The Scarecrow

There’s a great scene in the classic film “The Wizard of Oz” between Dorothy and her straw-filled friend, the Scarecrow.  As they meet for the first time, the Scarecrow confesses, “I haven’t got a brain... only straw!”  Dorothy thinks for a moment and asks, “How can you talk if you haven’t got a brain?”  He replies, “I don’t know... But some people without brains do an awful log of talking... don’t they?”

There’s a very short distance between our mind and our mouth... and all too often, if we aren’t careful, we engage the latter before using the former.  Speaking without thinking is not only foolish... but unbiblical.  In Ecclesiastes 5:2 it says “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God...”  Everything we share should be intentional and well-thought through... encouraging, uplifting, God-honoring, and purposeful.  Once they come out of our mouths, we can’t take our words back... so let’s think about each one... and use the brain God gave us to brighten the world.  

Giving Thanks

      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?  When does thankfulness begin?

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 verses help 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.  

What’s your calling?  To grow, learn, love, support, partner, develop, share Christ, and become the person God created you to be?  Great!  I promise you… to do all of those things.. God will give you exactly what you need exactly when you need it.  All the other stuff that ties up your heart in the bonds of dissatisfaction are unnecessary… and only lead to stress, sadness, and the false feeling that you are missing out on something.  

Ready to move from greedy to grateful?  From wanting to worshiping?   From pouting to praise?  Make the commitment today to do so.   Maybe you’re sitting down around a table of food with friends and family… or maybe your gearing up to go shopping… or maybe none of that has started yet and you have a few minutes to spend talking with God.  Before you pray, make a list of all of the things God has done for you and provided for you this year.  It won’t take long before you realize that Paul had it right… It’s not about having stuff…it’s about knowing it’s enough.  And thanking God for his graciousness in allowing us to hold onto it for awhile.  

Happy Thanksgiving my friends… let’s celebrate His goodness all year long!

Self-Help

Throughout history, people have tried thousands of ways to improve themselves. Some are philosophical, some religious, and others scientific. After 2000 years of self-help, those ways can be boiled down to three common themes. The first.. if we want to change... we have to alter our surroundings. Just being in a different space can improve our outlook about ourselves and others. The next is to watch ourselves carefully. When we keep track of what we say and do, we increase awareness of what’s not working and can make the necessary shifts. Finally, the third most commonly used self-help tactic is accountability. When we partner with others, and ask them to point out what needs fixing, we are more likely to make the adjustments and improve our lives.

It’s no wonder why these seem to be the ways that work the best... they are Biblical! Proverbs 4:14 tells us to watch where we hang out... “Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men”. Lamentations 3:4 challenges us to watch ourselves at all times...”Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD” Finally, Galatians 6:1 tells us to set up accountability so that we can become self-aware. “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted” Feeling the need to make some positive changes? Don’t turn to the huge self-help section in your local bookstore... open the cover of the book you spend time with each morning...the Bible! God’s word is filled with wisdom to help us keep good company, see ourselves accurately, and include others in our walk as we work at becoming who God created us to be.

Everything Matters

Author Philip Yancey wrote about a television show he watched about survivors from World War II.  On the show, soldiers talked about how they spent a particular day in the foxhole.  They described it as ordinary... a German tank drove by and they shot at it... they played cards... a few got involved in some firefights... just a typical day.  Later, they learned that they had just participated in one of the most decisive engagements of the war, the Battle of the Bulge.  To them, it didn’t feel decisive... they were doing what they always did.  But because they held down their position...just miles away, their fellow countrymen could take new ground.

Maybe today started out a lot like those soldiers.  You hit the alarm clock, dressed, ate breakfast, and went to work.  Just an ordinary day.   But your day is far from ordinary.  God’s is in this day... and He’s making things happen.  You may not see the big picture...your position may seem inconsequential to you... but have no doubt... you play a critical role on this planet.  What you are doing matters.  You matter.  There are no small responsibilities when it comes to serving God and all of our efforts add up... no matter what we’re doing for Him.

Yancey finishes that chapter with this statement “Great victories are won when ordinary people execute their assigned tasks...”  Winning this world for Christ is a team effort.  Be the best you that you can be, honor God with your words and actions, and remember... everything matters...even the things that seem ordinary.  When we live that out, before long, the victory over the enemy of this world will be complete.  

The Neck

A father was talking with his 8 year old daughter... “Daddy, who do you work for?”  The father replied “Myself!  I’m my own boss!”   The little girl replied “You’re the boss?”  The man said confidently “Yes, I’m the head of my company and I’m the head of this house!”  After a minute or two, the girl looked up at her daddy and said, “That might be true... you might be the head of this house... but I think mommy is the neck of the house... and she can turn the head wherever she wants it to go!”

All of us answer to someone.  A wife, a husband, a boss, a teacher, or a parent.  And just when we think we are in charge, we often get reminded that we aren’t.   Scripture tells us that no matter where we are in life... no matter what rung of the ladder we find ourselves on... that all of us ultimately need the same reminder.  God is in charge.  In Romans 14, God says that “... every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise.”   We don’t have to run the world.  In fact, we aren’t supposed to.  We have a God in heaven who has things firmly under control... And while He loves us with all of His heart, He doesn’t require a co-manager.   Ambition to lead is good... but when your version of the world is driven by a desire to control it... stop and remember who created you.  He’s the only One with that ability.

Living Intentionally

 62 year old John Brandrick was given a grim diagnosis.... pancreatic cancer... 6 months to live.  John decided that he was going to go out in style!  He quit his job, stopped paying his mortgage, emptied his savings accounts and sold all that he had.  He lived lavishly... enjoying expensive dining, entertainment, and travel.  Problem is... 6 months passed and Mr. Brandrick’s health remained the same.  No deterioration.  No pain.  A follow-up scan revealed that he didn’t have cancer at all.  He never did.  He had been misdiagnosed.  And while relieved, John now faced financial ruin due to the error.  

John lived carelessly because he feared that he was dying.  Some of us live exactly the opposite... we live carelessly because we feel we’re going to live on earth forever.  We build wealth without being generous... avoid a relationship with God because we think we’ll have the chance later... and spend a majority of our time on things that won’t come with us when our life is over.  If this is you... it’s not too late.   Ask yourself... How would life change if tomorrow were my last day of breath?   What would I tell the people in my life that I hold most dear?  What would I do about my eternity?  Scripture tells us in James 4 that we shouldn’t think we know what tomorrow holds... So why not do those things now?  Today?  Secure your place in Heaven by allowing Christ to lead your life.  Tell those around you how you feel about them.  Invest your money in eternal things through the local church.  Make the choice to live with purpose and intentionality... knowing that life truly begins when we prepare ourselves for what happens when it ends.  

How to Get Even

“Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;

    I will pay them back,”

    says the Lord.

Instead,

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.

    If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap

    burning coals of shame on their heads.”

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”  Romans 12:19-21

As a fan of the TV show, “Law and Order”, I often watch the show with a sense of expectation.   In 60 minutes, I expect the one who commits the crime to be captured and swiftly brought in to answer for the misdeed.  And before the credits roll,  a judge should sentence said criminal to an appropriate amount of time behind bars.  I expect justice to be done and all those that were offended against to be given a sense of closure. 

But that’s just a TV show and oftentimes things don’t work that way.  We hear of or experience wrongs that aren’t made right...  and we cry out for justice.  But if we’re not careful... what we find is that we’re not really looking for fairness...we just want to see things made even.  It’s called revenge.  And it isn’t ours to pursue.  Scripture tells us in Romans 12 that making things right is God’s role.  He is ultimately the One that settles the matter.  He rights the wrongs... punishes the wicked... and is the only worthy judge.  If you find yourself angry that the scales of justice seem broken... don’t worry... God’s got this... and His verdict is both perfect and eternal.  

Cleaning Up the Mess

One day a young boy was eating potato chips and had made a terrible mess on the floor.  His father entered the room, noticed the mess, and told his son that he would clean it up for him.  The boy quickly replied... “No dad, I’ll do it!”  The dad thought a second and said, “No, if I let you do it, you’re going to make a bigger mess.”  The boy protested... “No I won’t!”  So the father relented and let his son clean up the chips.

The result?  As expected, the boy made a bigger mess.   

When we hear this story, we can be too quick to dismiss it as something only a child would do.  But take a second and think about it... don’t we do the same thing with God?  Time after time in scripture He tells us that He will take care of things for us... revenge, provision, fulfillment, peace.. and so much more.   Yet, we tell God all the time... “I’ve got it!”  And the result, a bigger mess.  Proverbs 21:2 says “A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart”   God knows best... and when we try to help Him handle our lives, we typically just make things more complicated.  Make the commitment today to take God at His word... Let Him do what He says He wants to do for us... and praise Him when you experience the blessing of His loving care.  

Cut It Out

A surgeon by the name of Dr. Kane was looking for a candidate for a very routine surgery. He wanted to prove that an appendectomy could be performed under local anesthetic...and that a patient didn’t need to be asleep during the process. After finding his volunteer, Dr. Kane numbed the area and skillfully removed the appendix. During the surgery, the patient was wide awake... even able to talk with the nurses the entire time. Recovery was over after a couple of days and the patient was released from the hospital. That brave patient’s name? Dr. Kane. He had removed his own appendix.

Self-surgery seems absurd. What would drive someone to cut into and remove something from themselves? But the Bible talks about one such surgery in Ephesians 4:31. It says “All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice.” Here’s the truth... only you can remove these things from your life. Only you can eliminate your bitterness and anger... and every great sermon, every self-help book, and every deep breath can only calm you down temporarily. Scripture tells us these things must be cut out completely from our everyday behavior. How do we do it? Decide to. And when you feel like being bitter or angry... dwell on today’s verse. Remind yourself that God has a plan for your life... He’s given you a destiny that anger, bitterness, malice, and slander will just sidetrack. Ready to make lasting change? Scrub up and get ready doctor... your patient awaits!

Stuck Keys

What do the letters QWERTYUIOP mean? They are the letters on the top row of most modern keyboards... and why they exist might surprise you. When the typewriter was first invented, the keys were in alphabetical order. Typists could write letters quickly and efficiently. They were so fast, in fact, that the typewriter keys were sticking together and jamming. In an attempt to remedy the problem, it was decided to place the keys in uncomfortable and challenging positions. The result? Slower typing and fewer stuck keys.

The problem with this theory is that people figured out how to quickly type with the new configuration. Yet, I find it interesting that the keyboard never changed back. What we type on today is an old format and is less effective than it could be. If we’re not careful, we’ll do the same things in our own lives. We will create rules for ourselves that may work for a season... but before long we get stuck doing things a certain way when better methods come along. That’s why it’s so important to follow God’s guidelines for our lives rather than creating our own. His ways are consistent, have held up to the test of time, and are designed with our well-being in mind. Today, if you find yourself doing things the old way... maybe it’s time to do things God’s way. It may not be a simple transition, but it will be one that you will never regret.

Window Pain

The other day I read that as a pane of glass breaks, the cracks travel faster than three thousand miles per hour down the length of the glass. Hard to believe anything could cause that much damage so quickly... As I was thinking about this piece of trivia, one thing came to mind that might be comparable...

Our words. What we say can cause widespread destruction in very little time. A sarcastic response... a jab.. or maybe it’s more directed pain. Maybe it’s bringing up the past or a hurtful memory... perhaps it’s tearing someone apart just because we seek revenge. Whatever the circumstance, words can wound deeply. Scripture tells us in Ephesians 4 that we shouldn’t let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths. Any. Why? Because as much as we might want to, once words come out... they can’t go back in. The person is hurt...the relationship over...the damage done. God-honoring speech is a conscious choice... and no matter what a person’s background, environment, upbringing, or influences are...they can still decide to honor Christ with their words. Make the choice... and commit to using words for lifting up and not lashing out.

Watching Over

Not long ago, Apple released a new lineup of iPhones... faster, sleeker, and some even able to use your fingerprint as a security key! One feature that hasn’t changed since its launch is the phone’s ability to locate where you are at any given time. This isn’t exclusive to the iPhone... if you carry a cell phone... yours can do it too. At any point during the day, your exact location can be pulled up on a map by your service provider or law enforcement. Many would see this as an invasion of privacy. But what would you say if I told you that it was happening long before the brick cell phones of the 80s were even thought of.

God’s been tracking you for years. In fact, He was doing it before you were even knit together as a baby. And if you think your cell provider knowing your latitude and longitude is personal... God knows your thoughts. Every thought. Those that we admit to and those that we hide in the deep recesses of our hearts. In Psalm 139, David asks God the rhetorical question “Where can I go from your Spirit?”. Of course, he knew the answer. God knows where you are, what you’re doing, and what is going through your mind. Every day. But why? Shouldn’t this scare us? Of course not! God knowing where we are should be a comfort. He is always with us...even when we feel like we’re alone. And God knowing our thoughts challenges us to think His way in our lives... We don’t need to fear God’s direct involvement in our day-to-day... we should embrace it... and give thanks that the God of the universe sees us important enough to keep His loving eye on.

Bounce Back

Dr. Earl Warrick of the Dow Corning Corporation made an interesting discovery in 1943. As World War 2 raged on, he worked tirelessly to find a substitute for real (and much more expensive) rubber. The result? Something we played with as kids... the combination of boric acid and silicone... Silly Putty. You remember Silly Putty right? When you pushed on it, you could change it into any shape you wanted. And when you stretched it out too far... it would snap.

Have you ever felt like that? Pushed on... bent out of shape... pulled to the point of breaking? Many do. Scripture has good news for us... In Joshua 1:9, it says “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Today I challenge you... for the next 24 hours... believe and live out this verse...

Believe that you are strong through God’s power.
Believe that you can be courageous because He protects those He loves.
Believe that you can live fearlessly because God holds the future.
Believe you are never alone because He is with you...even in the darkness.

Refuse to allow life to bend you to it’s shape.. Believe and let God mold you into the person you were created to be.

The Great Commitment

Christian author, Lee Strobel, in his book The Case for Faith, talks about a sign on the door of his office. It’s a picture of two turtles. One says, “Sometimes I’d like to ask why God allows poverty, famine, and injustice when He could do something about it.” Next to him, the other turtle replies, “I’m afraid God might ask me the same question.”

So many question God’s motives... and silently they sit and wait on Him to do something about the problems in the world. They tweet about God’s apathy... and post Instagram photos depicting starving children with the caption “Where’s God?” All the while, the situation could be that He is waiting for us to act. Time and time again in scripture, we are told to go out and change the world... to make a difference... to be the salt and light in the darkness. We are charged to live unselfishly with convicted hearts filled with love and generosity. We are knitted together to be world-changers not critics... difference-makers and not judges. And all the while God promises to equip us with opportunity, wisdom, and the right words at the right time without fail. Let’s commit to spend less time complaining about the world and more time living out God’s commission for it.

Healthy Living

It has been said, “Being well is more than eliminating the negative. Rather, it requires the addition of the positive.” 

When I read that statement I thought of our walk with God. Many times we are tempted to read the Bible as a book of “don’t”s. I need to stop doing this... quit that... get rid of this habit or that behavior. And while there are many things God asks us not to include in our lives... only subtracting the bad leads to a life that is one-sided and lacking. Scripture tells us that alongside the “no”s, we have to have some God-honoring “yesses”. Colossians 3:10 says to “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.” Want to grow more like Christ? Be more spiritually healthy? Get rid of what is holding you back.. and in turn.. fill your heart with things like love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and patience. Out with what’s bad and in with what’s good. And before long both mind and heart will be healthier (and more Godly) than ever.

The God Container

“But will God really live on earth among people? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!” - King Solomon in 2 Chronicles 6:18

A little boy was playing in the sand on the seashore. He dug a large pit in the ground and began to scoop water from the ocean into the freshly opened hole. He did this dozens of times before an elderly man approached him and asked “What are you trying to do by going back and forth from the ocean and pouring water into your pit?” The little boy said very enthusiastically, “Sir, can’t you see? I’m emptying the ocean!”

When we read this story we want to dismiss it as the naïve thoughts of a young mind. We all know that emptying the ocean into a small hole is impossible... that the majestic sea can’t be contained in one comparatively tiny area. Yet many of us try to do that with God. We attempt to take His majesty and contain it in a box the size of our problem. 2 Chronicles 6 tells us that even the highest heavens can’t hold God. He is everywhere. Big enough to handle what hurts and close enough to hear the quietest desperate prayer. Resist the urge to think of God in finite constraints.... and praise Him that He is everywhere at one time... ready to help us as the loving Father that He is.

Missing the Moon

One afternoon, a Christian journalist was interviewing astronaut James Irwin. Irwin was on Apollo 15 and actually stepped foot on the surface of the moon. As the interview progressed, the writer asked the astronaut, “What did you feel when you stepped out of that capsule and your feet touched the surface of the moon?” Irwin thought a second and said, “it was one of the most profoundly disillusioning moments of my life.” The journalist quickly asked “Why?” James explained that his whole life had been spent dreaming about the moon.. how romantic and mysterious it was... and when he got there... all there was when he reached down was plain gray dirt.

James Irwin was standing miles and miles above his hometown on a giant orbiting rock that took thousands of man hours and millions of dollars to reach and all he saw was gray dust. Have you ever lost perspective like that? Miss the miracle because all you can see is the mundane? Forget the positive because of the problems? Many do. Never forget to be in awe of God and what He is actively doing in your life. He provides, protects, supplies, equips, and loves all of us equally and without a single one of us being worthy of it. When you find yourself tempted to let the uncommon become common... stop... get someplace quiet... and take inventory of the situation. I guarantee you’ll leave that moment reminded of God’s incredible love for you... and that the ground you’re currently standing on is more beautiful than you realize.

Sit on the Floor

Famed novelist William Faulkner was attending a dinner party one evening. As the guests gathered to sit down for dinner, one of the women became distracted by her conversation and didn’t notice that her chair had been pulled away from the table by a polite gentleman. As she went to sit, she missed the chair and fell to the floor... surprised and embarrassed. Faulker, the guest of honor, quickly got up from his own seat and sat down on the floor beside her. Instead of laughing... he chose the nobler route... empathy.

God calls us to do the same thing. If we’re going to be able to help others... we have to put ourselves right where they are. Feel what they feel. Romans 12:15 tells us to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Hebrews 13:3 says to “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” The world acts sympathetic... if we are Christ-followers, we are called to another level. Because when we choose to put on their shoes and walk around in them... we are more like Christ.

Hearing What Matters

Grayson Clamp was born deaf. He never heard a sound in his life until June of 2013 when he became the first child in the United States to receive an auditory brain stem implant. The device allows his brain to process sound the way a hearing person’s would. The first thing he heard? His father sitting over his bedside saying “Daddy loves you. Daddy loves you.”

Today as you listen to this devotional... maybe you need to hear the same thing. Your Heavenly Father loves you. He does. He is passionate about you. He steps in for you... protects you... provides for you... reaches out for you... and listens to you when you talk to Him. He never moves from your side and always has His loving arm around you when you get scared.

Don’t allow the world to cover your ears. Some people will discourage you and convince you that you are alone. They will make you feel unloved and remind you that you have made mistakes. They’ll try to distract you from God’s gentle whispers with silent betrayal and painful criticism. Don’t let them. Take some time today... close your eyes... and let God tell you again and again...

You are mine.
I’m right here.
Daddy loves you.