Friday, July 30, 2010

The Expression of Faith

“As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. Being reminded, Peter said to Him, ‘Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.’ And Jesus answered saying to them, ‘Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be taken up and cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.’” Mark 11:20-24

There is a spiritual principle that will cause several changes to occur in our lives if we apply it properly. Through it, something will happen to our prayer lives, our conversations with other people, and the evidence of God in our lives.

In this passage, Jesus talked about moving mountains - obstacles in our lives which no bulldozer, shovel, or dynamite can budge. We’ve all faced them. These mountains are either obstacles or opportunities for our faith. How have you responded?

Many times we talk to God about the mountains in our lives; we talk to our friends and even go to counselors for advice. We’ve done all we know to do - and the mountain still stands there. In fact, it seems to have grown. This is the time to resist the temptation to “cop out” and say something like : “I guess God just isn’t in the mountain-moving business any longer.” That’s a very poor excuse for not believing what God says. If He says He will do it, either God will do it or we had better close the Bible and stop fooling ourselves. His eternal reputation rests upon what He says in His Word. We must believe Him.

“I believe though I do no comprehend, and I hold by faith what I cannot grasp with the mind.”

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Faith on Trial

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:1-7

When we experience a situation or circumstance for which we have no answer, we must at that point make a decision about whether we are going to believe God in spite of everything around us or if we are going to listen to the opinions of others. This is the test of faith.

When you are in the middle of a faith test, remember this - God never puts our faith to the test in order to punish us for past sin. Each test in an opportunity to have a faith that has been stretched and grown, a faith that can believe God for great things. It is sometimes difficult for us to see the good in our trials, but God wants us to go through them and to come out able to say, “Jesus Christ is sufficient.”

He will be found faithful in every difficulty. There is no valley so deep, no mountain so high, no desert so dry that Christ is not sufficient and cannot be trusted to be faithful to keep His Word. How will we ever be able to share His sufficiency with burning conviction and authority in our voices - if we have not been through the valley?

Does your faith move mountains, or do mountains move your faith?

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

The Endurance of Faith

“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.” Hebrews 11:23-27

When our faith is stretched to the very limits and all of our dreams lie shattered like broken glass, everything in us says, “Give up.” But don’t give up! When we give up to the difficulties and heartaches of life, we pay a premium penalty.

- First, we damage our own self-esteem.

- Second, we miss the tremendous blessing God especially has for those who are willing to undergo and endure hardship and difficulty.

- Third, we limit God’s use of our lives if we are willing to surrender when the struggle gets the toughest.

When we give up, we are saying that God is faithful most of the time but cannot be trusted to be faithful all of the time. When we give up, we abandon God’s help in exchange for our own human strength and manipulation. God wants to do something in our lives, and far too many of His people give up right before they see victory. The key? Endurance. Don’t look at your circumstances; commit yourself to press on; claim the promises of God’s Word; cling to the faithfulness of God; and cry out to God.

The devil hasn’t armies enough to capture one saint of God who dares to trust Him.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

The Test of Faith

“James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:1-8

Are there times when you struggle to maintain your level of faith in God? Do you find yourself trusting Him deeply - then later questioning that trust? James warns against a wishy-washy type of faith, the kind that is not honored by the Lord. What can we do to strengthen our faith so that the storms of life don’t blow it from side to side? Focus on these three keys:

- Act upon your will, not on how you feel or what you see. When you know God’s direction on a matter, follow through by exercising your will. Choose a course of action which is in line with the truth.

- Focus your attention upon God. If the focus of your attention is upon your circumstances and the impossible thing before you, you will go down in defeat. The omnipotent Creator of the universe is true and faithful. Trust Him.

- Keep your mind on the Word. The Bible is filled with the promises of God. God will be faithful to what He has said. His promises are true and can be trusted. Another benefit is that your mind becomes renewed and your life transformed.

Faith - it’s your choice.“The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of faith is the end of anxiety.” - Mueller

Monday, July 26, 2010

Faith is...

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found became God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:1-6

What kind of faith do you have? Little faith? Great faith? Perfect faith? You may feel as if you have no faith at all; yet to everyone, there is given a measure of faith. We are to use that faith in our daily walk through life; for when we understand the dynamic behind faith, we realize that it is an indispensable gift from God. “...faith is (the Bible tells us) the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 1:11). The writer of Hebrews goes on for more than a chapter to expound on the qualities expressed in the lives of the great men and women of the Bible who exhibited great faith. It is called faith’s “hall of fame.”

Notice that the outcome of faith is not always ease, comfort, and pleasure. Lest we confuse the issue, the focus of faith is not on the outcome but on the One Who has the outcome in His control. This is the first of eight sessions in which we deal with some aspect of faith. May your faith well up within you and become strengthened, stretched, and exercised as a result - “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.”

Faith is...
A laboratory course -
not a lecture course.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Paradise Regained

“Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse,
And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him,
The spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The spirit of counsel and strength,
The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
And He will delight in the fear of the LORD,
And He will not judge by what His eyes see,
Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;
But with righteousness He will judge the poor,
And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth;
And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,
And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.
Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins,
And faithfulness the belt about His waist.” Isaiah 11:1-5


You may be familiar with the famous book, Mutiny on the Bounty, and its infamous captain, William Bligh. In 1787 at age 33, Captain Bligh was given command of the HMS Bounty, a three-year-old merchant ship. The Bounty set sail on December 23, 1787. In April, 1789 the famous mutiny took place, led by Bligh’s one-time friend, Fletcher Christian. The following is an extract taken from Bligh’s logbook entry for April 28 (original spelling and capitalization: “Just before Sunrise Mr Christian and the Master at Arms...came into my cabin while I was fast asleep, and seizing me tyed my hands with a Cord & threatened instant death if I made the least noise...”

Bligh and 18 other crew members loyal to him were set adrift on April 28 in an open boat. In most cases such an act would have led to certain death for the men aboard, but Bligh was a magnificent seaman and landed in Timor, Java, without any loss of life on June 14. The journey of 3,618 nautical miles took them 47 days. Captain Bligh returned to England to report the crime. Many guilty sailors were found and hanged. Several, however, could not be found.

Twenty years passed, and the whole incident was forgotten until a sailing ship discovered a quaint settlement on a remote island (Pitcairn Island). When the crew landed, they could hardly believe what they had found - an utter utopia. There was no disease, no crime, no drunkenness, nothing but grace and harmony. When the crew learned the reason for the modest behavior among the islanders, they were amazed. Nine of the Bounty’s sailors had fled to this island with a number of Tahitian men and women after the mutiny. The sailors quarreled with each other over what to do with the Tahitians. As a result, the Tahitians revolted, and, within a few years, all but one of the sailors, Alexander Smith, had died. In desperation, Smith (alias John Adams) had rummaged through all of the other men’s belongings, looking for more whiskey. In his search, he found a Bible. He read it, believed it, and became a Christian. He introduced the entire population of the island to Christ, and they, with him, believed and obeyed the Word of God, transforming their society.

I am reminded of the words of America’s second president, John Adams, when he said, “Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God...What a utopia, what a paradise would this region be.”

Friday, July 23, 2010

One Memorable Meal

“Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. And He said to her, ‘What do you wish?’ She said to Him, ‘Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.’ But Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?’ They said to Him, ‘We are able.’ He said to them, ‘My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.’ And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.’” Matthew 20:20-28

Six-year-old Brandon had watched his mother make pancakes often enough that he was sure he could do it too, so one morning he decided he’d make breakfast for his parents. He found a big bowl, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard, and pulled out the heavy flour canister. But it tipped over onto the floor. Undaunted, Brandon scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, then mixed in most of a cup of milk, and added some sugar. Then he broke a couple of eggs into the batter, getting only a little egg shell into the mix.

By this time, both he and his kitten were leaving floury tracks on the kitchen floor and Brandon was getting frustrated. This was supposed to be a very special treat form Mom and Dad, but things were not going well. Suddenly he saw the kitten licking from the bowl. But as he reached to push her away, he knocked the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up the damage, but he slipped on the broken eggs and got his pajamas all smeared with the sticky mess. And he didn’t know what to do next.

Brandon was ready to cy anyway - and then he saw his dad standing in the doorway. It was too much, and the tears flowed. He was sure a big scolding was coming, and maybe even a spanking. But his father came to him, picked him up, and hugged him - even though it meant getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process.

That’s how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky, or we insult a friend, or we can’t stand our job, or our health goes sour. Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can’t think of anything else to do. That’s when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us. But just because we might mess up, we can’t stop trying to “make pancakes” for God or for others. Sooner or later we’ll get it right, and then God and others will be glad we tried.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Depending Upon Christ’s Blood

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:7-12

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1


One night a young woman who had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution, felt the tug of God at her heart in a church service. She responded to God’s call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The immediate change in her was evident, and as time went on she became a faithful member of the church and teach of young children. She also in time caught the eye and heart of the pastor’s son, and eventually they began to make wedding plans. This is when the problems began. About half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor’s son.

The issue became such a bone of contention that they decided to have a meeting. As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past. As she began to cry, the pastor’s son stood to speak. “My fiancee’s past is not what is on trial here,” he said. “What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trail. So, does it wash away sin or not?” The whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Too often, even as Christians, we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters. If the blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely then it cannot cleanse us completely. If that is the case, then we are all in a lot of trouble.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

What are Friends For?

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another.” John 15:12-17

Someone once said, “What are friends for if you can’t use them?” Friendship, like many other things, is a paradox - it’s both the strongest thing in the world and the most fragile; wild horses can’t separate (true) friends, but little things can. Usually it’s the smallest of things which separate friends; it should be big things which break up friendships but it’s not.

Friends are worth fighting for, even in difficult times; true friends are very rare and very hard to find. True friends are worth dying for (John 15:13). Jesus, of course, offers the ultimate example of friendship, dying in His friends’ place while they were totally unworthy of friendship.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Better Off Blind

“As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.’ When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing.” John 9:1-7

Imagine no red rose, no blue sky, no rolling green hills, and everything being a dull shade of grey. Without light, there is no color. Color is just bands of light reflected of an object; which bands are reflected depends on the nature of the object. Without light, things would be very plain - not to mention very dark!

So too without Christ - imagine no hope, no love, no future, and no present purpose for living. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Without the light of Christ, there would be no spiritual blessings, no sustaining grace, and no daily bread worth eating. Just as it is impossible to receive mail without a delivery address, it is impossible to receive a true blessing outside the person and authority of Christ.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Garbage Mary

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” Romans 8:15-17

“Garbage Mary,” as she was dubbed by the media, was picked up by the police in a shopping mall in Delray Beach, Florida. She was a filthy mess - and so were her car and her two-bedroom apartment. Neighbors told of her scrounging through garbage cans in search for food, which she took back to her apartment. Police found the garbage everywhere: in the refrigerator, in the stove, in the sink, in the cabinets - even in the bathtub.

But they found other things as well. They found Mobil Oil stock worth more that $400,000. They found documents indicating she owned oil fields in Kansas, stock certificates from prominent firms, and passbooks from eight large bank accounts. Police also discovered that Garbage Mary was the daughter of a well-to-do lawyer and bank director from Illinois, who had died several years earlier.

Garbage Mary was a millionaire, but she lived like a pauper. Great wealth was at her fingertips, but she spent her life sifting through garbage and trash. There is an obvious analogy here. Too many Christians waste their lives bedaubed with rubbish instead of wearing the royal robes of purity and holiness which their Father holds out to them. Why live like Garbage Mary when you can live like the child of the King. Claim your inheritance!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Forgiveness is...

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

Without forgiveness, we would have no friends, not family, and no relationship with God. But forgiving is not as simple to understand nor as easy to do as it may seem. Forgiving is not forgetting. One can forgive without forgetting as well as forget without forgiving. Forgiving is not a big person getting two little persons by the arms, forcing them to face each other and say, “I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” Forgiveness is not justice. An “eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” has nothing to do with forgiveness.

Forgiveness is more like a pardon. The debt is completely canceled, and the record is wiped completely clean. This is what the prophet was referring to when he said, “their sin I will remember no more” (Jer. 31:34). New Testament writers use the word “justified” (Rom 3:24).

When God forgives, He makes me just as if I had not sinned. God’s forgiveness is so complete, and the forgiven are so cleansed that the forgiveness process is referred to as being “born again” (John 3:7), and a “new creature” (2 Cor. 5:17). This process is what Peter identified when he said, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). And this is the forgiveness we are to extend to one another: “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32).

Why are we often remiss in our forgiveness of others? Jesus points to a bad memory as the reason. We tend to forget just how much and how often the Lord has forgiven us. Remembering we are sinners saved by the grace of God will result in a forgiving spirit.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Be a World-Changer!

“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.” Luke 6:31

I’ve decided the world needs to be changed. It’s no small task, mind you. And I don’t take it lightly. So I’ll have to ask your help in doing it.

There needs to be less violence in the world. There are too many angry people on the road and in our workplaces. There are too many abusive words spoken in homes. And there are too many people who never get spoken to except to be criticized, put down, or made fun of. Things don’t have to be that way. You and I can change this hateful pattern and drain off some of that savage anger.

The world definitely needs more smiles. It doesn’t take any great effort to acknowledge people on the sidewalk, in elevators, or at restaurants. Why, it is even possible to smile at clerks and customers. There’s something almost magical when clerk and customer smile simultaneously and speak pleasantly. It starts with a simple, natural smile directed at another human being.

We certainly need increased kindness to each other, too. Every time you cross paths with another human being, you have the opportunity to see and affirm the image of God he or she bears. You can build her up or tear her down. If you do the former, you are honoring God and affirming human dignity; if you do the latter, you are not so much insulting that person as the God in whose likeness she was created. So racism, sexism, and the other hateful “-isms” of the world are banned.

Summing up, I supposes it all translates into Jesus’ call for us to love one another. Maybe that’s why less rage and more smiles, fewer incivilities and more kindness don’t sound like such novel ideas. But, hey, the notion here isn’t novelty but need, not originality but urgency. Don’t you think these little things would make the world a better place for all of us?

“But it’s too simplistic!” someone protests. Are you sure? The world gets changed not only by the mighty exploits of its occasional superstar heroes but also by the cumulative little deeds of each soul who aspires to a holy thing. Don’t wait for someone else to take the initiative in your workplace, at home, or in your church. No leader needs to give you permission. Just do these right, positive, and wholesome things yourself. If you must, do them alone. Go person to person with them, and God will make you into a world-changer!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

How to Prioritize Your Life

And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21


A while back, I was reading about an expert on the subject of time management. One day this expert was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget.

As this man stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers, he said, “Okay, time for a quiz.” Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed mason jar and set it on a table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozed fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?”

Everyone in the class said, “Yes.” Then he said, “Really?” He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down in to the spaces between the big rocks. Then he asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?”

By this time the class was onto him. “Probably not,” one of them answered. “Good!” he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in, and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and gravel. Once more he asked the question, “Is this jar full?”

“No!” the class shouted. Once again he said, “Good!” Then grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked up at the class and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?”

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit some more things into it.” “No,” the speaker replied, “that’s not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: ‘If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.’”

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

A Laugh a Day...

“A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.” Proverbs 15:13

“She who laughs, lasts.” At least that was Theresa of Avila’s philosophy. Theresa, a Spanish nun who founded the Reformed Order of the Carmelites in 1562, used to look for novices who knew how to laugh, eat, and sleep. She believed that if they ate heartily, they were healthy; if they slept well, they were more than likely free of serious sin; and if they laughed, they had the necessary disposition to survive a difficult life.

Abraham Lincoln must have also known that laughter is good medicine. In writing about Lincoln’s Civil War years, author Richard Hanser says that on September 22, 1862, the War Cabinet was summoned to the White House for a special session. Lincoln was reading a book as everyone came in. Secretary of War Stanton later said this of the meeting: “Finally the president turned to us and said, ‘Gentlemen, did you ever read anything of Artimus Ward? Let me read a chapter that is very funny.’”

The president then read aloud a skit called “Highhanded Outrage at Utica.” Stanton was furious, but Lincoln read on and, at the end, he laughed heartily. “Gentlemen,” he asked, “why do you not laugh? With the fearful strain that is upon me day and night, if I did not laugh, I should die. And you need this medicine as much as I do.” It was on this very same day that President Lincoln issued the preliminary edict now immortalized as the Emancipation Proclamation.

‘Honest Abe’ was right - we may likely die without frequent and sustained doses of laughter. After all, they who laugh, last. Have you had your belly laugh today?

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Standing in Faith

“But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant was tending his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went out after him and attacked him, and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God.’

And David said, ‘The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, ‘Go, and may the LORD be with you.’” 1 Samuel 17:34-37

“When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, with a handsome appearance. The Philistine said to David, ‘Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?’ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine also said to David, ‘Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field.’

Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.’” 1 Samuel 17:42-46


As a young shepherd boy, David did not possess all the qualities of a strong, conquering faith. God took years to train him for his future role as king of Israel. However, he never lost sight of God’s goal for his life by fretting over the future. When facing his first major challenge with Goliath, David mentally went through several steps to ensure him the victory through his faith:

Recall past victories - David remembered God’s past faithfulness and was encouraged.

Reaffirm the reasons for the conflict - Make sure your motives and heart are pure before God.

Reject discouragement - Always be wary of pessimism. Instead, practice recalling God’s promises to you.

Recognize the true nature of the battle - Claim your position in Christ as a joint heir and a beloved chid of God.

Respond with positive confessions of faith - God is in control, and He will give you the victory.

Rely on God - The key! All your hope and security is in Christ. You struggle with human abilities and limitations, but God knows no limits.

Reckon the victory - David did. And you can too! Whether the victory comes today or in ten years, God will complete that which He has begun in your life (Philippians 1:6).

Monday, July 12, 2010

Forgive Yourself

“When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14

We all have one thing in common - a past. For some, the memories are wholesome and happy. For many, the emotions connected with bygone events are raw and painful. Attempts to suppress emotional surges related to our past are ultimately futile. We do not forget easily, and even a slight current event can trigger the tremors of past hurts - child abuse, neglect by parents, rejection by a loved one, rebellious attitudes that adversely affected others.

The apostle Paul’s behavior before his conversation was checkered with hatred toward Christianity. Perhaps that is why he wrote so plainly and frequently on the priority of forgiveness, the only remedy for healing the wounds of damaged emotions.

The forgiveness that Christ has lavished upon us is ours to give to those individuals whose actions and words have pierced our soul. Do they deserve to be forgiven? Perhaps not. But do we deserve God’s forgiveness? Certainly not. We love and forgive as Christ loves and forgives us, a difficult task but the only sure cure for past pain.

Be sure to forgive yourself if the sore memories were self-inflicted. God forgives you completely. Simply receive it and stop the guilt trip in its tracks.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Unshakable Peace

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7

The peace of God is usually lost when we lose our perspective of God’s overriding, unceasing care of us. Writing to a church under intense strain capable of dismantling any semblance of contentment, Peter closed his first letter by telling them to give their troubles to God “because He cares for you.” What a relief of pressure! What troubles me and upsets my spiritual well-being, even the slightest irritant, matters to God. He is so concerned that He invites us to give Him every care.

We cast our burdens on Him in prayer. We tell God what bothers us, what robs our joy and peace, and then really believe that He has heard us and will answer. If we truly trust Him to handle the problem, then experiencing His peace is a supernatural result. The situation is in God’s hands. He is in control despite appearances. He is able to bring about a solution, whenever and however He chooses.

When we reach that point, the peace of God is ours. The storms may brew, but God is very concerned about us and has taken our cares upon Himself. When the pressure mounts, we cast every burden on Him. All is in His care, and that settles my soul as no other thought.

Friday, July 9, 2010

The Peace of God

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7

Charles Spurgeon. Martin Luther. John Wesley. Prominent names of Christendom, yet not without great personal struggles.

Spurgeon, known for his compelling sermons at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, battled recurring seasons of depression throughout his splendid ministry.

Luther, whose emphasis on justification by faith alone shattered centuries of false ideology, struggled with numerous physical afflictions.

Wesley, whose preaching filled the towns and villages of colonial America, endured a difficult marriage that created and unstable family life at best.

Their legacies, however, are noble and their achievements memorable. Despite their problems, the peace of God was rooted deep in their spirits, serving as both rudder and stabilizer for their ministry and lives.

It is perfectly normal to have your cage rattled by strained relationships, financial tremors, or emotional surges. Jesus told us to expect such predicaments. But because you have Christ, you have unshakable peace in your innermost being. You can wade through dilemmas without yielding to irrational fears or anxiety. Keep Him at the center of your life and you will reflect the peace of Christ.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Our Way or God’s Way?

“Make me know Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day.
Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses,
For they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
According to Your lovingkindness remember me,
For Your goodness' sake, O LORD.” Psalm 25:4-7


A father carefully explained the basics of safe driving to his newly licensed son. The message was ignored. “Dad, I already know how to drive. There’s nothing you can really tell me.” But a subsequent trip to the grocery store ended with a thud in the parking lot - the result of rear-ending a slow moving vehicle.

We sometimes operate in the same stubborn manner. We make our plans, do it our way, and tag God onto the end. But since God’s ways are higher - different and better - than ours, we do well to follow His plan of action.

How can you know God’s ways when the path is unclear, the next step tentative at best? The best means to know God’s way is to know His Word. God’s Word expresses His will and character; and the better you know it, the more familiar you are with His ways. Just as important is to be filled with the Holy Spirit, our Guide for rough ground and Teacher for perplexing circumstances. God is not reluctant to help us in time of need; we simply need to confess our helplessness and sincerely lean our weight on the Holy Spirit’s ability.

Tell God you want to know His way in your situation. Then expect Him to show you. You won’t be disappointed.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Lord, Teach Us...

It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”

And He said to them, “When you pray, say:
‘Father, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.’” Luke 11:1-4


In the first chapter of the book of Mark, we are given a rare glimpse into the early days of Jesus’ ministry. The twelve disciples had not been chosen; but Andrew, James, John, and Peter were already emerging as followers of Christ.

In Mark 1:35-37 we read for the first time of Jesus’ prayer life. “In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. Simon and his companions searched for Him; they found Him, and said to Him, ‘Everyone is looking for You.’”

Jesus’ behavior was not the norm. He didn’t go to the temple to pray like everyone else. Instead, He arose early to be alone with God. But His goal in prayer wasn’t to complete a ritual; it was to communicate with His heavenly Father and to gain refreshment for His soul.

Later, Luke records a different scenario as Jesus interacts with His disciples. These same men are now the ones thirsty for what Jesus is experiencing with the Father. They, too, wanted to know this type of holy communion and plead, “Lord, teach us to pray...” (Luke 11:1).

God loves us and He waits to make His love apparent. Would you, too, yearn along with the disciples, “Lord, teach me to pray”?

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Molded by the Master

“The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying, ‘Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will announce My words to you.’ Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make. Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, ‘Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?’ declares the LORD. ‘Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.’” Jeremiah 18:1-6

Jeremiah is often called the weeping prophet, for there’s very little within his writings that evokes ease and comfort. Israel was in a dark period. The people had turned from God and were beginning to reap the consequences of their sin.

In chapter eighteen, the prophet uses the example of a master potter working a lump of clay in a beautiful vessel to portray God’s desire for His people. Israel’s rebellion, however, had spoiled God’s handiwork. Jeremiah knew the course of destruction Israel had chosen. “Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel,” declared the Lord (Jer. 18:6). The people answered God by saying, “It's hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart” (Jer. 18:12).

Jeremiah’s age-old cry of alarm could be directed to us today. God, the Master Potter, still seeks to mold us into vessels of purity and holiness. However, many have been drawn aside by the temptations of the world. Don’t repeat Israel’s mistake. Dedicate yourself to God, for His glory and His purpose alone. You will then reap the blessings God freely bestows on those who love and honor Him.

Monday, July 5, 2010

When God Speaks

Then Job answered the LORD and said,
“I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
'Hear, now, and I will speak;
I will ask You, and You instruct me.'
I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;
But now my eye sees You;
Therefore I retract,
And I repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:1-6


We can read the end of the Book of Job and see how the story ends for this blessed saint. But Job never knew how it would end. He never understood the test he faced or the reasons behind it. He was perplexed. God left him scratching his head. Job said, “He has walled up my way so that cannot pass, and He has put darkness on my paths” (Job 19:8).

Job cried out to God with a long list of objections and questions. Yet God never gave Job an answer. As a matter of fact, He didn’t answer a single question. He just gave Job a revelation of Himself. That’s why I like that song that says, “When answers aren’t enough, there’s Jesus.” Job didn’t find a reason. What Job found was a relationship. Job didn’t get information. What he discovered was a sovereign God. When Job shut up, God showed up.

And what did God say? God told Job that He was talking about things Job didn’t even understand. God prodded Job with questions no man can answer. God reminded Job that He had never asked Job for advice. And look at how Job responds in Job 42:1-6. Essentially, he says, “God, I see You now. Before, I heard about You. But now, God, I know You in a way that I’ve never known You before. I know You, God, with the deepest faith that a person can have. I don’t love You because. I just love You. I don’t have understanding, I have You.”

Friend, can you say, in times of adversity and perplexity, that there’s a sovereign God who can do as He will? When you don’t have answers, do you still trust Him?

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Blessed is the Nation

“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the LORD;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.
The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:6-12


We could spend days, weeks, maybe even months weeding through the thoughts of why America is on such a downward moral spiral. But nothing from a human perspective adequately explains the sense of hopelessness that prevails our society.

America is wounded. We know this. How badly? No one knows for sure. Is the condition reversible? Only God knows. Our country was founded on the principles of God. Regardless of individual religious belief, our founding fathers agreed America was to be one nation under God. However, somewhere along the line of history, we began to drift. Materialism, greed, humanism, and an agnostic view of God diverted the spiritual direction of our country.

Anytime a nation turns away from God, it suffers the consequences of that decision. America has been blessed more than any other nation, but now the deep lines of spiritual erosion are surfacing. Now is not the time for apathy. Now is the time for us to pray for our country, its leaders, and its future. Now is the time to wake up, get involved, and become an active part of the society you live in. Now is the time to get off the bench and get into the game!

Pray for God to make you sensitive to sin and show you how you can live holy for Him. Remember, God is ultimately in control, so pray with a hopeful, victorious spirit for our country. In the end, He will perfectly complete all He has begun.

Today, celebrate your freedom! And thank God for it!

Friday, July 2, 2010

Take Time to Hear God

“Now Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David, except he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place; Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, ‘Ask what you wish me to give you.’

Then Solomon said, ‘You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. So give Your servant an understanding (hearing) heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?’” 1 Kings 3:3-9


The result of seeking God is a life abandoned to Him. Oswald Chambers wrote: “The destiny of my spiritual life is such identification with Jesus Christ that I always hear God, and I know that God hears me (John 11:41). If I am united with Jesus Christ, I hear God, by the devotion of hearing all the time. A lily, or a tree, or a servant of God, may convey God’s message to me. What hinders me from hearing is that I am taken up with other things.

It is not that I will not hear God, but I am not devoted in the right place. I am devoted to things, to service, to convictions, and God may say what He likes but I do not hear Him. The child attitude is always, ‘Speak, Lord for Thy servant is listening’ (1 Sam 3:9). If I have not cultivated this devotion of hearing, I can only hear God’s voice at certain times; at other times I am taken up with things...”

In seeking God, we make a choice either to take time to listen or spend our lives frantically working in our own strength. God’s guidance is always clear. There may be valleys and hills along our way; but because we have spent time with Him, we can know He is near. As you open His Word today, pray that He will speak specifically to your heart.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

God Has a Plan

“‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.’” Jeremiah 29:11-13

God’s message to us is always consistent with His Word. Therefore, the apostle Paul instructs the churches to read and study God’s Word, knowing it will produce an abundance or righteousness. “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs...” (Col. 3:16).

Early believers didn’t have the Scriptures as we know them. They had the Law of Moses and the words of the prophets. Letters (our books of the New Testament) from the apostles were circulated to the churches who taught the words and principles of Christ. Paul knew if the people studied these, they would be equipped to face all temptation and trouble.

Many times we face emergencies that leave us little time to go to the Scriptures and hunt for God’s answer. However, when we study God’s Word, we have spiritual tools needed to face the conflict. You may be facing a deep personal loss. God wants you to know He is a God of comfort (2 Cor. 1:3). He has a plan for your life that goes past the immediate hurt (Jer. 29:11). Therefore, do not throw your confidence away, because it will be rewarded (Heb. 10:35).