Week Fifty-One - Weep or Rejoice

Sometimes life is hard and disappointing. Our best hopes can fail, and we face a choice about how to respond. Will we weep or rejoice?

After seventy years of captivity, the Jews returned to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, and as the temple's foundation is completed, the people rejoice, "praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel" (Ezra 3:11). 

Yet while they are rejoicing, the older men are weeping; maybe because the new temple isn't as large and glorious as the first, or maybe because they are humbled to see God's promise fulfilled.

Mary and Joseph had big plans for their life together. The traditions of marriage were being followed to the T, and they and their parents had expectations of a beautiful new family. But one visit from an angel and that vision perished. It was gone, never to return again. Fear and hurt spread across their hearts as they came to understand their position. Yet both of these young people surrendered to God's vision for their lives, knowing He was in control.

Sometimes life doesn't turn out as expected. Our visions of glory are marred and dimmed, but God's vision is not. This second temple, though not as grand and glorious as the first, was still a reminder of His mercy and ability to keep His Word. This juncture with God brought the young couple much heartache, but also the fulfillment of God's promise.

I'm reminded of the word, nevertheless. Jesus said, "Nevertheless, not my will but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42). The disciples said, "Nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net" (Luke 5:5). The Bible also says, "Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure" (2 Timothy 2:19). This word is used over 100 times in the Bible. It means not to regard the situation but to proceed. It is a word of choice.

Our reaction is our choice. 

We can sit crying or put our hands to the work.
We can hold on to a hurt or surrender it to God.
We can wish things were different or graciously accept them as they are.
We can pine away in melancholy or seek to be a blessing.
We can weep at what is lost or rejoice in what is given. 

When life grows hard, what will be your choice?

Week Fifty - The Tired Pastor

Today I want to share some Scriptures that caught my attention during my daily Bible reading. In 2 Chronicles 29:34, we read, "But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings; wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests."

I made a little note next to this verse: "Interesting." These priests seemed lazy in their work and ill-prepared when Hezekiah called for the passover. I wondered why and dismissed them as lazy souls.

I moved on with my reading and came to 30:18-20 reading, "A multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, the good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people."

That is interesting, too. Even though the people weren't ready to do the passover as God had prescribed, He granted them mercy and acceptance.

Reading on, I came to 31:4. Here I had to stop and think for a while. It reads, "Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord."

Why did these priest needs encouragement? As I thought about what had been taking place, I remembered they had been under Ahaz, a wicked king, and hardly anybody was going to "church." The house of God was not cared for, full of evil and idolatry, and now Hezekiah was trying to put things right. These men of God were discouraged, probably wondering why God even bothered to have a tribe dedicated to a temple that wasn't loved and appreciated. They needed encouragement to pick up the banner and get back on board with the task.

Before I share a few thoughts, the Bible speaks of encouragement again in 2 Chronicles 35:2 when Josiah calls for the passover. "And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the Lord."

This idea of encouraging spiritual leaders and servants has carried through several chapters, reminding us of the need to uplift and encourage those who serve us in spiritual matters.

Theirs is a different weight of responsibility than ours in the pew. Theirs is a calling, and we should not be neglectful in remembering them in prayer, showing appreciation, and helping and giving where we can. These small acts of kindness and thought, and our faithful attendance and participation, are a source of encouragement for them.

Does your pastor seem weary? Is the light in his eyes dim? He may need encouragement and some appreciation. This is a good season to express love. How will you encourage him in his work?

Week Forty-Nine - Keep Moving Forward

I'm not sure where I got these notes, but I want to let you know I am using someone else's thoughts as I write today. I use them because they spoke directly to my heart and are worthy of sharing.

God has repeatedly used Proverbs 16:3 to help me maintain focus and trust Him as I face decisions and obstacles. It reads, "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established."

Here is what I found written about this verse.

"In a world saturated with distractions, driven by convenience, and crippled by inconsistency, the call to commit is countercultural. Yet, Solomon - under divine inspiration - urges us to take all our works, dreams, and duties and commit them unto the Lord. Why? Because only in holy commitment will our thoughts, goals, and outcomes find clarity, direction, and establishment.

The word "commit" here is the Hebrew word "galal," meaning to roll upon. It gives the idea of rolling your burdens, tasks, and works off your own shoulders and onto God's. Not in passivity or laziness - but in trust and total investment. Commitment is not just intention - it is action with direction.

"thy thoughts shall be established."

This means that when we give God our actions, He will firm up our thoughts. In other words, right action fuels right thinking. We live in a generation that says, "Wait until you feel motivated, then act." But God's Word teaches the opposite: Act in faith, and your thoughts will follow with clarity and strength.

Current Trends: A Culture of Half-Heartedness

        A recent Gallup poll found that only 23% of U.S. employees are "engaged" at work. That means over 3/4ths of people are doing the bare minimum.

        A Brana study found that fewer than 1 in 3 Christians who make a spiritual resolution or ministry goal see it through beyond 90 days.

        Among young adults, a study from the National Center for Education Statistics noted that task
completion and follow-through rates have dropped sharply over the past two decades, correlating with the rise in digital distraction.

We are not suffering from a lack of potential - we are suffering from a lack of commitment.

We have plenty of biblical examples of committed servants.

        Nehemiah committed his work to the Lord, despite opposition, distraction, and danger, and rebuilt Jerusalem's wall in 52 days.  Nehemiah 6:15

        Paul the Apostle was beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned, and opposed - but never wavered from the work God gave him.  Acts 20:24, 2 Timothy 4:7

    Jesus Christ Himself said, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." John 4:34. He is the ultimate example of diligence, commitment, and follow-through.

Committed or Convenient?

Many Christians today are waiting for the "right time' or "perfect motivation" to serve God. But true commitment doesn't wait for motivation - it creates it.

Discipline beats emotion. Faithfulness overcomes feelings. As Leonard Ravenhill once said, "The world has lost the power to blush over its vice; the church has lost her power to weep over her lack of commitment."

In a world allergic to effort, let the believer shine through diligence. Not just starting strong - but finishing faithfully.

Consider some practical steps:

1. Commit your calendar - prioritise church, devotion, and outreach. Don't fit them in, build life around them.

2. Establish a morning routine - begin each day directing your works upon the Lord in Prayer. Psalm 5:3

3. Track progress, not perfection - the Lord blesses consistency, not occasional passion.

4. Don't make vows lightly - Ecclesiastes 5 warns about making promises you don't intend to keep. Instead, commit with intent and diligence."

There is a load of good stuff there, isn't there? 

And why does it matter to me today? Because I am praying for the Lord to show me my next step. Am I to continue writing, posting, and videoing? I know wholeheartedly that He directed me into this. Now,  after five full years, how long am I to continue? What does He want from me in 2026? 

There are only a few weeks before the New Year springs upon us, and my plan is to take a pause from some of this content creation and focus on prayer and committing my work unto Him, so He can direct my steps. Please pray with me. I want to do what He wants, not what I might want. I want to keep moving forward by faith until my journey is complete.

Week Forty-Eight - Thanksgiving Eve

Tomorrow is the big day. Some of you will enjoy a huge meal with family surrounded by love and thankfulness. For others, you may be alone, have no family, no big meal, and be surrounded by nothing but your personal effects, but it is still an important day. Every day is important, with turkey or without, because it is a gift of God to be received with thanksgiving.

Usually, I host 40+ colleagues and enjoy their fellowship, but this year I am in Virginia with my daughter and her family. We have voted for steak instead of turkey and banana pudding instead of pumpkin pie, and are looking forward to football, falling leaves, and family time.

If you follow me on Facebook, I began this week with a challenge not to count your blessings but to turn your heart to praise. On Sunday, praise the Lord with your church family. On Monday, praise God for His greatness and sovereignty. On Tuesday, praise God for His entrance into your life. On Wednesday - today - praise God for His beauty and wisdom. Then, tomorrow, praise God for His abundant blessings.

I took the praise approach to Thanksgiving this year because I began seeing how self-centered my thankfulness had become. I reveled in all God had done for me, all I had, and the beauty around me but failed to revel in who He was. As I meditated on praise in place of thanksgiving, I recognised how praise lifts the mournful spirit, puts pride in its place, heals the wounded heart, fosters forgiveness, and creates understanding.

Praise means to show reverence, honor, and adoration to God, acknowledging His greatness, character, and actions. It is an act of love and humility that brings the soul to peace and submission, and ultimately, to resounding thankfulness.

One of my favorite ways to study the Bible is by words, and there are at least sixty verses in the book of Psalms that say, "I will praise." If you Google that phrase, you will find it throughout God's Word. And if you only look at the word praise, you will find an encyclopedic number of references. "He is greatly to be praised." "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord." "Praise ye the Lord."

So tomorrow, when you begin counting your blessings, remember to praise the One who gave them, for that is what the Great Physician ordered throughout His Word. You'll find praise and thanksgiving heal many wounds and create a more gentle and loving spirit within you.

Why not sit down tonight, on Thanksgiving Eve, and without counting your blessings, focus a while on His praise alone?

Week Forty-Seven -Bitter or Better

The other day, I caught myself complaining at other drivers, muttering under my breath, speaking aloud of their poor driving skills and how they inconvenienced me. And several times, the Holy Spirit spoke to warn me of my complaining. Don't get me wrong - the other drivers were crazy, but He was calling me to account for my reaction that revealed my heart of impatience and pride.

He and I had a discussion on pride and impatient comments, and I had to agree. I was not showing grace or mercy or love. Though I was the only one in the car, I was still accountable for my words and thoughts. 

Would I want them to hear me? No, not really. 

Were my comments making the driving experience better? No!

Was my distraction with the driving of others putting me in any jeopardy? Probably, because if I'm not paying attention to my own driving, busy judging others, I could have an accident. And that would most annoy me!

I'm sure we are all guilty here at times, and it is good to face our pride and impatience with a dose of spiritual reality and accountability. But let's leave driving and move on to other areas where our pride and impatience force us to consider our words.

What about at the check-out? Or waiting at a long light? Or even while we are on hold, listening to repetitive, annoying music? Does our mind start spouting complaints? Does it affect our attitude?

You bet it does! Any time we entertain negative, complaining thoughts, we are affected. It might be short-lived, but there is still an effect.

Ask yourself this: "Will my response to an annoying situation make me better or bitter?"

This is a simple way to correct myself. I don't want to be bitter and angry or be known as a complainer or unsympathetic judge of others, do you? So it is for my benefit that I rope in those hateful thoughts and weigh them by grace and mercy.

Do I make mistakes when driving? Of course I do, and so do you.

How would I want others to respond? With road rage or polite forgiveness? And shouldn't others expect the same from me? What response will make me better?

Forgiveness and grace demand I extend a measure of grace to others, even on, and especially on, the road of life.

Bitter or better? Think about that next time you're driving and see what the Holy Spirit tells you.

Week Forty-Six - Elements of Prayer

This year, I have been reading one chapter of the Bible each day. I'm recording a truth from each chapter, and then writing a short meditation. 

At the time of this writing, I've gotten as far as 2 Chronicles 6, where Solomon prays his consecration prayer for the temple, which has just been completed. He gathers an assembly of elders and chiefs, along with the Levites, who bring in the Ark of the Covenant and place it in the Holy of Holies with singers fully dressed in white linen, accompanied by trumpets and cymbals following the procession, proclaiming the goodness of God.

Solomon publicly acknowledges the hand of God in the building of the temple, as well as the preparation and the heart of his father, David. Then, he kneels down before all the congregation of Israel, spreads his hands toward heaven, and begins to pray. It is a beautiful prayer; you should take time to read it. (Verses 14-42)

Solomon's prayer blends elements such as praise, humility, honesty, hope, and even an acknowledgment of the inevitability of failure as he places the people before God, pleading for mercy and forgiveness. He asks God to forgive the people's future sins five times, and the pinnacle of the prayer is found in verse 31, where he asks that God forgive because His act of mercy will help the people to remember to "fear thee, to walk in thy ways."

So here is our challenge. What do our prayers look like? Or rather, what do they sound like? Are they mixed with elements of praise, humility, honesty, hope, a plea, and even an acknowledgment of our expected failures, along with a request for God's forgiveness in advance? 

Or are they prayers done by a list of needs with no personal empathy or emotional attachment? Are they short and lifeless? Are they full of repeated phrases or platitudes that have long lost their meaning?

Most of us know the Lord's Prayer, and that is a great starting point for learning to pray; however, we must move beyond this initial form to a heartfelt relationship in prayer. Solomon's humble recognition of God's greatness and activity is his way of saying, "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." His requests and hopes are pinned solely upon the goodness and mercy of the great God he serves. His prayer is a humble act of recognition and thanksgiving, marked by submission to God and a recognition of His sovereignty, as well as by Solomon's understanding of his privileged position. 

This type of vivid prayer opens our eyes to God's activity and leads us to live in sincere reverence for God and a more obedient walk. So, what do your prayers look like? Are they lively or limp? What do they sound like? Full of praise or full of complaining? 

God loves to hear from His children, so whether your prayers are accompanied by great fanfare or confined to the secret place, may they be prayers full of praise, humility, honesty, and hope leading you into a deeper love and a more steadfast obedience to God.

Week Forty-FIve - You Can't Say Can't

"I can't" is a common response when people don't want to do something or feel inadequate to the task. I used to tell the college students that "I can't" means "I won't" because we can do all things through Christ. (Philippians 4:13)

Granted, there are some things we can't do, like jump over the moon or swim the Atlantic, but when it comes to life's challenges, God will prove Himself capable of helping us do things we never dreamed we could do.

Let's look at 1 Corinthians 10:13 in light of this idea of saying we can't. The scripture reads, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able: but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

This verse tells me that no problem is unique. We all face common challenges. We are all tempted to lie, cheat, or even steal, but we don't have to yield to these temptations. We can rise above the temptation. We can do all things through Christ. Seeing others who have successfully faced and overcome these same temptations gives us hope and encouragement, showing us that we, too, can achieve victory.

Our tests and temptations are tailor-made, and God is the Tailor. He gives grace for trials when we need it. And the promise of this verse is based on God's faithfulness and ability, not our own. To deny God's power is to rebel or call God a liar. He says we can, so we can!  

An attitude of can't influences our thinking, attitudes, and behavior; it inhibits our potential. It says God is unable to help us. Nothing could be further from the truth. God is at work in the lives of His children at all times, and especially when we face challenges. He isn't intimidated. He loves to take these challenges as opportunities to reveal Himself. He loves to help us succeed.

By accepting God's promise, we rise to growth and hope. It places the focus off ourselves and onto God, where the impossible becomes possible and the can't becomes can!

With every trial, God promises a way of escape. The end of a problem is just as sure as the start because God is there all the way through, and His promises never fail.

Next time you hear yourself saying, "I can't," ask yourself if that is really true! Because you can do all things through Christ, and God's promise of faithfulness means you can.