When Plans Don’t Work Out

/1 Comment/in , , , /by

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps. Pr. 16:9

The plan was simple: climb into a plastic bottle and crowd surf. The problem: the big plastic bottle did not go in the direction it should have gone.  Former American Idol judge and pop superstar Katy Perry decided that climbing into a giant, inflatable plastic bottle and crowd surfing at the recent Isle of MTV Malta performance would be a great way to connect with her fans. All went well until the fans pushed the bottle away from the stage and deeper into the audience. Perry, speaking about the incident, said, “I basically get in this giant inflatable water bottle, and I roll it into the crowd, and tonight I went kind of far, and I was a little bit worried I was not gonna come back.”  (USA Today)

What happens when your well-thought-out plans do not work out? It all depends upon the magnitude of your unfulfilled plans. If you get to the movie theatre and find out that the movie you wanted to see is no longer showing, you probably rank that as a slight irritation. However, you end up seeing another movie that was actually better and much more uplifting.

You made plans all year for a week at the beach. You packed the suntan lotion, inflatables, snacks, and beach stuff. You drove 10 hours, fighting traffic all the way, listening to the kids ask, “Are we almost there?” But you finally made it to your condo. However, you neglected to check the weather and found out that a hurricane was off the coast. You woke up every morning of the week to gale-force winds and tropical rain. Now your well-thought-out plans turned to disappointment. What next? You could pack the car in the pouring rain and drive home. You could decide to stay, but every day you get a little angrier, or you could praise the Lord for the rains and get out the Monopoly Board!

Panic is often the emotional response when you have no idea what will happen next. Katy Perry felt that panic when a well-thought-out plan did not go as planned. Chances are you have never crowd-surfed in an inflatable plastic bottle, but you may have felt that panic in countless different ways.

You had high hopes for a promotion you should have received, but someone else got it. You had been working at your dream job for only a few months when you were told the company was downsizing and that your position would be eliminated. We all have our well-thought-out plans that end up going off track. We may not fully understand, but we do have a God who cares deeply and will see us through our panic. “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.” Psalm 147:5

What do you do when your well-thought-out plans do not work? You lean into God’s goodness and love for you. God reminded Joshua in preparation for him to assume leadership from Moses, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6).

 A boat that is not properly fastened to the dock will end up drifting endlessly out into the ocean. Our lives need that secure anchor of God to keep us safe. One of my favorite “coffee mug verses” is Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” It is a great reassuring verse, and I believe it fully. However, many people forget that it sits in the middle of a letter addressed to refugees. The people had been defeated, their homes destroyed, their future unsettled, and their government crushed. They were living in captivity; their well-thought-out plans were ruined, and hope was in short supply. If they looked to themselves, nothing good would come.

We tend to want a nice, clear path ahead. We want to arrive at the destination, but God is more concerned with our trusting Him through the journey. You can sit in the middle of chaos when you know God’s promise: He will be with you, He cares for you, and He has everything under control. “Because God has said, Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5b-6).

“What we call the process God calls the end. What is my dream of God’s process? His purpose is that I depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay in the middle of the turmoil calm and unperplexed, that is the end of the purpose of God. God is not working towards a particular finish; His end is the process— that I see Him walking on the waves, no shore in sight, no success, no goal, just the absolute certainty that it is all right because I see Him walking on the sea. It is the process, not the end, which is glorifying to God…God’s end is to enable me to see that He can walk on the chaos of my life just now.” (Oswald Chambers).

We can handle the situations where our “plastic bottle” goes adrift because God is bigger and more able than any situation that comes up. We can get to the point where we see God walking with us in the chaos, as well as in the nice, calm waters. “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

Jesus, I lay my fears before you, choosing to trust you. You have turned the tide and reminded me that no problem can overwhelm me because you are with me. Your Word is true—never failing. You bathe me in your life-giving light and show me the way to walk. The journey with you is filled with promise. You have proven your great love, and I will be forever grateful.

God is great!

A weekly devotion to offer encouragement, hope, and purpose found in Jesus.

Vulnerability plus Trust in God equals Unstoppable

/1 Comment/in , , , , , /by

But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV

Vulnerability comes in all shapes and forms. The Thai guide meticulously tightened my harness, checked my safety hat, then attached my trolley to a cable that was suspended several hundred feet in the air across the jungle and pushed me off the platform. Questions of sanity quickly rose to my mind. I had wanted to experience the Flight of the Gibbon when working in Chiang Mai, Thailand, but now, suspended over the lush, emerald jungles, I will admit to a slight feeling of vulnerability. I am not sure why I should have been concerned, since I had been through their safety briefing and instructed on how to brake before I crashed into the other pole going 40-50 mph. The vulnerability quickly gave way to excitement, and I lived to tell the story and get my t-shirt.

Vulnerability and suspicion seem to be natural companions. People feel vulnerable when getting up in front of an audience to speak. Will they like me? Do I have anything worth sharing? People feel vulnerable when trying something new. What if I do it wrong? Can I really do it? Do I know how to do it? People feel vulnerable when they find themselves out of control. What am I going to do? How do I get control?

Marian Anderson understood vulnerability. She chose to face her vulnerability by using her God-given talents to change the cultural norms of her day. Anderson was born in 1897 in Philadelphia to hardworking, committed Christian parents. It did not take long for her amazing singing voice to be recognized; she joined the junior choir at age six. She was affectionately nicknamed “The Baby Contralto.” She would have quickly become a household name, except that she was the wrong color, according to certain segments of society.

Anderson found new pathways when society blocked her because of her race. Having been turned away from a music school in Philadelphia, she was encouraged to go to Europe for training, where she could become a success. When she was denied the opportunity to sing at Washington, D.C.’s Constitutional Hall, the public was outraged. Famous musicians protested, and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt worked to arrange a free open-air concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. She sang “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” before 75,000 people and millions of radio listeners on Easter Sunday, 1939. Her incredible voice was heard by millions instead of a few hundred in the concert hall.

Over the next decades, she received invitations to perform at the White House; before Presidents and European royalty; at Presidents Eisenhower’s and Kennedy’s inaugurations; and to be honored with awards by Presidents Johnson and Reagan; and was adored for her character and courage. When reflecting on the racism she endured despite her enormous popularity, she simply said, “If I were inclined to be combative, I suppose I might insist on making an issue of these things. But that is not my nature, and I always bear in mind that my mission is to leave behind me the kind of impression that will make it easier for those who follow.” (National Marian Anderson Museum)

Vulnerability and suspicion may be natural dance partners, but vulnerability and trust in God form a far more powerful partnership. If suspicion breeds fear and doubt, trust in God fosters empowerment and purpose. Just ask Jonathan, King Saul’s son and David’s best friend.

Saul’s new kingship was not off to a roaring start. The army was now stuck, waiting for the other side to act. Then Jonathan had a great idea: climb a mountain and take on the enemy. Jonathan told his young assistant, “Let’s go over… Perhaps the LORD will act on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.” (1 Samuel 14:6). Jonathan discovered a powerful principle: two plus God equals overwhelming results!

What a powerful picture of total vulnerability. “Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him.” (I Sam 14:13). I have never served in the military, but I have climbed a few mountains in my life. When you climb using your hands and feet, you are very exposed. This is not the best fighting position. Jonathan put his vulnerability into the capable hands of God. He did not know the possible outcome, but that was not important. He had put his trust in God. The outcome was a total victory on top of the mountain, and “Then panic struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God…So on that day the LORD saved Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.” (I Sam 14:15,21)

You can only imagine the vulnerability David must have felt when he went to fight Goliath with only his sling and the five stones he had picked up. You can only imagine the vulnerability Andrew must have felt when he brought a little boy with a few little fishes and some bread to feed a few thousand. You can only imagine the vulnerability Mary must have felt as she walked in front of a bunch of men and then knelt to pour expensive perfume onto Jesus’ feet. You can only imagine the vulnerability a little nine-year-old boy must have felt as he walked down a church aisle to give his life to Jesus.

We all have our stories of vulnerability. Those stories become life-changing and life-giving when they are told because we lived out our vulnerability by putting our trust in God. “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you…In God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4)

God is great!

Going Against the Grain

/1 Comment/in , , , , /by

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 NIV

“Most people do not have a problem with you thinking for yourself, as long as your conclusions are the same as or at least compatible with their beliefs.” The late South African author and philosopher Mokokoma Mokhonoana put it well about conformity. Our world is where we live our daily lives, whether rural or urban, young or old, male or female, conservative or liberal, or any other grouping we choose. Our world has certain expectations that we call norms, traditions, or cultural identity. If you happen to wander outside the perceived lines, you quickly get tagged. You are identified as “one of them” instead of “one of us.”

“The simplistic way of not conforming is to see what is in style in our culture and then do the opposite. If short hair is in vogue, the nonconformist wears long hair. If going to the movies is popular, then Christians avoid movies as “worldly.” The extreme case of this may be seen in groups that refuse to wear buttons or use electricity because such things, too, are worldly.” (R.C. Sproul)

Paul cared more about the church than about external matters, unless those matters brought disrepute on the church or caused unbelievers to walk away from Jesus because of lifestyle issues. Paul wrote his letter to Christians who would definitely be considered non-conformists. Rome, the world’s political and economic powerhouse at the time, had definite ideas about how people should live, worship, believe, and act. Everyone had their place in society and culture, with the not-so-subtle requirement that they not deviate from the expected patterns. These early followers of Jesus quickly challenged the expectations for how people were supposed to live, introducing a whole new paradigm of faith.

Theologian R. C. Sproul wrote about nonconformity in his book, The Holiness of God, where he said, “A superficial style of nonconformity is the classical pharisaical trap. The kingdom of God is not about buttons, movies, or dancing. The concern of God is not focused on what we eat or what we drink. The call of nonconformity is a call to a deeper level of righteousness that goes beyond externals. When piety is defined exclusively in terms of externals, the whole point of the apostle’s teaching has been lost. Somehow, we have failed to hear Jesus’ words that it is not what goes into a person’s mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of that mouth. We still want to make the kingdom a matter of eating and drinking.” (R. C. Sproul, The Holiness of God)

Living with your life focused on Jesus often puts you at odds with current cultural trends, political views, and lifestyle choices. Jesus fully understood that those who would follow Him would be forced into challenging positions. Yet He did not sugarcoat the requirements for His followers. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24 NIV).

William Tyndale became a nonconformist when he challenged the established religious authority by translating the Bible into English. His work ultimately led to his being burned at the stake. Yet in death, his final words were, “Lord, open the king of England’s eyes.”

Rev. Bernard Randall became a nonconformist after preaching a sermon advocating freedom of belief over gender identity. His commitment to upholding Biblical truth cost him his job as a chaplain and his standing as a priest in the Church of England. A settlement was finally reached, clearing him of wrongdoing. Randall wrote, “Seven years have been taken from me for doing my duty as a C of E chaplain in a school with a C of E ethos. I encouraged pupils to think, to debate, and to love their neighbors whatever they believed. No minister, teacher, or chaplain should be punished for upholding Christian teaching in a Christian setting.”

Paivi Rasanen, former Finnish Minister of the Interior, found herself a nonconformist when she upheld biblical beliefs about marriage and sexual ethics over current cultural trends. “I stand by the teachings of my Christian faith and will continue to defend my and every person’s right to share their convictions in the public square.” In a letter to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, she wrote, “Without the criminal charges imposed on me, I would not have had the exceptional chance to share my Christian faith in police stations, courtrooms, and through live broadcasts and press conferences heard around the world.”

“The call to nonconformity is choosing faith over fear, truth over trends, and compassion over canceling. It’s rejecting popular opinion, peer pressure, and political correctness when those are at odds with the will of God. The fear of man is epidemic, but there is a cure – the fear of God that sets us free from every other fear.” (Mark Batterson, from pre-release of his new book, Not My Circus).

These early believers in Rome practiced nonconformity until they had redefined the surrounding pagan culture. They offered their “bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1). They met in homes as a community rather than allowing social status to define who they were. They fellowshipped together, learned together, and worshipped together (Acts 2:42). They were nonconformists in how they ministered to each other’s needs, pooling resources to help one another. “They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need” (Acts 2:45).

These believers’ houses became places of worship and centers of hospitality, welcoming anyone who wanted to learn more about Jesus. These nonconformists lived differently from the world. They did not conform to the world, but by living transformed lives, they changed their world.

Today, we face new challenges in living out our faith, yet we must still choose not to conform to the world’s pattern and be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Jesus is worth the cost of refusing to conform to the world’s patterns!

God is great!

A weekly devotional post offering encouragement, hope, and purpose found only in Jesus

 

Jesus Touch of Healing

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. He warned them not to tell others about him. Matthew 12;15-16

Jesus, you are as much a Healer today as you were 2,000 years ago. I take hope in your love and power to heal both the loved ones I entrust to your care and me. God is greater than any of my circumstances, whether physical, spiritual, financial, or end-of-life. This is such an important truth to remember whenever we are feeling defeated.

 We now live in an age when our modern treatment of medical issues takes place behind closed doors in sterilized surroundings. In the United States, HIPAA protects patients’ medical privacy. Unless you are the patient, you will seldom be exposed to the graphic reality of sickness. Now, I am not advocating going back to a time of non-sterilized environments; I am grateful for the advances in medical care. However, I am more thankful that Jesus is still the ultimate healer.

The sick, hurting, and destitute people Jesus encountered did not have the luxury of medical care, privacy, or hope. They endured the frustrations of their broken bodies daily, in full view of every passerby. The blind were forced to beg, those with leprosy lived as outcasts, the deaf lived in isolation, and the broken were robbed of all dignity. Yet Jesus saw them for who they were. They were beloved, created in the image of God, and loved by him.

“What sickening ulcers and putrefying sores! Yet He was ready for every new shape of the monster of evil and was victor over it in every form…It is still the case today. Whatever my own condition may be, the beloved Physician can heal me; and whatever may be the state of others whom I may remember at this moment in prayer, I may hope in Jesus that He will be able to heal them or their sins…I can hope for each and for all, when I remember the healing power of my Lord…He who on earth walked the hospitals still dispenses His grace and works wonders among the songs of men: Let me go to Him immediately and earnestly.” (Charles Spurgeon)

Jesus did not worry about social norms or traditions when it came to his beloved. We read the tender story of a man with leprosy who walked bravely out of the shadows and endured the scorn of the crowd so that he could come to Jesus. He had been condemned all his life to the realm of the outcasts until he learned about the one who could bring healing. Jesus could have stood at a distance and spoken the word for the man to be cured, but not Jesus. “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man…Be clean! Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.” (complete story: Matthew 8:1-4). The man was healed, but maybe for the first time in years, the man felt the touch of another human, and that touch was Jesus.

Jesus was not hindered by distance or racial barriers when it came to his beloved.  We read the humbling story of a Roman military officer who set aside his rank and power for his paralyzed servant and asked Jesus to heal him. The centurion bowed before Jesus, saying he was not worthy for Jesus to come to his home, but trusted that Jesus could “say the word, and my servant will be healed”. Jesus was amazed and told him, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would. And his servant was healed at that moment” (Matthew 8:5-13).

Jesus did not worry about religious sensitivities when it came to restoring his beloved, who were broken. We read of the determination of friends to get their hands dirty and make a spectacle of themselves, if necessary, to bring their friend to Jesus. The noise must have stopped Jesus’ teaching as the friends worked hard to pull off the roof tiles until they could lower the man to Jesus. “So he said to the man, I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home. He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all.” (Mark 2: 1-12 complete story).

Jesus understands the challenges of his beloved and gives us the strength, courage, and fortitude to face each day. Joni Eareckson Tada, who has been paralyzed and in a wheelchair since she was 17, tells the story of hoping to take her wheelchair to heaven with her. “Now I know that is not biblically correct, but if I were able, I would have my wheelchair up in heaven right next to me when God gives me my brand-new, glorified body. And I will then turn to Jesus and say, “Lord, do you see that wheelchair right there? Well, you were right when you said that in this world we would have trouble, because that wheelchair was a lot of trouble! But Jesus, the weaker I was in that thing, the harder I leaned on you. And the harder I leaned on you, the stronger I discovered you to be. So thank you for what you did in my life through that wheelchair. And now, “I always say jokingly, “you can send that wheelchair to hell, if you want.” (Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni & Friends website)

Lord, you are my healer and comforter. I bring all my cares to you and lay them at your feet. I am learning to listen to you when you say, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT)

God is great!

Prayer Safari: A weekly devotional post to offer encouragement, hope, and purpose found in Jesus.

Fathers Touch of Love

/1 Comment/in , , , /by

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.

 I Corinthians 16: 13-14 NIV

Fathers, did you get that perfect gift yesterday for Father’s Day? If not, there is always Christmas. This gift may not be for you, but if you are the father of young children, it would be an answer to prayer. I am not sure if or when it will ever be released in the United States, but Chinese carmaker Seres has been granted a patent for the long-awaited “in-vehicle toilet”. This amazing invention slides under a passenger’s seat for those much-needed stops on long road trips. How many times have you just passed an exit when you hear the magic words, “I need to go to the bathroom,” and the next exit is 20 miles down the road?

The patent filing on April 10 stated, “the feature is meant to satisfy users’ needs on long journeys, while camping, or while staying in the car. The loo will come with a fan and exhaust pipe to channel odors out of the car…Waste is collected in a tank that has to be emptied manually.” (Osmond Chia)

Globally, Father’s Day is celebrated in many nations, all with the same purpose of honoring fathers. In the United States, the UK, and South Africa, among others, it is observed on the third Sunday in June. The idea of celebrating fathers came from two young ladies in the early 1900’s, Grace Golden Clayton and Sonora Smart Dodd. West Virginian Clayton proposed the idea in 1908, and though many felt her idea worthy, it was rejected. On the opposite side of the nation, Dodd convinced the Spokane, Washington Ministerial Alliance to celebrate Father’s Day the following year. The idea was accepted and gained support over the next several decades. However, it wasn’t until 1966 that it became officially recognized.

President Lyndon B. Johnson designated the third Sunday of June that year in a proclamation as Father’s Day. In his proclamation, he stated, “In the homes of our Nation, we look to the fathers to provide the strength and stability which characterize the successful family…If the father’s responsibilities are many, his rewards are also great-the love, appreciation, and respect of children and spouse.”  Finally, in 1972, President Richard Nixon signed a law officially making Father’s Day a permanent national holiday.

Father’s Day may be officially celebrated on one day of the calendar, but hopefully, fathers, just like mothers, are celebrated the other 364 days, since their roles are not limited to one day of the year.

Fathers come in all shapes, colors, abilities, temperaments, and fashion senses, yet they all share one common thread—their children. Whether their role as fathers came about through natural birth, adoption, fostering, or unique care status for children, they are fathers. Fathers know best some days and completely blow it the next. Yet a wise father who seeks to guide his children in God’s ways will unveil the true secrets of life. “Listen, my sons (and daughters), to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching…Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.” (Proverbs 4:1-2,5 NIV).

Fathers know it is not an easy job. It never has been, nor will it ever be. Dwight Moody was not talking only to dads, but the message was encouraging. “Let God have your life; he can do more with it than you can.” The Bible does not have a special category for “Best Dad of the Year,” but we can find some noteworthy examples. One great example is Joseph.

Joseph’s role as father did not come through the normal channels. He was given a very unique role. Joseph was looking forward to a long, ordinary life with his fiancée, Mary. Plans were coming together for the marriage, for setting up a new home, for dreaming of children, and for starting his carpentry business. Then came the extraordinary assignment that changed the course of their comfortable, preconceived plans. God asked Joseph to fulfill a critical purpose in the Messiah’s birth, as caretaker of Mary and the baby.

“Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18). Needless to say, Joseph’s perfect world was turned upside down. He cared deeply for Mary and didn’t have the heart to publicly disgrace her, so he decided to divorce her quietly.

An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, reassuring him that Mary had willingly agreed to the plan. Now, would he have the courage to say yes? “Carry the cross patiently, and with perfect submission; and in the end it shall carry you.” (Thomas a Kempis)

 “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” (Matthew 1:24-25) Joseph did not know what lay ahead, but he said yes. He would protect Mary and Jesus from a tyrannical ruler, take his family as refugees to a foreign country, resettle them in a new home, teach Jesus to be a carpenter, and serve as a mentor and teacher.

“The characteristic of a disciple is not that he does good things, but that he is good in motive because he has been made good by the supernatural grace of God. The only thing that exceeds right-doing is right-being. Jesus Christ came to put into any man who would let him a new heredity which would exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus says—If you are my disciple, you must be right not only in your living, but in your motives, in your dreams, in the recesses of your mind.” Oswald Chambers

Little is said about Joseph after the first few years. Scholars can only speculate; we can only offer opinions, but what we do know is that he faithfully did his job as God asked him to. His obedience changed both history and eternity. Whatever or however the role of father came to you, do it in a way that prepares the next generation to follow Jesus.

God is great!

Monday morning devotion to offer encouragement, hope, and purpose for Jesus’ followers

Change of Purpose

/1 Comment/in , , , /by

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them? For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen Romans 11:33-36

Have you ever had something you thought was for one thing and ended up being for something else? Some of the most ordinary, successful products became valuable because customers used them differently from the inventor’s intention.

Tea drinking and the British go hand in hand; they are inseparable. The arrival of tea in Britain in the 17th century altered the nation’s drinking habits. To make a perfect cup of tea, place the tea leaves in a teapot and steep for 3 minutes. Add a hot scone for the perfect teatime!

You can imagine the mess of cleaning out the pot until an accidental American invention in 1908. Thomas Sullivan, a New York tea merchant, started sending samples in small silken bags. Sullivan intended that people open the bags and pour their contents into a pot. Customers started dropping the little bags into the pot, and thus, by accident, the tea bag was born. (UK Tea & Infusions Association)

Developers Hurley, Chen, and Karim had the idea for an online dating service with the slogan “Tune In, Hook Up,” and launched it on Feb 14, 2005, but it flopped as originally intended.  However, they quickly realized the value of the video-upload platform, which transformed YouTube into a place for users to upload, view, and stream videos. That failed dating platform is now worth as much as $550 billion.

Inventors Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes were trying to create textured wallpaper. They ran two pieces of plastic shower curtain through a heat-sealing machine in 1957, resulting in a sheet of film with trapped air bubbles. Unfortunately, they failed in the interior decorating business, but what they did changed the world of packing and shipping forever with the introduction of Bubble Wrap.

God is masterful at taking how one thinks something should be and turning it into a treasure that far exceeds what was intended. God used a godless king to provide a way of salvation for his people. Cyrus was a political and military genius, bringing together the Medes and the Persians into a unified nation. One of the greatest changes he introduced was a genuinely fresh idea onto the world stage: tolerance. God said of Cyrus, “He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please.” (Isaiah 44:28).

God takes the improbable and redefines it for His purpose. God takes what is hidden and reveals it for His glory. God takes what can’t be explained and reshapes the whole story. “I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” (Is. 45:3) God is at work in the darkness where we can’t always see.

God often uses one person’s concern to ignite a spark. This is the story of Professor Robert George of Princeton University in 2023. “I happened to read a report in the Wall Street Journal. It included polling data showing that the belief of Americans in certain core values—values that had traditionally been sources of unity and strength for Americans—had very considerably diminished over the past decade or decade and a half. I’m talking about values such as religion, family, and patriotism.”

According to the polling data, the only value that had increased in importance was money. Can one person make a difference? Professor George didn’t know, but he decided to do something bigger than himself. He announced on his Facebook and Twitter accounts, “By the authority vested in me by absolutely no one, I have declared June to be Fidelity Month—dedicated to the importance of fidelity to God, spouses and families, and our country and communities.” (fidelitymonth.com website)

Fidelity is defined as “Faithfulness to obligations, duties, or observances; loyalty… Fidelity involves the unfailing fulfillment of one’s duties and obligations and the keeping of one’s word or vows.” (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language)

Time will tell whether this one man’s concern and determination will become a movement. It has grown across the nation since launching, with Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and Michigan’s House of Representatives all proclaiming June as “Fidelity Month.” Gov. Sanders told the Daily Wire in an interview after the Fidelity Month declaration, “The resolution highlights the state’s goal of creating a healthy society by sowing faithfulness to ‘God, family, community, and country.’”

Jesus taught his followers what the kingdom of heaven really looked like. Given their choice, their nation would have been a superpower. Jesus took an opposite approach, teaching parables about the kingdom of heaven as God intended. (Matthew 13). Though the consumer market has many successful products used differently from how the developer first envisioned, Jesus made sure his kingdom would be used correctly. “A disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” (Matthew 13:52b)

“Dear brothers and sisters, I pray God may open your eyes and let you see what hidden treasures he bestows on us in the trials from which the world thinks only to flee. Shame turns into honor when we seek God’s glory. Present affliction becomes the source of heavenly glory. To those who suffer wounds in fighting his battles, God opens his arms in loving, tender fellowship, which is more delightful by far than anything our earthly efforts might produce.” (St. John of Avila, 1499-1569)

“May God give you treasures hidden in the darkness.”

God is great!

A weekly devotional post to offer encouragement, hope, and purpose found in Jesus!

A Story Worth Telling

/1 Comment/in , , , /by

God, now that I’m old and gray, don’t walk away. Give me grace to demonstrate to the next generation all your mighty miracles and your excitement, to show them your magnificent power! Psalm 71:18 TPT

“Leave footprints to follow rather than scars to heal.” (Gerry Brooks)

What footprint will you leave for the next generation? God designed life where generations overlap. Sometimes the overlap is not very long, but long enough to tell stories that the next generation will remember. This overlap is a time to love, to teach, to inspire, to hold the future, and to be held by the future. Count it as holy ground regardless, and if you are the generation ready to pass the baton, then you are in a grace-filled season of life.

This past week, we visited the Japanese Gardens in Portland, where there was a display of various bonsai creations. One dated back 300 years, while the others were 80 to 100 years old. This ancient horticultural art form of cultivating trees literally means “planted in a container” or “tree in a pot.” A Ficus Retusa Linn holds the title of the oldest bonsai tree in the world, at over 1,000 years old. The tree is located at the Crespi Bonsai Museum near Milan, Italy.

 Bonsai plants and the intricate art of shaping these mighty trees into containers have always fascinated me. Though Bonsai trees are deeply rooted in Japanese culture, they are found and thrive around the world. However, what they all share is the people who nurture and care for them, and that is what is amazing. A person painstakingly cuts and prunes, shapes and maintains the plant, then he dies. Then another person takes on the responsibility of care and painstakingly cuts, prunes, shapes, and maintains the tree, and then he dies. The Bonsai becomes a living story passed from one caretaker to the next, for the next generation to enjoy.

An article in Leaves & Soul says it well: “A tree doesn’t become 500 or 1,000 years old by accident—it takes generations of continuous care… It is a collaboration between nature and human caregivers over decades or centuries… They remind us that with patience and proper care, a bonsai can outlive us and become a legacy for future generations.” (Leaves & Soul, Aug 22, 2025)

God has entrusted each generation with a similar task: to be caretakers of His story for the next generation, providing a story that carries a message of hope and life. Anglican theologian N. T. Wright said, “Belief is actually not an isolated individual thing. I don’t believe in a little box all by myself. Yes, I have my own particular take on things, but the great creeds say, ‘We believe.’ Belief is something that actually we do together.”

We are caretakers responsible for sharing, “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.” (Psalm 145:4 ESV) We are called to be faithful caretakers, “We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.” (Psalm 78:4 ESV) We hold a light as caretakers, telling the stories of a God who loves and cares for the next generation. “How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.” (Daniel 4:3 ESV)

In her latest book, “What Grows in Weary Lands,” Trish Harrison Warren poses a critical question that echoes the Psalmist’s words, “Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story” (Psalm 107:2a). Warren writes, “Who are the believers that make you want to believe? Whose faithfulness makes you want to be faithful? Surround yourself with these people. Immerse yourself in a church, in a Christian community, whose (albeit imperfect) lives help you learn, see, and seek what is most true, good, and beautiful. Immerse yourself in thinkers throughout time who have asked the questions your soul is shouting and offered you new ones as well. Immerse yourself in the prayers of those who teach you to pray and the songs of those who dare you to sing… They live as people who have known agony and ecstasy. They have been disappointed and have failed and failed and failed, yet still know themselves as beloved. To me, they are a walking, breathing apologetic. They make me want to believe.”

The bonsai tree exists only because one generation cared for it until the next was ready to take it as their own. God has given each generation the responsibility to prepare the way for the next to grow in maturity and wisdom. Wisdom demands a lifelong quest, often wrapped in a flawed shell. “The great illusion of leadership is to think that man can be led out of the desert by someone who has never been there.” (Henri Nouwen)

Solomon failed in many ways, yet he passed on life-giving words of wisdom. “Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.” (Proverbs 4:10-15 NIV)

What kind of footprints will you and I leave for those who follow? Will we be one of those who give life to those who follow? “Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story!”

God is great!

A weekly devotional post to offer encouragement, hope, and purpose found in Jesus.

 

Two Events, One Purpose: Remember

/1 Comment/in , , , /by

“What do these stones mean?… He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God. Joshua 4:21,24 NIV

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” I Samuel 7:12 NIV

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. Acts 2:1-2 NIV

“That Nation which respects and honors its dead, shall ever be respected and honored itself.” (Lt. Col. Edmund B. Whitman, 1868). Pentecost Sunday and Memorial Day are two very different yet equally important events that share the same weekend this year. One marks the beginning of life and power, while the other commemorates those who gave their lives in the struggle for freedom. One is celebrated globally in every nation, while the other is confined to a single nation.

The United States set aside Memorial Day to honor the men and women who died in military conflicts. Though this day is uniquely observed in the U.S., many other countries also set aside a day to remember their men and women who died serving their nation.

The concept of Memorial Day emerged shortly after the Civil War, when it was known as Decoration Day and graves were adorned with flowers and other decorations. B.K. Waltke writes, “Remembering the past plays a vital role in the identity of any nation. Sociologists claim that a society aspiring to endure must become a community of memory and hope.”

James Garfield, Ohio congressman and a future United States president, spoke at Arlington National Cemetery to commemorate the first ‘Decoration Day’ and said, “I am oppressed with a sense of the impropriety of uttering words on this occasion. If silence is ever golden, it must be here beside the graves of fifteen thousand men, whose lives were more significant than speech, and whose death was a poem, the music of which can never be sung….We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country, they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.” (May 30, 1868)

Historians estimate that more than 1,300,000 men and women have died in the wars and conflicts the United States has been involved in since the American Revolutionary War. Each number represents a man or woman whose story ended much too soon, never getting to finish their life journey. A statistic on paper, but for families, a loved one, now only a picture on the wall, a memory kept alive through stories. Memorial Day allows us to reflect on the cost of freedom that others get to enjoy because of their sacrifice.

“Rest, comrades, rest and sleep!

The thoughts of men shall be as sentinels to keep

Your rest from danger free.

Your silent tents of green

We deck with fragrant flowers

Yours has the suffering been, The memory shall be ours. (stanza 5&6, Decoration Day, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

Whether it is a pile of stones, a monument, or a specific day, history is filled with reminders that tell the next generation about a sacrifice that took place. World War II Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel wrote, “Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory, there would be no civilization, no society, no future.”

Memorial Day and Pentecost Sunday are two very different occasions, yet both serve as reminders of events that changed history. Memorial simply means serving to preserve remembrance. Memorial Day gives us pause to reflect on the lives of those who gave their lives for freedom. On Pentecost Sunday, we rejoice and celebrate the birth of the church, which has become the embodiment of Christ (1 Cor 12:12-27), as we “Go and make disciples of all nations.” From this small group of about 120 disciples, a worldwide body of over 2.6 million Christians has grown.

Pentecost changed everything for Peter, this first small group of followers, and for us, generations later. There was no turning back for them, and no turning back for us. Dr. Ray Pritchard writes of Pentecost, “That is when thousands come into the faith. And it goes from this little sect of believers who followed a Jewish rabbi from Nazareth who died and rose again, and suddenly the church breaks forth into the culture. Suddenly, it is that unstoppable force that no one can really deny any longer. Pentecost has taken on a new significance for us. It, at one point, is just a historical memory. Now it is the living reality of the moment that the spirit of God seemingly burst forth.”

We remember and are grateful as a nation for the 1.3 million who have been killed fighting for freedom. Yet Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary estimates that more than 70 million Christians have been martyred over the past two millennia. Pentecost and Memorial Day are completely different, yet both events were born of costly commitments and sacrifice. “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” I Corinthians 12:27

Blessings on this weekend of remembrance.

God is great!

A weekly devotional post offering encouragement, hope, and purpose in Jesus

Passing On A Legacy Of Faith

/in , , , , /by

She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:26 NIV

“For the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.” William Ross Wallace penned this poem over 100 years ago, and the words still hold true. The second Sunday of May marks the one day a year in the United States that recognizes mothers for all their efforts and the impact they have on each one of us. This one day out of the year was officially established by President Woodrow Wilson’s proclamation in 1914 in recognition of mothers.

History is filled with the stories of great men and women who owe their foundation of success to a praying, faithful mother. God uses the imagery of a mother’s love to help Israel understand His judgment and hope. “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 66:13)

John and Charles Wesley became leaders in a powerful spiritual awakening, yet behind them stood a powerful prayer-warrior mother, Suzanna. Her ten children knew that when she pulled her apron over her head, she had entered her prayer closet, creating a sacred place within a chaotic home where she prayed for each of their spiritual walks.

Charles H. Spurgeon became known as “The Prince of Preachers,” yet behind him was his praying mother, Eliza Spurgeon. She prayed fervently for him and all her children that they would walk faithfully before God all the days of their lives. Spurgeon’s brother, James, wrote of his mother: “She was the starting point of all the greatness and goodness any of us, by the grace of God, have ever enjoyed.”

James Hudson Taylor became the missionary to the nations, yet behind him was his praying mother, Amelia Hudson. She was a mother unknown to the world, but not in the kingdom of God. She never stopped praying for her rebellious son that he would come to faith. Hudson Taylor would embark for China in 1853, where he would spend 54 years as a missionary to the people and establish China Inland Missions. He left knowing that his mother was still praying for him.

Timothy became a leader in the early church, yet behind him were his praying mother, Eunice, and his praying grandmother, Lois. Paul, writing to Timothy, acknowledged this great legacy that was being passed down to the next generation. “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. (2 Timothy 1:5)

Samuel became the prophet to the nation and anointed the line of David, yet behind him was a praying mother, Hannah. “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life…” (I Samuel 1:11)

Luther Little became a prominent Baptist pastor in the last century, yet behind him was a praying mother. At 15, Little knew he was called to preach. His family all made fun of him, except his mother. However, she would never live to hear him preach. The day he was to preach his first sermon, his mother wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t go. She told him, “You go on, and when you come back, you can tell me about it.” Three months later, at her deathbed, each of the boys said their goodbyes, but to her youngest, Luther, she told him, “You go on and preach the gospel, and when it is over, come on home, and I will be standing at the gate, and then you can tell me all about it.” Years later, Dr. Little wrote, “I am going on to preach the gospel as she said, and when it is over, I expect to find her at the gate, and through all eternity, I can tell her all about it.” (from an article by Joe McKeever)

“Woman, how divine your mission

Here upon our natal sod!

Keep, oh, keep the young heart open

Always to the breath of God!

All true trophies of the ages

Are from mother-love impearled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.” (Third verse of the poem, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle)

Mother’s Day consumer spending in the U.S. this year is expected to reach a record $38 billion. For this reason, Anna Jarvis, who championed the original idea of Mother’s Day, opposed its commercialization. What she envisioned was a simple day of remembrance. However, most of the $38 billion of flowers, jewelry, candy, and cards are from the heart to tell mothers and wives how important they are in your life.  Economist and researcher Mark Matthews writes, “Consumers are gifting from the heart, seeking unique gifts that create lasting memories for the mothers in their lives.”

Mother’s Day! What a great reminder to honor those who rock the cradle because praying mothers will raise up young men and women who will go on to rule the world. Mothers who may not make Time’s magazine Person of the Year or become social network influencers, but their calling will be greater, becoming eternal influencers through godly children. “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” (Proverbs 31:30-31)

God is Great! Ps 70:4

Thank you for subscribing to Prayer Safari. My desire is that this weekly devotion will bring you encouragement, hope, and purpose this week.

Walking In Faith

/1 Comment/in , , , , , /by

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for…These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Hebrews 11:1-2,39-40

What is your earliest memory that helped shape your childhood? Depending on how many years or decades have passed since that event, it may take a little longer to remember.  I attended Sunday School, but for the most part, my life was centered on the farm where I grew up. There were no preschool or kindergarten options, so that first day, as a first grader, walking into the classroom was a new experience. My mother’s hand was my security until it wasn’t. What gave me hope and confidence was knowing she would be at the driveway at the end of the school day, waiting for me to get off the bus. My certainty rested on knowing, without a doubt, that she was always there for me.

For me, that confidence never wavered, but for many, that mother’s hand of security or a father’s strong arm wasn’t there. Over time, other things began to fill that vacuum and took that person’s hand, leading them down dark roads of doubt, fear, and hopelessness. All of us need a hand to hold onto. For some, that hand is addiction, money, sex, or religion. The good news is that God reaches out his hand for those who will take it and hold on.

We all like a hand we can touch, feel, grip, and see, but God offers a different hand, a hand of faith. “For we live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). The grasp we have on addiction, money, sex, or religion seems real until it unwinds like a magician’s empty box. What seemed real turns out to be only an illusion. What God offers may seem invisible, but in reality, it is the only real thing to hold on to.

Faith is often hard to grasp when we need to see something tangible. Yet in those moments, God offers us more than enough to keep moving forward. He offers himself. Thomas had been with Jesus from the beginning and had walked the same roads with him. Yet when he missed the first appearance of the resurrected Jesus, his faith wavered. “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25)

I am so glad John included Thomas’ story of doubt. I have known many amazing followers of Jesus, and most of them have shared similar stories of confusion, frustration, and challenges. Faith doesn’t keep us from doubt, but it carries us through the doubt. In his great love for Thomas, Jesus walked through another locked door for him. “A week later, his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” (20:26-27)

Thomas came face-to-face with his doubts. However, he also came face-to-face with faith and made a bold statement about it. “My Lord and my God!” Jesus used the moment as a powerful teaching opportunity and gently reprimanded him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Others will always follow in Thomas’s footsteps of doubt, yet we can take our doubts, like Thomas, and use his example as a powerful confession of faith in Jesus. Thomas accepted the reprimand and went on to live out a life of faith. Early church tradition records that Thomas was a missionary to India, where he preached the gospel and established a lasting legacy of Christian communities. Thomas was eventually martyred for his faith. His was a journey from questioning to unwavering belief.

We want everything laid out in plain sight, with no uncertainty in our plans. Yet it is amazing faith that creates an unbelievable landscape of life. Oswald Chambers writes, “Certainty is the mark of the common-sense life: gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways; we do not know what a day may bring forth.” However, instead of being discouraged, it is in those moments of doubt that we feel we hear the words, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Chambers went on to write about uncertainty, “it should be rather an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God…He packs our life with surprises all the time…We are not uncertain of God, but uncertain of what He is going to do next…When we are rightly related to God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy.”

Faith is a gift that God delights to give. “God knows what we lack and what we need. He made each of us as we are, and in our character is the raw material he will use to make us who we can become.” (Claire Cloninger)

We are invited to ask for faith. When the father was confronted with his doubts and lack of faith, he cried out, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). This is a prayer that God delights to answer.

There are days when we may not be sure of the uncertainty and long for a little more certainty, but what we can do is trust God. We can be certain that he knows the plans he has for us. We take one step amid uncertainty and find ourselves in step with the certainty of God.

Lord, let me live a life of amazing uncertainty because I live a life that is certain of you.

God is great!

Thank you for subscribing to Prayer Safari