What Has Changed?

Time has passed.  Things have happened...some good and some bad.  

You slept a few times... eaten lunch... talked on the phone... emailed a client... dealt with a headache... and driven your child to karate....

Lots of different things have happened...

But I say that maybe nothing has changed.  

If you’ve worried... nothing has changed.

If you’ve stressed...nothing has changed.

If you’ve felt like giving up... nothing has changed.

In these daily devotionals,  we read promise after promise from God’s word about how He feels about you, what you mean to Him, how He wants you to live your life, and how important you are.

But then the next day came.  And perhaps nothing changed.  Same worries...same stresses...same feeling of hopelessness...same pit... same clouds... same life.

You were made for more.   

As your Pastor, I want to take a few minutes with you today... and give you some more scripture.  More promises.  A gentle reminder that God never changes... no matter how we feel, He stays consistent... and loving... and with us.  

The first part of this week may not have seen change.. but today you’ve got a fresh set of 24 hours to believe these promises.  Not believe they are great for only the flawless... but true and relevant to the flawed.  To me.  To you.  

Ready?

God will NEVER leave you
 

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”   Deuteronomy 31:6

God will ALWAYS watch over you 

“The Lord keeps you from all harm
    and watches over your life.

The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
    both now and forever.”  Psalm 121:7-8

God will give you POWER when you need it.

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand”  Isaiah 41:10

God will GUIDE you

The Lord will guide you continually,
    giving you water when you are dry
    and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like an ever-flowing spring.  Isaiah 58:11

God will give you REST

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28

God will CLEANSE us from what we’ve done.

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”  1 John 1:9

God will be GOOD to those who do what is right.

“For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
    He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
    from those who do what is right.”  Psalm 84:11

God will NOT allow you to be defeated.

“But the Lord stands beside me like a great warrior.
    Before him my persecutors will stumble.
    They cannot defeat me.
They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated.”  Jeremiah 20:11

These promises aren’t just words on a page.  They weren’t just meant for people in the Bible.  

They are yours.  Every last holy syllable... written for you.  Re-read these verses... and put your name in them.  Every time you see “us” or “me” ... put your name there.  

They are powerful and true... and yours. 

Let’s stop living defeated lives and really believe that God means what He says.  He has such a plan for your life...far more than you might ever imagine.  It’s my prayer today that you would claim these promises for your own amazing life... and face each day as it comes with the strength that His word provides.  

No Hurry

I’ve learned a lot in almost thirty years of ministry… but today’s truth may be one of the hardest to apply.

To live the life you’ve always wanted you can’t be hurried.  You have to take your time.  

No rush.  No elevated heartbeat as you race to your next destination.  No hypertension... no ticking clock... no must-do agenda.  When we become hurried and push ourselves too hard, we lose the ability and capacity to love others.  Love takes time... and we can’t give what we don’t have.  If we are too busy... we might not be loving those around us at the level they need us to.  Plus, when we are in a hurry, we get angry much more quickly.   Our fuse shortens.  We snap at those we love... hoping that they’ll understand the pressure we’re under.  The closer the relationship it seems... the harsher the tone we use.  They’ll get over it... they are family.  

Right?

I talk to so many who claim that they have to hurry to get everything done.  I contend that if we can’t stop during our day to love people... take care of ourselves... and most importantly, talk to and praise God... than we’re too busy.   

Hurry sickness is real... and it’s not Biblical.  So many claim to follow Christ.  If Christ is their leader... than why do they spend their waking hours trying to outrun Him?  To outdo Him?  To handle things they aren’t supposed to in an attempt to win more favor from Him... so that He’ll bless them with even more opportunity... so they can add more to an already overbooked schedule.  You can’t earn favor.  He gives that away freely because He loves you unconditionally. 

If you are following Christ.  Follow Him.  He’s not running.  

While He was on the earth, Jesus Christ was never in a hurry.  He walked slowly enough to feel an old woman tug at his robe... stopped long enough to visit with Mary and Martha... and allowed little children to run up to Him so He could give them a hug.  Christ-followers stay behind their leader.  They let Him set the pace.

I know what some of you are saying... Pastor, that’s easy for you to say... you don’t live my life!  You’re right.  You are busy and it’s hard.  You’ve got bills to pay, kids to feed, and a boss that gives you the workload of two employees.  You’ve got professors who give you massive papers to write at the same time... a leaky roof... and in-laws who insist on calling and telling you how disappointed they are in you.  I hear you...  But I also know that God has asked us to do two things:  Love Him first and love our neighbors as ourselves.  In fact, love is what we are supposed to be known for...

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  John 13:35

Do you have time to love others?  To hear their needs?  To empathize with their situations?   LIfe isn’t about how much we can pack in before we head out... it’s about how many people we come into contact with and affect with the love of Christ.   I’m not saying you can abandon what you need to do to get through things.  What I am saying is that you’ve got to spend some time re-prioritizing and choosing the great tasks over just the good ones.   Commit today to look for some open space in your schedule and purposefully use it to read God’s Word and love others.  Make a list of the most important people in your life... do they know you love them?  When was the last time they got some uninterrupted quality time with you?  Maybe it’s been too long.  Maybe you’ve come down with a case of hurry sickness.  We want to partner together with you to help you discover and embrace the cure...

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’”  Matthew 11:28

Weary? 

Have heavy burdens?

Stressed out? 

Hurried?

Come to Christ.  He will give you the rest you seek.

Speeding Up God

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”  Romans 12:12

Because of erosion, the historic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was in peril of washing into the Atlantic Ocean. So Congress appropriated $12 million for the National Park service to move it 2900 feet to safety.

With a combination of care, expertise, patience and raw power, The Expert House Movers of Sharptown, Maryland moved the 208 foot tall, 9.7 million pound structure to its current home. The option of moving the lighthouse was first proposed in April of 1982, but the light wasn’t lit at its new location until November 13, 1999. 17 years of study and 23 days of moving later.  Why did it take so long?

Because big moves take time.   So often we want God to make huge sweeping changes in our lives overnight.  What God is sometimes doing is making changes inch by inch over time.  The result will come... and God knows where the best place for us to end up is (and the best time for us to get there).  We just have to stay patient and allow Him to work in our lives.

Other times, we put God on our timetable and feel like He’s taking forever to do anything. 

“God, I’ve been praying for this for three weeks...  two years.... 15 years... and nothing’s happened yet!”

Sometimes, the change you are looking for in the situation is actually a change that is happening in you.  God knows what’s best for us.  Sometimes it isn’t what we are asking Him for.   We would be better served allowing the trial to make us stronger and more patient for future challenges.  

We pray... 

When the answer is “yes” we tend to be happy with God.

When the answer is “no” we tend to be angry with God.

When the answer is “wait” we tend to try to hurry God.

Or maybe worse... we try to take God out of the equation completely.  Why wait?  When we get impatient we follow bad advice, do things we wouldn’t normally do, and begin to doubt that God knows what He is doing. 

If you find yourself challenged in the area of patience, remember... God knows how what you are asking Him to do ends up.  He knows what’s best for you and the exact right way to put everything into motion.  

Resist the urge to put your faith in a microwave... we can’t speed up God.  His actions in your life will be purposeful, complete, and done at the perfect time... stay patient and wait... I’ll be praying for you as you do.

Giving Something Up

If you’ve ever been to the circus, you’ve probably seen it for yourself.  The lion cage... kings of the jungle... ferocious and growling at all who pass by the thick bars of their cage in the center ring.  The lights dim and a daring trainer makes his way to the door of the enclosure.  A nervous hush sweeps over the crowd...

Is he really going in there?  Yep.

He opens the creaking door and steps inside.  You can hear people gasping as the predatory cats snarl and lunge at the source of the intrusion.  Wait... what’s that in the trainer’s hand?  A whip?  That makes sense... but what is that other thing?  It’s a stool.  

Small, unimpressive, and hardly intimidating.  Just a few dollars at your local store...

And THAT’S going to stop a killer cat?

Yes.

The lion tamer knows that when he waves the four-legged stool at the cat... it attempts to focus on all four legs at once.  In doing so, it goes through a kind of paralysis... a confusion that overwhelms it.  The once scary roar becomes a tame and weak purr as the crowd cheers approvingly.  Simply put... the lion becomes ineffective when it tries to focus on too much.  

We are the same way.  

Fortunately for us, the Bible gives us a great way to draw our spiritual lives, our challenges, our strengths, our weaknesses, and our opportunities into very clear singular focus.... fasting.

The Bible is replete with scripture about the importance and significance of fasting... here are just a couple of examples.

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”  Matthew 6:16-18

“So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.”  Ezra 8:23

But what IS fasting?  It is giving up something that you would normally do in order to use that time to focus on prayer and gaining intimacy with God.  Meditation in it’s purest and most effective form.  Biblically, food was most often given up... but in today’s era, it might be something like the internet... or a hobby... or tv...  It should always be something that will be dearly missed.  I talk to some who say “I’m fasting from cleaning out the garage... or I’m fasting from healthy food”   This is not what God had in mind.  

 When someone is fasting and feels the urge to partake of what they’ve temporarily given up, they are to spend that time in prayer...seeking God’s will for their lives... memorizing scripture... making every effort to get closer to their Heavenly Father.   Fasting brings focus like no other discipline.  In fact, Jesus Himself did it when the devil took Him out to the wilderness and tried to tempt Him to compromise His mission.

How long and from what you fast is up to you.  Do you need 40 days away from TV to help you grow closer to Christ?  Maybe.  Is a week apart from your iPhone worth a week connecting to God like never before?  Could be.  Can an empty stomach remind you to pray and internalize God’s word?  Yes it can.

Whatever you feel convicted to temporarily give up to have intimacy with God... make the commitment this week to do so.  Fasting is a discipline and as such, won’t necessarily be easy.  It’s worth the struggle... and may just bring you closer than ever to finding God’s plan for your life.  

What You Have

     What does it take for us to say we have enough?  Many who struggle with this answer the question of “enough?” with “just one more.”  But where does it stop?  

To those that struggle with contentment... there will never be enough.  It will always lie one arms length beyond their ability to sleep at night.   Those that live in this camp wonder when the next one will be and never cherish what is.  Their entire existence is based on what they might miss out on by not having more.  Today’s verse helps with this.  

“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.”  1 Timothy 6:6

“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.”   Philippians 4:11 (Paul)

Godliness with contentment, Paul says, is of great value.  In fact, he goes on to tell the churches in Philipi that he has “learned how to be content with whatever I have.” [sic].  

What was Paul’s secret?  What helped him move from greedy to grateful?  It’s simple.  Perspective.  Paul saw that his needs were met and that was enough.  He probably had wants...things that he’d like to have in his life... but he realized that these were superfluous to his mission.   Paul was sent to spread the Gospel... and help those around him find Christ as Lord.  He knew that God would provide whatever he needed to fulfill his calling.  

Is that you today?  Are you focused on the things you want instead of giving thanks for the things you have?  I suggest taking the energy you might spend on trying to satisfy discontent and invest it in yourself in other areas:  read more, study the Bible more, take care of your body more, journal more, and serve others more.  

It was once said, “Be content with what you have, never with what you are.”  Interesting idea... Remember, the goal isn’t to acquire things, satisfy desires, or fill up square footage in your house... it’s to become a better you and draw closer to Christ.  How?  

1. Stop determining your value by things or opinions.  Only one evaluation matters...and that’s from God.  (Ephesians 2:10)
2. Be content with what God provides... and don’t worry about what He doesn’t.  Your needs will be met.  (Philippians 4:19)
3. Keep walking down the road to your God potential.   Don’t let discontent shift your focus from gratitude to ungratefulness.  (Psalm 107:1)

Let’s take the journey together!

Finding Joy

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,”  James 1:2

I read the story of a man named Robert Reid.

The article said, “His hands are twisted and his feet are useless. He can’t bathe himself. He can’t feed himself. He can’t brush his teeth, comb his hair, or put on his underwear. Strips of Velcro hold his shirts together. His speech drags like a worn out audiocassette. 

Robert has cerebral palsy.”

The disease keeps him from driving a car, riding a bike, and going for a walk. But it didn’t keep him from graduating from high school or attending Abilene Christian University, from which he graduate with a degree in Latin. Having cerebral palsy didn’t keep him from teaching at St. Louis junior college or from venturing overseas on five mission trips. 

And Robert’s disease didn’t prevent him from becoming a missionary in Portugal.

He moved to Lisbon, alone, in 1972. There he rented a hotel room and began studying Portuguese. He found a restaurant owner who would feed him after the rush hour and a tutor who would instruct him in the language. 

Then he stationed himself daily in a park, where he distributed brochures about Christ. Within six years he led seventy people to the Lord, one of whom became his wife, Rosa. 

“I have everything I need for joy,” he said.”

Everything for joy?  The world would say he didn’t.  He had a debilitating disease... couldn’t do many things for himself... His emotions might have got the best of him if not for one critical component in Robert’s life:

A lifelong relationship with his loving God.

Robert knew that joy doesn’t come from circumstance...it comes from connection.  Staying tethered to Christ in the darkness... when the world seems hopeless, helpless, and harmful.  Joy isn’t temporary...it doesn’t shift with the wind... 

Joy is knowing that Jesus Christ is there and will never leave.

Joy is being confident in your salvation.

Joy is doing more than the world says you can because your God will get you through.

Joy is remembering that your legs may not work, but your heart can still dance.

Joy is feeling blessed even when the storms roll in.

Joy is leaning on God’s promises in spite of what you see in front of you.

Joy can’t be taken from you... 

It isn’t a feeling.

It isn’t an emotion.

Joy is recalling what Christ looks and sounds like in the darkest part of the valley.

Joy is following your Shepherd simply because you remember that He knows the way.

Joy is more than happiness... for happiness fades.  It is an inner and unending spring of confidence that comes from knowing the size and strength of God. 

If you don’t have joy in your life today... it is my prayer that you would do your very best to seek it.   Let nothing hold you back from the life of joy that God has for you.  He is good... He is loving... and He died so that we can live the life we were created to.  

Trust Me

This is what the LORD says: 

   “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, 

      who rely on human strength 

      and turn their hearts away from the LORD. 

  They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, 

      with no hope for the future. 

   They will live in the barren wilderness, 

      in an uninhabited salty land.

 blessed are those who trust in the LORD
      and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.
  They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
      with roots that reach deep into the water.
   Such trees are not bothered by the heat
      or worried by long months of drought.
   Their leaves stay green,
      and they never stop producing fruit.”  Jeremiah 17: 5-8

    In his book, Who Are You (When No One’s Looking), Pastor/leader Bill Hybels writes:

“Every single day we make choices that show whether we are courageous or cowardly. We choose between the right thing and the convenient thing, sticking to a conviction or caving in for the sake of comfort, greed or approval. We choose either to take a carefully thought-out risk or to crawl into a shrinking shell of safety, security and inactivity. We choose either to believe in God and trust him, even when we do not always understand his ways, or to second-guess him and cower in the corners of doubt and fear.”

Courageous or cowardly.   Convicted or caving.  Risk-taker or excuse maker.  

Do we trust God or does doubt run our lives?

Today’s verse looks at both types of people.  Two groups...both loved by God...but with decidedly different paths and outcomes.  The first, those who rely on people (or their own strength), are compared to a shrub in the desert.  Tumbleweed.  Dry...no destination...no hope.   Why?  Because people shift... their wisdom is finite...their loyalty seems ironclad but can rust away.   Even our closest most Godly friends are limited by the flesh they wear.  Can we trust them with a secret?  Sure.  Can we trust them to do what God can in our lives.  Impossible.   In fact, look at the first part of the passage... God says in His word that we are cursed when we put all of our trust in the creation rather than the Creator.  People are great but God is infinitely greater.  

So where should we place our trust?  Our hope?  Our confidence?  

“blessed are those who trust in the LORD
      and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.”

God is worthy of our trust.  Our faith in Him as we make decisions is vital in our effort to reaching our God potential.  He promises in today’s passage that if we trust and lean on Him, we will bear fruit... that no matter what happens... drought, loss, challenge, circumstance, sickness, pain, fear, separation, agony, confusion, arguments, or hurt... we will still bear fruit.  We will still shine in His light.  We will still overcome.  We will still be champions. 

We will still be His.  

No matter what.  

And we can still change the world for Christ... in spite of our circumstances.  The storms might be blowing, but, in Him, your roots go deep.  You are planted in the living water.  You are mightier than you think you are.  You are God’s child.  

This morning, when you turned off the alarm clock...God whispered something to you.  Most of us don’t hear it because our minds immediately start tracking the to-do list or checking our Twitter feed.  He does it every morning... and if you listen for it, I guarantee you’ll start to hear it.  It’s the same three short phrases.  Every single day your lungs take in air... God says to you:

I love you.

Let Me handle today.

You can trust Me. 

We CAN trust Him... in spite of circumstances and because of His greatness... we can bear fruit.

Prayer

I talk with many people who are challenged with prayer. What do we say? How do we say it? Why should we share it? Does He even hear me or care? If you’ve asked yourself any of these questions, you aren’t alone. Strong men and women of God have wrestled with questions such as these for centuries... desperately realizing that there is a need to stay connected with God, but very little experience or information about how to do it.

There’s nothing overly complicated about prayer... it’s simply a dialogue. A conversation with your Creator that cares implicitly about the details of your life. If this is so... why do we hesitate?

For some, the issue is vocabulary. We simply don’t think we have the “churchy” words that God wants us to use when we talk to Him. We don’t know Elizabethan english or long multi-syllable words that sound holy. I can assure you, God cares very little about the words we use. If we choose simple words that communicate our feelings and honor Him... we are in good shape. In today’s verse from Matthew, Jesus warns agains using words for their own sake... He calls it “babble.” We don’t want to use words simply because they sound scriptural... we want to pick those that best convey our feelings (both positively and negatively) to the One who cares so much for our hearts.

For others, the prayer issue is that we are ashamed. We haven’t prayed in awhile. A long while. We think of God like a scolding dad... ready to point His finger at us and condemn our actions. Let me assure you this morning that just because you may have temporarily hung up the phone... God has had His to His ear the whole time. He’s ready to listen and He’s willing to forgive. Don’t let the guilt of your past silence the present or get in the way of your future. Go back to prayer. Talk with God about it. Stomp your feet... cry... laugh... but don’t stop. Communication is key in any relationship and the one with your Heavenly Father is no exception.

Others of us have convinced ourselves that if we don’t reveal it to God verbally... He doesn’t know. It reminds me of preschoolers who put their hands over their eyes and say “You can’t see me!” Of course we can. And so does God. God knows our hearts...the ups and the downs... the secrets we think we keep and the emotions we outwardly show. Why not reveal those yourself? We serve a God big enough to deal with anything we can throw at Him... He is all-powerful, never-changing, and always able.

I ran across this little story about prayer...

A father, walking past his 5 year old daughter’s room one night, proudly noticed she was on her knees in prayer. Listening in, he heard this curious prayer- "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz"- repeated several times. When she was finished, he asked her what it meant: "God is really smart," she said, "when I don’t know what to pray about, I just say the alphabet and He figures it out for me"

God IS really smart. And He’s loving, compassionate, forgiving, helpful, unrelenting, concerned, graceful, peaceful, full of wisdom, dedicated, and always there.

He knows what you want to pray about... and He’ll patiently wait until you choose to share it. Whatever the reason your prayer life has declined... decide today to change it. Growing relationships require honesty, trust, and consistent communication. If we want to reach our God-potential, let’s commit today to a vibrant prayer life!

In Control

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”  Psalm 4:8

Peace is more than a concept...a symbol... or a state of mind.  

It is knowing that no matter how challenging life gets....

How heavy the burden feels...

How hard the winds blow...

How much it hurts...

How little money you have...

How deep the pit...

How unfair the decision...

No matter how long the road....

God is in control.   

He’s not surprised by anything and He is already at work (even if you don’t see it yet)

We may not always understand the “why” or the “when”

But we can be at peace because we know the “Who” that was, is, and always will be.  

God knows your pain... He knows your struggles... and He knows your situation.  We may be tempted to get mad at God... after all if He knows we hurt so bad, why isn’t He bringing us peace?

Because it is during the storms of life where we grow stronger.  When you’re stronger... you build perseverance...  with perseverance comes character... and with character you get hope.   (from Romans 5:3-5).   This hope in God’s salvation, provision, and protection is what allows us to rest when the world trembles... to be able to climb over the obstacles and enjoy the view from the other side.  

To have peace that nobody understands or can explain.  

Peace comes from realizing that you can’t and were never designed to know it all, do it all, understand it all, or carry it all.  It is a state of the heart that can be attained despite our circumstances, achieved regardless of wealth, or acquired without everything being perfect.  It isn’t an ignorant state of bliss... but an intentional recognition of God’s sovereignty.  

If you aren’t feeling peace in your life today, take a few minutes and commit today’s verse to memory.  The next time the enemy wants to steal your peace... remind him Who is in control.

I Do

“But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.” Ruth 1:16-18

In John Maxwell’s book, Be a People Person, he spells out the importance of true commitment... “Until I am committed, there is a hesitancy, a chance to draw back. But the moment I definitely commit myself, then God moves also, and a whole steam of events erupt. All manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings, persons, and material assistance which I could never have dreamed would come my way begin to flow toward me—the moment I make a commitment”

I think what he’s saying is... until you say “I Do” ... you are only saying “I might” or “I’d like to” or even “I probably won’t.” When we fully jump in... God moves in our lives.

This is real commitment. “All In” commitment. The kind that Ruth promised in today’s passage. Look at the degree in which Ruth vows to stay connected to Naomi... “Your people will be my people... your God my God” Ruth was saying.... I Do. I’m all yours. Every part of me is signing on to the relationship. Ruth said “I will stand beside you no matter what!”

Is that your relationship with God? Have you said “I Do” to what God wants for your life? What’s getting in the way of giving God your all?

It’s my prayer today that we would follow Christ with a Ruth-level of commitment. This starts with giving everything we understand about ourselves to everything we understand about God. No holding back.

Are you ready to commit to God’s direction? Do you have Ruth-like determination to give God your all? Let me know in the comments below.

What You Need

I found this passage...written by someone who suffered with cancer....

“When I was diagnosed with Cancer:  

My first friend came and expressed his shock by saying, "I can’t believe that you have cancer. I always thought you were so active and healthy." He left and I felt alienated and somehow very "different."

My second friend came and brought me information about different treatments being used for cancer. She said "Whatever you do, don’t take chemotherapy. It’s a poison!"  So she left and I felt scared and confused.

My third friend came and tried to answer my "whys?" with the statement "Perhaps God is disciplining you for some sin in your life?"  He left and I felt guilty.

My fourth friend came and told me, "If your faith is just great enough God will heal you." She left and I felt my faith must be inadequate.

My fifth friend came and told me to remember that "All things work together for good." He left and I felt angry.

My sixth friend never came at all.  I felt sad and alone.

My seventh friend came and held my hand and said, "I care, I’m here, I want to help you through this."  She left and I felt loved!

-Linda Mae Richardson

God says the same thing to you.

You may not be dealing with cancer today.  But you could still be in need of care.  It might be a broken marriage, a jaded heart, or an empty bank account. 

People will mean well when they try to help.  They’ll use logic, their related past experiences, and researched information.  Some will stick around.  Some won’t.  Even your very best friend in the world can’t do what God does.  

God is different.  He looks past what you’re calling out for and gives you what you need.  He sees your scars and counts the tears that roll down your face...reminding you that He Himself was scarred and wept so that you could ultimately spend your eternity free from pain.  

God is consistent.  His feelings for you don’t change.   You can’t make Him love you more... and He isn’t going to love you less.  You are infinitely flawed and infinitely valuable to Him...and He will never quit on you.  He doesn’t promise you constant sunshine... but He does guarantee His presence in your storms. He won’t leave your bedside.  Feeling alone?  Nothing helping your situation?  Ready to give up?

Don’t you dare. 

If you are going through something today.  Simply stop. Sit somewhere and read through this verse:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Deuteronomy 31:6

God is telling you something.  Do you hear it?  He is telling you... 

I care.

I’m here.

I want to help you through this.

Grab His hand and never let go.  

Why Are We Here?

In a Charlie Brown cartoon strip Lucy asks, "Why do you think we're put on earth, Charlie Brown?" Charlie replies, "To make others happy." Lucy says, "I don't think I'm making anyone very happy . . . Of course, nobody's making me very happy either." Then in the final panel, Lucy screams at the top of her lungs, "Hey, somebody's not doing his job!"

Have you ever wondered why we’re put on earth?  Is it Lucy’s reason?  Are others meant to serve us?  Are we meant to always be happy?

No.  God never promises consistent happiness... in fact, He tells us that we will struggle at times:  John 16:33 “ Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows... “

So why are we here?  To endure life?  To simply get through our days?  

Absolutely not.  Life is much sweeter than that!  Charlie Brown had it right... the reason we exist is for others.  It’s why we breathe and it’s why we’ve been given the gifts that we have.  Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:7, “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” 

He further tells us in Galatians: “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  

Can you imagine a selfless world?  People getting up in the morning just to remind those they do life with that they matter... 

To bring hope to the hopeless...

To mend instead of rip...

To forgive the undeserving...

To provide for someone knowing they could never return the favor...

To make others happy... 

Seem unfair?  Why should we be the ones taking care of others?  What if nobody takes care of us or makes us happy? 

That’s not the mission or the goal.  We aren’t here to always be happy with things... we’re here to be more like Jesus Christ. We’re here to bring Him glory.  We’re here to share His good news.  We’re here to praise Him in the good things and the bad.  We’re here to represent Him to those that don’t know Him.  We’re here to rescue those God puts in our path.  We’re here to love Him without reservation... and we’re here to love those He created even when we don’t agree with them or feel like doing so.  

And when we do these things... God (and He alone) will give us a joy that circumstance can’t take away and people’s opinions can’t tarnish.   The secret to happiness isn’t so secret... 

It all starts with a priority list that has God at the top... others next... and ourselves a distant but blessed third.  

It's A Special Day!

I found this story and I want to share it with you today... I’m praying it inspires you as it did me...

“A friend of mine opened his wife’s bedside drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package: ‘This,’ - he said - ‘isn’t any ordinary package.’  He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box. 

‘She got this the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on. Was saving it for a special occasion.  Well, I guess this is it.’  He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral home.  His wife had just passed away.  He turned to me and said: ‘Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion’. 

I still think those words changed my life. 

Now I read more and clean less.  I sit on the porch without worrying about anything. 

I spend more time with my family, and less at work. I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through. I no longer keep anything. I use crystal glasses every day. I’ll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like it.  I don’t save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I want to. 

And, on each morning, I say to myself that this could be a special day. 

Each day, each hour, each minute, is special. “

Some people live life wondering and some people live life wonderfully.   

The wonderers can’t decide what to do.  Should they use it or store it away for later?  Have the conversation or pretend something never happened?  

They wonder what could have been.

They wonder if it ever will be.

They worry while they’re wondering about things that are out of their control.

Wonderers spend their entire lives counting on a tomorrow that they aren’t guaranteed...borrowing trouble from a future that’s hasn’t come yet...waiting on life to be perfect before they start living it.  

There’s no need to wonder what God’s plan is for us...

Luke 9:62 - “Jesus said, ‘No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.’”  

Get after it!  Live a wonderful life!   When life puts puddles in your path... don’t let them drown you... splash in them!  You are part of God’s family!  The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords paid the highest price, His own life, for you to live in freedom!

God’s word tells us to not hesitate... to not look back... to go after life with a renewed sense of passion and focus.   We should be so busy getting the maximum out of today that we don’t have time to even think about what may happen tomorrow!  We aren’t guaranteed another sunrise... but we do have this one.. this breath.. this chance.. this time.. and this day to make a difference.  

Waiting for the clouds in your life to part before going back outside?  Don’t.  The world is a beautiful place... and you are a beautiful part of it.   If you stay inside too long, you’ll miss the rainbow that’s coming.

Live wonderfully... joyfully... expectantly... 

Hold nothing back for tomorrow.

Today is a special occasion.  

Your heart is still beating.

Get out there and live.

Real Love

One day a couple from the church were out distributing loaves of bread in a low-income housing complex. They came to an apartment where they heard arguing through the door, but they decided to knock anyway. A man opened the door and asked what they wanted. One of the visitors said, "We don't want anything. We just wondered if you know anyone who could use some loaves of bread?" 

"Why are you doing that?" the man asked. 

"Just to let people know that God loves them." 

"What did you just say?" the man asked, rather anxiously. 

"We're just handing out loaves of bread to let people know that God loves them." 

The man stared and said, "I can't believe this. We just buried our three-week-old son yesterday, and now here you are at our door." 

The visitors offered to pray with them, and the couple accepted their offer. As they were leaving, and the door was being closed, they heard the husband say to his wife, "See, honey? I told you God cares. We thought he wasn't paying attention to us, but he sent those people here to make sure we knew."

Over two thousand years ago, the world heard knock at the door.  The source?  Jesus. Born in a manger...wrapped in strips of cloth... ready to grow and save mankind from its sins.   Jesus the Messiah.  The world changer.  The life bringer. 

He’d come to a world who’d thought that God had given up on them... wasn’t paying attention to their needs.  Many thought God wasn’t interested anymore...that sin would win out... that the enemy was given a victory by default.  They were wrong.

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

Jesus came to earth with a message and a mission.  More than just a loaf of bread to the hungry.  He gave mercy.  He extended grace.  It was a reminder that God does care... and that He wants to spend eternity with His creation rather than be separated from them.  

Jesus came because God loves.  With a genuine and deep affection... God loves.  You aren’t just a person to Him...you are His child.  And He loves you.

Imperfect...hurting...confused...challenged... A genuinely flawed but infinitely valuable child of the King of Kings.  That’s you.  YOU are the one He loves.

His affection for you isn’t based on anything you’ve done.  You haven’t earned it.  You don’t deserve it.  You can’t make it increase or lessen.  It is genuine, heartfelt, and unconditional.  

He loves us just as we are... and loves us too much to let us stay that way.  He is always working to better us... to help us be more like Him.  Sometimes His affection takes the form of discipline...sometimes challenge... sometimes brokenness.  But during all of those, He never leaves our side.  We matter to Him.  Profoundly.  And all He asks in return for His affection?

Love Him back... 

...and love those He puts in our path with the same level of affection that we receive from Him:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  -  John 13:34-35

We serve an amazing God... May the love He gives you remind you to pass it along to others.  Somebody somewhere is sitting behind a closed door... wondering if God has forgotten about them.  Let’s remind them that He hasn’t...  ... and that He loves them. 

Tell Them

Over the course of 20+ years in ministry, I’ve done a lot of memorial services. Each one is a unique and special tribute to someone’s life. However, there are always two emotions that occur without fail. The first, of course, is sadness. Losing a loved one is emotionally overwhelming... the feeling of loss and loneliness is punishing to the heart and difficult to bear.

The other emotion... the one that I see often (almost as much as sadness)

Regret.

The stinging heartbreak that comes when a person realizes that they are no longer able to make it right. I hear things like.. “I wish I had one more day with him.” or “I hope she knew how much she was loved” or even... “If I could just tell them one more thing...”

Why is that? Why do we feel that way at funerals? Why don’t the people we meet everyday know how we feel about them?

It’s easy really. Because we think they already know.

I heard a story once about a husband who was being yelled at by his wife. Everyday she nagged him and pestered him with the same statement, “Why don’t you tell me you love me anymore?” After several weeks of this, the man simply couldn’t take it anymore. After his wife finished her daily tirade, he slowly turned to her and said, “You want to know why I don’t tell you I love you? Because when me got married, I told you then. If that ever changes... I’ll let you know.”

Why don’t we say it more? Do your friends know you care about and love them? How about your spouse? Has there ever been a mentor in your life? Brother or sister?

If they were gone tomorrow.... would they know how you feel about them?

Life is way too short to go around assuming people know how we feel. Look at today’s verses...

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:36-39

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Jesus Christ didn’t wait to tell us He loved us... in fact, He climbed on a cross so there would be no doubt... He was crucified to eliminate any wonder... We never have to guess God’s intent or doubt His feelings.

Jesus is passionate about us

In the verses, He tells us to express our love for each other in a similar way. Sacrificially...wholly...without reservation, embarrassment, shame, or condition.

Love those God has placed in our lives... and remind them of that love regularly. Who is it in your life that you haven’t expressed your feelings towards in a while?

Is it your friend who has never left your side while you lay in the pit?

Is it a spouse who stood by your bedside while doctors treated you?

Is it a mentor who never made you feel like you were bothering them with the 500th question?

Is it your child...who is still trying to figure out the world, their emotions, and your rules all at the same time?

Is it someone who has hurt you in your family. The pain runs deep. They seek underserved forgiveness and you’ve met them with silent stares.

Who needs you to tell them you love them today?

I found this anonymous quote: “Have you ever wondered which hurts the most: Saying something and wishing you had not, or saying nothing, and wish you had?”

Mistakes are fixable but regret is forever. Don’t wait. Make today the day you tell those special people in your life how you feel about them. Love them, encourage them, and remind them that no matter how deep the hole, how dark the valley, or how challenging the storm... you will be there for them.

Because they matter to God.

Because they matter they matter to you.

and you love them.