Written for You

Welcome to Wednesday.  It’s halfway through the week and (perhaps) nothing has changed.  

What do I mean by that? 

After all...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 Monday came.  And perhaps nothing changed.  Same worries...same stresses...same feeling of hopelessness...same pit... same clouds... same life.

You were made for more.   

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

The first half of the 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.  

Pity Party

Whiners are everywhere.  You probably know a few.  When life gives them lemons... they don’t make lemonade... they make excuses.  Heads down,  voices in permanent Eeyore mode... they wander through life wondering why everything is the way it is... and why they have to be the victim of it.  

Whiners have been around for awhile...

[The Israelites led by Moses]

“If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”  - Exodus 16:3

[Martha complaining about her sister Mary when Jesus came to visit]

“As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”  Luke 10:38-40

They aren’t bad people... they just need a new perspective.  

What happens when we don’t set up boundaries on the influence of whiners?   We become one.  Whining people complain around us... and before we know it, phrases like “good point” or “I’ve never thought about it like that before” enter our vocabulary and we change... We start to say:  

“That white cloud doesn’t look so white... in fact... it’s light gray…” 
“You call it opportunity and blessing from God... I call it ‘luck’ and ‘right place at the right time.’” 
“Why me... What if... When... Who cares... “

If you find yourself being the one that people whine to, there’s a reason for it.

You listen.

People take their garbage to the dump... and we can’t allow them to bring it to us.  A good way to protect yourself from whiners is to simply and politely ask them not to gossip or share any information with you if the point is simply to complain.   You don’t need the stress and they don’t need the affirmation that their behavior is Godly.

Remember, nobody likes boundaries, but putting some up is necessary.  If we aren’t careful, especially in the arena of whining, we can let people alter us and our view of the world.  Life becomes a pity party... table for one... with us as the guest of honor.  

Scars

SCARS (Monday's Devotional)

    There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.  No matter how many times you apologize, the wound has been made.”

Ever been scarred?

How can we make peace with our scars... those painful reminders of things that happened to us long ago?  We can be at peace with our hurts because Christ was with His own.  Pierced in the side... nailed at the wrists... Jesus’ resurrection message reassured us that He knew pain, humiliation, and death... but they weren’t enough to take Him out.   We can’t let our own scars knock us down for good either.

But the scar remains.  We run our fingers over that raised place on our skin and feel some of those original emotions all over again.  Why did she do that to me?  What did he have against me?

Being cut deeply hurts.

But what if the knife... or the nails... or the words... came from us.

What if we were the ones that caused the holes?  Made the scar?  Did the hurting?

Is there someone walking around today that is running their fingers over a scar that you put there?

What then?  The Bible tells us the steps...


1)  Confess It To God

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9

Tell God what He already knows... If we really hurt someone, denying it may help us to believe it but it doesn’t change the truth. God knows us... the sin is there... why not give up trying to hide it from the One who gave you your brain and heart.  Feeling ashamed?  Don’t drop your chin.  Look up... face your Heavenly Father... and tell Him who you’ve hurt.  I promise you that the eyes you will see won’t be stern... but compassionate.  Confession begins the eventual healing of our heart.

2)  Own It With the One You Wronged

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”  James 5:16

Oftentimes this is the hardest step.  We are OK telling God who we’ve hurt... but actually going to the person and owning the issue can be crippling.  However, your recovery can’t go any further until you make the call, write the letter, Skype, or have coffee with the one who you’ve scarred.  Be strong... take courage... and realize that God will empower you as you attempt to make things right.  You will have the right words at the right time... That restored relationship matters... both to you and God.

3)  Seek Forgiveness

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,” Matthew 6:14

This step is more than just saying “I’m sorry”... it’s asking for something you haven’t earned from a person who doesn’t have to grant it.  There’s risk involved.  But any relationship that means something occasionally requires forgiveness.  Remember, you and I have already been forgiven for so much.  God loves us with such an incredible degree of passion that He has paid the ultimate price for us missing the target and sinning.  When we seek forgiveness from those we’ve wronged, we can do so knowing that regardless of the outcome, God has paid for that sin...  Getting the “You are forgiven” from a person is important for closure and healing... but knowing the penalty for that issue has already been paid is priceless.


4)  Commit to Not Repeating It

“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”  James 1:23-25

What was it that caused the damage in the first place?  Misplaced anger?  Not thinking things through?  Frustration?  Fatigue?  A disconnect with God?  Whatever the reason, once you have forgiveness, commit to fixing and/or changing that behavior permanently.    Many people don’t take this step and find themselves continually seeking forgiveness, hurting again, and repeating the process.  If we are going to be who Christ created us to be, we have a responsibility to reflect His character.  We need to break that chain of cause and effect in our lives... to seek to love others and extend the grace and mercy we ourselves enjoy unmerited.


5)  Forgive yourself


“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners —of whom I am the worst.  But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”  1 Timothy 1:15-16

The hardest step of all.  You’ve broken a heart...or a trust...or put holes in a relationship that will never be the same.  You’ve confessed it to God, owned it, sought forgiveness, received it, committed to fixing the issue in your life...

But why can’t I let it go?

Read the verse above...  all of us are sinners.  All of us make huge mistakes.  The way to help forgive yourself is to put those errors in context.

When we mess up... Christ shows us mercy.  When He does that.... He shows the world  sees how patient He is.  When people see that Christ gives grace to the imperfect, they get to know His character.  When they get to know Him... they can begin a relationship with Him.

Forgive yourself because by doing so, Christ is displayed... we are freed from our past... He gets the credit... others get to see His mercy toward us... and people get saved.

Not easy... but so critically important.

It is my prayer that if the scar came by way of your mistake... you would pray and follow these steps.  You were created for greatness not a life of regret.  Allow today to be your first steps down the road to healing.  

Top of the Fence Post

   I don’t know where you are this morning.  Corner office... student desk... passenger seat of a delivery truck... or sitting in your home.  I do know this:

You didn’t get there alone.  

Along your life-journey, hundreds of people and tens of thousands of interactions with those people have led you to this spot on the map of your life.    You’ve faced some high walls in your life... and those around you have boosted you over.  You’ve fallen down in the face of adversity... and those around you have grabbed your hand and helped you back to your feet.  

All of your successes?  You’ve had help.  

Opportunities?  Provided by others.

Gifts?  People have given you a place to use them.

As much as we want to think we’ve done it all ourselves... it simply isn’t true.  

Now I can hear some of you out there saying... “Pastor, I’ve worked hard to be where I am... and I’ve actually overcome people pulling me down to get there...  Everything I have, I’ve done on my own!”

With all due respect... that’s not true.   You’ve had help... but not just from people...

Take a look at today’s verses:

“...be content with what you have because He has said, ‘I will never leave you; I will always be by your side.’  Because of this promise, we may boldly say, 

‘The Lord is my help- 

I won’t be afraid of anything.

How can anyone harm me?’”   Hebrews 13:5b-6 

“By the God of your father, who will come to your aid, by the All-Powerful One who will bless you with the blessings from heaven above...”   Genesis 49:25a 

[from David] “Don’t give up on me in anger at Your servant.  You have always been there for me.  Don’t throw me to the side and forget me, my God and only salvation.  My father and mother have deserted me, yet the Eternal will take me in.”  Psalm 28:9b-10

“After all, it is I, the Eternal One your God, who has hold of your right hand, Who whispers in your ear, ‘Don’t be afraid.  I will help you.’”   Isaiah 41:13

All verses from “The Voice” translation.  Emphasis and underlines are mine.

 Everything we are, have, and can do is given to us by God.   Your ability to remember names?  From God.  Your parenting skills?  God.  That incredible brain you have to store baseball stats and facts to pass the bar exam?  

God. 

He created you and He’s never left your side.  When it’s been dark, He’s the One holding the candle.  When you’ve been searching for that last test answer... He’s the One who made it “come to mind.”  That person who stepped into your life that was the perfect fit?  God sent them.  

He is Who many call “luck”

He is the cause of our victories and the first one to hug us if we come in last.

He sees those tears rolling down our face and sends people our way to stand in the gap.

He is the reason you can do what you can do... where you can do it... at the level you’re doing it... and the receiver of the glory from it.  

He is helper, provider, sustainer, healer, defender, and source of all that has ever been good in our lives.   When we’re challenged, sometimes God steps in directly... and other times He uses people to help guide us through.   When we come through the storm we need to be grateful for His umbrella.

Alex Haley, the author of "Roots," had an unusual picture hanging on his office wall. It was a picture of a turtle on top of a fence post. When asked, "Why is that there?" Alex Haley answered, "Every time I write something significant, every time I read my words & think that they are wonderful, and begin to feel proud of myself, I look at the turtle on top of the fence post & remember that he didn’t get there on his own. He had help.”

God put you on that fencepost you find yourself on this morning... regardless of your health or wealth... take a minute and thank Him for the view from up there.  Even if we don’t think it’s a lot... He’s given us everything we need and everything we are... let’s spend our Friday remembering and giving thanks.

Neighbors

NEIGHBORS (Thursday's Devotional)

Others.  Our neighbors.  Those that God has placed in our path.  Life is all about them.  The Bible tells us that we are put on this earth to serve them… to love them… to forgive them.  

But the gravity of the flesh pulls us in the opposite direction doesn’t it?

We make decisions based on how it ultimately affects us.  What we wear… what we lend… what time we give… all skewed by how that decision is beneficial to our own agenda.  Why is living for others so difficult?  Does God really tell us that our whole purpose in life is to abandon self and embrace serving those around us?

Let’s take a look…

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”  Galatians 5:13

“And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Mark 10:42-45

“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.”  1 Cor. 4:1-2

“It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,”  Matthew 20:26

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ...” Philippians 2:1-30

“If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”  John 12:26

“Jesus replied, ‘The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.’”  Mark 12: 29-31


We are here with a purpose.
We all have gifts.

Our gifts are not for us.
They are to serve others.

Serving His people is what we were created to do.  Loving on the lonely... reaching out to the hurting... serving those that are seeking Christ.  

The road to our God potential leads us through the valley of selflessness... putting others first... sacrificing so that people we may not even know can come face-to-face with a Savior who sacrificed everything on their behalf.

And we get to do that.

We get to be servants.

Notice what I said there… we GET to be servants.  God allows us to care for His people.  Those you encounter today are no accident.  Even the challenging ones…  Every single person you meet today is intentional.

Serve them.  Not with selfish motives…. but with a heart filled with Christ’s love.

I can hear you saying to your computer… but Pastor… who’s loving me?  Who’s taking care of me?  If I don’t look out for myself nobody will!   I hear you.  But I also know that even when the world seems to turn its back on you, Christ doesn’t.   HE will take care of you.  HE will provide for your needs.  HE will never let you break under the strain or buckle under the weight.  HE is always there always.  Even when you don’t feel Him, sense Him, or believe He’s there.  He IS there.  He is determined to provide for and love on you.  It’s His heart.  It is why He came to begin with.  Let Him take care of you while you take care of those He has put in your path.

If you are a Christ-follower… it’s part of your calling.

Resist the urge to dismiss today’s devotional as wishful thinking.  It wasn’t written for someone else.  It’s for you.  And it’s for me.  Remember, putting ourselves behind others and serving them may be perceived by the world as weakness… but it is a strength in the eyes of Jesus.  And He’s the only one that matters.

Hurry Sickness

To live the life you’ve always wanted you can’t be hurried.  

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.

Look Up

Have you ever seen a field of sunflowers?  It’s one of the most amazing things you’ll ever witness.  As the sun passes overhead, the flowers turn to face it. 

No matter what.  

When the warm sun moves... so do the sunflowers.  It’s beautiful.  In unison...a blanket of bright yellow flowers all pivoting toward the source of their warmth and provision regardless of external circumstances.  

They never lose sight of the sun.  

We could learn something from those sunflowers.

When life gets challenging... we want to turn away.  Quit.  Look down.  Turn our faces from the One who immeasurably loves us. 

We want to stare at the ground... or wring our hands... or question God’s existence... 

God is nudging us to keep looking up.  Towards Him.  He wants us to remain confident... Remembering that He has never been defeated.  At anything.  Ever.  He created it all.  He’s experienced it all.  He knows it all.  And He has the power to change it all... in a heartbeat.   God wants us to soak in the warmth of His love... stay focused on His provision... and count on His consistency.   Just like the daily life of His sunflower.

As I continued to read about these plants, I discovered something else that I think might help... 

At night, the sunflowers never lose track of the position of the sun.  They don’t take the night off... they don’t forget.... they keep their faces pointed to where the sun is.  Not where it was during the day... but where it currently is.  As they sit in darkness, they remember... just because it’s no longer visible... doesn’t mean that it isn’t still present.  The sun loses no power during the night... it’s just illuminating another part of the world.  The sunflower knows this and stays pointed at it.  360 degrees... 24 hours a day... facing the source of the light.  

Ever been in a dark place?  Ever wonder where God went or why He seems to have abandoned you?   There’s a man in the Bible who felt that way.  His name was Job.  He lost everything.  His family, his property, his wealth... all gone.  If anybody had a right to curse his circumstances, it was him.  His sun had turned to darkness... and scripture tells us that Job had the opportunity to break his connection with God and stare at the ground.    Defeated.  Irreparable.  Desperate.   

But he didn’t.  Despite his circumstances... Job kept his eyes upward.  Tracking God’s every move.  Look what he was able to say in Chapter 23:

“For I have stayed on God’s paths;

    I have followed his ways and not turned aside.” Job 23:11 

And because Job kept that critical connection... He prospered.  Make no mistake... he suffered.  His pain was intense.  He thought it would never end... that He was never going to feel better...  

But then He remembered to look up.  God was there.... unsurprised by Job’s circumstances.... but rejoicing in his faith despite them.   Job continued to track God even when He couldn’t see Him, feel His protection, or fully understand the “why”.   Like the sunflower, he remembered that God was still there.  In the darkness.  When he felt most alone... God was there.

“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

What does that word “never” mean?  

It means never.  Ever.  Not happening.  God isn’t going anywhere.  

God knows His way into your marriage... He can find your hospital room... He was there at your wedding... He follows your children around the hallways of their school... You can’t outrun Him and He won’t go away.  God is ever-faithful... always present... unselfish... and willing to extend grace to those that haven’t even requested it. 

Feeling His warmth yet?  Even if it’s night in your life right now.  God’s still there.  Stay pointed towards Him.  

When the flowers want to see the sun, they look up.  

The Son you’re tracking is there too.  At the right hand of His Father.  Waiting for you to take that burden and lay it at His feet.  What are you carrying today?  Have you lost sight of where God is?  Forgot how much He cares?  Is it dark where you are in life?  Wondering if He lost track of you or forgot how much you hurt?

He hasn’t forgotten.  You matter to Him.  

He isn’t taking a break or pushing you past your limits in revenge for some past sin.  He isn’t hiding just to see if you’ll come looking.  He’s on the same path He’s been on since the Earth came into being.  But there’s only one place you’ll find Him. 

Look up.