Author Archives: jsjdevotions

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April 18, 2015

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Faith & Hope, God's Grace & Love, Holidays & Holy Days, Holy Spirit, Nature, Salvation: A New You

RESURRECTION FERNS

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I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. [Psalm 143:6 (NLT)]

The question was asked, “How did the message of “Resurrection Day” [Easter] impact you specifically this year?” I never answered. The last two weeks have been hectic and, unfortunately, I allowed the busyness of life to keep me from feeling Easter’s complete impact. We had house guests until the day before Easter. After they left, laundry, cleaning and prep work for Easter dinner kept me from prayer and preparing my heart to receive the next day’s message. Easter morning arrived and we rushed to church where I took over 200 photos for the church website. Returning home, I had those photos to edit and post before our six dinner guests arrived. About the time the house was again clean and I’d nearly caught up with everything that hadn’t been done the week earlier, we had a second set of house guests. It wasn’t until today that I finally gave serious thought to how the Easter message has impacted my life.

We took a walk in the swamp this morning and I saw the resurrection ferns. Two days ago, when we walked the same boardwalk, the ferns’ fronds were brown and shriveled. While I reassured my guest that they were not dead, I’m not sure she believed me. It rained last night and I wish she could have seen the ferns this morning. Within thirty minutes of receiving rain, those shriveled leaves uncurl, green up and look “good as new.” Because of last night’s shower, the resurrection ferns in the swamp were lush and lovely today.

The Easter message is one of resurrection and renewal. Just as the rain water gives new life to the ferns, the living water of the resurrected Christ brings new life to us. The ferns, however, will again shrivel in the heat of the day; once we receive the Holy Spirit, we can thrive and blossom, even in hot dry spells. Jesus defeated death and by His power, we can defeat life! I have drunk of his water, been refreshed and renewed, and will never thirst again!

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for taking the shriveled bits of our lives and making them new again. With your living water, there is no need to wither and die. By the power of your Holy Spirit, we can always flourish in your garden!

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” [John 4:13-14 (NLT)]

Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, “Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.” [John 7:38 (NLT)]

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April 14, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, God's Word: The Bible, Obedience, Temptation & Sin, Trusting God

IN GOD’S BOAT

I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations. I cling to your laws. Lord, don’t let me be put to shame! I will pursue your commands, for you expand my understanding. [Psalm 119:30-32 (NLT)]

4-14-15DSC02196CROPwebMy father, C.W. Smith, was a bit of an autocrat; his word was law and not to be questioned by anyone. One day, while fishing with a friend, the two men were preparing their lines and baiting their hooks. My father noticed that his friend was tying the lure on his line in a way entirely different from the “tried and true” Smith technique. When my dad asked his friend why he used that method, his fishing buddy replied that he’d always done it that way and that it worked fine. The friend assured my father that he always caught plenty of fish and rarely lost a lure. My dad couldn’t accept the possibility of more than one way to tie a lure and finally said, “That may be well and good. But, when you’re in the Smith boat, there is only one way to do it and that is the Smith way.”

We aren’t in the Smith boat today, so we can fish any way we want. We are, however, in God’s and He’s the one who sets the rules. Unlike fishing, there is only one way to behave in God’s boat and that is His way!

Teach me your decrees, O Lord; I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. [Psalm 119:33-35 (NLT)]

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April 13, 2015

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God's Grace & Love, God's Promises, Salvation: A New You, Today: Make it Count

ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I was going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going. [John 14:1-4 (NLT)]

apple-sirenWI281webJust hours after its introduction, all models of the new Apple smartwatch sold out. Delivery is at least two weeks away and many customers will have to wait six weeks or more before receiving their new purchases. While all the Apple stores have the luxury Edition models on display (priced from $10,000 to $17,000), they can be tried on at only twenty-one stores. That limitation didn’t seem to deter buyers because, within forty minutes, the rose-gold Apple Watch Edition was sold out until July. It appears that people aren’t even concerned about the first-gen shortfalls of this new technology (like a battery that barely lasts a day); they just want one now. In fact, demand is so high that the new devices are already being resold (above the list price) on EBay. Admittedly, this new tech/fashion accessory is remarkable and far superior to the two-way wrist radio that Dick Tracy wore in the comics when I was a child. What I find interesting, however, is Apple’s marketing strategy. I’ve read that Apple spent $38 million in advertising this product and yet they didn’t produce enough watches to fulfill the expected orders. I admire Apple’s understanding of the simple economic concept of “supply and demand:” a limited supply creates a high demand!

What would it have been like if Jesus had a marketing department like Apple’s? They probably would have advised him to reconsider telling people there were more than enough rooms in his Father’s house. What if He’d said only a limited number of rooms were available, God’s house would soon be completely booked, and it would be a long time before any more could be offered? Would people have waited hours in line for his blessing so they could claim a coveted reservation in heaven? Would some have resold their spots for a profit?

Before its release date, when still officially unavailable to the public, singer Pharrell Williams was spotted wearing an Apple smartwatch on “The Voice.” If Jesus had a marketing department like Apple’s, they might have selected a few Judean celebrities and arranged special meetings for them with Jesus. Think of the buzz around Jerusalem if a well-known Pharisee or the wealthiest wine merchant had become one of Jesus’ followers. Plenty of people would have wanted to get on the Jesus train then! Instead of the rich and famous, however, Jesus had a disparate group of ordinary men and women as his followers: people just like you and me.

Unlike Apple, Jesus made one simple offer to all of mankind: believe and be saved. Since God wants everyone to have a place with him, there is an unlimited supply of rooms in heaven. Christianity isn’t an exclusive club, everyone is welcome and there’s always space for one more. Moreover, there is just one model of salvation. The wealthy or well-known won’t get nicer rooms, be better loved, or more forgiven. Jesus wasn’t interested in impressing a few people, he was interested in saving us all.

A common marketing strategy not used by Apple was the “limited time offer.” Don’t worry; if you couldn’t get a smartwatch Friday, you will be able to get one eventually; in fact, it may be an even better version. Unlike the smartwatch, however, Jesus’s offer isn’t going to improve with time. Moreover, it is for a limited time only; we just don’t know the date his offer will expire. While God will never run out of room in heaven, we may well run out of time here on earth. Don’t wait too long!

For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. [Hebrews 13:14 (NLT)]

After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” [Revelation 7:9-10 (NLT)]

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April 10, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Church & Worship, Joy, Knowing Him, Trusting God, Wisdom & Guidance

DIG INTO GOD

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People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off. Jesus called them back. “Let these children alone. Don’t get between them and me. These children are the kingdom’s pride and joy. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” [Luke 18:15-17 (MSG)]

Earlier this year, our son’s family visited us with their 20-month old son and his three-year old sister. I recently looked through photos from their visit and recalled how entertaining it was to watch the children play. They enjoyed every new thing encountered and were determined to learn new skills. Whether it was climbing the monkey bars, dressing the dolls, riding the trike, pushing the doll stroller, frosting cupcakes, setting the table, making sand castles, being chased by waves, or playing in the pool, they attacked each activity earnestly. Of course, there were moments of frustration and a few tears, but the little guys never abandoned their exploration of the world around them. The youngest even figured out how the locks on the lanai doors worked; fortunately, the doors were too heavy to open, but he tried anyway. Nothing deterred the children’s quest for knowledge. Interested in everything around them, there was never a moment of boredom; they eagerly approached each day as an adventure waiting to happen.

I wondered why we adults are so easily bored, prone to discouragement and world-weary. How many times have we said “Been there, done that,” “Tried it, didn’t like it,” “Same old, same old” or something similar? Unfortunately, sometimes that attitude carries over into our faith and church life. We often blame our pastors, worship team, choice of music, organist, band or choir when our relationship with God wanes. If we’re missing out on having glory moments with the Lord, it’s not their fault. We’re the ones responsible for keeping our faith alive and interesting, not them. If my faith is lifeless, if my worship experience lackluster, if my prayer life dull, or my Bible study boring, I have no one to blame but myself and my attitude. A relationship with God is never unexciting or monotonous. We, however, have to do our part to keep it going; we need to approach God with the eagerness of a child.

I didn’t have to prod my grandchildren to discover the world around them; they were keen to learn. Hungry for everything that life has to offer, they eagerly met each day with enthusiasm. If we crave those glory moments with our Lord, if we’re hungry for a deeper faith, if we have an appetite for the Holy Spirit, we need to bring that same childlike enthusiasm to God’s table. It’s not our fellow Christians’ job to spoon feed us and it certainly isn’t God’s. Everything we need is right in front of us: worship and serving opportunities, Bibles and Bible study, prayer, praise music, and our church family. We, however, need to pick up our spoons and dig in zealously the way a child does a bowl of ice cream! Better yet, get out a shovel and whole-heartedly dig in the way a child does when digging sand castles at the beach! Every day with God is truly an adventure waiting to happen; we just need to dig in!

You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat. [Matthew 5:6 (MSG)]

God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love. [Ephesians 4:15-16 (MSG)]

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April 9, 2015

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Challenges & Difficulty, Faith & Hope, God's Promises, Salvation: A New You

REBIRTH and RENEWAL

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Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. [John 11:25-26a (NLT)]

Several years ago, I would pass by an art gallery while on my morning walk. In the window was a large photograph of a forest showing dark tree trunks in the foreground and new grass on the forest floor. One day, I stopped to look at the picture more closely and realized that the black trees were actually the charred tree trunks resulting from a forest fire. This beautiful photograph was actually of a fire-devastated forest! The viewer’s eye, however, was directed to the new grass rather than to the dead trees. Called “Cycle of Fire,” the photo, rather than being depressing, was filled with hope for the new life sprouting up from the fire’s damage.

What really struck me was that a year earlier, while on a trip through South Dakota and Wyoming, we drove through several areas that had seen forest fires. My focus, however, had been on the devastation of the forests and I hadn’t even noticed the new grass and fresh growth. Until I gave “Cycle of Fire” a closer look, it never even occurred to me to see the new beginnings that can come from loss. When I looked at my old photos, however, the hope for a new forest is, indeed, there. I just needed to look for it.

Renewal is a theme in the Bible. Just as that forest was born again, so are we. Christ died, but rose again. There is always hope.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” [John 3:3 (NLT)]

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April 8, 2015

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Faith & Hope, Fear & Doubt, God's Plan, Peace of God, Trusting God

IT’S MORE THAN JUST CROSSING YOUR FINGERS

Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. [Psalm 25:5 (NLT)]3-9-15monarch - NBG9981rWEB

We hope: the house will sell, we’ll “ace” the test, the stock market will rise, the biopsy will be benign, the relationship will improve, it won’t rain on the picnic, the plane will be on time, the raise will come, the lottery ticket will pay off, or the cure will be found. Is that hope or simply wishful thinking?

Christian hope is neither hope in specific circumstances nor mindless optimism; it is hope in God. It is the confidence that no matter how those other situations turn out, God will get us through them all. Christian hope means we trust what God has promised; it is a confidence in His word. His word, however, has nothing to do with travel schedules, good weather, winning lotto numbers, or even pathology reports.

Hope in God means that we’ll have the strength to stand strong, the ability to keep going in the face of adversity, the capability to forgive, and the capacity to return good for evil and love for hate. Hope in God allows us to be joyful in all circumstances. It reassures us that God is in charge and He will do what is right. We don’t just dream of good in the future, we expect it to happen; it’s just that the rosy future may be further away than tomorrow and will last for eternity.

How do we build our hope in God? Hope is a portion or part of faith. Faith and hope, in my mind, are overlapping realities: hope is faith in the future tense. So most of faith is hope. [John Piper]

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. [Romans 15:13 (NLT)]