is not expected or deserved. It comes as a surprise gift to the soul.
The Lord wants the birth of Jesus to bring joy to your heart. Take a deep breath and free your mind of the lists and the pressure. Open your mind and your heart to receive the joy the Lord has in store for you this Christmas
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

Faith Brings A Reversal of Fortunes

2010-12-11T05:00:00.002-05:00

Let's talk about faith, real faith. Not your average Christian's faith, nor even that of a martyr. Let's talk about a faith that gave up everything --a king who gave up his throne because of his faith, the richest of the world who gave up all he had, a son who left his plush, suburban pad to live in the slums, a CEO who gave up his executive suite to work among the poor. Now that is faith!
No one but the Lord Jesus could have given all that up. But he did.
He had faith in his Father's plan for the redemption of the world. He had faith in the Holy Spirit's power to convict hearts. And, believe it or not, he put his faith in you.
Yes, you!
He believed in you enough that he committed his life to you. He won the battle over self-centeredness and proved during his 40 days in the wilderness. He won the battle over sin, refusing to succumb to its deceiving, succulent allure. He won the battle over relationships, choosing to love and serve, showing respect or consternation when needed. He won the battle over death and evil by choosing when he would give up his last breath on the cross. He won the battle of life by rising from the dead and giving eternal life in his eternal rest home in heaven. He committed his life to you and won every battle for you.
His mission to bring redemption to his Father's creation and salvation for you was completed, with every "t" crossed and every "i" dotted. He did not leave out one detail. His work overcame the world. This is why you can claim that your faith overcomes the world. As the first letter of John states, "Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." (1 John 5:4-5)
All that Jesus did was done in faith. His faith was placed in you, for he never knew if you would get it. He never knew for sure if you would respond. It could have all been for nothing.
He believed in you and had faith that you would respond to the most unbelievable, most costly, and most enduring gift ever given. Who could refuse it?
Unfortunately, too many do. Yet, for each person who believes in him instantaneously overcomes the world. There is a reversal of Fortunes. The battle is over. Temptation no longer has a grip on you. Satan flees at the mere mention of Jesus' name. Death has been swallowed up in victory.
This Christmas, claim that victory in faith and live as one who has conquered his greatest foe, his fiercest enemy. You are no longer bound by sin and evil. For the Lord himself has given you the triumph.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

Trials Strengthen Faith

2010-12-10T05:00:00.001-05:00

Silver is refined by holding it in the fire and heating it to high temperatures to remove the impurities. There is one problem, however. The silver is destroyed if it is left in the fire too long. How does the silversmith know when to remove the silver from the fire? He watches closely and when he can see his reflection in the silver he removes it from the fire.
The Lord is using a similar process to purify our lives: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:6-9)
The Lord wants our faith to be genuine so it results in praise, glory and honor to the Lord. How does the Lord use trials to purify our faith and make in "genuine?

I believe only when the trial of adversity comes can we really learn to trust in the Lord's provision.
I believe only when we suffer, whether physically, relationally, emotionally or spiritually, can we really discover that the Lord is our strength.
I believe only when we are hard pressed on every side can we really learn that the Lord is our refuge.
I believe only when we stand up for our faith and face embarrassment, ridicule, or persecution can we really know the faith that overcomes the world.
I believe only when we can't see our future can we really understand the walk of faith without sight.
I believe only when we face multiple trials all at once and feel God has forsaken us can we really fortify our trust in the Lord's promises.

The Lord uses trials to purify our faith and make it genuine so we truly trust in the Lord with all our heart. The trials in life strip us of our illusions about our faith and cause us to see the sustaining presence of the Lord in all things, at all times.
The result is achieving the goal of our faith, the salvation of our souls. This is the final outcome of God's refining process in our lives. The Lord continues to make our faith more genuine so we can live the life of abundance the Lord desires for us in this life, and to one day be presented to the Lord without spot or blemish.
So take the heat, so to speak, and face your trials with the confidence that the Lord is using them to make your faith more genuine and your life more precious before him. After all, Jesus left the comfort of his heavenly throne to take the heat for you. As you await his coming give everything to him, even your trials, for you will find yourself drawn ever closer to him.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

The Certainty of Faith

2010-12-09T05:00:00.001-05:00

Are the lines to the right parallel or angled? Which do you believe them to be? Are you convinced of your answer? Are you certain you are correct? (You are correct if you said they are parallel.)

Faith from a Christian standpoint is a combination of both belief and certainty. We not only believe in the Lord and his Word, his unfailing love and gift of eternal life, but we believe it with the certainty of our convictions. We know the lines of truth the Bible teaches and are unwavering in our certainty that they are straight and true, parallel with the Will of God. Even though the world tries to bend those lines, we remain steadfast in our conviction that one day the truth will be validated.

This is the way the apostle Paul stated it: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)
We have faith that all the promises of God will be fulfilled, even though we do not see how or when they will come true. It is trusting God in the wilderness, no matter how long or meandering it seems. It means watching for the signs of his coming when the world scoffs at our superstition. It means going to the stable to see a homeless family's newborn and believe that he has come from God. It means following the Lord's directions and gathering in our upper rooms for an extended prayer meeting as we wait for his power to come in the presence of the Holy Spirit. It means being certain that he is coming and coming again, that his resurrection is true and therefore the promise of our resurrection into eternal life will come on the day of the Lord. Faith is believing with certainty.

Joseph had faith to follow through on the visitation from the angel though he could have seen it as a simple dream. Mary replied in faith, saying, "I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” The shepherds did not hesitate. They headed to the stable. The wise men sought him out because they saw the signs.

Each responded in faith, both believing in the hope of what they were experiencing and certain they would find what they could not see. What they saw were not illusions, and their responses are evidence of the certainty of their beliefs.
Can we approach the advent of our Lord with such faith? Can we be certain of what we hope for in his coming, and convinced that every promise of God comes true in Jesus?
A moving prayer of Jesus is recorded in the Gospel of John. In that prayer Jesus prayed these words: They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. (John 17:8b)
May the Lord be able to say the same of us this Christmas.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

Bursting Into Our Space

2010-12-08T05:00:00.002-05:00

Americans want their space. This is true for home and land, and it is also true for our personal space -- the comfortable distance between two people as they talk. The average American needs 20 to 36 inches to feel comfortable. If you get too close the person you are talking to will likely step back.

I am sure you can think of someone who gets in your face -- who invades your personal space. You know the feeling it brings.

This space is also referred to as our personal bubble. We do not want anyone to burst our bubble.

God does.

The Lord is closer to us than we air we breathe. God is inside us: But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." (Romans 10:8-11)

Faith is often portrayed as an act, a leap of faith, when all along the Lord created us in his own image and has put his Word in our hearts and his Spirit in our souls. Faith is the natural condition of humanity. In what, or in whom we put our faith, is the question.

Faith is similar to the hormones that kick in with the transformation into adolescence. Faith is in us waiting to kick into gear. All we need is to recognize what the Lord has created within us.

The advent of Christ, his arrival in our world, is the key that ignites our faith. We can see who God is in him. We can experience God's love. We can receive God's mercy and grace. The faith the Lord has implanted within us kicks into gear when we believe it and confess it.

The Lord does not want us to wander in the wilderness. With the advent of Christ God invades our world and bursts the bubble of our personal space. Christ's birth, his life, death and resurrection are the triggers to a faith that was there from the beginning of time, from the instant of our conception, within our human DNA, waiting to be born in us. What a masterful plan the Lord our God initiated in the creation of the world, in the coming of his son, and in the birth of faith within us.

Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

F.A.I.T.H. Is Our Access Code

2010-12-07T05:00:00.001-05:00

You are running late for work, hurrying every step of the way with everything taking longer than ever. You realize you don't have any cash, so you stop at the ATM. You shove your card into the slot, punch in your PIN and wait...for what seems an eternity. Finally, a message appears on the screen, "Access Denied." This is the beginning of "a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day," as Alexander would put it.

"Access Denied." A shudder of fear goes down our spine when we see those words. Thoughts race through our minds as we picture "inadequate funds," or fear the worst, "identity theft."

"Access Denied" can set off powerful emotions in us when it comes to the Lord. We pray with no results and we wonder if our access to the Lord has been denied. We look for a glimmer of hope for our circumstances to change, only to sense that the Lord is denying access to doors of opportunity.

Clearly, this is not the interpretation the Lord would want us to make. The Lord removes the obstacles and paves the way for us to experience his love and grace: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2)
We have access by faith as God does the work for us: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
The Lord knew that we could never provide enough funds to become debt free. He knew Satan would try to steal our divine identity and deceive us into living for our own pleasure. Access to his kingdom could only be opened by someone claiming our identity in love and paying our debt in full.
Who would think a tiny infant could unlock the code of debt and death for all humanity who has faith in him? Who would ever imagine that a tiny babe in Bethlehem, without a home and without a bed, could overcome every obstacle known to humanity so that we may have access to grace?
We can believe it because God is in it. We are talking about God's eternal plans, based on God's infinite vision and inestimable wisdom. We live and move and have our being through faith in the Lord. Faith alone is our access code to debt-free living and a future that is secure -- forever!
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

Trusting and Believing the Guarantee

2010-12-06T05:00:00.001-05:00

I have always admired people who work exclusively on commissions whose entire income is based on what they sell. They can never rely on a paycheck coming in. They live from one month to the next, through feast and famine, always needing the next sale. They are constantly working with little assurance that this month's commissions will cover next month's bills. It is exhausting and nerve-wracking work.
Many people approach their faith as if they are living on a commission basis. We analyze and assess our lives based on how good we are and how much good we do. We wipe our brows with a sigh of relief each day if we have done well enough. We worry whether it will be enough. Faith by commission, or, as the scriptures say it, "faith by works." It is exhausting and nerve-wracking.
This is true for those who still live under the law, but through Jesus God offered us a new and better way: For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." (Romans 1:17)
The moment we accept Jesus into our hearts we are under the righteousness of Christ. His sinless life and death on the cross cover our sins and grant us a righteousness that comes by faith in him. It is his unconditional love, his undeserved mercy, his abounding grace which is always greater than our sin, that frees us from a life built on the commissions of our works and grants us a new life under the umbrella of the righteousness of Christ.
As we await the advent of Jesus we come as people of faith, trusting that the righteousness that comes by faith, as prophesized in Habakkuk (2:4), will be ours. We wait in faith, believing that his righteousness, though never deserved or earned, will be granted us. We wait in faith, knowing that the life Jesus offers, free of commissions, anxiety and fear, will give our lives peace.
Welcome your Savior, whose righteousness grants you a life filled with God's blessings and favor.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

Dare to Have Faith!

2010-12-05T05:00:00.001-05:00

Do you remember the challenges you and your friend made to each other when you were kids? He might say,"I dare you to jump across that creek". If you could do it you would take him up on the dare. But, if it seemed questionable whether you would reach the other side, you may send the challenge back to him by saying, "I double dare you!"
I was pretty chicken in those situations. But my friend, Dale, was fearless...and daring -- a dangerous combination. He would always take the dare. I saw his britches wet more than once. I saw him fall from trees when he failed to accomplish a flying trapeze act from one tree limb to another.
Jesus gave his disciples a dare, even a double dare! His dare was all about faith: "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." (Mark 11:22-26)
"I dare you," Jesus says, "to throw that mountain into the sea."
How would you respond?
I imagine I would meekly say ok, after all I would not want to question my master. At the same time my mind would be spinning with questions:"Is he kidding?!" "Are you crazy?!" My thoughts would stay inside, but I am sure my doubts would be exposed. Jesus has a way to expose the range of our trust, the limits of our expectation, and the fallacies of our beliefs.
He did it time and again to his disciples. In Luke 12, Jesus describes how God provides for our every need, and then says, "O you of little faith." In Matthew 8, the disciples wake Jesus in the middle of a furious storm. His reply was similar, "O you of little faith, why are you so afraid?" He exposed their lack of faith in God's protection.
So, the question remains, do you have faith in God without doubting in your heart?
Jesus wants our faith to be complete trust in him regardless of the circumstances and with absolute assurance that his will is working all things together for the good in our lives regardless of the enormity of the need.
That is a pretty big leap across the great divide of our ability to perceive his great and awesome power that declares, "all things are possible."
I think this is the faith needed as we await the advent of Jesus. We have to have a great faith to believe that only God, through the Holy Spirit, could conceive a child who is also God. We have to have a great faith to believe that all of human history was fitting together like a massive jig saw puzzle to reveal the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. We have to have a great faith to believe that a baby could be the mighty God of the universe, King of kings, and Lord of lords.
This is the faith Jesus dares us to have. It is the faith that moves mountains of doubt, fear, and every other known obstacle in the path of the Lord's victorious will.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

Overflowing with Hope

2010-12-04T05:00:00.001-05:00

A friend of mine turned on the water in her kitchen sink in preparation of washing dishes. She thought she would leave the room for only a minute, but one thing led to the next and she found herself tidying up far too long. Obviously, she forgot about her water running in the kitchen. When she finally returned to the kitchen she found her own personal fountain flowing down her cabinets onto an enlarging mini-pond on her kitchen floor.
When we hear the word, "overflow," we most often think of plumbing problems. This is not the case with the Lord. With him our cup overflows! So does our hope: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
What a picture for us as we await the birth of our Savior! Through him we overflow with hope:
In Jesus, the God of hope is with us -- Emmanuel!
In Jesus, the God of hope sends angels to announce a Savior will be born!
In Jesus, the world was redeemed -- angels sang, shepherds worshiped, wise men offered him gifts, and the powerful of the world were so shaken that they tried to kill him, along with all boys age two and under.
Our hope overflows through the power of the Holy Spirit as he works so powerfully in the birth of Jesus. Redemption has come and the world will never be the same.
There is hope for the homeless and the jobless, the joyless and the loveless, the baseless and the aimless, the defenseless and the friendless. the senseless and the shameless, the powerless and the worthless. There is hope for you and it is a hope that overflows.
Do not doubt the goodness of the Lord, nor his plans for your life, nor the overflowing hope he brings for your future.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

Gifts next to the Manger

2010-12-03T05:00:00.003-05:00

Can you imagine if your family members wrapped presents for you this year and used your existing items. Your camera seems to be lost, but really it is wrapped and under the tree with your brother's name attached. Your favorite sweater has gone AWOL after your daughter had borrowed it. Your frequent reminders seem to dissipate into thin air while all along it is neatly packaged and under the tree...."love, your daughter." A winter coat is supposedly at the cleaners and your boots are being repaired. Item after item goes MIA to your frustration. Christmas morning arrives and the family takes turns opening the presents from under the tree. It is your turn -- and it is your camera you unwrap. Next round it is your boots, then your coat, and finally your sweater.
"What is going on," you would wonder with a tone of dismay and disappointment. What a Christmas that would be!
This is the point the apostle Paul was making about the hope we have in Jesus: In this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:24-25).

The birth of Jesus was not just another homeless family's dilemma with a back ally delivery. His birth in a manger was foretold for hundreds of years. This virgin birth was unveiled long before his delivery, not with the customary birth announcement after his birth. This Savior born in the town of David was the culmination of centuries of promise. Finally, "the people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2)

The birth of Jesus is not "life as usual." It is something for which people had waited for centuries. It is something they could not see, but only imagine. But it was worth their patient wait.

This is the hope we have through Jesus. We cannot see all that he has in store for us. We cannot imagine all that he is able to do. We cannot fathom what great deeds he will accomplish. But we wait patiently for his unfolding plan of salvation for our lives. We wait patiently for the Lord to bring to completion the work he has begun in us. (Philippians 1:6) We wait patiently for "he will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful." (1 Corinthians 1:8-9)

The gifts that await you at the manger of our Lord vs. under the Christmas tree in your home are, without a doubt, the most valuable that you will receive. Very few under the tree will surprise you, but those at the manger will delight you. Those under the tree will not last, but those at the manger will bless you forever. Hope for what you do not have and wait for it patiently for the Lord Jesus Christ is coming. Therefore, Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)

Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

A Future with Hope

2010-12-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

Making a list and checking it twice" is part of the famous Christmas song, "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." How true those lyrics are as we prepare for Christmas. We ask for lists of suggestions from family members. We compile a list of gifts to purchase. We review and rewrite our list with each shopping trip. We make a list and check it twice, or more like a dozen times.
As meticulous as we are about our Christmas lists, we are far more lax about our plans for life. Research shows that we have a wish list but rarely set goals to accomplish our hopes and dreams. When goals are set it is unlikely that an action plan will be developed to show the steps needed to reach the goals. We are not the best planners when it comes to our personal lives.
Even though we are lax, our lives are not a string of coincidences or left to the whims of chance. The Lord has plans for my life and yours: For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
While we so easily leave our lives to chance, God is at work developing plans to bring us a future filled with hope. Sadly, much of our efforts are spent keeping our lives from change -- even the change the Lord desires for us. We expend way to much energy fighting the Spirit of God rather than seeking his leading.
Fortunately, the limitations of our earthly lives does not match up against the power of God. Our strong wills are no match to his persistent efforts to lead us not into temptation, and to deliver us from temptation. God remains determined to enact his plans of hope and give us a future beyond our imaginations: The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. (Psalm 33:10)
Nothing stops the Lord from his unfolding plan of redemption. His plan for your life brings hope to your future. As you await the advent of Jesus into the world, make a list of the spiritual blessings you are seeking from the Lord. Accept his plans, live in his hope and rejoice in the future he has for you. It will be the life that brings you fulfillment.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

Hope Brings Renewal and Strength

2010-12-01T05:00:00.002-05:00

Muscle fatigue is something everyone experiences. We see athletes get cramped up. We feel our legs get weak from doing too many stairs or taking too long a walk. Our shoulders get tired if we paint a ceiling. Our arms get tired when do heavy lifting.
There are a number of strategies for muscle recovery. Rest is the most important, but you can add massage, and also make sure you get enough to drink. Have you ever thought of chocolate milk? Medical News Today reports that chocolate milk meets, and may exceed, the benefits of specially designed carbohydrate drinks.*

The Lord knows the importance of renewing our strength, both the physical kind and the spiritual. The Lord emphasizes the role of hope in renewing our strength: But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
Hope has such a powerful restorative value in our faith and lives. First and foremost, hope gives us a renewed vision. We soar on wings like eagles, gaining a heavenward perspective of our circumstances. We can see beyond the limitations of our earth-bound view to a vision of the future ahead.
Once a vision is cast we can run without growing weary for we know the hills and valleys which await us. We can walk without fainting for we have our destination in sight.
This hope that renews our strength comes at Christmas as Jesus is born:

His birth shows us that life no longer imprisons us and death no longer entraps us. (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)
His birth shows us how to soar on the wings of faith knowing eternal life awaits us. (Romans 6:23)
His birth shows us how to run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1)
His birth shows us how to walk in the light without fainting as the Lord purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)

As we await the advent of Jesus, we rejoice that he will renew our strength with a power that enables us to walk and run without becoming faint and weary. He renews our hope and his hope renews us.
Reach for encouragement. to his glory.

*Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152240.php

A Hope That never Disappoints

2010-11-30T05:00:00.001-05:00

Americans love their cars. Most families have a brand they prefer -- Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes, to name a few. Part of the reason for brand loyalty is the car's reliability. It runs well and it runs forever. We like our choice's unwavering reliability.
There is a day when reality hits and repairs come. The average dishwasher will last an average of 10 years. You may be happy to know your toilet will last at least 50 years.
None of them are forever.
Consider the unwavering reliability of Hoover Dam. It is designed to last thousands of years -- beyond the lifespan of the United States, beyond the use of the English language, even, perhaps, beyond the lifespan of civilization itself. The designers had to figure out a way to let future civilizations, or alien visitors when the dam was constructed. They came up with an ingenious plan. The designed a piece of artwork into the floor of the dam that showed the precise location of the stars on the date the dam was completed.
That is a long time, but not long enough. A thousand years are like a day to the Lord. What has unwavering reliability, through all time, for all generations? God's Word gives the answer: The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. (Psalm 147:11)
Our hope is in the unwavering reliability of God's unfailing love. There is no fine print, no exclusions, no need for planned obsolescence. Our Lord never wears out, tires out or even burn out. His love is an unfailing love.
We could not face a uncertain days without the knowledge and the assurance of his unfailing love. He will never let you down.
The Lord's unfailing love is most demonstrated in this:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

We have a hope that never disappoints us because of his unfailing love. Count on it in days of trial. Rely on it when you are down. Trust in it for the living of your days. Believe in it for eternal life.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

The Place To Turn To For Hope

2010-11-29T07:06:00.000-05:00

Many people believe the encyclopedia Britannica is the most accurate, trustworthy source for information. A recent study by Nature found that Britannica averages 2.92 mistakes per article (among the small sample used in the study*).
I would not mind 3 mistakes in an article on population demographics, but I would be scared to think there were mistakes in a procedure list for doing cardiac surgery.
There is no book that is totally accurate on earth.
Except one.
The Bible. The Word of God is totally accurate (infallible and inerrant) and can be trusted without a doubt. The Bible is filled with hope for it reveals the Will, the Way, and the Word of the Lord: I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. (Palm 130:5)
We put our hope in his Word. The Bible was written to give us hope. We see prophecies of the birth of Jesus written hundreds of years before his birth all coming true as our Savior born in Bethlehem. We see every single prophecy regarding his birth and death coming true with an undeniable accuracy.
The scriptures give us hope: For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)
The Word of God teaches us to wait on him:

We endure current events knowing the Lord will redeem them, for all things work for the good for those who love him. (Romans 8:28)
We endure suffering for it produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character hope, and hope does not disappoint us. (Romans 5:4-5)
We endure hardships for through them we discover and rely on the strength of the Lord (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
We endure to the end. (Matthew 24:13, Hebrews 3:14)

We have confident and firm hope through the teaching of scriptures. What a blessing this is in this advent season -- this season of anticipation of our Savior's arrival.
The Word gives hope. Turn to the Word today. Open your Bible's pages and feed on the hope God's Word announces, promises, and fulfills.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

*Source: http://news.cnet.com/Study-Wikipedia-as-accurate-as-Britannica/2100-1038_3-5997332.html

Hopeful Waiting

2010-11-28T05:00:00.001-05:00

I know of few people who like waiting in a line. It can be at the grocery store or in a McDonald's drive through. It can be at a customer service counter or a unemployment line. Waiting in line is not something we enjoy.
Did you know there are people who study our behavior as we wait in line? Their field of study is known as queue psychology. Disney has 75 engineers who work on queuing (waiting in lines) for their theme parks around the world.
One key principle of queue pyschology is that the more valuable the service the longer the customer will wait. We don't want to wait ten minutes in a drive-thru, but we are willing to wait an hour at our doctor's office.
How long are you willing to wait for the Lord? Let's apply a few of the queue psychology principles to our wait for the coming of the Lord:

Uncertain waits are longer than known, finite waits.* -- We know the Lord is coming with certainty and confidence!
Unexplained waits are longer than explained waits.* -- We know why we are waiting for his coming, so as many as can be saved will come to know the Lord!
Unfair waits are longer than equitable waits.* -- We know that the inequities and injustice we have known on earth will be redeemed with the coming of the Lord!
The more valuable the service, the longer the customer will wait.* -- We wait patiently because of the glory of the life that awaits us!
Solo waits feel longer than group waits.* -- We are formed into Christ's Body, the Church, to encourage each other as we wait.

Our long wait for the coming of the Lord during advent is prelude to the long-awaited return of Christ. Here is our hope: Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. (Revelation 3:10-11)
As we wait for the birth of our Savior, we have hope. And, as we wait for his return we have hope. The Lord calls us to place our hope in him: The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (Lamentations 3:25-26)
Many people, including you and me, are waiting in hope. We are waiting for employment, or answers, or test results, or for family members to begin a relationship with Jesus. We are waiting for our finances to improve, our health to be restored, our marriage to renewed. We are waiting in hope.
Throughout this advent season seek the Lord and trust in his gooodness for your hope is found in him. He is faithful and he will do it!
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

*Source: David H. Maister, "The Psychology of Waiting Lines" Source: http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/11/20/queuing.psychology

God's Seal Upon Us

2010-11-27T05:00:00.001-05:00

Signet rings were used to create a waxed impression as a seal on a document. It symbolized who the owner was and authenticated the legitimacy of the document.
The Lord expressed his power and trust in choosing Zerubbabelm a leader he would use to begin the rebuilding of the temple by suggesting that he was the Lord's signet ring: "'On that day,' declares the Lord Almighty, 'I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,' declares the Lord, 'and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,' declares the Lord Almighty." (Haggai 2:23)
For us the Lord's mark of ownership on us is His signet ring, the Holy Spirit:

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22 )
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians: 4:30)

This seal cannot be broken. You are kept safe, purified and righteous, until the day of Christ. May the anointing of the Holy Spirit be upon you today, in all you do, with everyone you meet.
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

A Blinding Reflection of Glory

2010-11-26T05:00:00.004-05:00

"Don't look directly into the sun, our parents tell us, "it could blind you." Did you ever do it anyway? I did, and boy did my eyes hurt. Luckily, I can still see today.
The sun, in all its splendor, does not compare to the intensity, power and wonder of the glory of God. If the sun can blind us, given enough direct visual exposure, the glory of the Lord can kill us! Hence, the Lord shielded Moses from his glory with his own hand.
Scripture tells us that the glory of the Lord had departed from Solomon's temple before its destruction. But only for a little while, for the Lord's glory will return once more: "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord Almighty. 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the Lord Almighty. 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the Lord Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the Lord Almighty." (Haggai 2:6-9)
Sure enough the glory of the Lord came with greater brilliance in the rebuilt temple and in its fullness in Jesus Christ. He is the radiance of God's glory.
As if this is not enough, scripture describes what happens to all who believe in Jesus: And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
God has such an amazing plan for the world, and for the Lord's children. He wants our hearts to be reborn, restored, and renewed so that his glory may be reflected in us with ever increasing glory. I picture it much like the defrost setting in an auto. At first the fan blows and nothing seems to change. Gradually the haze begins to lessen, until there is a circle of clear glass. Eventually the entire windshield is crystal clear. The Lord is doing the same to us, defrosting us and cleansing us, restoring our original purity, and increasingly allowing his glory to be revealed through us.
The Lord, through the prophecy of Haggai, assured His people that His new house would be filled with His glory. His prophecy even suggests the one who is to come, Jesus Christ. His prophecy can be extended to the glory of the Lord revealed in you. I find this amazing...and humbling. Praise be to God!
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

Imagine the Volumes of Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T05:00:00.003-05:00

Volumes of Thanksgiving

Ocassionally I take my wife's car and fill it up with gasoline. It is a very small act of love. Without exception she says thanks.
My wife cooks delicious dinners, patiently does the laundry, labors over the cleaning, pays all the bills, and a host of other activities to keep our lives on track.
Do I say thanks for each act of love she so faithfully accomplishes each day? I think you know the answer. Sadly, I say too few "thank you's" along the way.
I suspect, if you are like me, you fail to offer thanks to the Lord for all his wonderous deeds. The scriptures encourage us to acknowledge him: Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. (Psalm 105:1)
We often give thanks to the Lord for our salvation. I suspect I fail to see most of the ways the Lord offers his protection as my shield. I know I rely on him as my rock, and fail to thank him when I no longer need his strength. Too often the Lord delivers me from harm whild I go my merry way without even recognizing my deliverer. The list of the Lord's blessings, strength and activity in my life is endless and I overlook most of them. Can you imagine how many volumes you would have if you had recorded every reason to give thanks to the Lord?
So let us give thanks today for all the Lord has done in our lives. Let us not keep his blessings and benefits to the solitude of prayer. Instead, let us make known what he had done for us. Share his blessings around your table today. Remember and give thanks to the Lord.
Reach for encouragement. To his glory.

Have You Done Your Housecleaning?

2010-11-24T05:00:00.002-05:00

I have a friend who does extra cleaning when she has company coming for dinner. Among the extra tasks she puts on herself is cleaning every clothes closet in the house.
She doesn't have people over for dinner very often.
Is such effort worth it? Who is going to look in your closets?
The Lord has a concern about our priorities: Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." (Haggai 1:5-6)
Perhaps we don't give enough thought to our ways. It sure seems the Lord has a good reading of how we spend our time and express our priorities. We have insatiable appetites and spend without consideration of our limited resources. We want one more of everything. This text was written centuries ago, but sounds like it was written in the last year for the people of the United States.
The Lord wants us to re-examine our priorities, and makes an interesting comparison. God compares our housekeeping to the Lord's house. This is what the Lord concludes: "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the Lord Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house." (Haggai 1:9)
While we routinely redecorate our homes, clean them regularly, and house clean semi-annually, the Lord's house remains overlooked. To use the Lord's words, it "remains a ruin." It is so easy for us to focus on the material world rather than the spiritual world:

We enjoy the fruits of God's vineyard, but rarely serve as workers in it.
We feed our bodies three times a day, but often don't feed our souls more than once a week.
We clothe ourselves in the latest fashions for work and social events, and fail to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12).
We drink without getting our fill, but fail to fill our souls with the living waters.
We earn and spend without setting aside the Lord's portion, only one tenth.

It doesn't take much self-examination to see how we have left God's house in ruins while we continue to expend almost all our efforts on our own homes.
Housekeeping chores await us for our spiritual houses -- the Lord's house. Put on your new spiritual clothes, feed your soul, drink from the livng waters of Jesus, give the Lord His share, and spend some time working to harvest the souls of your friends.
Let's get our spiritual houses in order so we may glorify the Lord our God.
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

Crack Open That Locked Heart

2010-11-23T05:00:00.004-05:00

Choose the answer that best fits your life to this question, "What is your reaction to an argument with someone you are very close to:
     A. The silent treatment.
     B. Angry tones to let them know you are still angry.
     C. Withhold affection.
     D. All of the above.
Which response fits you -- one in particular, or "all of the above." One reaction that often goes hand-in-hand with anger is to withhold your affection, to close your heart to the other person.
We read about this response in God's Word: We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also. (2 Corinthians 6:11-13)
We feel the other party, the guilty party, must pay a price for making us angry or hurting us. We withhold our love. We close our hearts.
As we grow up, becoming more mature emotionally and spiritually, we learn to love freely, with our whole hearts.
The best example for many is children. We may get angry with our kids, but we never withhold our affection from them, nor do we close our hearts. We can't. They are our kids. We love them through thick and thin, through conflicts and trials.
This is the way of love.
We love because God first loved us. We love because God still loved us, even while we were still sinners (or replace with 'still angry').
Have you closed your heart to someone? Are you withholding your affection from friends because of something said or done?
Open wide your heart. Let forgiveness and mercy breakthrough. Let words of reconciliation flow from your mouth and heart.
You will feel better for it. You will be better for it.
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

Hearers Of The Unsearchable Things

2010-11-22T05:00:00.001-05:00

Remember as kids, when one of your friends (it was never you or me) said, "I know something you don't know," in that sing-songy voice of teasing. You know they wanted to tell you. And they did.
Adults are so much more sophisticated. None would ever taunt you in your face. No, their sophistication sounds like this, "Have you heard about..." "..."I'm only telling you because you are a close friend..."or "...so you will pray for the person," etc, etc.
Thank God we are all so caring. Gossip in the form of concern. I hear it all too often, and I imagine you do as well.
Now for the confessional. Are you still with me?
We all love to hear secrets, don't we. We accept the lame excuses, and overlook our better side in deference for hearing some scandalicious scoop.
There is one instance in which you have permission to openly and eagerly wait for and listen to secrets.
The secrets come from no less than "The word of the Lord:" This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' (Jeremiah 33:2-3)
The Lord will tell you his secrets!
Recognize that there won't be any gossip. Nor will there be any harmful or hurting information shared. It will all be good and for your good.
I wonder what those unsearchable things could be?

How does a winning battle plan against formidable foes sound? To Gideon God said, in effect, "Don't worry about the tens of thousands you will face. Downsize your army to a mere 300!" Or, when he said to Joshua, "Forget about rockets and missiles to destroy the wall, march around it seven times and then shout and play your trumpets!
What about using a cross to display redemption, or, a tomb to express new life? Pretty amazing stuff!
Paul took a question first raised by God in Isaiah 40:13, and asked it again: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" He answers it, "But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:16).
God has given us the mind of Christ so we can see the unseen. The Lord's parables which are gobbledygook to others, are clear to us. We can understand the scriptures through the power of his Spirit. We can have faith that overcomes the world.

I want to know the unsearchable things of God. The Lord invites us to call upon the Lord and the Lord will answer us and tell us the unsearchable things.
We, who call on the name of Jesus, will have the mind of Christ. Even what we see only dimly now will later be revealed to us!
The Lord has answers for our indecipherable problems and God provides astounding disclosures for our futures as we call on him. Open your mind and heart to hear the Lord speak to you. God will offer revelations that you cannot receive by any scientific inquiry, or by the wisdom of all combined human consciousness, or by the greatest, most powerful computer.
You, who are followers of Jesus, have nothing less than the most amazing source of knowledge and wisdom in all the world and throughout all of history -- You have the mind of Christ.
The Lord will reveal to you the unsearchable things.
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

The Kind of Worshiper the Lord Seeks

2010-11-21T05:00:00.025-05:00

I don't know if the stories are true in a recent email I received. I will share them because they could be true. The first is from a woman who tried to order a half dozen chicken nuggets at a fast food restaurant. The teenager at the counter said, "Sorry, we don't have half dozen nuggets. We only have 6, 9, or 12."
The woman responded, "So I can't order a half dozen nuggets, but I can order six?"
And that is the order that was accepted.
The second comes from a grocery store encounter. The woman took a "divider" that they keep at register and placed it between her groceries on the belt and the items from the person behind her. As the cashier checked her out, she came to the end of the groceries, picked up the "divider" and looked all over for the bar code so she could scan it. She asked, "Do you know how much this is?" Wisely, the customer simply said, "I've changed my mind; I don't think I will buy that today."
Surprised? Probably not.
There are many people going through the motions at work, not really putting their minds to the tasks at hand. Jesus did have much patience for worshipers who simply went through the motions: Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24)

The Lord wants the kind of worshipers that will give it their all. They will worship in the Spirit -- open to the Spirit's movement and power. They will worship the Lord in Truth -- seeking it, receiving it, living it -- offering all they are to the one who is Truth.
Why did Jesus say those words? Maybe he observed most of the worshipers standing but not singing, or singing 'under their breath.' Maybe he saw people pulling out what they had left, rather than giving out of the generosity the Lord has given them. Maybe Jesus saw worshipers distracted by everything around them, nodding off, and uninvolved during the message. Perhaps Jesus watched as they walked out after the service...barely greeting their brothers and sisters, eager to get on with their day, with little change in attitude or devotion.
Is that what Jesus would see if he came to your church? Is that what our Lord would see if he watched you?

The Lord, Jesus himself, is seeking worshipers who really want to worship him -- with all their heart, mind, soul and strength -- who worship him in Spirit and in truth. You can make worship the greatest, most powerful hour of your life if you put yourself into it.
Worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth!
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

You'll Never Hit the Ground!

2010-11-20T05:00:00.001-05:00

Admit it. You have done it. You are at the mall, on your walk, or at work, and as you walk you catch your shoe and stumble. Don't you immediately look back to see what you tripped over, and look around to see who saw you?
There are times when we seem to stumble over thin air. Nothing is there, no crack in the sidewalk, no banana peels, nothing, but we still stumble and trip. There are also tree roots, toys on the floor, uneven pavement that can cause us to stumble. No one can escape an occasional trip.
We stumble in our walk witht he Lord, tool There are slippery slopes that cause us to stumble, there are crevices in our paths, cracks in our armor, that trip us up.
Here is an amazing fact. Though we stumble spiritually, we will never fall. God's Word informs us: If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. (Psalm 37:23-24)
You may stumble, but you will not fall. The Lord will hold you up by His hand. What a word of comfort and assurance for all who believe in him! Keep in mind, however, that this promise is linked to our obedience to him. The scriptures says, "If the Lord delights in a man's way." The Lord's protection is connected to our desire to live a life that is pleasing to God.
God will not let you out of his sight, nor will he allow anything to snatch you away from him. God will not let you fall. He will uphold you with his hand. The Lord promises this to all of us who choose to live life by faith in Him. The Lord will protect you as you walk in his way.
You may stumble along in your spiritual life, but live with the assurance that the Lord will never let you fall.
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

"Daily Subscription or 'As Needed'?"

2010-11-19T05:00:00.002-05:00

Help me, O my God!" we plea. Our words are often accompanied by whole-hearted commitments to never miss church, to give more money, to help others, or all three. We are desperate for our need to be met, our fear to be relieved, our problem solved. "Help me, Lord, and I will give my life for you!"
Right.
It is all true until our prayers are answered, the crisis passes, and life returns to normal. How quickly we forget, or choose to do so.
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul is talking to Christians and trying to get them to remember that they had received the grace of God. He wrote, "As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)
I think Paul may have been shaking his head in disbelief as he wrote these words. The Lord's favor was given, you received it for a day, for a need, for a season, and then went your merry way. The Lord wanted you to experience his favor every day, for every need, in every season.
It's like winning the lottery and choosing to receive a one time payout of one million rather than receiving a payout of one million a year, guaranteed for life! Who would choose only one million when you could have multi-millions?
The answer is, "we do."
Sadly, regretfully, we take the quick fix rather than receive the constant blessings.
"Now is the time of God's favor." It is God's preference that we live under the light of the Lord's presence and favor every day.
What a privilege and honor the Lord has offered us -- has offered you.
Accept the Lord's favor for your life.
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

The Tools of the Master Craftsman

2010-11-18T05:00:00.002-05:00

Have you ever heard of Jim Jones and the Peoples' Temple (1978), or David Koresh and the ATF (1993),or the Order of the Solar Temple (1994), or Heaven's Gate (1997) to name a few of the homicidal, suicidal religious cults that have been a black mark on our world and on people of faith.
The Lord has often been saddened, angered and displeased by the actions of men. In Jeremiah's time there were prophets claiming they were receiving dreams from the Lord and making their prophecies much to the chagrin of God. We can sense God's exasperation: “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?" (Jeremiah 23:29)
The Lord is holy and righteous. How can we take his Word so easily in stride? How can we ignore, diminish, and refuse the Word of the Lord? Are we crazy, ignorant, or just plain egotistical? I suspect I fit all three. What describes you when you defy the Word of the Lord?

The Lord describes his Word as powerful as a fire, able to burn up our idols, faulty beliefs, and false prophecies. His Word is also like a hammer, able to break our self-righteous, self-sufficient, self-centered narcissism and smash them in pieces so we can no longer stand on our own strength.

All this sounds so...well, so destructive. Actually, the Word of the Lord is a fire that purifies us and a hammer that molds us until our lives begin to be shaped in the image God had created us. His Word is a fire hot enough to purify us of every sin. His Word is a hammer powerful enough to forge us into the image of Jesus.

I am glad the Lord does not toss me into the rubbish pile, regardless of how I have used his Word for my self-serving purposes. I am glad the Lord has not tossed me onto the trash pile for unusable mistakes. He keeps lighting fires to cleanse me and hammering away at my pride and self-will until I am finally and fully his.

Our God never gives up on us and never quits molding us.
What a God. What a Christ.
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

Where Are Your Ebenezer Stones?

2010-11-17T05:00:00.002-05:00

I collect rocks, not as a petrologist, one who studies rocks. I simply collect them. I have an assortment of sizes. One is from the river bed on Pine Creek. Another is from the Pocono Mountains. One is from the mountains of Virginia. I have a variety of them from where I have been. They are momentos for me of special moments in my life.
Samuel had a stone, too. His was far more special than mine. He used it to remember the place where the Philistines were defeated, and where the ark of the coveannt was returned. His stone marked the place where the Lord brought victory: Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the Lord helped us." (1 Samuel 7:12)
"Here is where the Lord helped us!" What a great statement of recognition that the victory won would never have happened if it were not for the Lord's presence and power. None of us could be where we are today, or the kind of persons we are today, without the Lord's mighty presence and power.
Where are your Ebenezer stones? My life is marked with these precious stones:
There are Ebenezer stones, where the Lord has helped me, stretching from a brace worn at the age of five through the back surgery of a few years ago. My life is marked by stones of healing.
I have stones along the trail of my life for each of the people who guided me -- from my parents, to teachers, pastors, friends, wife, children, and even strangers. Through each my life is marked by stones of wisdom and blessing.
There are stones lining the trail of my life highlighting the miracles the Lord has done in me.
My life is one long string of Ebenezer stones, each placed along the trail with these words from my grateful mind, "Here is another place the Lord has helped me."
How is the trail of your life marked with Ebenezer stones, and with words declaring how the Lord has helpd you?
I am sure there are many, if you only pause to look back. There are many more Ebenezer stones that will be placed along the path of your life. Watch for them. Lay a stone of remembrance and thanksgiving. Honor Him with the words, "Thus far has the Lord helped me."
And the Lord will make sure you make it home.
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

Sleepless Nights

2010-11-16T05:00:00.001-05:00

Nights. Darkness. The tick of the clock, or the slow-moving change, minute by minute, of a digital clock. Tossing and turning. Sleepless nights are a frustration for anyone who has suffered through them.
The nights can be long and dark.
Too much caffeine, too much stress, or is it anxiety over the matter on your mind? What is causing you to lie awake when you should be asleep?
Admit it , your mind can go wild.
There are remedies. Some as simple as warm milk, and others so complex the molecular formula has a patent and comes with a guarantee to put you to sleep. Are you counting sheep or naming states? Are you reciting "Goodnight Moon" from your mental storage bank? What works for you?
Here is a sure remedy from one who had spent endless nights under the stars, with predators and thieves always around. His ticket to bliss was this: On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. (Psalm 63:6)
The shepherd, psalmist remembered the Lord and kept his mind on God through the night. Comfort and peace can rest upon you, even when encircled by unfriendly foes.
Jesus had a sleepless night. It was the night he went to the garden to pray. His three wonderlings, Peter, James and John, could not keep their eyes open, even after the Lord pleaded with them to pray. Jesus kept on praying, focusing on His Father until the desperation and fear receded and his strength was renewed. Off he went to face his future with confidence and peace.
Remember the Lord and keep your mind on Him through the night. Rest in His peace. Experience His favor. When the night turns long, turn to Him.
Sleep tight, my friend, through the night, resting in Him.
Reach for Encouragement. To His glory.

God Uses Evil's Inclination to Beat It!

2010-11-15T05:00:00.001-05:00

Coaches teach their players, regardless of the sport, to read the body position of their opponents. If you catch them leaning to the right, cut to the left. If you are wrestling an opponent and he is attempting to force your body in one direction, coaches tell you to go with the flow of that force, but use a move to come out on top. If your fake puts you opponent on their heals, use the opportunity to take the jump shot. They will never recover in time.
The author and finisher of our faith, our Great God, uses the same principles in overcoming evil in this world. A great example of God allowing something evil to have its day, yet using the circumstances to bring about his purposes and his will, if found in the story of Joseph and his conniving, jealous brothers.
They sold Joseph into slavery to get him out of the way so they could be in a good position with their father. Yet, as the events unfolded, God gave Joseph special gifts which he used to be promoted into a position of authority. He controlled the vast supply of food during a period of great drought. As the story continues, who shows up at his door begging for food, but his dear brothers. Joseph granted their request for food aid and was able to supply food for his people. Pulling from the full story in Genesis we see the results:

"Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here,for God sent me before you to preserve life." (Genesis 45:5)
"Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God." (Genesis 45:8)
"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." (Genesis 50:20)

Our Lord will let the flow of evil go unchecked, not because he is powerless to stop it. God allows evil to have its day, to exert its influence and prepares for the set up when the Lord can use the very forces and works of evil to produce good and to accomplish his will. Amazing, isn't it?!

This does not mean we should sit back. We are called to resist evil in all its ways. But it does mean that God is at work, even when it seems evil has the winning hand. Bang! God knocks off the evil intent like a
pulling guard uses the very momentum of a charging linebacker to easily block him out of the play. A first down for God, if not a touchdown. The touchdown will come. The ticking clock will run down and God will ultimately triumph in victory.

Stand your ground for the good and for God. Trust in his unfathomable wisdom and smile as he takes evil out of the play, out of the game and declares the victory -- you are redeemed -- you are restored -- you are empowered -- you can do all things -- You are given the victory.

Amazing, isn't He?!

Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

UNFINISHED -- WORSHIP -- 11.14

2010-11-14T05:00:00.002-05:00

The Apple Ipad sold 3.27 million since the device became available. Projections suggest that sales should top 28 million by the end of 2011. What drove these remarkable sales? Was it the Apple name? Was it the hype? Was it the advertising? Was it word of mouth? All of the above contributed, but I am sure many ipads were bought after one ipad owner after another showed it to their friends. Presto! Sales mushroomed as the news spread from all the proud owners.
Such exuberance has impacted the growth of Christianity. The psalmist describes how worship leads to witness: I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself. (Psalm 89:1-2)
Singing of the Lord's great love in worship leads to witnessing to the faithfulness of God all generations. God has created a natural progression from worship to witness. When our hearts are filled with the presence, power and majesty of God we overflow with thankfulness and praise which leads us to share our excitement and joy with those around us.
This is the reason that over 70% (some report as high as 80%) of people who participate in a church on a regular basis first attended because of a personal invitation from a friend! This is the reason why the church has grown and expanded across the continents. People worship and leave the church witnessing about all that God has done.
Worship to witness -- a natural progression, a common response by God's people. We become so enthralled with the majesty of God, with his goodness and mercy toward us, with his wonder-working power in us that we overflow with thanksgiving and praise to the people around us.
Today, as you get up and get dressed for worship (don't forget to do either of them) call a friend and offer to pick them up on your way to church. Or, as you go home today, pumped up and filled up by God, share your enthusiasm with a friend and invite them for next week.
Worship to witness is that natural response of Christians. May it be so for you today.
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

Feel Pampered Today!

2010-11-13T05:00:00.001-05:00

I asked a class of students to describe qualities their grandparents possessed. They mentioned, "loving," "caring," -- all words ending in "ing." Then one student said, "can you say, 'spoiling?'"
You sure can! Spoiling the grandchildren is one of the great blessings grandparents offer them. Ask any grandparent and they beam with joy and pride over their grandchildren, and state, with pride, how much they spoil them.
This is the approach our heavenly father has toward us. He lavishes his love on us and calls us his children. (1 John 3:1). Read the parental pampering described by Isaiah: I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand— I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, 'You are my people.'" (Isaiah 51:16)
The Lord puts words in your mouth. God covers you with the shadow of his hand. God watches over you without slumbering or sleeping. God sure does pamper us!
The very God who hand-placed each planet and star, the very God who laid the foundations of the earth upon which we plant our feet, this God says, "You are my people." "You are my child."
God gives us grace when we don't deserve it. God's love never fails us? God gives us full pay for only a partial day's/lifetime's efforts. God loves us while we are still sinners. God throws a party when we finally arrive home, well after our curfew, after we have squandered all his blessings.
God offers us divine parental pampering.
Gotta love it! Walk in God's favor and blessings today. Enjoy the Lord's fellowship. Bask in God's love. Be immersed in God's grace. Realize the Lord watches over your coming and going, every moment of every day, for all the years of your life.
Feel pampered today by the God who loves you with an unfailing love.
Reach for Encouragement. To His glory.

God's Winning Hand

2010-11-12T05:00:00.001-05:00

The card game, Pinochle, has a trump card that can beat all the other cards. And, if two trump cards are played, the highest one will win the hand. Trump cards are a strategic advantage in card games.
It is always great to have a trump card in your hand as you live your life. God has given you the trump card that beats any and every challenge. His trump card is grace.
There are times in our lives where we think our sin outweighs God's forgiveness. We live with guilt and shame and cannot shake it. We contemplate, "God will never forgive me for this one (sin)." This is where God has the winning hand. Every time he will play his trump card.
The Lord has given us a Kingdom principle: ...Where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20b-21)
There is no sin beyond God's grace. God increases his grace to trump our sin. His hand always beats ours, for the Lord wants grace to reign in our lives through righteousness -- the righteousness of Christ.
Give it up! Give up your guilt and shame. Give up your self-pronounced condemnation. Give up your sin to God's grace. The Bible calls this repentance, confessing your sins and turning away from them. As Jesus said to a woman caught in adultery, who, in that society would be judged and stoned to death, "Go and sin no more."
No sin is greater than God's grace. Grace is His trump card to ensure that we live in His righteousness.
May his grace trump all the sin in your life, remove the guilt and shame that binds you, and bless you with his righteousness.
Christ gives you the victory!
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

2010-11-11T05:00:00.001-05:00

There is a cartoon image of a person with an angel on one shoulder whispering in her ear, and the devil on the other shoulder speaking into the other ear. The angel is strengthening us to walk in our divine nature. The devil is a liar (John 8:44), who is the prince of this world (John 14:30), and who wants you to live by the desires of this world -- your selfish nature of the flesh.
God has given us everything we need for life so that we can live in his divine nature: Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2 Peter 1:4)
God has given us promises so we can live by the divine nature. Consider just 7 of his promises:

God has promised that those who believe in Jesus and are baptized for the forgiveness of sins will be saved. (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38).
God has promised that His children will not be overtaken with temptation. (I Corinthians 10:13; Jude 1:24).
God has promised that His grace is sufficient for us. (2 Corinthians 12:9).
He has promised to supply every need we have. (Philippians 4:19).
God has promised that all things work together for good to those who love and serve Him faithfully (Romans 8:28).
God has promised us victory over death. (Acts 2:32; I Corinthians 15:3-4; I Corinthians 15:57).
God has promised His people eternal life (John 10:27-28).

You can choose the life the Lord wants for you, an abundant life, filled with his goodness and lived out in godliness. You can choose to escape all the corruption of this world and the desires of your selfish nature. You can choose to live by the divine nature through the precious promises he has given you.
Choose life! Turn to your divine nature, given to you by Jesus, and live your life focused on the things above. (Colossians 3:2).
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

A Preventative Care Program

2010-11-10T05:00:00.001-05:00

You may remember when it happened in 2003. There was a major blackout in the Northeastern United States. Darkness enveloped everything for 55 million people in Canada and the U.S.A.
More common and more familiar are the brownouts that sometimes occur in the heat of summer or the cold of winter. There is simply too much demand for the supply.
Blackouts and brownouts happen in our lives as we feel the effects of stress. Our brownouts are exhaustion. Our blackouts are stress-related illness. Our supply lines of energy cannot keep up with our demand.
None of this is necessary if we are connected to our divine power in Jesus Christ: His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3)
His divine power gives us everything we need for life:

He sustains us by his powerful word (Hebrews 1:3).
We can do all things by the strength we receive from the Lord (Philippians 4:13).
All things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

The Lord provides power that never departs from us, once we have a relationship with Jesus. We would like this power to come to us in prayer, and it does. However, the key to understanding that his power gives us everything we need for life comes from our knowledge of him. To live in his power we need to grow in our knowledge of him through studying his Word and knowing the scriptures.
When Paul encourages us to put on the armor of God he gives us only one offensive weapon -- only one. It is the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. His Word, from which we gain our knowledge of him, gives us the constant power source to prevent the brownouts and blackouts of stress and illness in our lives.
Pray for strength and power, but also do the homework, the daily work, the sustaining work, the preventative care program of studying his Word.
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

Enjoy God's Wonderful Surprises

2010-11-09T05:00:00.002-05:00

Get out!" The words sound like a command. The words suggest that you are ordering someone to leave your presence. Children know the tone and the words, and they move when the phrase is spoken: "Get out!"
These same words have a different meaning today. When someone says, "get out," they are expressing surprise and excitiement.
A similar experience occurred among the disciples after Jesus was resurrected from the dead. They were together discussing that Jesus is alive and had appeared to Simon. They were processing, as we say, the events and their meaning. Reality seemed to be sinking in.
Suddenly Jesus shows up. And Luke records this observation: ...They still did not believe it because of joy and amazement. (Luke 24:41)
Their disbelief wasn't a refusal to believe he was alive again. It wasn't denial. It wasn't rejection. Their disbelief was coming out of total amazement.
Could you hear Peter shouting out, "Get out!" and mean it as joy and amazement?
With God we can always expect the unexpected. The Lord amazes us with the razzle dazzle of special effects and surprise endings. A transfiguration sounds like a divine special effect. The voice from the clouds makes heads turn. From the grip of death on a cross and tomb the Lord walks forth.
I am finding myself more in awe of God and amazed at his wonderful surprises. My eyes have beocme open to see the unseen. My patience has grown to await the breakthroughs. My hope rests beyond the tangible.
God is at work. The Lord is moving across the landscape of your life. The Lord is preparing a life of special effects and surprise endings for you. Get ready to shout, "Get out!" for the Lord seeks to bless you.
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

Soul Massage

2010-11-08T05:00:00.001-05:00

Many day spas advertise detoxification treatment. The idea is to get rid of the chemical build up that occurs in our chemical-drenched world. You can also detox at home. One bath is to combine, epsom salts, sea salt and sesame oil. Another option is to soak in bath water with vinegar added.
Soak away! I'll stick to showers.
Most people who detox do so for health benefits and for their "spiritual" side. They do it for themselves -- for their benefit. Few people detox their lives because of their commitment to God. There is a profound reason to detox your life: Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. (2 Corinthians 7:1)
We are called to purify ourselves out of reverence for God. Our goal is holiness of heart and life.
This changes everything. We are no longer living for ourselves, our own comfort and pleasure. We are living for God, seeking to perfect our holiness out of reverence for the Lord.
As followers of Jesus our spiritual cleansing comes as we confess our sins and are cleansed of all unrighteousness. We see our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. We seek to be purified in every aspect of our lives out of reverence for God so we can be holy, even as he is holy.
We live in the righteousness of Christ who will present us, as part of his Church, without spot or blemish -- purified and holy.
The Lord's detox program massages our souls for total purification and righteousness.
Let him purifiy you, and do it out of reverence for God.
Reach for encouragemernt. To His glory.

A Father's Heart Cry

2010-11-07T05:00:00.001-05:00

For teenagers it is work or sleep overs. For young adults its is friends or hang overs. For parents of young children it is naps and the hassle of getting everyone ready. For parents of teenagers it is their teenagers or the stress caused by them. For empty-Nester's it is the new found freedom they have to do nothing. For older adults it is the weather. For many it is yard sales, flea markets, golf courses, and a plethora of other interests that a fun and recreational. For many it is the stress of the week and the opportunity to have a morning with no demands.
What keeps you away from worship?
There was a time when the Lord intervened and freed his people so they could worship him: Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me.' (Exodus 8:1)
I think the Lord is making the same declaration to us:

"Let my people go, so that they may worship me."

The Lord wants nothing to hold us back from worshiping him. He does not want us to have any idols that hold us back...whether those idols be children, sports or recreation. The Lord is jealous of the things we put before him, especially our own personal enjoyments and relaxation. The Lord wants to break the mental rationalizations, the faulty thinking that makes us believe we are justified to take the time for our own interests and pursuits, our own needs and desires. We we are going to be honest about it, anything that separates from worshiping the Lord and putting him first is sinful.

"Let my people go, so that they may worship me!" is a cry from the heart of God who seeks a close, loving relationship with us. Let nothing hold you back from his desire. It won't be long until it is your desire as well. See you in church.
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

Your Tamper-Proof Seal

2010-11-06T05:00:00.003-04:00

I sometimes was summoned to Maude's home. She was a delightful woman who played the organ in church for 50 years, dressed up every Halloween to greet the trick-or-treaters, and was a saint by every measure -- by every measure but one.
When she summoned me to her home it was because she had a bottle of pills that needed to be opened. The child-proof lids were too much for her tired hands. It was completely frustrating for her. Almost every time I stopped at her house to help her she would say, "They made these people-proof, no one can open them."
Once inside the next trick was to open the seal. A knife came in handy. The seal was a comforting guarantee that no one had tampered with the medication.
God has his own seal that he places on us: And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
The Holy Spirit is God's seal on us, guaranteeing our inheritance, our safety and protection. As Jesus claimed, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand." (John 10:28-29)
God has secured your future. The Lord is greater than all and has sealed your life and your future with the Holy Spirit seal. No one can tamper with your faith and the hope you possess. This seal is Satan-proof. No matter how hard the betrayer may try to snatch you, the Lord will not let go of his grip on your life.
Stand on this word of truth from God's Word.
Reach for Encouragement. To His glory.

Growing Deeper In Love

2010-11-05T05:00:00.002-04:00

I love the games we play with babies. With each of my boys I would ask, "How big?" They would respond, "This big!," as they stretched out their arms as far as they would go.
How do we measure love? Do we repeat the baby game, "How much?" -- "This much!?"
Is there a Richter scale for love? For example, does my love for my dog measure 4.7 on the Richter scale of love?
It's tough to measure love?
Consider how Peter suggests we love others: Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. (1 Peter 1:22-23)
Love deeply, from the heart. One way we can measure love is whether it comes from our heart as well as our head. Loving others, our sisters and brothers in Christ, those in our home, as well as loving strangers, calls for different kinds of love. While love is a choice, a decision of the will, does your love for each of these scenario come from your heart as well?
So often we guard our heart, protecting ourselves from hurt. Loving deeply involves our heart, a commitment of our emotions as well as our will. It is certain that we will experience hurt and pain, even rejection, when we risk loving deeply from our heart.
How can you come back for more when you love deeply? How can you handle the rejection, hurt and pain that will occur? Jesus loved so deeply that it cost him his life. From Him we can love deeply and overcome the hurt. His love perfects our love and casts out the fear that holds us back.
We have been born again. The Lord has set us free to love others deeply, from the heart.
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

The God Who Helps Us Back On Our Feet

2010-11-04T05:00:00.003-04:00

From the "Rocky" series to "Million Dollar Baby," there have been at least 44 boxing movies on the big screen. There is always fast action and great suspense as the movie unfolds. Usually, the final rounds of a great boxing match bring the story to its climax. The star is usually knocked down, but not down for the count.
As Christians we are never down for the count: But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 corinthians 4:7-9)
We may be hard pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, and even struck down, but we are never crushed, or driven to despair. Nor are we abandoned or destroyed. Our struggles reveal that our strength, perseverance, and endurance comes from the all-surpassing power of God.
Have you been knocked down lately? Have you felt that crushing blow to your gut, or a smashing tension headache from being knocked up on the side of your head? Have you felt like collapsing rather than dragging yourself through another day?
You are in good company. All the saints that have gone before us and those who surround us today have felt the same way. It is, in the end, the all-surpassing power of God in us that renews our strength, restores our hope and breathes new life into our spirit. God's Spirit is our second wind when we hit the wall of exhaustion, or we feel like we cannot get up again.
Today is a new day, with new hopes and possibilities. Take a deep breath of God's Spirit, fill you mind with thoughts of things above, and call on the power of Jesus to give you the strength to rise again. He is faithful and he will do it.
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

Transforming Words

2010-11-03T05:00:00.003-04:00

The greeting card industry has a special theme for nearly every date on the calendar. This is "Pastor Appreciation" month, and I have received nice, warm messages inside cards from many parishioners.
I have a favorite category of cards -- the encouragement cards. These cards can apply to anyone, anytime. We all appreciate encouragement. And, it feels good to send an encouragement card.
What would you write inside an encouragement card to God?
We can't be sure who wrote first Chronicles. The Jewish tradition sites Ezra, but we cannot know definitively. Here are the words of encouragement the author of Chronicles wrote to the Lord: Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. (1 Chronicles 29:11)
He must of thought long and hard about what he wanted to say. His words stretch across the ages and remain as relevant and affirming as they were when they were written.
What can we write? We can list all the attributes of God as a start. The Lord is loving, just, merciful, all-knowing...and the list goes on. We can focus on descriptions of his power. We can site words that picture his authority.
With each word we speak or pray, we are drawn into God's presence. Each word draws us closer to him. Eventually, if we offer enough praise, we find ourselves in His throne-room of glory.
It is a great place to be. All because we simply want to encourage the Lord -- to lift him up -- to praise his name. Along the way, our praise brings showers of blessings and transports us into his presence. Our words transform us as we are drawn to the Lord and experience his blessings.
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

An Undying Love

2010-11-02T05:00:00.003-04:00

Zingers. I am sure you have experienced one. Zingers are striking, often caustic statements that hurt like a stun gun. Zingers stay with you a long time. Often they are unforgettable. The pain lessens with time, but the remembrance is always there.
Sometimes zingers are positive. A line spoken or written that stands out and echos in your mind for a long time -- even forever. At the very end of a letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, he wrote, what for me, is a zinger: Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. (Ephesians 6:23-24) I was zapped. Imagine getting a letter with a closing line that reminds you to love Jesus with an undying love. An undying love!
It is so easy for our love of Jesus to fade with the shadows of hardship. It is so easy for our love of Jesus to disappear behind clouds of hurt and pain. It is so easy for our love of Jesus to be smothered by the weight of worry.
Loving the Lord with an undying love means through thick and thin, good times and bad, success and failure, prosperity and need, pleasure and suffering. Loving Jesus with an undying love comes as we mature in faith and grow in trust of Him. We learn to know that his love is unfailing. His grace is greater than our sin. His devotion to us is to the very end of time. We love because he first loved us. Undying love for Jesus comes as we experience his unfailing love for us.
Or, as Paul encourages us, Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Let nothing move you. Love Jesus with an undying, immovable love. There are benefits and blessings for your soul, for your relationships, for your life that you will experience as you love the Lord.
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

Unleashing Our Spiritual Power

2010-11-01T05:00:00.003-04:00

When I was a kid my best friend and I built a structure. I don't know that you could call it an actual cabin. At least it remained standing, which is quite an accomplishment, considering that I never received any genes for carpentry.

Eventually we were told we needed to tear it down. After a typical childhood fit of objection we obliged.
We had more fun tearing it down than we did building it. Today the official word is "deconstruction." We deconstructed it alright. We demolished it!

A similar sense of freedom and power is available for us through the Lord. We can fight the battles to overcome the standards of this world and the temptations we face: For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

We have divine power to demolish strongholds in our lives. We have the weapons of God to demolish the lies that lead to sin. We have the power of Christ to take every thought and make it obedient to Christ!

We can be a part of God's demolition crew, using his divine power to demolish everything that stands in the way of the abundant life the Lord desires for us.

There are strongholds which need to be demolished in our lives. We harbor anger and malice against others. We struggle with addictions. We wrangle with self-doubt. We battle self-centeredness versus Christ-like living. We live under the weight of judgmental spirits. What are the strongholds that hold you back from the life God wants for you?
Call on the power of God in Jesus' Name. Unleash his power to demolish the strongholds of your life. Live in the freedom the Lord has given you.
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

Worship's Cycle of Joy and Adoration

2010-10-31T05:00:00.005-04:00

Let's consider how much you look forward to some of life's celebrations: On the anticipation scale, from one to ten with ten being "I can't get there fast enough!," what number would you assign:

birthdays -- you choose between spouse, grandchild, children.
Opening presents at Christmas
Vacation
Back to the grind on Monday mornings

OK, I threw in the last one to see if you were paying attention. What were your numbers? Were they over five? Were any close to a ten? What celebrations would you put at the top of your list?
As Christians, we have been taught to go to church. Many see it as an obligation. For some Sunday means church and they never miss. It is part of their weekly routine, at least as important as everything else they do each week. What number would you assign worship on your anticipation scale?
God doesn't want worship to be an obligation or a matter of routine. Through the psalmist, the Lord shows his anticipation is a ten and he wants the same for us. Imagine getting up this morning to go to worship with these words on your lips: Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come me before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:1-5)
The psalmist was filled with anticipation, joy, gladness, thanksgiving, and praise. Those expressions inspired him to consider the attributes of the Lord, his goodness, love and faithfulness. And, when we consider who God is and run down the list of all the Lord's great qualities, it leads us back into joy, gladness, thanksgiving and praise and the anticipation to worship the one we adore.
Try it out. Offer words of praise as you prepare for worship, drive to church, enter the doors and gather with your brothers and sisters. Lift up the goodness of the Lord and all the Lord's greatness as you move from home to church. Let the cycle of praise and adoration unfold as it will, naturally and joyfully. Watch that anticipation scale number rise in proportion to your focus on him.
I can only imagine the Lord leaning forward from his throne, and with a smile on God's face, saying, "Wow, worship is going to be great today."
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

Pressing On

2010-10-30T05:00:00.002-04:00

Every Trekkie can complete our title, "Boldly go where no man has gone before." (My trekkie wife tells me that movie versions replace "no man" with "no one").
Where are you willing to go where angels fear to tread?* Yes, we may be fools for going where angels fear to tread, but where are you willing to risk your love? With whom are you willing to invest your time to change their life? How are you exploring new life for yourself?
In what ways are you boldly going where no one has gone before?
There are seasons when the Lord calls us to pursue our faith with impassioned determination and diligence.
This is how Paul pursued his Lord: Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)
Boldly go forward in your faith. Paul is saying, "Press on." Strain toward what is ahead. Press on to be conformed to the likeness of Christ. Strain toward your future, reaching higher than your grasp so the Lord can grasp on to you. Press on toward the prize of your faith through prayer and the Word. Strain toward the people you are called to love and serve. Let God's perfect love cast out all fear. Press on.
Boldly go where you have never gone before, acting on your faith while trusting the Lord to give you the victory. We can never know what we are capable of until we boldly go where we have never been.
Boldly go...
Reach for Encouragement. To His glory.
*From a line in An Essay on Criticism: "For fools rush in where angels fear to tread," by Alexander Pope.

Investment Lessons

2010-10-29T05:00:00.001-04:00

There was a time not too long ago when people were confident in their future. People were employed by companies for which they thought they would work their entire carrer. Benefits were guaranteed, even in retirement. There were no take-aways. Housing values would always appreciate. People retired assured that their money would support them for their remaining years.
What we assumed were sure foundations of life suddenly crumbled beneath our feet. The slippery slope of an economic crisis cascaded downward. Lifetime jobs were lost. Lifetime savings were lost. Lifetime benefits were lost. Nothing seems guaranteed for a lifetime.
Hope was cut off.
We are not the only ones who have felt the pinch of disappointment. The followers of Jesus felt cut off and without hope. They ran when the man they had followed was arrested. They watched as the man they had left everything for slowly died on a cross. They saw the sealed tomb. Their hope was cut off.
At least for a time -- three days, to be exact. On the third day the historical record tells us that the tomb was empty, angels announced he had risen, and the disciples were met by their Master once more.
The disciples slowly learned that their hope was never cut off because God was in their lives and in their future. Likewise, our hope is never cut off when the Lord is in our lives. We put our trust in him. We can affirm these words of scripture: There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. (Proverbs 23:18)
We face many disappointments in life and seasons of loss. We know that the things of this world disappear. A life lesson we all slowly learn is that we are better off storing up treasure in heaven, rather than putting all our efforts in the things of this world where things rust and disappear. (Matthew 6:19-21)
For everyone who has a relationship with Jesus there is always hope. We trust our Protector and Provider, our Strong Deliverer, our Redeemer and Friend. In him alone we have our hope. As the Gaithers so powerfully wrote, "We can face uncertain days because he lives." (from "Because He Lives")
The future God has for you is not just for a lifetime, but forever. The riches you will enjoy will never be taken away. The hope we have as Christians will last for eternity.
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

Your Best Looking Outfit

2010-10-28T05:00:00.002-04:00

Years ago, when I sold suits in a men's clothing store, I found one task challenging, yet fulfilling. After the laborious process of selecting a suit, customers would put the suit on, stand in a trio of mirrors and wait as I marked sleeves and pants cuffs for alterations. Sometime the shoulders or coat buttons, waistline or pants rise would also have to fitted to the customer's size and shape. But, when everything was measured, tailored and the customer returned to pick up their suit, it was a thrill to see how good they looked.
I believe God experiences our salvation in a similar, satisfying way. The scriptures tell us that the Lord is our personal tailor: I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10)
His garments of salvation are the talk of the town. When your friends see you in the garments of salvation the Lord has personally tailored for you, they stand in awe of how great you look. The outfit is gorgeous, but it is your new countenance that stands out. Your old way of life is gone and you are a new creation. Your sorrow has turned to joy. His garments of salvation are a perfect fit!
Just as stunning is your robe of righteousness. The righteousness of Jesus turns your scarlet-stained robe into a brilliant white robe, pure and perfect, without any missed stiches.
I can only imagine the Lord gently lifting the shoulders of your garments and robe, checking the length and fit at every curve of your body, stepping back, and saying, "YES!," with a satisfied sigh of accomplishment. "Another perfect fit," he might think, as he sends you off to a new life of love and service.
The Lord is our personal tailor, fitting our garments of salvation and robes of righteousness on us, once we receive Christ as our Savior and begin a relationship with Him. As scriptures remind us, there is no greater joy in heaven.
Wear your garments of salvation today and celebrate your relationship with your Tailor. Put on your robe of righteousness today and walk with confidence and joy, showing off for all the world, what the Lord has done.
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

The Heart of the Matter

2010-10-27T05:00:00.002-04:00

What moves you? There are some international agencies that show advertisements on TV of children whose appearance stabs my heart. These ads are intended to stir our emotions and get us to give.
I applaud any support you give to help the needy children of the world.
Watching that ad one night made me wonder what moves God?
I know he hears our cry for mercy, and he rejoices with all the heavenly host when one sinner repents and believes in Jesus.
Where is God's heart?
Perhaps the quickest way to catch a glimpse of God's heart is to hear the first words that came out of Jesus' mouth when he began his public ministry. Naturally, he went to the temple, where he opened the scroll to a reading from Isaiah: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19, Isaiah 61:1,2)
The Lord's heart is moved by those who are left out. Consider this partial list from the Bible -- the adulterer, those who are lost, the hopeless, the paralyzed the poor, prisoners, sinners, the blind, those who suffer from mental illness, those who are lame, hungry, those who are thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the children and orphans, the widows, not to mention the last and least.
Even as you reach out to the children who are hungry and needy across the continents of this earth, the Lord is also calling you to love your neighbor. In your neighborhood, in your circle of influence, there are all kinds of needy, hurting people who will be blessed as you reach out to them.
Jesus offers these words for your efforts, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." (Matthew 5:7)
There is a person who needs your concern today. Do not put it off. Even as you touch their heart, your heart will be changed. In fact, Jesus warns us not let our hearts be hardened to the needs around us. He states, "For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them." (Matthew 13:15, Isaiah 6:9-10)
Jesus stated his mission very clearly and calls us to make sure our hearts are centered on the "heart of the matter," how we reach out and love others.
True healing and wholeness come when we share the love that the Lord has given us, when we offer the comfort with which the Lord has blessed us, when we extend mercy which the Lord has graciously offered us.
Those who are in need move God's heart. May yours be moved as well.
Reach for encouragement. To His glory.

Filling In the Bare Spots

2010-10-26T05:00:00.001-04:00

They call it "overseeding." Every yard has those spots where the grass is not thick and lush. Often there are bare spots. My new lawn is more bare than green. Every lawn can benefit from adding new seed once every several years to renew the lawn. Overseeding is when you sow new seed on existing lawns. Though most people do not do it, overseeding is something good for your lawn.
Overseeding is also a good practice for our faith.There is a wonderful story that Jesus tells about a farmer who is sowing seed. In hearing the story we often understate the most important line: "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. (Luke 8:11)
The seed is the word of God. It is the word that God sows in our hearts and lives. But, there are areas of our lives where the seed does not flourish, as Jesus explains:

Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. (Luke 8:12)
Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. (Luke 8:13)
The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. (Luke 8:14)
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. (Luke 8:15)

We can identify with each of these scenarios. There are parts of our lives where the seed has not survived, where the word has not yet transformed us.
This is why overseeding is so important in our spiritual lives. We need to fill in the bare spots. Though we may have a vibrant relationship with the Lord, staying in the word enables our lives to be renewed and for new life to come.
Overseeding our lives by reading and hearing the word of God enables the Lord to continue to strengthen our faith. It also provides a protective factor as we resist temptation. And, it prepares us to face every day with confidence and hope.
Overseed your faith. Stay in the word, the Bible.
Overseed your faith. You will find your faith renewed and new life and vitality will come with each passing day.
Reach for Encouragement. To His glory.

Seeing the Completed Picture

2010-10-25T05:00:00.003-04:00

I enjoy "connect the dots" diagrams. It is always interesting to see what picture appears when all the lines are drawn. You may not be able to envision what the picture will be at first, but you draw the lines knowing it will be a nice picture when it is completed.
The same trust is involved in our relationship with the Lord. We may not be able to see the finished picture, but we trust God that the lines moving from one event in our lives to the next create a picture of beauty.
Paul connects the dots for 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. (Romans 5:2b-5)
When we connect the dots (sufferings + perseverance + character) we see a picture of hope. At the end of the day, and at the end of life itself, God is connecting the dots of our lives to produce a beautiful picture.
Today is a new day. You do not know who you will run into today. You do not know what new encounters you will have. You do not know the surprises in store for you. But do know this, the Lord is in the details of your life, connecting the dots today into the final portrait he is creating through your life. In the end, you are without spot or blemish. In the end, he will complete the work he has begun in you. In the end, you will be like Christ and reflect his glory. What a great "connect the dots" picture!
Reach for Encouragement. To His glory.

Worship Calisthenics

2010-10-24T05:00:00.002-04:00

There is a vast difference between exercise classes in high schools and the near by "L.A. Fitness." Students in the average high school will be seen strolling around the track with a few running at a strong pace. Calisthenics look like a scene out of the television show, "M.A.S.H." Jumping jacks lack both the jumping and motion.
Cross the street and enter a fitness center and you are astounded at the intensity and effort being put forth. There can be many reasons cited, but consider two. First, the students' heart is not in it. Second, they are being forced to do something that they don't want to do, hence, they only go through the motions.
This is the point the Lord is making about his student body as they worship him: The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish." (Isaiah 29:13-14)
High School physical education classes, and God's student body lack inspiration. They do not have their heart in their efforts. They do not have any motivation to put their all into it. Both groups are simply going through the motions, following the rules.
The Lord declares to his student body that he is going to astound them with wonder upon wonder. The Lord is going to instill motivation and inspire them to put their heart and soul into their worship of him.
How motivated and inspired are your for worship calisthenics this morning? The Lord wants your heart to return to the "Heart of Worship." The Lord wants you to stand in awe of him and his mighty works of wonder. The Lord wants you to do more than follow the rules of an order of service.
God has no hidden motivations. God wants you to excel at worship so you reap the spiritual, emotional, relational, psychological and physical benefits of worship. The Lord wants your wonder and awe of him to enlarge and expand so you are able to absorb more of him. God makes it clear to us how far he will go to motivate and inspire us to worship him.
His hope is that your motivated soul and inspired heart will respond. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness this morning and stand in awe of his greatness and power.
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

Transformed Hearts

2010-10-23T05:00:00.000-04:00

How can you tell a heart transformed by Christ? Some would say it is by their fruit -- how they are living among others. This is an excellent answer and you get an "A" for the day if you answered, "by your fruit."
Another response is "by your love." The more Christ transforms us the more loving we are to our neighbors. Another great answer.
Let's add one more level to this transformation. Can you answer, "by your forgiveness." That is a tough one for all of us, depending on the level of hurt, pain, betrayal, evil, etc.
Put all three answers together and you get a picture of the Christians who fellowshiped in churches in Judea. This is what the apostle Paul writes: I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." And they praised God because of me. (Galatians 1:22-24)

They praised God for Paul, former accuser, persecutor, and destroyer of the faith. That is forgiveness in action. That is love expressed. That is fruitfulness of the Gospel in their lives.
It has been my experience that Christians can be very wary of people who claim the faith after committing diabolical acts. Serial killers or pedophiles turned Christians can make some stomachs turn. Can you praise the Lord for a sinner turned saint? Can you accept the power of the cross for all sins -- all sinners?
Admittedly, a confession of faith make leave us dubious, not because we doubt God, but because we know the evil of man. It is our role to celebrate the dead coming to life, the old who are now new creations, those once controlled by the flesh now alive in the Spirit, the blind who can now see, the sinner who turns saint. It is God's role to judge their sincerity and commitment.
Perhaps, more indicative of our spiritual maturity, of our personal transformation, may be whether we are truly able to forgive and love those who have most intently hurt us. A clear sign for the Christians of Judea was that they praised God for their former persecutor.
May we be so transformed as to forgive as Christ has forgiven us.
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

The Fulcrum of Life

2010-10-22T05:00:00.000-04:00

Archimedes once said, "Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world." A lever, in use from prehistoric times, is one of the six simple tools. A see-saw is the easiest example of a simple lever.
The lever, so simple, yet so powerful; could it possibly move the world as Archimedes suggested? It would be pretty tough for me to imagine what the pivot point could be to make it happen. Would the sun work...a distant galaxy?
We have the most powerful leverage in the universe, but often we fail to understand it, accept it in faith, and apply it with confidence. Our leverage is God -- the fulcrum point who moves not only the world, but everything in it.
Consider these encouraging scriptures:

The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:b)
Jesus replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20)
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12)

With God as our fulcrum every obstacle can be moved out of our way. With God as our fulcrum insurmountable challenges become attainable goals. With God as our fulcrum, we can do all things, because He is greater than the world!
We can leverage the heaviest load, have faith to move the world, and claim the victory because of Christ. We see the Leverage of Christ in the lives of the disciples of Jesus.The disciples of Jesus overcame the weight of grief. They were filled with the Spirit and turned the world upside down. They were victorious over every dominion and power.
We have the same power -- the leverage of God. With Him nothing will be impossible for you. And, together we can move the world.
Reach for encouragement. -- To His glory.

Soul-Cleansing

2010-10-21T05:00:00.001-04:00

Automatic car washes are great. You drive your car into the bay, put it in park and relax as the machinery does the work. Your car comes out sparkling clean. It sure beats the wet and sloppy efforts of the hose and bucket brigade.
The Lord has his own soul-washing system for us. His Spirit swirls around us and within us, cleansing us and transforming us. So often, I try so hard to improve myself that I fail to let the Lord do his work in my life. I choose the hose and bucket of my own effort and strength.
The Lord protects us and guides us so that we will not stumble or fall. The Lord cleanses us with his Spirit so we are without fault or blemish. He will do the renewing work in our lives if we will open ourselves to his power.This is why the Lord is exalted: To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. (Jude 1:24)
The Lord will keep you from falling today. His protection will be around you and his favor will be upon you. The Lord will continue to transform you, preparing you so you are sparkling clean and a reflection of the glory of the Lord.
Sometimes when I look at my car after I have taken it to the car wash I see a spot that did not get clean. I find it hard to see the beauty of the sparkling clean car, instead, I focus on the spot. Too often we do this to ourselves. The Lord has done so much in our lives, yet we focus on the negatives -- on those blemishes and short-comings we know about ourselves. Take a step back and look at your life from the day you received the Lord until today. You will see a remarkable difference. He is at work in you, and will continue to work in your life until you are without fault or blemish.
You are precious in the sight of the Lord. Walk in his presence today.
Reach for Encouragement. To His glory.

WANTED: Thrill-seeking Christians

2010-10-20T05:00:00.000-04:00

A friend, with a sly smile, offered me a ride on his ATV. Recognizing the smile,I buckled up. I am glad I did. He took me on a hair-raising ride over every bump and vertical drop he could find. It was fun. But, to be truthful, I held on for dear life. I think you could call it a white-knuckled grip.
This is my personal view of living as a follower of Jesus. He gives us the ride of our lives. You want adventure, respond to Jesus when he says, "follow me." He will take you where you never dreamed you would go. You want exhilaration, walk with him as he gives sight to the blind, makes the lame walk, and brings people back to life! You want suspense, watch with horror the agony of death on the cross, and wait three days to see the unbelievable! You want fulfillment, wait for his Spirit to empower you, and go out and do even greater things in his name!
Hang on tight for the ride of your life!
This is the advice we receive: "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)
Don't look back and turn into a pillar of fear. Don't hold back and live an ineffective, frustrated life. Enjoy the ride that God will give you as his Spirit leads you from one adventure to the next. Hold fast the confession of your hope without wavering. Have a white-knuckled grip on God.
"For He who promised is faithful."
God is always there, in the midst of the adventure, paving the way by His Spirit. He is faithful.
Hold fast to your hope. God will get you through.
Hold fast to your hope. God will use you to do great things for him.
Hold fast. Be a thrill-seeking Christian!
Reach for Encouragement. To His glory.

Called On the Carpet

2010-10-19T05:00:00.002-04:00

God Brings Charges Against His People

Not many people talk about being "called on the carpet" by God. We usually see God like a priest in a confessional booth, quietly waiting for us to come to him once we are ready to confess our sins. We see God ready to forgive our sins, removing them from us. We chant "where sin increased grace increased all the more." We like a benevolent God, slow to anger and abounding in mercy.
Throughout the scriptures, and in my own life, God calls his people on the carpet. The Lord holds up his end of accountability in his relationship with us. You can't get more direct than this: Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: "There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land." (Hosea 4:1)
Called on the carpet, the Israelites hear the Lord's charge against them -- they are faithless, loveless, and give the Lord the cold shoulder. OK, that hurts!
Is it true? Is it true of the world? Is it true of America? Is it true of Americans? Is it true of you, and me? How can we stand before our Righteous Judge, hear those charges and plead, "not guilty?" We cannot, except by the mercy of Christ and the covering of the blood of his sacrifice. Our Lord cleanses us and makes us a new creation. Through his grace we grow in faithfulness and love. We realize we are dependent upon God for every aspect of life.
The Holy Spirit convicts of our sins and teaches us all things. He sanctifies us and he instructs us so we can grow in faithfulness and love. We are no longer stuck in the courtroom of God's judgment, but by the grace of Jesus Christ, we have entered the throne room where we worship and fellowship with our God.
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

Who Has Touched Your Life?

2010-10-18T05:00:00.000-04:00

The legendary Joe Paterno is celebrating his 61th year of coaching at Penn State University in Pennsylvania. In a tribute to him, an insert in a local paper had former players reflect on the impact he had on their life. One common theme was that they would not be the person they are today without his influence in their lives.

We all are connected to people who have touched our lives in profound ways. Without their influence in our lives we would not be the persons we are today.

There is one person of influence whose relationship has a miraculous power in our lives. By way of illustration, look at Peter and John in the book of Acts. They were doing their routine trip to the temple when they ran into a person in need. Boldly they told him "in the name of Jesus Christ walk." It was a miracle in plain sight of everyone.

It caused quite a stir. The religious leaders questioned them and came up with this conclusion: "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:13)

Peter and John astonished the most powerful people in the land. The footnote says it all, "they took note that these men had been with Jesus." Through him they could do great things. Through him they had the courage to boldly act in his name. They did the miraculous.

The Joe Paterno's in your life, whether they be a coach, a teacher, a grandparent, or friend, have helped form your life. Jesus can have a far greater impact. Fear dissipates in his presence. The impossible becomes possible. The immovable is moved. Life is filled with power. Miracles unfold in you and through you.

Though you may appear "ordinary" by all worldly measures, you will do greater things than you can ever imagine, if you have the footnote that says, "he/she knew Jesus." He will define who you are. He will influence who you become. He will empower what you do. Jesus, as a footnote on your life story, will be the primary source. For he transforms everyone he touches.

No matter what you may face today, his presence will give you the victory.

Reach for Encouragement. To His glory.

Over-Achievers in Worship Attendance

2010-10-17T05:00:00.001-04:00

We may have grossly underestimated how many Christians have had near perfect attendance to worship every year. Shocking as it may seems they may have missed perfect attendance by one Sunday per year! I am referring to the two worship services in which churches are filled every year -- Christmas and Easter. Some sarcastically call them "E-Cer's," a term I have never endorsed, nor used. I am thankful when a person makes church once a year -- praise the Lord! (I only want them to discover more joy by faithful attendance.)

But, I digress...

It seems scripture tells us very plainly how many time a year we are to show up for worship: "Three times a year all the men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord." (Exodus 23:17) Three times is all Moses tells us we must show up! The Easter-Christmas crowd have only missed one Sunday a year! The rest of us are over-achievers!

you know all this is tongue in cheek. The Lord's desire if for hearts that worship him, not 3 times a year, not 52 times a year, but24/7/365. He wants us to have a heart for worship.

The 3 appearances per year line in Exodus refers to honoring the Lord through three feasts:

The feast of the Passover; was celebrated to keep in remembrance the wonderful deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt.
The feast of Pentecost; called also the feast of harvest and the feast of weeks was celebrated fifty days after the Passover to commemorate the giving of the law on Mount Sinai, which took place fifty days after, and hence called by the Greeks Pentecost.
The feast of Tabernacles. called also the feast of the ingathering, was celebrated about the 15th of the month Tisri to commemorate the Israelites' dwelling in tents for forty years, during their stay in the wilderness.

These were special periods of worship and offerings to the Lord on top of the greatest of all the sacred holidays of the Jewish calendar -- the Sabbath. Regular, weekly worship deepens our relationship with the Lord and opens our hearts to love and adore him. Weekly worship reinforces our faith and renews our commitments to serve the Lord. These three special feasts were designed to help God's people maintain their dependence upon the Lord and honor their gratitude for all the Lord has given them.

Matthew Henry commented, "They were not to come empty-handed; so now, we must not come to worship God empty-hearted; our souls must be filled with holy desires toward him, and dedications of ourselves to him; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

Please the Lord today, and every Sunday by attending worship, with your soul filled with holy desires toward him and dedicating yourself to him. Worship him faithfully every week so your relationship to him will grow closer and more profound.

May I suggest that our desire to worship the Lord and our consistency of worshiping the Lord should be increasing over the years with the goal of hearts ready to worship him eternally at his throne in heaven. May your thirst for the Lord never be quenched.

Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

A Priceless Gift

2010-10-16T05:00:00.001-04:00

A friend was talking about his day, listing his movements as if he was writing on Twitter. In the middle of his day he stopped in to see one of his grandchildren. The four month old looked up at her grandfather and "she gave me this sly smile," he said, "and it made my day. Nothing could beat it!" The moment was priceless to him.
When you think about what is priceless it is never about things. Things may be expensive, but they all have a price attached. The question is whether you want to pay the price and whether it is worth it to you. But that which is considered priceless cannot be valued by any monetary system on earth. For instance, the smile of a grandchild captured on film is priceless!
What is priceless to you? What about those memories of times with friends or family? Sunrises and sunsets can be priceless. Nature's wonders can be priceless, whether on a microscopic level studying cells, or standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon. Watching the rhythm of the ocean's tides or an unfolding rose fall into the same category. Moments, memories, relationships and the world around us are beyond a price tag.
Oh, and there is one more unfathomable experience -- the priceless love of God. David had more time to contemplate this than you and me, but all the same, each person can experience it. David wrote, "How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings." (Psalm 36:7)
I remember many sleepless nights as a young child. Ear infections came frequently and painfully. Many were the nights when my Mother rocked me in the silent darkness of night, providing a comfort that medicine could not provide.
The refuge of God's embrace, the drooping head of a Savior who gave his last breath for us, the fresh breath of new life the Lord has woven into the tapestry of creation and our redemption, and the glorious awakening in glory are all expressions of the priceless love of God, our heavenly Father. Priceless is his unfailing love! Receive it today.
Reach for encouragement. -- To His glory.

Oxymoronic: Trials That Encourage!

2010-10-15T05:00:00.000-04:00

I don't mean to complain, but..."Oh my aching back!" At one time, before surgery, I suffered with chronic back paint. What a trial that was. At one time in my life, I struggled with feelings of anxiety and deppression. What a trial that was. At one time in my life grief hit me hard, and long. What a trial that was. At various times in my life I have felt persecuted and despised. What a trial that was for a people-pleaser like me.
Trials. We all face them. How can they ever be considered an encouragement? In fact, doesn't it seem oxymoronic to suggest that trials encourage you?

For those of us who seek to live our lives in line with God's Word, a passage from James answers these questions and poses a challenge for us: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)
Joy?! Pure Joy?! I don't know about you, but it seems I have a long way to go. How can we develop this Biblical approach to sufferable trials?

Changing our perspective is key: Moving our view from what we are going through (an earthly view) to what God is doing (an etrernal view) we regain trust which allows us to develop patience and perseverance. (2 Timothy 1:7-9)
Realizing our goal is key: As long as we are living for ourselves we can easily be preoccupied with our comfort and well-being. If our goal is to please the Lord we begin to see that even our trials are an opportunity to be a witness for Jesus. (Colossians 1:9-10)
Fulfilling our purpose is key: If, we are seeking to be "conformed to the likeness of Christ," (Romans 8:28-29), then when we share in his sufferings (Philippians 3:9-11; Romans 8:17-18; 1 Peter 4:12-13) we also share his glory.

Facing each trial through an eternal perspective, seeing the opportunity it gives us to witness through our lives, and to fulfill our purpose in Christ, completes us. And joy is the result. What appears as oxymoronic, is actually the power of God being revealed in our lives.
May you "Reach for Encouragement" today through God's Word and through God's power at work in you. To His Glory.

The Friend Who Encourages

2010-10-14T05:00:00.010-04:00

Do you know what a difference you make in the lives of your friends?
A story or two may help.
This past weekend two youth groups met to enjoy a evening of music and ministry together. You may be surprised by the response. The kids were shocked to see some of their friends from school at the event. The youth had Jesus in common, but didn't know it until that night. It made such a difference to them.
A guy was telling me about the day he had. Remember the children's book by Judith Viorst, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?" That is the kind of day he had. We got to laughing as each episode of his pathetic day was described. He got to the very last foible when he added, "and then Steve called." This friend called to say what a great guy he was. That was all he called for -- and it was so much more.
You make a difference in your friends lives by your presence and connection. The e-factor of friends is the encouragement you offer to each person you touch.
Among the friends I have who gives me encouragement is Jesus. He said, "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:15) Jesus calls me his friend! He is constantly with me, and through his Spirit he encourages me in every situation I face. Jesus promises all this to you, too, and everyone who believes in him.
My prayer for you today is that your friends will encourage you, that you will take time out to encourage others, and that you may find in Jesus, a friend who offers you continuous encouragement throughout this day.
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

Is Being "Good" Worth It?

2010-10-13T05:00:00.000-04:00

"Goody Two-Shoes" is a phrase used in literature as far back as 1670. Each of us knows a Goody Two-shoes from school and our workplaces. They are always willing to help. They come across as being super good.
Goody Two-Shoes can be annoying even as they are respected. They may be admired, but they are often off the invitation list for gatherings.
Most adolescents (and adults, too -- let's be honest) don't want to be known as a "goody two-shoes." They/we know the social costs involved and the mocking that goes on behind their backs.
So why choose the virtuous life? Why be the "goody two-shoes" of your class, or the company you keep? The psalmist explains: I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me. In my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever. Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen. (Psalm 41:10-12)
The Lord protects the righteous and gives us the strength to stand firm. The Lord upholds the righteous, abides with them, and fulfills all his promises. It is worth it to be a "goody two-shoes." In every aspect of life, from healthy eating, to regular exercise, to daily devotions and prayer, to living with honor, there are positive pay-offs. God makes sure the righteous, those with integrity enjoy the positive pay-offs he has in store for us.
Hey, Goody Two-Shoes -- it's worth it!
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

Parting Words to Loved Ones

2010-10-12T05:00:00.001-04:00

I have said farewell to each of my sons as they moved into their own apartments and moved on with their lives. The good-byes were too short. I had more to say...so much more. I wanted to give them decades of experience and wisdom. I wanted to impart a stronger, deeper faith. I wanted to somehow, even though I knew it was impossible, let them know how deeply I loved them and will always long for a soul connection.
I never had enough time.
The apostle Paul, in saying farewell to the Christian leaders of Ephesus offered words of wisdom that I could have used for my sons: Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)

First, those we love we commit to God. We may still want to protect our loved ones and forewarn them of possible concerns, but we know we can't. And, we know God can and will. I trust God's plan for my loved ones and know the Lord will protect them and guide them safely through life.
Next, like Paul, we offer the word of his grace which will build up our loved ones. There is no greater book in the world to build up our loved ones. It gives us instruction on raising families, getting along, forgiving and reconciling, encouraging and build each other up. The Word builds up our faith, our love, our hope, our compassion and our service.
Finally, we commend our loved ones to the most valuable inheritance they can ever receive! Redeemed and sanctified, we enjoy the inheritance of the riches of his grace, all the promises that are 'yes' in Christ, and an eternal home.

Paul said so much in one sentence -- enough to last a lifetime. I hope we, as well as our loved ones, will receive Paul's words of to live on.
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

Influence Seekers

2010-10-11T05:00:00.000-04:00

I have only had two opportunities to work with avid birth watchers. They heard sounds I did not hear. They identified the sounds to be the distinctive voice of particular birds. They saw and identified the birds long before I could even see the bird. Their knowledge and insights were memorable.
I do not have the inclination to pursue bird watching with the devotion and diligence necessary to improve my identification skills. I do, however, work hard to identify the Holy Spirit when he speaks to me. I work hard to understand his messages. I keep learning so I can be even more responsive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The apostle Paul may or may not have been aware of the sounds of the birds around him, but he was attuned to the Holy Spirit: "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." (Acts 20:22-24)
Paul was able to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit and he felt compelled to follow the Spirit's leading. Too few people have this closeness with the Holy Spirit, and most don't believe it is possible, or fail to try to establish it.
It begs the question, "Why?" Among many possible answers, I wonder how many of us remain in the dark silence so we do not hear and see. Paul felt compelled to do as the Spirit led him. Are we? Isn't easier to remain in the dark? The Spirit warned Paul of what he may face. Are we willing to open ourselves to such vulnerability? The silent darkness allows us to live our lives the way we wish, still in control, still calling the shots.
This illusive, mysterious Spirit is actually very personable, totally relational, and constantly seeking to give us revelation and insight. As we grow in our relationship with the Lord and develop spiritual maturity we are preparing ourselves for the higher calling, the greater sacrifice, the deeper commitment, all of which are required if we are to respond to the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Do not shy away into the silent shadows. Move forward and seek the influence of the Holy Spirit in your life. The more you focus on him the easier it will be to recognize his voice and understand his guidance.
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

The Greatest Victory Parade

2010-10-10T05:00:00.008-04:00

I missed the jubilation at the end of World War II. I have not experienced such vivid national unity and pride over warfare, only sports. There was the "Miracle on Ice" on February 22, 1980 when the USA Olympic Hockey Team beat the Soviets and eventually went on to win the gold medal. On a more regional and personal basis many have cheered their local high school, college, or professional teams at a victory parade at the end of championship seasons.
There is no regret. There is no sadness. There is only joy and gladness. Whatever happened in the passed is washed away with the sweet taste of victory.
A similar description of a victory parade is given in scripture: The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; Everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (Isaiah 55:11)
We are the ransomed of the Lord, saved from the wrath to come, given victory through the cross of Christ, access gained to heaven's throne, heirs and fellow citizens of the kingdom, we gather to celebrate! Cheering, singing, crowned with everlasting joy, with all sadness and sorrow gone, we are overwhelmed with gladness as we worship the King of kings and Lord of lords!
This is the concept of worship Israel had as a result of their earthly triumphs. Ours is eternal. Ours is endless, spanning timelessness in this life and the next. Ours if a final triumph that extends beyond this earthly tent and the temporal trappings of a lifespan. Sunday mornings, and every opportunity for corporate worship should begin with a triumphant spirit that exceeds any victory parade.
Praise bands, historic hymns, great organs or grand pianos, gifted worship leaders, spirited pastors are only the cheerleaders for our celebration. The stands, e.g. sanctuaries, should be alive with excitement and enthusiasm. Our shouts and songs should echo in a thunderous chorus. Our holy hands should be lifted high and our holy claps should resound. Are you psyched for worship? Just as fans are adorned with jerseys and face paint, are you spiritually clothed and dressed for the celebration? Are you wearing your white robes, made white by the blood of the lamb, or crimson and black robes symbolic of the load of sin and sorrow you continue to carry?
We have been given the greatest victory ever! May our worship overflow with joy and gladness.
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

Showers Worth Taking

2010-10-09T05:00:00.002-04:00

Max Lucado tells an experience of a visit to Brazil: "The Brazilians taught me the beauty of a blessing. Here is a scene repeated in Brazil thousands of times daily. It’s early morning. Time for young Marcos to leave for school. As he gathers his books and heads for the door, he pauses by his father’s chair. He searches his father’s face. Bencao, Pai? Marcos asks. (Blessing, Father?) The father raises his hand. Deus te abençoe, meufliho, he assures. (God bless you, my son.) Marcos smiles and hurries out the door."
Blessings are so crucial for a father with his children, particularly sons. Yet, many children seem to beg for their parents' blessing. Some men spend a lifetime seeking a blessing from their father that they never receive. Emotionally scarred, they limp through life and pass on the pain to the next generation.
Too many Christians interact with their Heavenly Father with similar presumptions. They assume they need to prove their worth so that they may earn a blessing. Others simply beg, approaching God as if he were a power-driven tyrant. Some see an angry God and shy away from the confrontation. Each of these dysfunctional relationships come from our preconceived, and skewed notions of God.
Our Heavenly Father's intentions are far different when his desire is made known: "I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing." (Ezekiel 34:26)
Showers of blessing await you today. Begin today, and every day, asking for, claiming, and receiving the showers of blessing the Lord eagerly waits to give you.
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

Words and More Words

2010-10-08T05:00:00.002-04:00

I have written many words across the years. Term papers, editorials, a stint as a reporter, and newsletters are some of the venues through which I expressed opinions, news, facts, and an occasional insight. I have spoken far more words at baccalaureates, weddings, funerals, sermons, seminars, and conferences. None of my words, spoken or written will last.
Admittedly, there is some sadness in this realization, but those feelings fade as I compare the evaporation of my words compared to the words of Jesus: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. (Mark 13:31)
This statement by Jesus was prophetic and true. His words have lasted more than 2, 000 years. His words have changed history. His words have changed lives. His words are taken to heart and remembered by generation after generation. His words will never pass away.
There are those who deny his existence and many more who scoff at his power. In the book of Proverbs we read, "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord." (Proverbs 21:30) Through waves of attack his words still stand and those words continue to transform lives and shape history.
The words of the Lord will never pass away. Nor will his power. We may have little grasp of forever, but God the Eternal does.
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

A Big "FALSE" To A Modern Urban Legend

2010-10-07T05:00:00.000-04:00

Urban legends abound and have so since the beginning of time. They differ from the gossip grapevine in that they often have malicious intent from their point of origin. Websites such as snopes.com investigate each claim to determine its veracity.
In recent decades we have seen an increase in philosophical accusations about the existence of God, creation and the Bible. Unfortunately, to the itchy ears of American culture these urban legends are too often accepted without the investigation that cultural legends receive. Paul was prophetic when he wrote to Timothy: For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
Why? Because, in the end, if they have erased God and the significance of his Word, they can live and believe whatever they want.
The Bible is very clear on one fact:

The Lord is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. (Jeremiah 10.10a)
Jesus prayed to the Father..."Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17.3)

There is only one true God. All gods and their respective construction of their spiritual paths are not equal. As emphatic and persuasive as modern authors may try to be, their fundamental basis is skewed because they fail to acknowledge the existence of the one, true God who gave us his Word of truth to guide life. Stand on this firm foundation. Submit to a higher authority in the name of the Lord God Almighty and his Son Jesus Christ. Your life will be blessed in ways those living in denial will never know.

Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.
For an interesting commentary on why Americans find the Bible difficult try this link to a brief article by Donald Miller: http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/144759-why-the-bible-is-a-tough-book-for-americans.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=general

Giving It Up

2010-10-06T05:00:00.001-04:00

You have heard news stories about an elementary school class in which all the boys had their heads shaved in support of a classmate who lost his hair through chemotherapy. Their small gesture was a statement of support showing that they were behind him and with him in his battle against cancer. It was a noble gesture.
Parents sacrifice a large portion of their freedom when they give birth to their first child. Suddenly their entire schedule is determined by the needs of an infant. Spouses give up a portion of their identity in forming a lasting union with their mate. I imagine, if you are in a relationship, that you can make a list of they sacrifices you have made. You will likely continue to compromise and sacrifice for the sake of your relationship.
The Apostle Paul addresses this need to "give it up" for the sake of the body: I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. (1 Corinthians 1:10)
Notice that he does not make his appeal using his own name, but calls on the name of our Lord. He is emphatic about the seriousness of unity. It is very tough to agree as the body of Christ. It is an arduous task to achieve no divisions in mind and thought.
A married couple has a hard time achieving that degree of unity, not to mention how Gargantuan an accomplishment it would be to have an entire church family of 50 to 50,000! John Wesley often quoted St. Augustine in trying to find a practical solution, "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity."
How flexible are you? Where do you draw the line? As brothers and sisters in Christ, as member of the body of Christ, we are challenged to be united in mind and thought. That is a large order to fill. It begins with you, one person, who is determined to be united with your brothers and sisters, husband or wife, so that the glory of the Lord can be revealed through you. Give it up...for no less than God.
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

You Are A Blessing!

2010-10-05T05:00:00.003-04:00

What do you walk away with when you are with other people? Are you tired out by the complaints? Are you bored from the monotonous stories? Are you exasperated by the constant barrage of battles you hear about? Are you frustrated by the unwillingness to change?
What do you walk away with when you are with others? Do you find yourself exiting with a smile on your face? Do you close the door shaking your head with agreement? Do you find yourself laughing an hour later at the conversation?
What do you walk away with when you are with other people?
The apostle Paul describes the experience Titus had: In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. I am glad I can have complete confidence in you. (2 Corinthians 7:13B-16)
Imagine walking away from a conversation thinking, "my spirit was refreshed by all of you." I believe the Lord formed us as his body, the Church, to refresh each other in spirit. We are reminded to "encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

make it your goal to day to refresh others, especially the household of faith. Let others know you care for them and continue to pray for them. Affirm their gifts and attributes. Love them in Christ. It will be a tremendous achievement today, if you can cause others to say, as they leave your presence, "my spirit was refreshed by you."
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

God's Law of Reciprocity

2010-10-04T05:00:00.001-04:00

I have met generous people from all economic strata, from those on welfare going week to week, to millionaires. And, I have met people who never have enough money, who save for a rainy day, and whose giving is very calculated and reserved. They would say, "You never know what is coming around the corner." Some people never have too little. Some people never have enough.

It seems both groups fit into God's law of reciprocity: "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." (Mark 4:24-25)
Sadly, our actions on earth reflect our views of the Lord. The generous understand God as their provider for whom the streams never run dry, who makes water run from rocks and who provides manna to meet daily needs. The reserved believe they need to protect what the Lord has given them.
Do we live by faith or by fear? Do we live trusting that God will provide, or worrying about what tomorrow may bring? In either case, with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Choose life, my friends. Give freely. Give generously. Love much! Reap the rewards of lives invested in others and in God.
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

An Hour That Changes

2010-10-03T05:00:00.002-04:00

"Affirmations" is an activity I have used in various settings with youth and adults. We choose a person, sit them in the middle of a circle and ask everyone to share some affirmations about the person. There are moments of laughter as friends share, and there are moments when tears could easily flow when tender-hearted attributes are mentioned.
Ezra, traditionally known as the author of first and second Chronicles, shared David's affirmations of the Lord with some of the most exquisite language ever written: Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength, ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. (1 Chronicles 16:27-29)
This is the Lord's day. As Christians we are drawn to our family of believers to join in ascribing to the Lord all his glorious attributes. We gather to worship him and give him glory. We gather to be renewed by our unity as the Church, by the presence of the Lord, and by the power of his Word. We are strengthened by his strength, joyous from his joy, and filled with his glory. My tithe, plus my offerings, never compare to what I gain in one hour spent in his presence, worshiping him, honoring him, and glorifying him.
It is the best hour of the week. Don't miss it!
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

The Best Credit Score Ever!

2010-10-02T05:00:00.001-04:00

Credit cards and credit ratings have an impact on everyone these days. At one time you could get credit regardless of your credit rating. You could get low interest rates and generous credit limits offered to you in the mail multiple times each month. People took advantage of the easy access. Along the way, as the financial institutions and economy froze suddenly there was a reversal of available credit. Suddenly credit scores were scrutinized on the very easy credit provided in the past. It was like the public was set up for their own personal crises.
Add to the mix downsizing of companies, loss of employment, identity theft, and a host of other troubling trends and you have an atmosphere of anxiety and fear.
Welcome to the world we live in. Fortunately, as followers of Jesus we have another credit rating system that has terms and benefits that are unbeatable: The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:23-25)

We receive credit even though we do not deserve it. Our credit score goes from "high risk" to "excellent" with the swipe of our Lord's life on earth. His death for our sins justifies us and grants us the excellent, unbeatable and unbelievable score of "righteous!"

We no longer need to live in anxiety and fear, wondering if we will pass the test and get the score to get the credit of a good life. The score has been given to us by Jesus so we can live with the confidence that we have been rated "worthy." We are free to make risky investments in the lives of those who are hurting and need hope. We are free to extend credit through unlimited grace. We are free to love without a credit limit. Go ahead. Live. Love. Be Gracious. Offer Hope. We can do it all because we have been given the best credit score ever -- "Righteous by the justification of Jesus Christ!"
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

Ripping Roofs to Reach Him

2010-10-01T05:00:00.004-04:00

In 1989 a man in California got news coverage when he said there was an image of Jesus on his garage door. Soon over 8,000 people had come flocking to his garage door to see this apparition of Jesus. Many came in the hope they would be healed or blessed by his presence.
It goes to show you that the people of the world are desperate for spiritual encounters and healing. There is a vivid description of the lengths four friends went to in order to help their friend reach Jesus: Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." (Mark 2:4)
These men were so determined to get their sick friend to the one who could heal them that they dug through a roof. What must you dig through to get to Jesus?
Some people blame Jesus for their circumstances. Unemployed, financially strapped, broken dreams, ruined relationships, all can be blamed on Jesus and his lack of action. At such times we have to dig through our expectations, assumptions and mis-guided beliefs to get to Jesus. All along he is working to break the bonds of sin, cast evil into the sea, and heal our hearts so we can be one with him to overcome the world's circumstances. Rather than letting anything stand in our way of Jesus, we must dig through the debris of our lives to reach him, for his hand is always extended toward us.
Job let nothing defeat his belief that his redeemer lives. David knew his Lord was more powerful than the giant before him. Moses trusted God to find a way to escape the army pursuing his people, even when his back was against a sea. Peter was freed from the prison he was placed in. Paul was protected from those who sought to kill him. Jesus took on the power of sin and death and won the victory. When we call on the name of the Lord there is nothing that will hold us back from the presence and power of the Lord. We may need to do some digging to get there, but it is not the walls he has constructed, but our misconceptions, false assumption, mis-beliefs and disbelief's that put a ceiling on our faith and a box of limitations around us. Let's rip off some roofs, dig through the debris so we may be in his presence and be touched by his grace.
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

God's Dispersal Systems

2010-09-30T05:00:00.001-04:00

Seeds are dispersed by four different methods. Some use water, others animals, others, wind, and other self dispersal. Consider with me a few examples of wind dispersal. Take a common Maple tree and consider the winged seeds (see picture at right). They float to the earth with the movement of helicopter blades. Think about a dandelion as the flower disperses its seeds. The seeds gently float in the breeze like a parachute (see picture below). Watching these seeds dispersed by their simple, yet elaborate means is intriguing for me.

Who could ever devise such a beautiful and efficient system? Evolution? (You know my answer!) It is a God thing. The Lord once asked: "I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27)

This is a challenging question. I believe only God could create the complex systems of nature, including the creative means of seed dispersal. Only God could create humanity in his own image, setting aside a portion of our brain for spiritual experiences. Is there anything too hard for God?

You might say no in the universal and eternal sense. But, I suspect we all have to admit there are some "yes's" rumbling around in our hearts. We may down deep believe God can't really break the bondage of our sinful nature. "I am never going to change," we sigh. I will never be able to throw off all the years of negative self-talk, the effects of abuse, the traumas experienced, or whatever it is for you. It may seem too hard, even impossible, to imagine yourself as the new creation God has given you in your salvation. Still controlled by our old nature we are often exhausted by all the efforts over all the years to change that which seems immovable.

None of our "yes's" are true. There is nothing too hard for God. It may be impossible for man, but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:6). It is the Lord who dispersed your sins as far as the east is from the west. It is the Lord who disperses the forces of the strongholds of your life when he demolishes them. It is the Lord who disperses the fragments of your old nature the Potter molds you into his new creation.

Put your focus on him. Put your trust in him. Keep your hope through him. He is faithful and he will do it!

Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

Will the Sun Come Up Tomorrow?

2010-09-29T05:00:00.001-04:00

Did you see the sunrise this morning? It was beautiful. There is only one slight problem. The sun did not rise at all. We turned to the sun. Actually, the earth's rotation moves us toward the eastern sky into view of the sun. To receive the light we move toward the sun. The popular song lyrics from "Tomorrow," have it wrong. The sun will not come up tomorrow...we will turn toward it!
The same is true for God. God is always shining his light upon us. We must turn toward him. To a broken nation, to a hurting person, to a person who has never known the Lord, they wait for this announcement: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. (Isaiah 60:1)
God's light has always been there, but only as we turn from our sins toward God, only as we turn from ignorance to faith, we see his light. Each degree of turning toward the Lord lets his light shine more brightly and more fully upon us. As we fully face him his glory rises upon us!
Few, if any, people think, for even a moment, that the sun will fail to rise tomorrow. We live with the assuring trust that the sun will come up tomorrow. That same assurance is there for us with God. Grasp and claim the unfailing love and abiding presence of the Lord. His light shines on you -- always. His glory will rise upon you as you turn to him. Receive this blessing and walk in his favor, today, and every day.
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

God's Stamina

2010-09-28T05:00:00.003-04:00

Yiannis Kouros is a famous long distance runner. He runs and wins not just your average marathon, but ultramarathons of 100 to 200 miles. It has been reported that Kouros once ran 456 miles in 4 days without sleeping. He also beat his previous record by running 269.11276 miles in 48 hours. I get tired just thinking about running for an hour!
Life is an endurance race with short sprints along the way. We get tired and weary from the pace, the demands, the disappointments, and the challenges. We love and trust in God who is ready to go the distance: Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.(Isaiah 40:28-29)
God has the stamina to go the distance with us for all the days of our lives. He gives us the power to go on and increases our strength so we can finish the race. I cannot imagine myself as an ultramarathon runner, but I can envision the finish line of faith, eternal life. I know I will cross it because of the Lord's strength and power helping me each time I grow tired and weary. He will help you finish the race as well.
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.

Your Spiritual Immune System

2010-09-27T05:00:00.001-04:00

There is a small business along a country road in my area that regularly picks up broken down cars. The business uses the cars for parts and disposes of the cars. There is a machine that takes the remnants of the cars and crushes them until they are almost flat. Eventually they load a dozen or so on a flatbed and transport them to a recycling center.
I have watched with intrigue as the cars are slowly smashed to a fraction of their original height. It looks like some giant foot has flattened each car.
We sometimes feel that crushed. Events in life, the constant pressure upon us, the constant force of pain slowly crushes our spirit.
I have sat with men who could not even lift their hand from the arm of their recliner, not from exhaustion or illness, but from a crushed spirit. I have visited women whose tears have ceased forming, their entire being totally limp from the pain in their lives. You are among the lucky and the few if you have never been crushed in spirit. Scriptures describes the impact: A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22) The image of dried up bones is a fitting description of our lives when all the life and spirit is sucked out of us.
There is an antidote, however, in a cheerful heart. I have seen marriages survive because of the humor of the couple. I have seen the slow process of death from cancer unfold in a friend's body whose cheerful heart was good medicine for all of us around him. We mourned while he danced in the spirit of a cheerful heart.
We can cast off a crushed spirit and renew our dried up bones through the faith the Lord has given us. His mercies are new every day. His grace abounds. We find the joy of the Lord is our strength. We laugh at the days to come, for we know that our redeemer lives!
Activate your spiritual Immune System through prayer, by claiming the Bible's promises, by standing firm in your faith, and by the renewal of your mind. The Lord will let nothing crush your spirit if you claim the promise of your faith that you are more than a conqueror through him who loves you. Let the joy of the Lord be your strength! (Nehemiah 8:10)
Reach for Encouragement. To his glory.