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June 9, 2014

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Faith & Hope, Fear & Doubt, Joy, Trusting God, Worry

LET’S GET OUT OF THE DARK ROOM

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. [Psalm 34:4 (NLT)]

Fear and worry are powerful emotions; they can keep us from living the confident and joy-filled life our Father in Heaven has in mind for us. They lose their power, however, when we trust God. Trusting God doesn’t mean that we will never have difficulties. What it does mean is that, even if our worst fears come true, we will never have to face them alone; God is with us.

Worry is the darkroom in which negatives are developed! [Anonymous bit of bumper sticker wisdom]

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. [1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)]

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June 8, 2014

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Salvation: A New You, Today: Make it Count

THE TIME IS NOW

And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. [Hebrews 9:27-28 (NLT)]

Since life isn’t like the movie “Groundhog Day,” unlike Bill Murray, we’re not going to wake tomorrow and get another chance to improve upon today. Since life’s not like the new movie “Edge of Tomorrow,” unlike Tom Cruise, we’re not going to die and return to life with our past knowledge and get to fight our battles over again. When we learned how to play golf, we may have been allowed “mulligans” when we missed the ball. When the kids started baseball, they might have had an unlimited number of strikes. In real life, however, there are no “do-overs” when we miss and there are no “gimmes” if we’re just “close enough.” There is no reincarnation; we don’t get another go-around to be better people and we don’t get to relive each day until we finally get it right. If we’re going to re-examine our life and priorities, the time is now. If we’re going to make changes, the time is now. If we’re going to accept Jesus, the time is now. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. What are we going to do with it?

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. [Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)]

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June 7, 2014

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God's Word: The Bible, Obedience, Salvation: A New You

LET’S NOT BLOW IT!

Teach me, O Lord, how to live by your laws, and I will obey them to the end. [Psalm 119:33 (GW)]

Just because I knew the rules at my boarding school doesn’t necessarily mean I obeyed them. After all, I was a rebellious teen in the 60s. Smoking was strictly forbidden and immediate expulsion was the punishment for that offense. In spite of knowing that, I’d stashed some cigarettes in my luggage when I returned to school one September. A friend and I snuck off to enjoy some furtive puffs and we narrowly escaped being caught. As we anxiously hid in a closet, all I could think of was the shame of being sent home before classes had even begun. Worse than my shame, however, would be my father’s disappointment in me. He’d made a financial sacrifice so I could attend this special school and, for a moment of rebellion, I nearly blew an amazing opportunity! Fortunately, we managed to escape detection. Once safe, I tossed the cigarettes and, from then on, was a model student (at least most of the time).

As an adult, I now think about the sacrifice our Father in Heaven made for our salvation. He gave His only Son to pay for our sins; that’s a heavy price to pay for his rebellious children. Think of His disappointment if we squander this gift. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity; I’m not about to blow it. How about you?

God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. [John 3:16-17 (GW]

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June 6, 2014

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God's Word: The Bible, Obedience

THE RIGHT WAY TO LIVE

The Lord’s laws are right. They make people happy. The Lord’s commands are good. They show the right way to live. [Psalm 19:8 (ERV)]

In my high school years, I attended a private boarding school. Co-ed and highly competitive, there were strict guidelines for student behavior. Knowing the school’s set of rules, however, actually made my life easier. A clear-cut code of conduct meant I always knew what was acceptable and what wasn’t and I understood the consequences of misconduct. Guesswork was taken out of my life; I always knew where I was expected to be, when I was to be there and what was required of me. I understood that excuses for failure to follow the rules or complete my assignments would not be tolerated. I knew that I was responsible for my behavior.

Like a school rulebook, God’s laws make our life simpler. He has given us a clear set of rules by which we should live our lives: worship only Him; when troubled, pray; when hurt, forgive; when there is a need, help; when in doubt, trust in God; offer praise and thanksgiving and above all, love.

Thank you, Lord, for the guidelines you’ve given us to get through each day.

Your rules are always right. Help me understand them so that I can live. [Psalm 133:144 (ERV)]

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June 4, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior

TAKE A WALK

O people, the Lord has told you what is good and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. [Micah 6:8 (NLT)]

How appropriate! On the same Sunday the choir sang “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” I read an article about how walking can boost our creativity. A psychology professor’s research found that 81% of his subjects improved their creative output when walking. He concluded that whenever we’re in a creative slump, we need to take a walk. I don’t know whether or not his research is correct. I do know, however, that if we walk with God, our lives will improve 100%.

 “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”

I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long as I walk,
let me walk close to Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
[Anonymous – traditional gospel hymn]

Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. [Psalm 143:8 (NLT)]

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June 2, 2014

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Church & Worship, God's Word: The Bible, Nature

LET’S GET REAL

2014 - 6- 2 scarlet hibiscus webFrom infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures. They have the power to give you wisdom so that you can be saved through faith in Christ Jesus. Every Scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful for teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people, and training them for a life that has God’s approval. They equip God’s servants so that they are completely prepared to do good things. [2 Timothy 3:15-17 (GW)]

As I walked through my favorite bird sanctuary there was a cacophony of sound. Birds were warbling and cooing, hooting and chirping. That same holiday weekend, thousands of people were a few hours north at Disney World sitting in comfortable theater seats to watch and hear artificial birds and flowers sing. They were missing the real thing: the butterflies and birds, the lizards and alligators, the scarlet hibiscus and swamp lilies. Of course, they also didn’t hear the piercing shriek of the hawk, the guttural croak of the pig frog, or see the gator put an end to the anhinga. Nor did they have to contend with cobwebs, pesky flies, even peskier mosquitos or humidity and heat. They were in comfort, enjoying air conditioning, soft seats and perfectly orchestrated songs, seeing and hearing precisely what they wanted to see and hear.

2014 - 6-2 great egret - little blue - webI wonder if, like choosing Disney’s tiki birds over a walk in a real bird sanctuary, some of us choose our churches for the comfort instead of the truth. If the only messages given are the ones we want to hear, if the only messages we receive make us feel good about ourselves, we might be in the wrong place. Christianity isn’t about complacency and feeling righteous. It’s about change and change isn’t always pleasant. Sometimes we need to hear things that challenge us, that make us question who we are, and how we spend our time and money. Along with hopeful messages about love and forgiveness, we need messages that open our eyes to hidden sins. Yes, He brought us good news and “tidings of comfort and joy;” but he also told us the road would not be easy. His purpose is not to entertain us; His purpose is to save us!

 If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself. [St. Augustine]