Give Peace A Chance

 

To be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Romans 8:6

A common misconception of Christian believers is that we are isolated from what's going on in the world around us.  For instance, I was recently talking to a good friend and was trying to lift their spirits with words of encouragement.  No matter what I said, there was always another excuse and much of the conversation was dominated by the typical "woe is me" talk.  Sadly, my friend wouldn't listen to  anything I said as it pertained to matters of faith...

The truth about followers of Christ is they too also experience disappointment and hurt just like everyone else.  We also face temptations on a regular basis. The biggest difference is that when our peace is disrupted with havoc and chaos, we don't stay down for long.

Believers are filled with the Spirit, so we are able to refocus our attention on the bigger picture and acknowledge the truth that our peace comes from God.

Just Like Heaven

 

There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.  If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  John 14:2

If you are anything like me, then you like to have the details of your travel planned before you arrive at your destination.  I recall making a last-minute business trip where I did not have a hotel booked for the second night of three days of travel.  I felt pretty confident that I could find a vacant room after I arrived, but truth be known, I was more than anxious about where I was going to stay…

Far too many people live their lives out the way I recently traveled-with no idea of where they are going at the end of their life's journey.  Not only is there a heaven, but Jesus is busy making preparations for our arrival.  Heaven is not some destination paradise where we will spend a quick vacation; it is actually an eternal dwelling place where we will live in joyful fellowship with our heavenly Father and heavenly family. 

Since we know Jesus Christ has gone before us to prepare a place for us to stay, we can be confident that our ‘room’ is ready and waiting!

Good Times, Bad Times

 

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.  1 Peter 4:12-13

Painful trails are simply part of life.  In fact, Jesus assures us all that we will encounter trouble at some point over the course of our lives.  While we must experience some pain, God promises us that He loves us and that He will use those painful times to help us grow stronger in our walk of faith.  

The past couple of months have been difficult for myself and my friends back home.  A close family friend passed away just a few weeks ago and to say that this has been painful would be an understatement. 

Despite the tears and heartache, I know that God has remained by my side, which has kept me strong.  Knowing that He will always be with each one of us helps us so that we can learn to endure, grow in our faith, and learn patience.  You see, despite our circumstances, our trials provide us with an opportunity to depend on God and to lean on Him as we share in the sufferings like Christ did.

Bad times (thankfully) come and go, but the development of our godly character is continuous and will last until we leave this broken world to go to our eternal resting place in heaven.

Hole-Hearted

 

"If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.  If you love me, you will obey my commandments.  Then I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever-the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see Him or know Him.  But you know Him, because He resides with you and will be in you."  -Jesus Christ, John 14:14-24

As much as I profess to love Jesus Christ, I honestly feel like I don’t give Him my ‘all’ at all times.  I could write a million daily devotionals about loving God and my outwardly projected image may seem good to others, but only God knows the true motives of my heart.

We can go to church every time the doors are open, serve in ministry, go on mission trips, feed the homeless, teach Sunday school, and say all the right ‘Christian-sounding’ words, but the truth is that unless we are obediently following God's will for our lives, we are only following Him half-heartily.

If we truly love God, we must stay grounded in His Word and obey His commands.  That last statement may sound harsh, but it's true.  Even if you are only reading one verse a day, make the time to meditate on His Word and stay faithful Him in love and allow Him to take His righteous place in your life.

What You Need

Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me under the shadow of Your wings.  Psalm 17:8

Have you ever received some unexpected money from a relative?  What about a generous tax return?  Or a bonus from your employer?  All of these are wonderful, but sometimes we forget that despite God using various people and resources to provide for us, that HE is the source.

When we remember our one truce source, it helps us to remain dependent on Him.  If you are at all like me, I sometimes confuse the actual gift with the giver.  It’s easy for us to focus our attention on the provision rather than our provider.  Unfortunately, when that happens, our loyalty and trust seem to shift as well.  When our loyalty and trust change, we begin seeking people and things rather than God.

We cannot forget that God is the source of everything we need; our spouses, children, family, friends, careers, and jobs are only means that God uses to meet the needs of our lives.

You're My Best Friend

 

We have known and believed the love that God has for us.  1 John 4: 16

When my sons were both younger and would became angry at me, they would storms off and says something to the effect of: "I don’t like you. You're not my best friend anymore, daddy."  Understanding a four or five year old can be difficult, and sometime temper tantrums occur for no good reason.  Regardless, those words still hurt!

In the end, it's love that creates in us a feeling of self-worth.  More importantly, it's God's unending, unconditional, and forgiving love that proves we are worthy.  If God created us, redeemed us with blood of Christ, and calls us His children, we are surely of great importance to Him.

The answer to feelings of unworthiness is love-the always and forever kind that only God gives each of us.  A love that is not based on what a person does or how they act, but one that is given to a beloved child of the Father forever!

...And Justice For All

 

If you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done.  For God has no favorites.  Colossians 3:25

We have all been wronged by somebody at some point in our lives.   So what does God’s Word say about seeking justice?  

A familiar saying is that “two wrongs don’t make a right, ” so we really ought to be less quick to ask God for justice as our efforts to seek justice may cause God to punish us for our wrongdoings as well.

The same holds true for begging God for fairness, because He may take away what we have to make things ‘fair’ for all.

Instead of following the our legal rules for justice with God, we should instead beg for mercy so we can be saved from the judgment we all rightfully deserve.

Simply put, it’s all because of Jesus Christ that God’s justice allows Him to grant mercy to those whose hearts sincerely love Him.

Thanks be to God for His mercy, kindness, and forgiveness!

Too Fast For Love

 

'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these."  Mark 12:31

Whether you are familiar or not with God's Word, I believe it is safe to say that most every adult has heard God’s greatest commandment at least once during the course of their lifetime.  In fact, when we talk about loving our neighbors, it’s so ingrained in our minds that the term almost becomes second nature.  The thing about it is that I don’t think many of us understand what this verse actually means.

Loving your neighbor is not just loving your ‘good’ or ‘close’ neighbor, but actually loving the neighbor that may drive you crazy. Or it could mean loving the neighbor you try to avoid at all costs.  We are so focused on caring for ourselves before others that most people never actually get around to do it.  To truly understand loving our neighbors, we must look at Jesus who loved people “not only because He genuinely cared for them, but also because He brought glory and honor to His Father in Heaven.”

Loving other people sounds so simple, but in reality, it is sometimes very hard to do.  It is obviously important to God as this second commandment follows the first commandment: “LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, MIND, SOUL, AND STRENGTH.” If you think about these two commands for a moment, both hang the law and the prophets.

Although it may be difficult to love another person as we love ourselves, we can all do a better job of learning how to ‘live in love.’  The best part about it is that you don’t have to be a Bible scholar or theology major to know much about loving other people.  Just think about how different the world we live in today would be if more people actually obeyed God’s command to love others as themselves…As a Believer and follower of Christ, loving others is not just important or the right thing to do-it’s our reason for being and our purpose here on this earth!!

Quiet

 

"Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling." Zechariah 2:13

Revisiting the original Star Wars trilogy with my boys is always a treat for me, a long-time fan since childhood.  One of the most important scenes in the original trilogy happens during Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, when Luke Skywalker is receiving Jedi training from Yoda in the Dagobah System.  Not to digress too far here, but the road to becoming a Jedi was not as glamorous as it may have seemed to the young apprentice.  In fact, much of Luke's training required his complete concentration as well as being still and listening for instruction from Yoda, the oldest and wisest of all the Jedi.

Our daily walk with God is very similar to the long and rigorous training required to become a Jedi.  We all have an impatient nature, wanting God to be active in our lives every single day.  Please don't misunderstand me-God is ALWAYS present and active in our lives.  Sometimes, He simply requires us to be still, patient, and wait for him to answer our prayers.

It's in the quietness and silence that we often experience God's presence in our lives the most.  God assures us that in our weakness, his strength and power are shown the most.

Allow yourself some quiet time with the Lord each and every day!

Unchained

 

In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.  2 Samuel 22:30

Every day presents a new set of challenges…this past week was certainly not an exception.  Without divulging any specific details,  I found myself in a very difficult situation earlier this week that prompted me to seek God’s direction and guidance.  Not all challenges are bad.  In fact, I enjoy challenges at work as they continually help me and my team to improve and perform better.  Challenges at home can be difficult, especially when dealing with children, but again, they too can help us gain wisdom and insight as parents. 

Regardless of our marital status, children, or careers,  we will always face tough situations, difficult people, or subtle temptations.  Challenges keep us from getting too comfortable or too accepting of the status quo, forcing us into uncharted waters.  Without God’s lead, this would be frightening, but with God it can also be a glorious adventure.

No matter what challenge you may be facing, make sure God is at your side!

One More Year

 

How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. Psalm 31: 19-20

A good friend recently approached me about playing bass guitar in a new band he is trying to put together.  As much as I enjoy playing bass (more like playing 'at' the bass) and would have loved to have been a part of a band, I had to decline due to other commitments.

The more I think about it, I always seem to be ‘busy’, but busy doing what?  If you were raised like me at all, you were probably taught that if you want something, you can achieve or earn it through hard work.  While this may hold true in our professional careers, this could not be further away from how God intends us to live out our Christian faith.

Take for instance the above passage from Psalms…”how great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you?”  There is not one singular mention of all that we as Believers need to do to earn more of God’s goodness.  The passage simply continues with “You lavish it(goodness) on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.”

I may be way off here, but I honestly believe that God wants us to love and focus our hearts and minds on Him.  Regardless, we continue to fill our schedules with all kinds of activities, meetings, appointments, and items with the hopes of being more successful and getting our slice of the pie.  Keep in mind that all good things and blessings flow from our loving Father and there is nothing we can possibly do or work harder to achieve any more or any less from Him.  He loves us all the same, no matter where we are in our walk of faith.

Thanks be to God!!!

True Faith

 

You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Matthew 5:14

With the unmatched popularity of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, it’s easy to create a false image of yourself for the world to see.   As a believer, people often want to know that you genuinely are ‘authentic’ in your walk of faith.  Many people have had either a ‘bad’ church experience  in their lives or a loved one that imposed their religious beliefs on them and want to know that your relationship with Christ Jesus is ‘real.’

I am sure that you can name someone who always seems to light up a room with their presence.  In much the same way, we as believers should let the light and truth of Jesus ‘shine’ through us in all that we say and do.

The next time you go into work, or you are with your family, friends, or neighbors, be salt and light so that people know your relationship with Jesus is indeed the ‘real thing.’

Listen Up

 

"Hear, O my people, and I will warn you-if you will listen to me, O Israel!"Psalm 81:8

Many years ago, I had the privilege of attending a Dale Carnegie class to improve my public speaking skills. One of the most valuable lessons I learned from the class was that ‘the best speaker is a good listener.’  It makes sense if you think about it for a moment. People are not nearly as interested in what you have to say as they are in having someone listen to what they have to say.

This concept holds true in the way we communicate with God.  Anyone can rattle off their laundry list of prayer requests, tack on an ‘Amen’, and feel like they have communicated with God. I am guilty of this at times and feel that I often do not spend enough time reading His Word and patiently wait for His response or guidance.

Have you ever randomly opened the Bible and found a verse that was applicable to what you were going through at that very moment? It was not by chance, I assure you.  God often speaks His truths directly into our lives through the pages of the Living Word.

Before we get too far into this new year, take the time to read Scripture more and diligently seek His voice. There are too many blessings that we miss out on because of our failure to listen.

The Whole Love

 

Love is patient and kind.  Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or wide.  It does not demand its own way.  It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.  It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.  1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

The above passage is one of the most recognized verses of Scripture in the Holy Bible.  It is one of the most commonly read Scriptures at weddings and is also the most descriptive verses about what love really is.

The mission statement of Cokesbury, my church home in Knoxville,  is to love people into a relationship with Jesus Christ.  The more I think about it, that’s what all churches and believers should be focused on…simply loving people into a relationship with Jesus Christ.  So, what exactly is love?

God is love.  Love simply would not exist if it were not for His love for us, first. This is proven by the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. He took on the burden of all of mankind's sins on the cross, died, was buried, and then rose again from the grave.

Let’s give God all of the glory and praise, for loving us first, even when we didn't deserve it and let's extend that love to a world that desperately needs it!

The Greatest Love of All

 

"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.  "You are My friends if you do what I command you.” John 15:12-14

Being the father of two wonderful boys has provided me with a perspective and insight of the way our Loving Father loves each of us-He loves all of us unconditionally, with a CRAZY LOVE. There are times that our sons do not follow instructions or even rebel against warnings, but it does not matter-I love them both unconditionally!

Sadly, there are many people who desperately seek some sort of intense love and care in their relationships.  Far too many people sadly do not realize that God loves them far deeper and greater than the most loving and caring human parent possibly can.  The evidence lies in what God did for us by his mercy and grace-sending his only Son to die on the cross for us, while we were/are certainly not deserving of it.

Today is Valentine’s day and if even if you are feeling down with the blues today, just ponder for a moment how incredible it is that the Creator of all of the universe loves you and me in such an unimaginable and amazing way!

It’s through our gratitude and praise of God’s grace and love that love flows through us and into all our other relationships...  

Trouble

 

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. Psalm 91:15

Gotta love Facebook memories...just the other day, I was painfully reminded that it was four years ago that we said "goodbye" to our puppy, Lucy, who contracted Parvo. I remember the days we spent at UT Animal Hospital, and on our knees praying...

Sometimes when life is hectic or you are experiencing troubles, it may not seem like it, but rest assured that God is in control.  He is still omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, and He will always be.

When facing difficulties, we shouldn't question “Why did God let this happen to me?”  The godly response and one of complete trust is “Father, what do you want me to learn in response to this?”

Thanks be to God!

The Road

 

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.  Ephesians 4:13

Our two boys, are growing up way too fast.  It's hard for me to believe that our youngest, Elijah, will be celebrating his 12th birthday this August, and Elliott will be learning to drive this year as he turns 15 this June.  Both just wrapped up their basketball seasons over the weekend and I am a very proud father. 

Along the lines of a tourney or a game, what if a believer’s walk of faith was determined with a grading system or final score?  How would we measure up?

A believer’s perfection is not a flawless imitation of God but rather a process of maturing into a purer and more godly person.  Growing in godliness means becoming more like God, even when we fall way short of his perfect standards, and believe me when I say that quite often I fail to measure up.  

Let us remember that the process of reflecting more and more of God’s nature will be completed when we reach heaven, and then indeed we will finally be considered ‘perfect.’

Slow Down

 

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you...many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.  Psalm 32:8; 10

I went to the grocery store the other day and noticed the front of the store was covered in Valentine's day decorations and it made me realize that another holiday is quickly approaching. The flowers and cards made me ponder this question, "where has all of the time gone?"  It feels like it was just yesterday that we were celebrating Christmas and now Valentine's day is next week?? Whoa!  We have neighbors who still have their Christmas decorations up!

Something that we can easily forget to do when we become so 'busy' with the demands of each day is to forget to spend time with our loving Father.  It's a shame, and I am certainly guilty as charged, but just like any good relationship, we must give God time every day if we ever want to deepen our walk of faith.

Ponder this for a moment...God is omnipotent, right?  So, if we are to slow down and spend adequate time with Him, wouldn't He also have the ability to slow time down for us?  I believe that He can and will help us to accomplish more in less time if we are willing to engage in something that He loves so much-just spending time with Him-the Creator of the Universe.

Look at your daily schedule and make more time for God-He is more important than the meaningless things that seem to occupy the majority of our time every day!

I Will Comfort You

 

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.  Your rod and staff protect me and comfort me.  Psalm 23:4

Our children have an uncanny knack of bringing home whatever virus or illness is going through the school and for the past few weeks, I have fallen victim to ‘the funk.’  Having a sick parent in the house can be tough and it’s a much different challenge when the boys aren't feeling well, as sometimes the only comfort we can offer them as a parent is to simply pick them up and just hold them in our arms.

Being sick or under the weather is similar to our walk with God, and often times works much in the same way.  When we seek our Father daily, by communicating with Him through our prayers and remaining obedient to His Word, He watches out for us, cares for us, and offers us His direction.

If we stay close to Him, like a child in his/her parent's arms, He will comfort us and protect us.  When we look for him each and every day, we begin to realize that He is always right beside us, regardless of what we are going through!  Thanks be to God for His compassion and caring that never ends!

The Lizards

 

For those who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness, will rise with healing in his wings.  And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves led out to pasture.  Malachi 4:2

I have always been fascinated with reptiles that have the ability to regenerate their tails, when damaged.  These species also possess a mechanism for breaking off their original tail(s) when in danger or grasped by an enemy.

Much like the lizard’s tail, He who created our bodies, minds, and souls can certainly repair and restore us too.

A relationship with God is a powerful source of healing because it connects us with our Creator.  In fact, God loves us so much that he allowed his Son to suffer and die in our place.

He promises us that in eternity, we will all be fully healed and made whole again.

Love Action (I Believe In Love)

 

The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.  Psalm 103:13

I recently heard a powerful message about acting out our faith in our everyday lives.  Many believers have the basics down-most will praise God at church on Sundays, participate in Sunday School, and even donate money to honorable charities/ministries. However, as good and noble as those things are, many act as if God doesn't exist by the way they live out their lives the remainder of the week.  I have certainly been guilty of this at various different times in my walk of faith, but have recently felt the calling to become more active.

God shows his compassion to each of us be caring for us, providing for us, blessing us, and last but certainly not least, loving each of us.  When we become 'doers' of the Word, we fear and obey God and he forgives our sins, which restores our relationship with him.

When we obey God, it brings us to place of closer intimacy in our relationship with him which in turn allows us to extend mercy, grace, tenderness, and compassion to others!  Isn't loving people into a relationship with Christ what this broken world needs?

Victory Dance

 

O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me...But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high...victory comes from you, O Lord.  Psalm 3:1, 3,8

There are times that life can seem overwhelming; just trying to balance out being a husband and father while working hard to provide for my family is stressful enough, not to mention trying to maintain solid relationships with my family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.  When I feel like I cannot keep going, I often retreat to the Word to find the needed peace and hope to carry on....

God encourages us by letting us know that we should never be afraid because he we will act like a shield around us.  When you are afraid, it is easy to find courage in realizing just how powerful and mighty God is.  When you understand how great he is, the odds don't seem so impossible.

There is no enemy, trial or circumstance bigger than our heavenly Father.  He is all powerful and greater than any force against us!

It Might Be Time

 

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven....God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:1,11

I actually despise being late, contrary to what my wife would tell you. (She claims I am the slowest person in the world, especially when we are travelling or packing the car for a family trip, etc.) The worst part of it is that I am a slightly obsessive-compulsive person who attempts to do as much as possible, in a very limited amount of time, which, in turn, causes me to be late most of the time...Famous last words: "So much to do, so little time."

God's word is clear that our limited time on this earth will have an impact on our lives in heaven. God simply does not ask us to do everything, He only wants us to do everything He has asked us to do.

There are many great things that I have had to let go of and focus more on what direction God has asked me to go. The more time you spend discovering the unique purpose for which God created you, the more of a significant of an impact you will have on this earth during your lifetime!