Week Twenty-Seven - For Shame, For Shame

"Be careful, you'll fall in," were the last words I heard before I lost my balance and fell bottom-first into the freshly poured concrete. Embarassed, I raced for the house frantically holding my summer shorts as the concrete began to set. That wasn't the only shameful thing I have done, but I keenly remember feeling ashamed as I tried to salvage my dignity.

Dick Brogden says, "Shame is directly connected to self-consciousness. We were designed to live God-conscious lives, for there is no shame in Him. It is not so much that God wants us to stop thinking highly or lowly of ourselves—He wants us to not think of ourselves at all but to fix our eyes and attention on Him."

It was hard for me not to be self-conscious that day, but there is greater shame than experiencing a childhood accident. Shame comes when we realize we are sinners and the reality of our guilt overtakes our pride. Shame comes when we try to live a secret life or hide our mistakes. And, it comes when we face conviction on how self-centered we are to the exclusion of others and God. Shame exposes us.

Jesus endured shame for us. He was publicly beaten and humiliated. He hung indecently upon a cross, exposed to blasphemous ridicule. These shameful acts were done to Him, yet the Bible says, "Who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame" (Hebrews 12:2). He looked past shame to finished salvation and the restoring of His place beside the throne of God.

Brogden notes, "If Jesus' antidote to shame was the delight of intimacy with the Father, then ours should be the same." This will be key as we grow closer and closer to the Lord's return. "It will become less and less respectable to be a devoted follower of Jesus. Our future guarantees more scorn, more abuse, more disdain, and more shame... not less. We despise shame, not by avoiding it but by ignoring it as we fix our eyes on Jesus. Looking to Jesus clothes us, for when our eyes are fixed on Him, He clothes us with His righteousness. He covers all our shame."

I am reminded of Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit." 

For the shame our Christ endured, we should not shy away, but draw ever closer to Him. And for the promise of forgiveness and shame removed, let us keep our eyes solidly on Him. 

Week Twenty-Six - Life on MIssion

My daughter used this book for a ladies' Bible study and recommended it. I ordered a copy and enjoyed it so much that I passed the book on to my pastor. 

Life on Mission is about understanding our God-given responsibility and privilege of living and sharing the gospel. It is about living purposefully for God's glory and discipleship—the cycle of learning and training that propagates the gospel and keeps the church alive and growing. The book ends with a simple breakdown of this process.

He writes,

I do; you watch.
I do; you help.
You do; I help.
You do; I watch.
You do; someone else watches.

As I reflected on my life, I saw this process in action. 

As a young child, I watched my pastors and other church leaders minister doing ministry. Then, doors of opportunity opened for me to help them in small areas of service. I took a roll in Sunday school, played the piano, and participated in church events.

After a while, I even took on some leadership by leading my youth group. It was so scary, but the leaders were there to help me succeed. 

Eventually, I began teaching a Sunday school class, and alongside me was a helper. My helper had already completed Bible College, and she and her husband were doing an internship with the church before going to the mission field. I was so intimidated by her, but my pastor assured me I was the leader and she was there to help me. She was very gracious and encouraging, even when I was ill-prepared or didn't know the answer. She would gently and kindly help me, and I grew to love teaching God's Word, and she became a dear friend whom I greatly admired for her faithful service.

Those years of training set the path of my ministry, and now I have come full circle. Those whose lives I have ministered into are repeating this process in others, and propagation of the Gospel, church growth, and discipleship are blossoming all around because when you live your life on mission, God gives the increase.

My sphere of influence differs greatly from where I began because God took me through this discipleship process. And friend, if we are living for Christ, we are all at some point in this process. "For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

Life on Mission is a read worth your time.

Week Twenty-Five - I Must Be

What did you want to be when you grew up? A nurse, a doctor, a singer, or a teacher? I never thought about that much when I was young, but as my teen years approached, I became more serious about this choice. I knew I wanted to do something that would help people, but I didn't know what that looked like. 

A nurse was off my list because I can't take gore. Singing wasn't possible because I realised my voice was too plain, and a teacher? Well, I didn't have the patience necessary. So as I looked around, I noticed one overriding interest - houses. I loved drawing house plans, so I began exploring becoming an architect. The sad thing was that women were not in that industry during my era, and my Dad informed me so. So that door seemed closed. I looked into the Peace Corps, but they required a degree, and my family didn't have money for college, so I felt like there was no real place for me in the workforce. What did I do? I got married.

It really was the best choice I have ever made. God was at work in my life, and I didn't even know it. I found Christ as my Saviour, and God called Tom into ministry. My job description was beginning to form. And I'm still working that same job and am very thankful for it.

I mention this because a devotion piqued my interest the other day. Dick Brogden was discussing being and doing from the first chapter of James, and he said, "You cannot be something without doing it."

And how true is that? If we say we are mothers, then we should be mothering or fathering, as the case may be. If we say we are Christians, then we should live and act like one. If we say we are servants of the Lord, then our willing service will be readily seen. If we say we are holy, we will live a holy life, and the comparisons could continue. 

To be legitimate, we must be doing what we see ourselves to be. Otherwise, we are hypocrites, fooling ourselves into believing we are something we are not. Obedience and faithfulness to where God has placed me, to the position I fulfill, and to the calling of God upon my life make me who I am.

But here's the blessed point of the devotion: "Anything good I do flows out of God's being and doing." I must be doing what God has given me to do, but even in my doing, it is He who gives the increase. It is He working through me to accomplish His will. And that counts for mothering, singing, nursing, teaching, and even every day living. I must be doing what I say I am.

Week Twenty-Four - A Sketchy Background

Jesus has a sketchy background. You might find that statement odd. He is the Son of God, perfect and holy. How could anyone say He had a sketchy background? 

When you run the genealogy of Jesus in the book of Matthew, you come across some rather dubious characters. The first two verses are kinda okay, but when you get to verse three, you are introduced to a man named Phares, sometimes spelled Pharez. Do you know his story? 

In Genesis 38, we are told that Pharez and his twin sister, Zarah, were the children of Judah. Their mother, Tamar, Judah's daughter-in-law, disguised herself as a prostitute and tricked Judah into sleeping with her because he had been negligent in providing her another husband. Pharez's entry into this life was nothing to boast about. But he was recognized as the son of Judah, and when you read the genealogy of David in Ruth 4, you see that he is the grandfather of Boaz and, eventually, King David, Jesus' family line.

We really don't know much more about Pharez, except for the statement in Ruth 4:11-12. As Boaz makes his bid for Ruth, "And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: and let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman."

"Let thy house be like the house of Pharez?" Apparently, Pharez did not let his sketchy background inhibit him. He rose in leadership and was recognized a worthy son of Judah. He wasn't an accident. God had a purpose for his life.

Dick Brogden said, "When God assembles a team of insignificant people and wins with them, it is pretty obvious who is responsible for the victory." A sketchy background does not intimidate God. He specialized in using the unlikely. And He will use you, never doubt it.

Week Twenty-Three - Pressing Needs

Are you like me? Anxious to see how things will work out? Impatient with the process? Annoyed by waiting? I don't consider myself impatient, but I do grow weary of standing in line when things are taking too long or dealing with issues that seem to have no resolution. On the other hand, I also understand the joy of being patient and seeing God at work, and I have enough road behind me to see the wisdom of waiting.

Let me share one of my waiting experiences. Back in 2004, we were facing a financial shortfall, to put it lightly. We were already in debt, but took on a second mortgage to keep us on the field. That fixed things for a while, but the exchange rate jumped, and things got tighter and tighter.  I began asking God for a miracle. 

Sometimes, the weight of the debt grew so heavy that I found myself in tears and real fear, but each time I came to the Lord, His word to me was, "Wait."

Oh, I didn't want to do that. I wanted this off my hands. I prayed and prayed for another ten years, and still, there was no relief. We pulled our belts tight, and God carried us through, but we could not resolve this mortgage. Meanwhile, God gave me Psalm 119:49 to hang on to. It reads, "Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope."

I heard God telling me to wait. I knew He placed in my heart the realization that He had already answered, but the time wasn't now. So I wiped my tears and rested, hoped, and believed His word to me as I continued to serve. I can't tell you how often I had to return to that verse. I repeated it when the debt overwhelmed me. I'd pray it as I pleaded before the Lord, knowing He always honors His Word.

As we moved into 2020, it still lingered. All our other debt was gone, but this one remained.

God continued to say, "Wait." I kept praying and watching to see how He would help us resolve this problem. I knew He would and only He could, so I waited for Him.

Now, I had prayed from 2004 to 2023, but let me drop back to 2003, before the mortgage. My mother passed away. My inheritance was a rental house. We owned it clear and free, and the income from it we used to clear other debt, keep ourselves afloat, and try to keep up the property. We planned to use it for retirement.

So, in 2023, while still praying about the mortgage, God said, "Now it is the time. Sell that house and clear the mortgage."

"What," I said, "Sell the house?"

"Yes," God said, "It has completed the job I needed it to do, and now this is My answer. Use the funds to clear your mortgage."

I thought I'd be really sad to see the house go, but I wasn't. God's hand was all over it.

The renter wanted to purchase it without any inspections. Our property manager was also an estate agent and managed the sale, only charging us 3%, and things went incredibly smoothly. The mortgage was cleared, and we still had money to invest for retirement. A win, win! 

The sigh of relief and the joy of knowing God had directed the whole thing felt wonderful. I give all glory to Him. My waiting paid off, and what did I learn? God always answers prayer. Wait, is an answer.

In Ruth 3:18, Naomi instructs Ruth to wait, saying, "Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall; for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day."

Friend, Christ, your kinsman redeemer, sees your need, and when you bring it to Him and lay it at His feet, He blesses and assures you He will answer. He does not slumber nor sleep in His care and attention to you. You can sit still, knowing He is working on your behalf.

If you have a pressing need today, take yourself to the feet of the altar and ask the Lord to work. You'll go away blessed and anticipating His answer, even if He says, "Wait."

Week Twenty-Two - Under His Wings

Psalm 139 is one of my favorite Psalms because I always find comfort and joy in its description of how much God is involved in the tiny, everyday details of my life. His intimate attention and care are truly too marvelous to comprehend. 

Dick Brogden, in his devotional Live/Dead, speaks of Psalm 139, saying, "It unveils the joys of being fully known."

God knows us, so we do not need others to know us; we rest in who we are in Christ without seeking extra attention from others. 

God knows us, so we keep no secrets from Him, for He knows everything, and we need not fear exposure. 

God knows us, so we are free, hedged in by His love, and under His everlasting wings.

As we continue Ruth's journey from last week, we left her traveling to Bethlehem with Naomi. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, she is steadfast in her determination, venturing with God. As the Lord would have it, Ruth goes out to glean for food and finds herself in the field of Boaz, a kinsman of Naomi. 

God will not disappoint Ruth, for her testimony of kindness and faithfulness to her mother-in-law has gone before her, and Boaz shows her generous favor. Ruth casts herself upon God, and God will not disappoint her.

When we cast our all upon God, trusting fully in Him, He will not fail us either. Whether we need sustenance, encouragement, forgiveness, or strength, He meets us right where we are and provides for our every need. His provision is a testament to His care for us, moving every circumstance for our benefit. 

In Ruth 2:12, Boaz says to Ruth, "The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust." Ruth's steadfast mind placed her in favor with everyone around her, and God wraps His wings of protection and divine providence around her. 

Psalm 84:11 reads, "No good thing will he withhold from them who walk uprightly." To walk uprightly means to live in a manner that is pleasing to God, following His commandments and living a life of integrity. God always rewards faithfulness, and the faithful are always under His wings for protection and provision. 

"Walking by faith is not a blind walk; it is a confident, assured stride based on the knowledge of God's Word, character, and promises." (Gail Gritts)

Where are you on your spiritual walk? Are you venturing by faith with God? Do you recognize His presence, and are you assured of His protection? Do you, like Ruth, understand that you are "under whose wings thou art come to trust?"

Week Twenty-One - Steadfastly Minded

Stubbornness is most often seen in a negative context. It could be because it frequently comes with an ungracious attitude. But if we change the word from stubborn to steadfast, we have a similar quality but with a more positive context. Let me show you what I mean. 

If someone said,  "Sheer stubbornness caused him to refuse to admit his mistake." We would believe the person to be unyielding and proud. But if we changed the sentence to read, "His steadfastness caused him to hold his position," we'd have more admiration for his stance.

Being steadfast-minded means having a firm, unwavering resolve and focus, not easily swayed by doubt, fear, or external pressures, and remaining steadfast in one's beliefs, decisions, or actions. Steadfast people are mentally strong and resilient, holding firmly to their convictions. This does not mean they are unapproachable or unwilling to consider others' opinions, but they will judge decisions by a consistent set of rules or principles.

Let's consider Ruth's example of steadfastness. Ruth 1:18 reads, "When she (Naomi) saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her." As the story goes, Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem after the death of her husband and two sons. Ruth, her daughter-in-law, decides to go with her, and though Naomi gives several reasons for Ruth to remain, Ruth's heart is steadfastly minded about going with Naomi.

Why was Ruth so determined to push forward? Maybe she deeply loved Naomi and felt concerned about her traveling alone. Maybe she had no family to return to, or maybe she believed God had more for her in a new place. For whatever reason, Ruth was steadfastly minded to push forward.

Oswald Chambers said, "When God gives a vision, transact business on that line no matter the cost." That's what Ruth did, and that's what we must do. When God opens the door, we must go through with a steadfast mind, set on completing our assignment by faith. We should not waver, turn back, or be double-minded.

1 Corinthians 15:58 exhorts us, "Be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 

As much as Ruth is an example of steadfastness, Balaam is an example of stubbornness. He kept pushing forward to a mission of his own choice, and as he struck the donkey, God used the poor animal to point out the folly of his stubbornness.

So, are you stubborn or steadfast? One holds great reward, and the other sure folly. 

Week Twenty - Mouth to Life Resuscitation

Oh, how powerful are our words. With one unguarded comment, we wound, and with one considered comment, we heal. Dick Brogen calls words weapons of mass destruction.

God is not silent about the power of our words and often warns us to speak softly, thoughtfully, and with purpose, because our words reveal the true intent of our hearts. The book of James reminds us that our tongues set things on fire and are virtually impossible to tame. With our words, we bless God, and with our words, we curse others. 

But that should not be the way we speak. James 3:10 says, "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be."

We discover so much about our words in Scripture, but let's give one more thought before we continue.  Ephesians 4:29 reads, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." This is a great measure for words. Is it corrupt? Then don't say it. Will it build someone up? Then don't withhold it.

Dick Brogen wrote, "Praising God and encouraging others is the opposite of tongue death - these are mouth-to-life resuscitation."

And oh, how people need to hear words of life today. The internet and news are full of negative, damaging words. People seem to believe that freedom of speech means they can say whatever hurtful or hateful things come to their mind with no accountability. But let's not be deceived, Jesus said we will give account of every idle word (Matthew 12:36). 

If we are haphazard or unchecked in our speech, we are unwise and damaging to those around us. God will hold us accountable. How much better to be a life-giver? To seek ways to defuse anger, sow unity, and seek peace rather than to blaze words of fire into situations?

Psalm 34:14 contains the phrase, "Seek peace and pursue it." By our words, we can do this. We can give mouth-to-life resuscitation to those gasping for a kind word. We can bring peace to a situation when we pre-judge our words and follow Scriptural instructions.

Our words should bring hope, joy, and even challenge, pointing the receiver to Christ. How are you doing with that these days?

Week Nineteen - Plundering

Tom and I are in a new era. We are not retired, but our ministry has shifted to a different sphere. We are now the old veterans. It is our joy and pleasure to encourage, mentor, and support those now in leadership. Tom used to refer back to the passage in Numbers 9:25, which says the Levitical priests were to move into this type of ministry at 50. Well, he couldn't move there at that age, but he has finally arrived there! It is a joy and a privilege to see the church grow, to watch people move forward with the Lord, and to know that there will be fruit that remains long after we are gone. They are our "crown of rejoicing" (1 Thessalonians 2:19).

Dick Brogden brooched this idea in our devotional reading this past week. He wasn't talking about sitting back and watching things; he was challenging older believers to keep venturing and plundering. Using the story of the lepers in 2 Kings 7, who went into the city to find the enemy gone and everything free for the taking, he said, "Jesus delights over senior citizens who spend their golden years 'plundering' the nations through prayer, visitation, and outreach."

We aren't supposed to just sit and wait to die; we are to still be about our Father's business and out there venturing by faith. There is a great need for people who have walked with God to continue walking in prayer for the church, the leadership, and the growth of the younger ones. There is wisdom under the grey heads that can be brought to bear for those struggling, in need of encouragement, or just a kind word. There is still outreach that can be done best by those a little further down the road, and there is financial, verbal, and physical giving that can be done by the more mature who understand the grace of giving in tangible ways.

Then he wrote, "It is criminal for Jesus' followers, who are amply supplied, to sit in holy huddles while vast collections of people have no access to or news about the Living Bread...they should be calling out to the gatekeepers that there is life, deliverance, and hope." 

Those lepers could not contain their discovery. They recognized that to do so would be wrong. In 2 Kings 7:9, they said, "We do not well: this day is the day of good tidings, and we hold our peace; if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household."

If you are an older Christian, let me challenge you to not sit in "holy huddles." Don't separate yourself from the life of the church. Get out there and mingle with the young ones. Share your story, share hope, and plant hope in their lives. It will bring fresh life to your soul. Be flourishing in the courts of the Lord (Psalm 92:13-14). Keep your light shining and keep plundering and venturing by faith. 

Week Eighteen - Make Some Noise!

My devotion book this year is Live/Dead by Dick Brogden. Our dear friends, Ken and Carrie Liles, recommended it, and we have not been disappointed! Today, I want to share some quotes I have copied out. I hope they bless your heart and challenge you as they did me.

Dick Brogden writes, "We pass God's tests by obedience, not by performance. He is measuring us by how much of our heart He controls. The obedience of the missionary is linked to the obedience of faith of the nations."

Though we often fail to see the link, blessings are always on the other side of obedience. Our obedience is not just about our own blessings, either. As we obey the Lord, our obedience results in blessing for others. When we obey in witnessing, others hear the gospel. When we obey in giving, others take the gospel. When we obey in prayer, others are empowered to spread the gospel.

So my thoughts that day were on obedience and the eternal fruit it produces.

But here is a longer quote that really caught my imagination.

"Enemy forces feed on and are fed by fear. Fear inside errant ideologies is what drives them and energizes them. Gideon was allowed to sneak into the Midianite camp in order to hear their fear (Judges 7:10-13). The enemy realizes that a rolling barley loaf would "tumble" into town and knock down their tents. We are that barley loaf - we clumsily roll down a hill in all our weakness, and God amazingly uses us to defeat His enemies. False ideologies intrinsically know they cannot win. What are we afraid of, then? Let's roll!

We have to make some frontier noise. The enemy is not intimidated by whispers. It is the shouting, the breaking of pitchers, the blowing of trumpets, the sudden light in the darkness that surprises and routs the enemy (Judges 7:18-20). We have to open our mouths despite the risks and the superiority of the foe. It is the unexpectedly bold proclamation that strikes fear into the heart of our enemy."

Fear surrounds us, causing uncertainty and apprehension, and that is exactly what the enemy wants. However, in the Bible references mentioned in the quote, it is the enemy experiencing fear. They feared the power of the God of Israel. They knew they would not win, yet their fear motivated them to seek to destroy Israel.

It reminds me that the enemy knows God's judgment is coming, but he still defies Him. Fear makes them irrational.

We, however, are not to cower but stand by faith and proclaim the gospel boldly. Our lack of fear is exactly what unnerves the enemy. 

Tom and I began discussing this, and we thought of times when God led us to hold our peace in the middle of a commotion. Our quietness and resolve did not make sense to the enemy, but for us, it was a gentle calm, full of assurance that God was fighting for us. And there have been other times when we had to make some noise, speak the truth, and stand for the defense of the gospel. 

There is a time to be obediently silent and a time to make some noise! 

Week Seventeen - His Lingering Presence

A couple of weeks ago, we talked about the word continually. As I usually find, God was not finished developing His thoughts. He brought me back again to the word abiding and began combining the two. I'm going to share what spilled out into my journal.

"The word abide captured me yesterday. As a reminder, I cut the word out of paper and pasted it over the doorway in my office. Then, Dick Brogden's devotion powerfully related to abide. He was talking about glorying in the presence of Jesus and wrote, "stop everything and linger in the glory cloud - the tangible presence of Jesus."

I've known this presence - the nearness of the Lord, the hushed praise as tears fall and I feel His arms around me. Such precious times. I long for them more and more, and not just for the experience, but the relationship, the knowing that He is with me. How precious to awaken to it, to know it as I look into the Word, and to see and feel it in church, and at times throughout the day - this is abiding. This is His tangible lingering presence.

Dick Brogden writes, 'David lifted a cry of longing for us all: "Oh, when will You come to me?" ( Psalm 101:20) We know we belong to Jesus, yet we long for more of Him. We struggle with the "plague" of our own hearts ( 2 Kings 8:38). Our sin and flesh cloud our spirits and make it seem that God is remote, clouded, and veiled. Hunger for God is itself a grace for it is God who "inclines our hearts to Himself" (1 Kings 8:58). Our hearts are often blurred by self and sin, yet we long for Jesus to come to us in renewed vitality. What wonder that God puts the desire for Himself within us. We do not have to manufacture passion, for we only pervert it when we try. Rather, by faith we trust that God will give us a desire for more of Him and will fulfill that desire. . . God often has to withhold His sweet presence in order for us to hunger for Him. He does not do this capriciously; for our folly requires it. Nothing makes us hunger for the Master's table like wallowing in the mire with pigs for a while. God helps us hunger for Him by allowing us to experience how unsatisfying everything else is.'

Nothing compares to Jesus's presence. Nothing is of more value than the Living Word of God—Christ Jesus. This reminds me of Proverbs 3:15, which talks about wisdom and understanding, and Jesus is wisdom personified. The verse says, "She (speaking of wisdom or He, Christ) is more precious than rubies, and all things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her."

Lord, may I continually abide in your presence. Throughout this day, which is your gift to me, may I enjoy it and be thankful, for it is the day You have planned for me. Abide with me and cause me to abide with You, to linger in your presence."

Week Sixteen - Thoughts on Holy Week

I'm on social media daily, posting a thought or an encouragement, and others are doing the same thing. Often, we share each other's posts, but today I wanted to not simply share a picture but talk about two special ones that gave me fresh thoughts about Easter week.

The first read, "Jesus didn't say, 'I am finished.' He said, 'It is finished.' He was just getting started" (Tony Evans). 

Oh, what joy in that statement, that truth. The cross was not the end of Jesus; it didn't defeat Him. He came to give Himself for us on that cross. The cross was the goal, not the punishment. Jesus' mission was finished, but He was not!

Dick Brogden's statement stopped me in my tracks. He said, "The agony of the cross was felt (by God) before the creation of the world and will be felt long after re-creation. An eternal God bears eternal wounds." 

I'd never considered God being so acutely affected by the cross, but since Jesus is God, the idea of coming in human form and experiencing the pain of sin would be a wound shared equally for all eternity. 

So what was finished? The cross completed God's promise of restoration for mankind. Now, it is time to do our part: to accept Christ's sacrifice and be restored to God. That part, our part, is still ongoing. Have you done that?

The other post that caught my attention stated, "This week wasn't just history. It was His heart saying, 'I'll go first, I'll pay it all. My love for you is this deep.'" And that's what He did. 

Christ's sacrifice on Calvary paid in full the cost of our sins, the punishment we deserve, and the price of redemption. He went there so we didn't have to. 

And He didn't have to! He went because of love, a love we find hard to understand and sometimes hard to accept. We could never pay the penalty of our sin and find forgiveness without the immeasurable love of Christ. Sin demands punishment, and the book of Romans tells us that the "wages of sin is death." So when Christ took upon Himself the sins of the world and died, that payment was complete.

If you fail to accept His offering, you will pay the wages of your sin. Eternal death is the price. How odd that anyone would refuse such an offer. 

This Holy Week is a great time to meditate on what Christ did. It is a time of humble praise and wonder that God would send His only begotten Son to die on a cross for people who reject and scorn His sacrifice.

And if you have not yet yielded your stubborn and prideful heart to the loving compassion of Christ, this is a good week for you to lay down your will and give way to His deep and sacrificial love for you.

Week Fifteen - Continually

Several years ago, I journeyed through the Bible, exploring individual words. My meditation, research, and journaling resulted in my 50 Bible Words book (I've put a link below), and, Lord willing, I have another book of 50 More Bible Words coming out later, drawn from that same journey. 

Today, the Lord again brought to my attention the beauty and power of meditating on individual words. The word He pointed out was continually. Psalm 71, vs. 3, reads, "Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort." Vs. 6 says, "My praise shall be continually of thee." Vs. 14, But I will hope continually."

The habit of praise, hope, and security is uplifting and full of spiritual comfort. God's faithfulness and immutability mean we can continually come to Him. He is always there, never leaving or forsaking us, no matter our circumstances.

Dick Brogden wrote, "Conflict with the enemy and comfort from God are both continual. Our response is continual praise." 

While I agree that the enemy is always at work, I don't want to look at life like that. I try to avoid the enemy and keep him away from my home and mind. But I had to agree, he is always lurking in the shadows, but my God lives in the light! I can continually come to Him for comfort and assurance. He always has my back, and I can praise Him even in the darkness because He is light - in Him, there is no darkness!

He is my habitation, where I escape the world and the enemy. He is that strong tower where I can run in and be safe. I can continually go there. He never tires of me!

Praise is not just a comforting habit; it's a powerful weapon against the enemy. He can't linger when I sing praise to God, quote Scripture, or even confess my sins. These actions repel the enemy, so God's praise is continually on my lips, empowering me in my spiritual journey!

And hope? It's not just a fleeting feeling; it's a constant companion in every circumstance, for God is fully able. Even when things don't work out the way I think they should, there is still hope, as my God knows all things and works all things according to the purpose of His will (Ephesians 1:11). Because my hope is in Him, I yield to His sovereignty and wisdom continually.

Dick Brogden beautifully portrays Psalm 71, 'God is our continual refuge, our continual strength, and our continual comfort.' God's faithfulness and continuance are our secure foundation. Embrace the spirit of praise today, and let Him be your refuge, strength, and continual comfort, providing you with a sense of security and reassurance on your spiritual journey.

50 Bible Words:  https://a.co/d/b6JeSs2

Week Fourteen - The Electronic Leash

A few years ago, a pastor recommended 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You by Tony Reinke, which I found humbling and convicting. He said he reads the book twice yearly to help him maintain perspective and balance his social media activity.

Do you find your phone the first thing you reach for each morning? Many of us do. Tony Reinke gives us six reasons why we do that so easily.

1. We want to be informed about what is new in the world and new among our friends, and we don't want to be left out on something newsworthy or noteworthy.

2. We want to know what people say about us and how they respond to things we have said and posted.

3. We want to feed on what is fascinating, weird, strange, wonderful, shocking, or spellbinding.

4. We want to put off the day ahead, especially when it looks dull and routine and holds nothing of fascination to capture our interest.

5. We want to put off the burdens of the roles God has given us as fathers, mothers, bosses, employees, and students.

6. We want to put off dealing with relational conflicts, pain, disease, and disabilities in our bodies.

Do you see yourself anywhere in those six reasons? We'd all have to be honest and say we are guilty of at least one or two of these excuses for surrendering control to our phones.

Let me finish with the author's summary of the issue. He writes, "Perhaps we check our phones for more noble ends - to communicate with friends and family members or to confirm our schedules for the day - but a rush of temptations comes at us immediately in the morning, and we fumble our precious solitude. It's hard to summarize the resulting problem any better than this: The real danger with social media is not that it allows us to isolate ourselves but that by mixing our appetite for isolation with our vanity, it threatens to alter the very nature of solitude. The bottom line is that technology bends us in a centripetal direction, pulling us toward a central habitat of loneliness and filling our lives with habits that benefit the stakeholders who seek to monetize our attention."

I'd never thought of it that way. Because we see social media as free, we often fail to see the monetary gain for the companies that supply our entertainment.

Spurgeon said, "Pemit not your minds to be easily distracted, or you will even have your devotion destroyed." Vital to our spiritual health, we must listen and hear God's voice every morning. We must stop and be still to know that God is God, and we are His children. So, let's push back our phones in the morning to protect our solitude and reflect first on Him.

Then, put your phone away during the day, build authentic eye-to-eye trust with the people in your life, and sharpen your relationships. That little battery-powered object in your hand should not replace your relationship with your Saviour or the beauty of fellowship with others. Let's step away from the electronic leash and feed our souls on eternal things.

Week Thirteen - When Strivings Cease

Last week, I shared a few thoughts about lies we believe that mess up our wiring. Using Ruth Simon's thoughts from her book When Strivings Cease, we summarized that truth counteracts falsehood and sorts our wiring. Today, I want us to briefly examine her conclusion on where we will rest when our strivings cease. Again, I highly recommend this book.

Let's begin by defining what things she calls strivings. She bases her discussion on our innate need and pressure to perform and seek to sustain a standard that doesn't disappoint anyone else. This striving is why we are so tired, keep hustling, feel like we are never enough, and fail to flourish. We bend, straining to meet expectations and fill the gaps of our unknowns with trust in no one but ourselves. Sounds exhausting, doesn't it?

She says, "We strive when we long for something we believe will pull us out of despair and into a sense of fulfillment. We strive to make our dreams come true. Sometimes, those are tangible dreams like starting a business, becoming debt-free, or earning a doctorate. But sometimes those dreams are intangible, like finding love, feeling accepted, or being happy with who you are."

We have all struggled with these things, and some may still struggle. But when strivings cease, life is different. There is room for peace and grace, and a settled security catapults us into growth and maturity. 

Simons lists these seven things as signs of release from striving.

1. We no longer need to prove our worth. Our worth is found in Christ alone, and we rest there.

2. We stop chasing approval as our comfort. We find confidence and comfort in who we are in Christ.

3. We glory in our weaknesses. Weakness is no longer connected with shame but bound to God's intimate work in my life for His glory. I marvel at how He uses me despite my weaknesses.

4. We hold God as greater than our accomplishments. To Him goes all the glory for anything we have done. It is all by His grace and gifting.

5. We know peace apart from pleasing others. We now impart peace instead of trying to derive peace from others. Our peace is found in our settled resolve of God's unconditional love.

6. We understand that God is for us and no longer against us. He is working all things for our good. There is now no condemnation from Him as we walk in the Spirit. God is on our side, and we are on His.

7. Jesus so captures our gaze that we stop chasing everything else. He becomes preeminent in our thoughts and decisions. Pleasing Him becomes our goal in every area of our lives. Jesus is King, and we answer only to Him. As Paul writes, "That we may be found in him" (Philippians 3:9).

Today is a good day to measure your strivings. Are they producing undue stress? Can you exchange them for one of these truths of release? Do you understand the truth presented here, or are you holding on so tightly to self-performance that you are afraid to let go and let God?