Countdown to Christmas

/1 Comment/in , , , /by

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. Isaiah 9:2 CSB

“I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.” I tend to agree with Maya Angelou’s words of wisdom as we enter this Christmas countdown. Many of us have experienced all three, and on rare occasions, on the same day.

Decorating for Christmas is a global ritual that welcomes the holiday season. According to a YouGov survey, 83% of Americans decorate for the holidays, with 79% decorating a Christmas tree. The when of decorating is a personal preference, but among those surveyed, 14% decorate before Thanksgiving, 48% the week after Thanksgiving, 23% the first week of December, and the rest in the second week of December or later. Other countries tend to follow Advent as their guide on when to decorate. I didn’t find any surveys on the percentage of people who struggle with tangled Christmas lights, but I did find that Vermont leads the United States as the number one state for Christmas decorating.

So, why do we decorate? Traditions are a big part of the reason, but many of us see them as a visual reminder of the Good News of Christmas. People want to hear good news, which explains the fascination with the Hallmark Channel’s predictable Christmas movies. The drama is woven into the story until the last few minutes, when everything comes together for the couple.

We decorate and give. The National Retail Federation estimated that in 2024, the United States’ spending averaged $902 per person, including gifts, food, and decorations. They are projecting this will drop to $890 in 2025. Yet, all of this spending amounts to about $950 billion annually.

This might be one reason the “7 gift rule” for Christmas has gained popularity. This is a new idea I came across during my research this year; the concept is to simplify holiday shopping by giving seven gifts to each person in your family. Each gift fits into a specific category: “Something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read, something to do, something to eat, and something for the family.” Some people add an eighth category, something to charity.

We decorate, give, and some even untangle the Christmas lights. We enjoy the Hallmark movies, the brilliant light displays, the Christmas parties, and finally the mountain of unwrapped Christmas presents, but all of these together do not ultimately bring the good news we need. Pastor David Jeremiah says it well, “All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing without the presence of Christ.”

Sunday, November 30, marked the beginning of Advent, a church tradition that has been part of the Christian community since the 4th century. Celebrated differently across denominations and faith traditions, it prepares the heart and the church for the coming of Jesus Christ. Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival.” The various Advent traditions help us keep our focus on Christ throughout a month that can become overwhelming in the busy schedules and activities. Whether part of your Sunday church service or observed at home, it can serve as a visual way to celebrate the Good News of Christmas.

Traditionally, Advent is marked each Sunday by lighting a different candle with a specific symbolic meaning. These five candles help to remind us of the coming of Jesus. “The central themes of Advent include hope, peace, joy, and love. These themes express key aspects of Christ’s coming, both two thousand years ago and in his return: Hope in his promises, peace through his reign, joy in his salvation, and love through his sacrifice.” (Britt Mooney)

The single flame in week one of Advent reminds us of the hope that is found in Jesus. Once we were “the people walking in darkness,” but now “have seen a great light.” That light of hope is found in Jesus.

For week two, we light the second candle of Peace. In a time when anxiety and hopelessness are common, the flames of the Peace candle remind us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God…” (Isaiah 40:1-5)

For week three, the light grows brighter as the candle of Joy is lit. We pray, even in the brokenness, “God, be our joy.” “The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners…And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the LORD to glorify him.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)

For week four, the light of love joins with the other three, bringing light to any room. At the very core of Christmas is the message of love. God literally moves into the neighborhood as Immanuel, bringing salvation, redemption, and a future for all who call upon the name of Jesus. There is no greater message of Christmas than, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

On Christmas Day, as the four candles burn, the fifth candle is lit, the Christ candle. The Christ candle, surrounded by hope, peace, joy, and love, visually conveys the message the world needs. “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

The countdown clock towards Christmas ticks faster and faster each year, and you may occasionally need to reach up and stop it. This Christmas, maybe take an extra few minutes to sit and listen to your favorite songs, drink a mug of cocoa a little slower, and just enjoy looking at the untangled lights a little longer. If Jesus is the reason for the season, we may need to let Him have more of the season!

God is great!

Do We Need Thanksgiving?

/1 Comment/in , , , , /by

From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honor, and they will not be disdained. Jeremiah 30:19

Do we really need a designated day called Thanksgiving? Do we have anything to be thankful for with rising food costs, global unrest, and political divisions? Life can be tough, and it might take some effort to find your voice to give thanks.

Thanksgiving can still be meaningful despite challenges.

Could you thank God for fleas in your house? Corrie ten Boom and her sister, Betsy, were imprisoned in the overcrowded, flea-infested Ravensbrück concentration camp. They had miraculously smuggled a Bible into the camp, and as Betsy read the scriptures, what was she going to do with 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus?” Betsy decided that thanks included the fleas. Corrie declared there was no way she would give thanks for a bunch of fleas. However, over time, they were able to hold Bible studies, share the Gospel, and see countless numbers of women come to faith in Christ. Only later did they discover why the guards had left them alone and had not entered their barracks: it was because of the fleas. (Preaching Today)

Thanksgiving comes as we recognize God’s goodness.

Finding fleas may not be what you have in mind for Thanksgiving, but having a thankful heart should be. “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1) President George Washington proclaimed the first nationwide Thanksgiving in the United States in 1789 with the words, “As a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God,” and calling on Americans to humbly offer prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations. Thanksgiving may not be a global holiday like Christmas or Easter, but it is widely celebrated in various ways across numerous countries. Yet, the common theme is being thankful.

Thanksgiving can come even before we recognize it.

Thanksgiving is the one day of the year when we can pause and reflect on the things we’re thankful for, including the not-so-obvious ones. “Rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:7) I will admit that the not-so-obvious things require more effort. Last Sunday, while driving home from Nashville, we made our usual stop at exit 310 on I-75, better known as the Buc-ee’s break. As we got back on the road, our Apple GPS rerouted us to exit at 290 in 20 miles. This was not unusual since traffic congestion is normal. I followed the directions when we reached the exit and came off the interstate. Instead of taking us on an alternate route, we were directed to get back onto I-75.

My frustration with Apple was quick; I should have used Waze! However, within seconds, a God thought came, “You did ask for driving mercy.” After I had a moment to consider the thought, all I could do was say thank you. You might say it was simply a glitch in the system, but I believe that it was a momentary delay that may have prevented an accident or worse. It is in these not-so-obvious times that we can’t explain that we need to have a heart of gratitude.

Thanksgiving can come in worship even when we struggle to worship.

Worship feels easy when the sanctuary temperature is 72 degrees, the music is at a comfortable 70 decibels or lower, the message lasts about 20 minutes, and you’re out before kickoff. However, it becomes much harder when worship occurs amid personal challenges, frustrations, or even hopelessness. Yet, it is in these moments that worship arises from a heart of thanksgiving. “Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” (Psalm 95:1-2) We can reflect God’s grace from a heart of thanksgiving as we draw near to Him through our worship.

Henri Nouwen writes, “To be grateful for the good things that happen in our lives is easy, but to be grateful for all of our lives—the good as well as the bad, the moments of joy as well as the moments of sorrow, the successes as well as the failures, the rewards as well as the rejections—that requires hard spiritual work. Still, we are only truly grateful people when we can say “thank you” to all that has brought us to the present moment. As long as we keep dividing our lives between events and people we would like to remember and those we would rather forget, we cannot claim the fullness of our beings as a gift of God to be grateful for. Let’s not be afraid to look at everything that has brought us to where we are now and trust that we will soon see in it the guiding hand of a loving God.”

So, do we need an official Thanksgiving Day? Hopefully, our answer is yes. We need a heart of Thanksgiving, not just for one day, but every day. Let Thanksgiving be the defining yes of your daily life.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” Colossians 3:15-17

Wishing you a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving, wherever you may be today.

God is great!

What’s In A Name

/1 Comment/in , , , , /by

But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice. John 10:2-5 NLT

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Whether you are a Shakespearean fan or not, you are most likely familiar with this quote. Juliet’s words of love were spoken to her beloved Romeo, even in the midst of their family’s feud. His name, Montaque, was inconsequential to their love.

What’s in a name? If you were to ask Laurence Watkins for his full name, it would take him over an hour to tell you, and he would have to read it since he can’t remember it all. The reason for the confusion is that Watkins has 2,253 unique words making up his moniker. Can you imagine what it was like when he got in trouble as a little boy and his mother yelled at him with all his middle names! Actually, his parents didn’t give him all those middle names. Watkins wanted to set a Guinness World Record and decided he could beat at least one record simply by adding names. However, it took him a lot of money and an appeal to the New Zealand High Court to win the right to add all of his additional names to his legal name.

Watkins only viewed names as a way to break the world record for the longest name. For him, a rose still smells the same. However, Dale Carnegie wrote that names are central to who we are as humans. He wrote, “Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”

What’s in a name? It has been part of human identity since creation, when Adam and Eve walked in intimacy with God.  Yet throughout history, there have been ruthless, evil efforts to dehumanize people by changing or replacing people’s names. The most recent vivid picture was the Nazi effort to eliminate the Jewish population. In their brutal concentration camps, they gave prisoners numbers in place of their names. These numbers were even tattooed on the prisoners’ arms.

Dr. Robert Rozett writes, “Despite the inhuman treatment and use of numbers instead of names in the Nazi camps, the Jews clung fast to the human spirit.”  Dr. Rozett goes on to write that recent efforts have been made to identify individuals who died. “The gathering of the names of the murdered Jews of the Holocaust is no less important than listening to survivors’ voices. Recovering their names not only restores their identities but also helps us understand that Jews during the Holocaust were not just a nameless mass subjected to persecution and murder. The victims had lives, families, thoughts, fears, and hopes for the future—and each and every one had a name.”

What’s in a name? King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon believed that giving someone a new name was a way to remove their cultural and faith traditions from the conquered people of Jerusalem. The king took the brightest and most talented young leaders from the land to serve in his palace. They were “taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans…The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.” (Daniel 1)

Yet what he didn’t know was that the name that truly made a difference for them was the Name of the one they worshiped. “If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, and we will not worship the golden statue you have set up.”

What’s in a name? It makes a big difference when God changes your name to make you an instrument of His redemption. “Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations…I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.”(Gen 17:3-7)

What’s in a name? When that name is Jesus, it is everything! That Name is the beginning of life, the renewing of who we are, and the hope of all that will come. “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Paul David Tripp writes about Jesus, “The great line that divides humanity is not political, economic, social, or ethnic. No, the great fault line is Jesus…The cross of Jesus either is your hope in life and the one to come or it represents the death of a man you do not love and do not need. There is no neutrality in the shadow of the cross. So, today, what will you do with Jesus? Will you bow in worship and gratitude, or will you take life in your own hands and walk away?”

What’s in a name? It is the name you get from the choices you make, the people you know, the way you live your life, and, in the end, the name you put your trust in for eternity. “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” (Prov 22:1)

Charles Spurgeon said it well, “A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.”

God is great!

Staying the Journey Because of One

/1 Comment/in , , , /by

For it is Christ’s love that fuels our passion and holds us tightly, because we are convinced that he has given his life for all of us. This means all died with him, so that those who live should no longer live self-absorbed lives but lives that are poured out for him—the one who died for us and now lives again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 TPT

What keeps you on your journey? If you ask Dale “Grey Beard” Sanders, it is to reclaim the age record as the oldest person to thru-hike the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail (AT). He captured the title in 2017 at 82, but his life-long friend and fellow hiker MJ “Nimblewill Nomad” Elbert took it from him in 2021 at age 83. The 90-year-old Sanders from Memphis, TN, determined not to be out-aged by his friend, set out on September 6 this year to reclaim the title. If you are unfamiliar with the AT, it starts at Springer Mountain, Georgia, and ends at Mount Katahdin in Maine (or vice versa, depending on which direction you are going), passing through 14 states. It is designated the world’s longest hiking-only trail.

Grey Beard still holds the Guinness World Record for paddling 2,400 miles from the Mississippi’s source in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico (America) at age 87. When asked why the age record motivates him so much, he answered, “I like to break records.” Sanders wants to inspire people to live better, healthier, longer lives. “I’ve always cared about people, and I do this because I still care about people.” (Info from article by Arnold “Bloodhound” Guzman, Appal. Trail website)

We all have something or someone that keeps us on our journey. You may not have plans for thru-hiking the AT, but if you are living, you have something or someone who keeps you on your journey. Connie and I had the blessing of being at Bud Fray’s memorial service last Sunday. Dr. Marion “Bud” Fray served, along with his family, in Zimbabwe and South Africa, then as a professor at Ouachita Baptist University and Southwestern Seminary, and finally retired from a local church ministry.

Why mention Bud? Some of you will know him, others not, but Bud lived out his passion and commitment to Jesus to the very end. In his biography, Both Feet In, he wrote, “How could I claim salvation without absolute abandonment to Jesus as Lord? My Jesus would not share His heart with anything half-hearted or with geographical restrictions. I yielded all to Jesus that morning, the best I knew how. The light of the Lord invaded my heart and captured me utterly.”

It was out of that initial commitment that Bud would live his 97 years, never wavering or with second thoughts. “I realized that my purpose in life was to be like Him no matter where I lived or what I did. It was He, not I, who was working all things together for the purpose of me being like Jesus.”

Bud would live out a totally surrendered life as a missionary in Africa, a university and seminary professor, and foremost as a prayer warrior who loved Jesus with Both Feet In. He would have fully understood the sentiment of Anglican theologian Richard Sibbes, who wrote roughly 400 years before Bud, “The love of Christ and the love of the world cannot lodge together in one heart.”

We need to hear the stories of those who have faithfully stayed on the journey with the One who made the difference in their lives. This journey we are on is not always easy, which makes the stories of others encouraging for us.

When Watchman Nee said yes to Jesus’ invitation to follow him, even though he could have chosen a comfortable life, he never wavered in his passion and commitment to Jesus. “Outside Christ I am empty; in Christ I am full.” Watchman Nee lived out these words, thus becoming a target of the Chinese Communist authorities, resulting in his imprisonment in 1952 until he died in 1972 at age 68 for his refusal to renounce his faith.

A piece of paper was found under his pillow in prison by his grandniece, inscribed with his final words to the world, “Christ is the Son of God who died for the redemption of sinners and was resurrected after three days. This is the greatest truth in the universe. I die because of my belief in Christ.”

British pastor Pete Greig remarked about Watchman Nee’s faith, “His teaching, forged in the furnace of marginalization, persecution and war, was always challenging, particularly for those in the West whose faith had become comfortable and complacent.”

God’s church did/has/will prevail! It is made up of flawed heroes of faith, from well-known celebrities to unknown, ordinary believers, yet each trusting in the One on the journey with them. Jesus laid the rock-solid foundation, and though imperfect saints have often messed up, they never stopped the church from moving forward. Watchman Nee wrote in The Secret of Christian Living that “God’s way of salvation is in Christ, not in your own self. Patience is in Christ, humility is in Christ, holiness is in Christ. All is in Christ. In you, yourself, there is always uncleanness and unholiness. If you live in Christ, you have everything. But if you live in yourself, you remain unchanged.”

Mrs. Gambiza’s story is told in Bud’s book, where she resisted cultural expectations to remain committed to her faith. When she was asked why she did not capitulate when her brother-in-law persecuted her and mocked her faith, she replied, “Pastor, my heart would not let me. Jesus living in my heart makes the decision for me. He is my King.”

Keep on traveling this journey because you have One who never gives up on you. “I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.” Eph 1:18 NLT

God is great!

Getting the Hammer into the Right Hands

/in , , , /by

The words of the wise prod us to live well. They’re like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd. Ecclesiastes 12:11 The Message

You probably have one, but do you have a Stiletto 10oz Trimbone smooth face with a curved handle?  Most people may have a Husky or Milwaukee version, or, like me, a generic off-brand. This thing—the world’s most trusted and familiar tool —is a hammer. My no-name hammer does the trick, except it doesn’t carry the Stiletto price tag of $336 on Amazon. Archaeologists have even discovered hammer-like instruments dating back 3.3 million years.

Hammers may have changed slightly in appearance, what they are made from, and the price tag, but the purpose has not changed. They are either an instrument of creativity and construction or a tool to destroy. American Psychologist Abraham Maslow, who is best known for developing Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, wrote, “I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.”

The constructive or destructive element comes from the hand that is holding the hammer. I am not sure that Martin Luther, when he picked up a hammer on October 31, 1517, realized that he would unleash a firestorm when he nailed his 95 Theses position paper to the Wittenberg Castle Church. This action would spark the Protestant Reformation, reshaping Western Christianity forever. Out of his commitment for change would come his rallying cry, “Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”

“Christians should be exhorted to be diligent in following Christ, their head…” (number 94 on the list) would be a framework of the Reformation. Luther’s writings, which emphasized that salvation comes by faith alone and that the Bible is the ultimate authority for Christians, spread quickly because of the newly invented printing press.

Eric Metaxas, in his work on Martin Luther, wrote, “To know that others were being cruelly treated, were being imprisoned under horrendous conditions under the threat of death, and to know that some would make this ultimate sacrifice, was surely more difficult for Luther than had he himself endured such things. But there can be no question that they drove him closer to God and made him the more passionate to spread the truth God had entrusted to him. This is one of the practical ways that we can see Tertullian’s famous phrase “The Blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church” being borne out.” (p303-304)

In God’s hand, the hammer is used to drive home the deep impact of his words. In Jeremiah, we read, “Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain? declares the LORD. Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:28-29 NIV

In God’s hand, the hammer of his word breaks our hardness of heart, reshaping it into His image and likeness. It is often hard on us, but in His hands, we can be confident that it will be for our good. “Affliction is God’s forge to soften the iron heart. It is impossible to form iron while it is cold, but make it red hot, and you can stamp upon it any impression you please. The heart is hard, and its natural resistance is much increased by prosperity. God softens hearts with the showers of adversity and makes us more attentive unto him and less influenced by the noise of the world.” (Thomas Case, A Year of Puritan Devotional Readings)

In God’s hand, the hammer gives another chance to build a place of refuge. When the world was overcome with wickedness, God saw in Noah a different spirit. Noah picked up his hammer and, with his sons, built an ark according to God’s plans. “The LORD then said to Noah, Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation…Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; people and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark.” (Gen 7:1,22,23)

In a godly hand, the hammer is used to build a place of worship. “The craftsmen of Solomon and Hiram and workers from Byblos cut and prepared the timber and stone for the building of the temple…In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel, or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built.” (I Kings5:18, 6:7).

In a wicked hand, he uses the hammer to destroy. The cries of crucify him, crucify him had finally been heard by Pilate. With a wave of his hand, Jesus was led to the hill where he gave up his life for us. Jesus was laid on the crossbeam as the Roman soldier took up his hammer to drive the nails into his body. “When they had crucified him, they divided his clothes by casting lots.” (Matt 27:35)

In God’s hand, the destructive use of the hammer is restored. “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb…Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! (Luke 24:1,5)

How much better it is to hand over the hammer of our lives to God and let Him build. God is the ultimate builder, who can take nothing and create a masterpiece. “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (I Peter 2:4-5)

God is great!

Unwavering Prayer

/in , , , /by

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. I John 5:14-15 NIV

When was the last time you had a bit of hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia? It may have been in your church’s small group when you were asked to read some passage in the Old Testament, such as Nehemiah 10-12. So, what is this word? It is the runner-up in the English language for the honor of the longest word and literally means, “a fear of long words.”

Technically, this very long word describing a fear of long words is not recognized as a phobia in psychology, nor is it considered a medical term. It is used humorously to show how ridiculously long some words can get.

Words have often been created to enhance someone’s self-importance or to complicate the meaning of something, leaving us with a word that professionals have to define. I think prayer is often put into that category, leaving many people to doubt what to pray for, how to pray, or even whether they are worthy to pray.

Luke records the one request of Jesus’ disciples to him, “Teach us to pray.” His disciples had been with Jesus for some time and had witnessed supernatural healings, feeding of the masses, walking on water, turning water into wine, listened to spellbinding teaching, and seen the impact on the people. Instead of asking for the gift of healing, teaching, preaching, or any other amazing action, they asked him how to pray.

Prayer was the very essence of Jesus’ life. His prayer life wasn’t like that of the other religious leaders the disciples had seen and heard. Jesus’ prayer life was filled with joy, hope, faith, and power. When Jesus prayed, things happened, people changed, and miracles unfolded.

Jesus taught the intimacy of prayer in Matthew. Instead of a formal and cold approach to God, he told us to begin with “Our Father.”  We are told to approach God the way a child goes to a loving father, as a loved one of the Father.

Jesus taught us to be persistent in prayer. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8) Prayer was never intended to be a one-and-done deal but an active conversation with the One who could make a difference. When do you stop praying? Never! Jesus illustrated in Luke 18 with the parable of the persistent widow. “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” (v1)

Jesus modeled His passion for prayer. When facing major decisions, he didn’t consult a committee, read the latest polls, or follow the cultural trend; you found him praying. “One of those days, Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles.” (Luke 6:12-13)

Jesus prayed even when he didn’t get the answer he wanted. When facing his greatest challenge, he prayed. Jesus and his disciples went to a place called Gethsemane, and he asked his three closest companions to join him in prayer. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He then walked a few steps away and cried out, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will…He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” (Matthew 26:38ff)

Oswald Chambers is best known for his devotional writings, especially My Utmost For His Highest. Yet if Chambers were alive, he would probably say that prayer defined everything about his devotional life. He wrote, “Prayer is the battle; it is a matter of indifference where you are. Whichever way God engineers circumstances, the duty is to pray. Never allow the thought— I am of no use where I am;  because you certainly can be of no use where you are not. Wherever God has dumped you down in circumstances pray… I will do whatever you ask in my name. We won’t pray unless we get thrills, that is the intensest form of spiritual selfishness. We have to labor along the line of God’s direction, and He says Pray.”  (Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest, p215)

I had the privilege of leading a prayer walking seminar during our time in Kenya. I emphasized that we would be walking and praying, but I stressed the need always to be sensitive to where the Holy Spirit was leading. I began to doubt that the man I was walking with had understood the concept since it was new to many of them. We stopped to greet a lady, and he turned to ask me to share the Gospel with her. This isn’t what you do on a prayer walk! I did share the Gospel, and she prayed to receive Christ as her Savior. A little further down the road, we stopped again, this time at a woman’s vegetable stand. She was a believer, but life had been hard. She needed someone to encourage her and pray with her.

We continued to walk and pray. I realized that he had caught the concept, but the Holy Spirit reminded me of what I had taught only a short while before: you have to be interruptible, not on a schedule.

There are times when we must withdraw to our prayer closet and be alone with God. In these times, we are pouring out our needs to God in the secret place of our hearts. However, our time in our secret place of prayer must come to an end as we move into our day. So, what do we do with Paul’s admonition, “Pray without ceasing?” (1 Thes 5:17) We go into our day, praying as we go.

God is great!

Unwavering 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. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:1-3 NIV

What does faith really look like for you? We often say we have faith, yet we cling to something that we hope will ensure the outcome we want. “There is a significant difference between amazement and faith. You can be amazed by God while not actually putting your faith in him.”  (Paul David Tripp)

Faith may look like the classic illustration of the Little League baseball game when a man walking past asked one of the players what the score was. The boy brightly smiled and said, 18 to 0, we’re behind. The man replied, You must be very discouraged. No, sir, said the young player, we haven’t even been up to bat yet! Unless the young player knew his team was loaded with a lineup of star hitters, the chance of victory was slim.

Unfortunately, many will say they have faith but will “hedge their bet” by holding onto something else in the hope of ensuring the outcome they want. I have faith Google Maps will get me to my destination until it takes me into the middle of nowhere, and we are entirely lost. I have faith that my airline will get me to my destination on time, until all the planes are grounded because the company declared bankruptcy. (Which happened when flying Braniff years ago.) I have faith that I will ace my finals, yet I will not put in the time to study the materials that will be on the exam.

You expect to find stories of unwavering faith in the Bible, and you do. Joseph was sold into slavery, falsely accused and imprisoned, yet at the end he could say, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Gen 50:20) Daniel’s three friends would be handed a “get out of jail” pass if only they bowed down in worship to King Nebuchadnezzar. They chose the furnace and possibly death with the declaration that though God could save them, “But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:18) Mark tells us of a nameless woman who had nothing but faith that she would be healed. “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” (Mark 5:28)

Faith is only as reliable as the foundation on which it exists. Airlines do go bankrupt, Google Maps may be reliable, but not infallible, and typically, effort precedes success. Unwavering faith built on anything other than God will leave you stranded. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)

The writer of Hebrews left us the beautiful gift of chapter 11 as a monument of unwavering faith. Verse after verse beginning with “By faith” followed by names of men and women who lived a life of unwavering faith, even though I am sure life did not turn out the way they envisioned. “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.” (Heb 11:39)

“The life of faith is about standing at the intersection of brokenness and longing, not questioning God’s presence, power, or goodness, but continuing to trust and obey, assured that he still rules and is marching his world toward the fullness of all he has promised. Do you struggle to wait? God meets you with empowering grace.” (Paul David Tripp)

Scripture is alive with stories of unwavering faith, yet God never intended it to be in the past tense only, but lived out daily by His followers. I had the joy of experiencing this truth over the last couple of weeks in Kenya during a mission trip to Eldoret’s Glory Baptist Church.

Traveling over rough roads, sleeping on 4” mats on the church floor, women came from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to be part of Glory Baptist Church’s women’s conference. These ladies came with a hunger for God’s word. Each morning, they would get up at 3:30 to be ready for a 4:30 time of prayer and worship, seeking God with all their hearts, minds, and souls. No pretense, simply unwavering faith.

Ethnic violence broke out after the disputed presidential election in December 2007, resulting in the death of many Kenyans. Yet as violence raged around the church, Pastor Martin Sikuku created a safe haven at the church, praying and trusting God to place a hedge around the church. Though every structure, including his own house, surrounding the church was destroyed, Glory Baptist remained untouched, providing that safe haven for many as Pastor Martin provided care to any who came, regardless of tribe or political allegiance,  as a testimony of unwavering faith.

Unwavering faith defines the story of Bernard Wafula. This gentle giant of faith was falsely accused and imprisoned. Though despair and hopelessness could be understood, he trusted in God’s faithfulness and served diligently, sharing the Gospel with other inmates and guards. The words of a song came to him one night based on Deut. 1:4-8, when God told Israel, You have stayed long enough, I have given you this land. Imetosha is Swahili for “It is enough.”  For Pastor Bernard, “God is enough,” and he would sing this song until He became known as Pastor Imetosha throughout the prison.

Imetosha x2 (It is enough)

Yesu Asema Mwanangu Imetosha (Jesus says it is enough, my child)

Geuka sasa uelekee Kanani (Turn around now towards Canaan)

Ukazione Baraka zake Mungu (So that you see the blessings of God)

Finally, the courts overturned his wrongful conviction and released him from prison after ten years of imprisonment. He now serves as a pastor.

Unwavering faith will be the key to changing the course of our world. Faith that allows you to reach across ethnic barriers, economic disparity, political disagreements, and social status because your trust is found in the One who is the source of faith. “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me.” Psalm 13:5-6

God is great!

The Mind of the Discerning

/in , , , /by


Let a wise person listen and increase learning, and let a discerning person obtain guidance. Proverbs 1:5 NIV

What is the one distinguishing trait needed to succeed in today’s workplace? I am sure you could mention a long list of possibilities. They may include graduating from a top-tier university, family connections, influence network, academic excellence, personality characteristics or just plain luck.  They may be a mixture of these or any one of a thousand others. CEO Michael’s observation is that the best employees consistently share one trait, “intellectual curiosity.”

Insatiable curiosity sets apart the greatest leaders from everyone else. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is known for his voracious reading habit. Google recruiter Nolan Church said, “What continuous learners do is they connect old ideas in new ways, citing Apple co-founder Steve Jobs’s decision to combine cell phones and iPods into an iPhone. One of Indeed CEO Chris Hyams’ favorite interview questions is, “What are you insanely curious about?” Or, alternatively, “What do you care deeply about?” (Info from an Ashton Jackson article)

Scripture would validate Ramlet’s one trait, “intellectual curiosity,” not for workplace acclamation, but for living life that ultimately leads to Kingdom impact.  “ The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it.” Prov 18:15

Scripture celebrates continuous learning as a gift that deepens our relationship with God and enriches our daily life. Our growth in God’s knowledge creates a hunger in us to know more of what God is doing in and around us. “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Prov 2:6

We read about Daniel and his friends in a foreign land, far from home, having been taken captive by the Babylonians. Daniel had a choice to either take the easy path and adapt to his captors’ ways or stay true to God. He chose the more difficult path, staying true to God and His ways.  His passion for God and his commitment to grow in knowledge set him apart.  “In every matter of wisdom and understanding that the king consulted them about, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and mediums in his entire kingdom. Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.”  Daniel 1:20-21

Joshua when facing the difficult challenges of assuming the leadership role after Moses’ death was told by God to be strong and courageous. How? “ To observe carefully the whole instruction.” God’s word provides us with the “why” that lets us do the “how.”  “This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.” Joshua 1:8

We are encouraged to grow in knowledge, not for personal affirmation or even success but to be transformed into godly people that will make an impact for the Kingdom. “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:14-15

Let this traditional African saying on wisdom encourage you in your pursuit of continuous curiosity. “Wisdom is the finest beauty of a person.  Money does not prevent you from becoming blind. Money does not prevent you from becoming mad. Money does not prevent you from becoming lame. You may be ill in any part of your body, so it is better for you to go and think again and to select wisdom. Come and sacrifice, that you may have rest in your body, inside and out.”

”Get wisdom—how much better it is than gold! And get understanding—it is preferable to silver.” Proverbs 16:16

If the number one trait for the best employee is intellectual curiosity then out of our passion for God, we never want to stop growing in our knowledge and truth.  We will learn lots from the books we read, the people we interact with, and even our Google searches.  However, God has provided us His unlimited and available wisdom. Knowledge and information are great but the wisdom God provides is life changing.  “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.” James 1:5

We arrive today after three weeks in Kenya. It has been an incredible journey walking with the folks in Eldoret, Kenya. God is working in some amazing ways and we are so thankful to be part of this community of faith. I plan on sharing in next week’s post a few insights from this time.

God is great!

 

 

 

 

Burning Bush Moments

/in , , , , /by

There, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight.” Exodus 3:2-3

How many times have you desired to have a burning bush experience? If only I could have a burning bush answer, I would know what to do next. Making hard decisions is never easy. There is a lot of inner turmoil just trying to figure out what to do, or how to do it, or whether it is right for me. You look at multiple options and finally narrow it down to what you think is best. Then you may live with the “only if” questioning for days, months, or maybe years. Burning bush clarity sounds good, but there is a cost to burning bush experiences. Just ask Moses!

Burning bushes will necessitate worship.

You can’t play religion if you want to get close to the burning bush. You can be curious and “turn aside and look.” You can ponder why the bush is not burned up, but burning bushes require you to “remove the sandals from your feet.” Religious people tend to find the closest fire extinguisher to put out the fire. You worship at the burning bush because you know “the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

Burning bushes create questions.

“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” God welcomes questions; the more the better. Samuel asked, “How can I go? Saul will kill me. (1 Samuel 16:2)   Mary asked, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34) Peter knew enough to question, “By no means, LORD; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.” (Acts 10:14) Questions will come at your burning bush, but the Samuels of this world go, the Marys of this world obey, and the reluctant Peters follow.

Burning bushes destroy the edges of one’s comfort zone.

“I have never been eloquent…I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” Comfort zone living is a lot easier. We can be content in the world we know and don’t have to push the edges. Yet somehow God doesn’t see our self-limitations. So, you don’t think you can speak? God has the answer: “Now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak.”

Burning bushes will burn away the undergrowth of yesterday’s failures

“When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses.” You may have lived the high life, studied at the best schools, had an unlimited bank account, but you blew it – a nasty divorce, a horrendous scandal, a horrible financial mistake. Guess what? God calls your name and gives you another job. God reminds you: I think I can handle your past!

Burning bushes does have a cost.

“Moses took his wife and his sons, put them on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt.” Jethro felt the loneliness as his son-in-law, daughter, and grandsons left home. Hannah cried as she left little Samuel at the temple. Jesus’ body, torn to shreds and nailed to the cross, cried out in agony, “It is finished.” Yes, there is a cost when you respond to God’s call in your life, yet God never leaves you nor forsakes you.

Burning bushes do make a difference.

“God wants to lead us. Not all the ways of humans are God’s leading. For a long time, we can walk our own paths. On those, we are pawns of coincidence, whether they bring good luck or misfortune. Our own ways always lead in a circle back to ourselves. But when God leads our ways, they guide us to him. God’s ways guide us to God. God leads us through happiness and unhappiness always and only towards God. In this, we recognize God’s ways.” –Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

We are encouraged by scripture’s burning bush examples of Moses leading a nation out of slavery, Esther saving her people from mass annihilation, David standing in front of a giant to unite a nation, and Jesus standing at the front of an empty tomb declaring victory over death!

God-inspired burning bushes fill the pages of history. Shoe cobbler William Carey’s passion for the unreached nations fueled the modern missionary movement. William Wilberforce’s faith awakened him from a life of leisure to champion justice for the enslaved. Preacher Martin Luther King, Jr burned with a dream for equality. Mother Teresa grieved for the burden of the poorest of the poor. Businessman Jeremiah Lanphier’s simple prayer, “Lord, what would you have me do?” led to the prayer revival of 1857, resulting in the Third Great Spiritual Awakening.

You may be facing a burning bush moment in your life – a time when God is trying to get your attention. Maybe your burning bush will not be as dramatic, but you will have your own burning bush. Like Moses, you are drawn to the burning bush. You have to decide to run away or “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” (2 Cor 13:14)

God is great!

Connie and I are in Kenya on a mission trip with our church. Reposting this devotion from 2022, I realize we are constantly confronted with burning bush experiences and must decide to obey.

Walking Billboards for Jesus

/1 Comment/in , , , /by

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy. Leviticus 19:1-2

Leviticus – the third book in the Bible, which many try to speed read on their way through their “Read the Bible in a year” plan. However, if and when we slow down in our reading, we realize that “Be holy, for I am Holy” is at the heart of Leviticus. We come face to face with the holiness of God.  If your church still has hymnals, pick up one and let the words of this great hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy,” speak to your heart in a new and fresh way.

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee:

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Leviticus is not usually read as good news, and most certainly not in the context of how the world now determines what is a modern, culturally acceptable worldview. However, J. A. Motyer looks at Leviticus differently. He writes, “Leviticus is good news. It is good news for sinners who seek pardon, for priests who need empowering, for women who are vulnerable, for the unclean who covet cleansing, for the poor who yearn for freedom, for the marginalized who seek dignity, for animals that demand protection, for families that require strengthening, for communities that want fortifying and for creation that stands in need of care. All these issues, and more, are addressed in a positive way in Leviticus.”

Spend some time meditating upon chapters 18 and 19 in Leviticus. Try reading these verses as one who seeks God, treating life as holy, and allowing God to have control of your life. At the heart of each requirement is the holiness of God in the life of his people, a people set apart from the world. Culture no longer determines the standards; only God does.

As you read these two chapters, mentally or literally, create two columns. At the top of the columns, title one “God’s values” and the other “Human Values.”  It doesn’t take long to realize God’s values and human values are worlds apart.

Augustine wrote that “The LORD himself not only shows us the evil we are to avoid and the good we are to do (which is all that the letter of the law can do) but also helps us to avoid evil and to do good things that are impossible without the spirit of grace. If grace is lacking, the law is there simply to make culprits and to slay; for this reason, the Apostle said, “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6)”

Unfortunately, chapters 18 and 19 are not a Golden Corral buffet of principles. We don’t get to go through the line choosing what we like and leaving out the others. It can be so easy to pick a verse and sling it at someone, yet at the same time, avoid verses we would prefer to overlook. The problem is that God didn’t give us a choice. Each requirement interlocks with the others, forming a strong family, church, community, and culture.

Leviticus’ requirements set the people apart from the other nations. Jesus would take the law and empower it with grace. “Christ came provided with the Holy Spirit after a peculiar manner…that he might separate us from the world, and unite us in the hope of an eternal inheritance.”—John Calvin.

Living a life set apart from the world requires God’s grace. Our focus shifts from the world to God. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote that “Your life as a Christian should make non-believers question their disbelief in God.”

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis won the 2021 NFL Bart Starr Award for outstanding character, integrity, and leadership on and off the field. His wife, Tamela, told the Christian Post, “Our primary mission has always been to be a walking billboard for Christ, so that others may be able to see and encounter Him through us and our experiences.”

Undoubtedly, Leviticus is a challenging book with some difficult passages, yet what a difference when our heartbeat is that of being holy. Take some time in prayer and reflect on where you are in light of God’s values. What will it take to restore and empower you to live a life set apart for God? Thomas Kelly wrote, “It is said of St. Francis not merely that he prayed, but that he became a prayer.”

Maybe in a world that is growing indifferent to God’s message, the best way we can reflect a different image is to become “walking billboards for Christ,” or as Jesus said, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” –Matthew 16:24

God is great!

Connie and I are on a mission trip to Kenya. This is a reprint from several years ago, but I thought it was appropriate for all that is happening in the world.

Update from Kenya. What a blessing the last few days have been working with Glory Baptist Church in Eldoret.  Women and men’ s conferences, children day camp, prayer walk and a wonderful day of worship.