Your thought for today 

Desire or duty? (Wednesday, March 10)

Is your heart in everything you do? Or are you just going through the motions, trying to gratify God with your actions? We can always fool people with our acts, but God knows how we really feel. He can tell when our heart is not in it.

We think that the more we do – for the church and for others – the more God will be satisfied. We fill our days with helping our neighbors, sending out cards and emails, serving on committees, going to church and Sunday School, singing in the choir, making phone calls, donating money to the youth group and visiting shut-ins. But why are we doing all of these things? Is it to earn our way into heaven? Or are we serving God with glad and joyful hearts, regardless of the rewards or recognition?

I remember a prominent man who died many years ago. The people in our church were talking about all of the great things he had done: “He gave a lot of money to charities.” “He was always there to help.” “He was a member of so many organizations.” On and on they went, adding up all of his deeds. Then someone raised the question of whether the man believed in God, if he knew Jesus Christ. No one knew. In the end, though, they all concluded that certainly he would go to heaven because of all of his good works.

We can dedicate our lives to being a good person; however, nothing matters unless we put our heart into honestly pleasing God. He wants our hands to work for him but, more than that, he wants our hearts to love him. We should serve him because we want to, not because we have to. Remember John 3:16? “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son….” God did this out of love, not out of obligation.

Heaven and earth (Tuesday, March 9)

The other day, I heard a preacher on the radio put an interesting spin on a common phrase. Usually, people say that Christians are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. This minister, however, turned the sentence around. Perhaps we should say, he said, Christians are so earthly minded that they are no heavenly good.

He is right. How often are we filled more with the thoughts of the world than the thoughts of heaven? We get caught up in where we are living now that we forget about where we will be living tomorrow. All of who and what we are at this moment in our lives on earth should somehow find their purpose, their fulfillment and meaning, in God’s heavenly kingdom. If not, we are missing the mark.

We are human beings but we do not have to be so human. God gave us the ability to think and the guidance of the Holy Spirit so we could rise above our humanity. We need to learn how to be more heavenly minded before we run out of time – for both ourselves and the people God wants us to reach. Let’s set our sights on heaven as we accomplish our work on earth.

Faith to see (Monday, March 8)

Human understanding of God is limited because of finite vision and knowledge. We find it hard (at times, impossible) to accept what we cannot see. But God says that faith is the substance of things unseen – the ability to perceive what lies ahead.

Nothing but faith can take us beyond ourselves. We cannot believe or think something into being. Nor can we wish or will our circumstances to change. Faith, however, has the power to transform our lives because we know God can do all. Trusting him allows us to see a future that is much different, far greater, than the one we can envision with our own small intellect.

Through God we can visualize a pure and perfect plan for us. Despite what we are enduring at the moment, perhaps with no way out, we can set our sights on God and see well beyond tomorrow. He has already promised to work everything together for good. We can count on his goodness as long as we have the faith to believe him. If we have faith, then we can see and feel what only he can reveal.

Taking cover (Sunday, March 7)

These days it sometimes seems as though we are obsessed with the weather. We want to know the forecast not only for tomorrow and the next day, but for the next 10, 20 or 30 days. Occasionally, we want to know what the weather might be like in three or four months when we take our summer vacation. Turn on the television or radio any time of the day and night, and you will hear the forecast.

The reality is that people want to prepare for what is ahead. We want to be ready if there is going to be rain, wind, snow, heat or frost. Even if we are not ready when we are caught unaware by a sudden storm, we can immediately run for shelter. We do not stand outside, without an umbrella or raincoat, and get wet. We go inside to prevent ourselves from getting soaked.

We do not do the same thing when the storms of life come our way. We know we should run to the Father and take shelter in him, yet we stand alone outside his protection and allow ourselves to be overcome by tragedy, disappointment, illness and sorrow. We let these things weigh us down instead of seeking divine cover.

God is our refuge, our fortress, our harbor. He is our safe place. If we have enough sense to come in out of the rain, we should have enough faith to come in out of the trials of life. God will care for us and look after us no matter how bad things seem to us. He knows the way when we can no longer see through the storm.

What God wants (Saturday, March 6)

We can understand more about ourselves if we look at the life of Peter. He did mighty things for the Lord, but there also were times when he failed miserably. Peter was human like us. We, too, sometimes fail to realize that our good intentions go against God’s will.

Matthew tells the story of how Peter and his brothers answered when Jesus asked, “Who do people say the Son of man is?” The disciples responded in kind and then Jesus said more pointedly, “Who do you said that I am?” Peter immediately spoke up saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus was pleased and blessed Peter.

Yet, a short time later, we find Peter rebuking Jesus. The master had just finished telling his closest followers the time was near for his death – that he would be killed and he would be raised from the dead on the third day. Suddenly, Peter pulled Jesus aside and scolded him. “Never, Lord,” Peter stated. “This shall never happen to you!” At that moment, Jesus told Peter he was a stumbling block. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Have we ever been a stumbling block to the Lord? Perhaps you and I can remember a time when we tried to take matters into our own hands or when we thought we knew more than God. One thing we can do today is to concentrate on the “things of God” rather than the “things of men.” Each situation requires us to be more like Jesus and less like ourselves.

Grateful or not (Friday, March 5)

We have to think to be grateful, but we can complain without thinking. One afternoon I was really tired. I had worked hard all day and did not feel like doing anything else. I did not want to cook dinner. I did not want to go to a meeting in the evening. I did not want to take out the garbage. I just wanted to sit down and do nothing.

Almost at once, as if someone was talking to me in a silent voice, I realized that millions of people would be happy to trade places with me: a homeless person would be happy to cook dinner; a shut-in would be pleased to go to a meeting; someone in a wheelchair would enjoy being able to take out the garbage. Yet, here I was, complaining about being healthy and having to do a few simple tasks.

What if God was more like us instead of us being more like him? There is a reason he told us that we are made in his image. He wants us to look up to him, not down at ourselves. When we spend too much time and energy dwelling on our own wants and wishes, we suddenly forget the important things in life. We quickly overlook God and we become the center of the universe.

You and I should rejoice because of all we are able to do. We should count it a blessing to be able to mow the lawn, go to the grocery store and to clean the house. Thank God we are able. And if there are times when we feel unable, for one reason or another, let us remember that God is more than able. He can help us do anything, but we must go to him before he will come to us. This is his world and he created us for his glory. We cannot bring much glory or greatness to him, though, if we are sitting on the couch.

Marking time (Thursday, March 4)

What do we do while we are waiting? Do we stand around (or sit) in one place or do we keep busy? There is an art to being patient. Unfortunately, very few of us are good at it. We are anxious, in a hurry and annoyed whenever we have to pass the time. Most everyone I know has yet to master the knack of waiting.

How we wait reveals a lot about our character and attitude. I thought of how much we can discover about people simply by observing how they wait. Yesterday morning, I watched the neighborhood children waiting for the school bus. It was cold, windy and snowy. All of them, except for one little girl with a yellow umbrella, were huddled together in a pack trying to keep warm. For the most part, they stood in the same places without moving too much.

All the while, the girl was about 20 feet away all by herself. She was busy drawing designs in the snow with the silver tip of her umbrella. She made circles, lines, ovals – all kinds of shapes – on the ground, seemingly undaunted by the weather or when the bus would arrive. No doubt she was sure and confident the bus would come eventually. In the meantime, she was enjoying her creative time of waiting.

Are we able to wait like this tiny girl? Or do we mark time and do nothing until something happens? God does not want us to stand around, idle and still. He wants us to keep moving even as we wait for him. If we stop completely each time we feel we have to wait on God, we will not get very far along on our journey through life. Let us keep doing his work even as we wait for Christ to return.

Slow down (Wednesday, March 3)

“Be still and know that I am God.” With this one statement, God tells us to quiet our restless minds to know his peace. Perhaps what God is also saying to us is this: “Slow down. I am right here.” What is so hard for us to understand? For you and me, each day seems like we are busier than before. We sprint to keep up, but we still fall behind. Pretty soon our lives seem like a blur. We don’t remember what we did two days ago much less two hours ago.

Life is a lot like climbing stairs: we have to take each step one at a time. We all know what happens if we try to run up several flights all at once. We will never make it to the top, especially as we get older. That is why we have to become wiser and realize we must pace ourselves in anything we do.

I recall being a young child and literally bounding up the stairs in our house. I could take two or three steps at a time without any trouble. I can still do this if I want, only not as much. These days, however, I prefer to go up one step at a time. I am in no particular hurry. Instead, I find I enjoy the exercise more if I just slow down.

The key to enjoying God is to slow down. We need to take the time to appreciate what he has done for us. Let’s stop running around chasing ourselves. Let’s use some of our day to really notice all of the beauty that surrounds us. God is everywhere, if we will just slow down long enough to see him.

One letter (Tuesday, March 2)

Just one small letter – y – separates your from our. It is the difference between your life in Christ and our lives together in God’s kingdom. What we do individually is important, of course. But what we do as one body is even more meaningful.

Jesus said apart from him we can do nothing. I think, too, that apart from one another we can do very little either. God needs all of us to complete his work and we require one another. One person cannot do it alone. Two or three cannot do it. We must have everyone – each person that God has made in order to reach the nations.

Your task is unlike mine. Still, our service together complements what we do for the Lord. We are like laborers in the field. Each one of us must work in unison and severally to take in the crop. Your work may be to cut down the wheat while mine might be to gather it up. As we join together in one common purpose, we harvest our field.

Your work and mine are necessary for our service to him. This way of thinking imparts deeper meaning into what Jesus told his disciples: “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Our separate lives are complete when he is with us, for he makes us one out of many.

Simon says (Monday, March 1)

As children, we all played the simple little game called Simon Says. How easy it was for us to be tricked by the commands. We are quickly thrown off by what we hear sometimes or even what we think. “Simon says raise your right hand. Simon says raise your left hand. Put your hands down!” Suddenly, we may find ourselves doing the wrong thing unless we were really listening and concentrating.

Now that we are adults, we can make the same kinds of mistakes for the same reasons. When we are not paying close attention, we are caught off guard. We may do something we regret if we do not listen carefully to the voice.

God’s voice is clear and distinct. There is no mistaking his commands. There is no misunderstanding his will or purpose. Yet, how often do we follow our voice almost out of instinct? We turn off our minds. We do not think, but merely react.

Our lives are not a game, like playing Simon Says. We have to make sure we make the right moves daily by listening to the right voice: “God says forgive. God says apologize. God says be patient. Get even with that person.” Do not pay any attention to the other command – the one that does not begin with “God says.” If we do, we will lose every time.

Our treasure (Sunday, February 28)

What if you had to sell everything you had right now in order to have eternal life? Your house, car, television, furniture, clothes. Would you be willing to give up all of these things? You and I might think twice about the price we would have to pay for the promise of something in the future. We are creatures of the moment and we tend to live for what is going on right now. No doubt we would wonder how we would survive without a place to live, a car to drive, a television to watch.

Jesus once told a parable about hidden treasure. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” The man would now have the treasure forever, but he had to give up “all he had” in order to own it.

The point of this lesson is not what we give up, give away or sacrifice in life. Rather, it is what we gain. This man discovered an immense treasure that was worth more than anything he had. And “in his joy” he gave up everything to possess what he could never earn on his own.

We have to be ready and willing to sell anything in order to have and keep the gift of eternal salvation. Nothing in the world, not even the riches of all the nations, is worth the great wealth we have found in Jesus Christ. Let us gladly let go of anything that tries to steal this prize. Jesus bought it with his life and he offers it to us, if we are willing to pay the price. All we have to pay for is the small, empty field and the full treasure of heaven will be ours.

The reality of life (February 27)

We say we want God to change us – to make us better – but we also tell him not to hurt us in the process. We don’t want any pain. We don’t want to feel the change taking place at all. We just want it to happen, a lot like going to the dentist. We want our teeth cleaned or a cavity filled, but we don’t want it to hurt.

Jesus warned us time after time that we would have to experience pain and suffering and grief and sorrow. We don’t get a break just because we are Christians, either. In fact, Jesus said our lives will be even more difficult if we decide to follow him. Yet, somewhere in our head, we got the idea that we are going to have a life full of happiness, joy and peace. Those are nice thoughts, but not reality.

The truth is that Jesus suffered. Jesus wept. Jesus cried. Jesus was tempted. Jesus was laughed at. Jesus was mocked. Jesus was persecuted. Jesus was hated. Jesus was belittled. Jesus was jeered. Jesus was murdered. Still, we think our life will be easier, and that we will not have to experience any of these things.

Someday, we will understand why we have to suffer so in this life. Perhaps it is to make us stronger. Maybe it is to prove our faith. It could even be because God loves us. Yes, he loves us too much to take away the pain. He knows we are closest to Him when we hurt.

In the dark (Friday, February 26)

When we are cut off from God, we can do nothing. It is his power and strength that moves us, although we think we are getting by on our own. Without him, there is only darkness and emptiness.

The other night, we lost our power twice in two hours. Not only was it extremely dark in the house (since the rest of the neighborhood was without electricity as well), but I could not sleep. The reason is because I use a CPAP machine to prevent me from snoring. The device is often called a breathing machine. Without it, my sleep apnea would seriously affect my health over time. In a way, this small appliance could also be called a life machine since it allows me to keep going throughout the night without interruption.

As Christians, we are in a similar situation with God. We need him to keep us going through life. Without the power that he provides, we find ourselves in darkness and unable to do anything. When the light goes out in our life, we cannot see. We are likely to trip over the smallest objects, even our own shoes. Suddenly, something that was meant to protect our feet becomes a stumbling block in our path.

You and I are the branches that we read about in John 15. Jesus said that no branch bears fruit on its own. The vine gives life to the branches and then the branches produce fruit. We cannot bring forth anything of value unless we are connected to the true vine. Nor can we walk in darkness without the light. We survive only through the brightness and energy of God himself.

You are my church (Thursday, February 25)

We have one perception of ourselves. God has another perception. We are far greater and more significant than we think because of God’s view of us.

When we think of remarkable saints in the kingdom, we probably do not include ourselves. But God does. Just as Jesus once said to Peter, he says to each one of us today: “You are Jack, Elinor, Bruce (fill in your name) and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”

God has so much faith and trust in each one of us that he is willing to develop his church here on earth based on our lives. He also knows that we are not perfect, even though we strive to be so. God is willing to forgive us when we fall short of his expectations, just as he forgave Peter when he denied Jesus three times.

Remember, too, that Jesus told Peter the gates of hell would not prevail against the church. We may be attacked from time to time by all kinds of evil, but the wickedness and tribulations will not triumph. As you go through this day, do not forget God is building his church on you and he promises that nothing will defeat his plan or promise.

Walk the talk (Wednesday, February 24)

What we say, we must do. The Lord is counting on us. Only yesterday, the Lord showed me the importance of practicing what we preach. I had just finished writing that day’s devotion when my wife came into the room. She sat down and then told me that we had maxed out our checking account for this month.

My first instinct was to get upset. I wondered how we would make it. We still needed food, and gas for two cars. Little by little, in a matter of seconds, I was growing angry. Suddenly, I looked over at the computer monitor. I saw the title of the meditation that I had just written: “In God We Trust.” It seemed as though the Lord was not giving me any choice. Either trust him or try to handle this situation on my own.

I was fine for the next 30 minutes, until I got in my car to go to work. The gauge pointed to one-quarter of a tank of gas. Nervously, I set off. Some miles away, while waiting at an intersection through three long lights, I lost my faith. I gave up all hope. I’ll never make it, I thought. Then, on the radio, came the hymn “God Will Take Care of You.” My faith was restored and I relaxed.

Ten minutes later, I became worried once again. This time “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” played on the station. By now, I got the point. God proved himself over and over – three times, in fact. I finally made the commitment to believe him. We have two days to go before we get paid, and we are going to make it! How do I know? Because we trusting in God and we are willing to let our actions speak louder than our words.

In God we trust (Tuesday, February 23)

Accepting what God wants to do in our lives does not mean we have to understand his plan. All too often, we think these two terms (accepting and understanding) belong together. We do not always understand what we accept, however. Nor do we accept what we understand.

I accept that I can drive my car each day, for example, yet fail to understand how everything works. On the other hand, I may understand that the older couple down the street needs help and I do not accept the responsibility to take them food or to cut their lawn. There are dozens of other circumstances that fit into these two categories. I live in a house but I do not understand how to build one. I put on different clothes all the time and I do not understand how they are made. Conversely, I understand the garbage needs to go out and I might not accept the duty to make sure it is done. I also understand why the house needs to be maintained and cleaned, but I do not accept the obligation to do so.

When it comes to God, we may or may not accept his plan depending on our understanding. When it makes sense to us, we will do it. If not, there is little chance we will follow him. But how can we understand the mind and will of God if we cannot even understand a common thing like how a refrigerator or microwave operates?

God is way ahead of us, literally and figuratively. We will never catch up to him no matter how much we want to understand here on earth. Many things, even in the world, are far beyond our comprehension. Let’s begin to accept what we do not know and replace our desire for understanding with faith in God. In God we trust.

A waste of time (Monday, February 22)

The remarkable thing about our lives is that we are living for something much larger than ourselves. We live for those whom we love, and to help people in need, but more than anything we live for the kingdom of God. We are here today for our eternal home tomorrow.

God has promised us a place with him in heaven. “I go and prepare a place for you,” Jesus said. “I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” We have his word on where we will spend the rest of our lives. Forever. Not just 60 or 70 years. But thousands of years which will never end.

Why, then, do we spend so much of our day worrying about now: how we feel or what we have to face today. Maybe we do not feel well or maybe we have to do something we dread. Perhaps we know we will have to encounter someone who does not like us. We might even have to waste time standing in line at the store or waiting at the doctor’s office.

There is a German proverb that can help us put our present circumstances into a proper perspective: “It’s all the same in a thousand years.” The point is that what we fret about now will not matter at all in the future. If we are going to concentrate on anything today, let us focus on what will matter in the future – the infinite kingdom that has no end.

The conflict (Sunday, February 21)

There is a tension that exists in our relationship with God. We believe in him and, at the same time, we doubt him. We trust him, but rely on ourselves. We also want to follow him, yet we lean on our own understanding.

Daily we deal with our conflicting natures: one that is earthly and one that is heavenly. A part of us is guided by human values and another part by spiritual qualities. Most often, our sinful self takes over even though we want to go along with God.

What, then, can we say or do about this conflict? Left to ourselves, we will always fail. But God never abandons us. He does not create us and then step back to see what we will do, leaving us to our own whims. No, not hardly. God has devised an entire plan for the lifelong journey we will take together with him. He goes along with us because we cannot do it on our own.

The only way to resolve the inner argument between ourselves and God is to turn it inside out. In other words, to take what I feel or want within me and get it outside – to give it away to God. We must release our personal desires to him and let him settle the struggle. We do not have to carry on this fight every time we have to make a decision. In fact, there is really no battle unless we choose to create one by pitting our will against God’s. Adam and Eve learned the hard way. Perhaps we can avoid making the same fatal mistake.

Blind faith (Saturday, February 20)

Appearances can be deceiving. Whether we are talking about situations or people, we need to put our personal perceptions aside and live by knowledge. But not the kind of knowledge that makes us trust ourselves; rather, the kind that allows us to believe God is in control at all times. We need to know and accept that his way is the only way in all circumstances, no matter how things look.

I can think of many times when I have lost sight of any hope: when looking for a new job or recovering from an illness. At the moment, I could not see the future – when all would be better – because I was dwelling on my present condition. I was so obsessed with what I was going through that I could not think of breaking through. Instead, I was breaking down.

I should have known better. All too often, we fail to glance back in our lives to remind ourselves not to set our sights on the temporary. A recent incident brought this truth to life for me. In the course of taking my wife to the emergency room, one person after another came to draw her blood. Two very experienced technicians tried, but no luck. Finally, in walked a young man with earrings, tattoos and long, jet black hair sweeping across his forehead. I was a little shocked. He was supposed to be the best in the entire hospital at finding a vein? Imagine our surprise when he succeeded, without much difficulty or effort, in accomplishing what two other people could not.

The same often happens with God. We live by what we see of reality and not by what we know of God. Day after day goes by. We think nothing will change. Suddenly, God speaks and the mountains move! Not one mountain, but an entire range. We need to stop dwelling on what we witness with our eyes. Instead, we have to learn to use our hearts to trust what God is doing. Things are never how they appear to be, and God will prove it to us every time in his time.

Proper alignment (Friday, February 19)

Who cannot marvel at the fact that God creates life, and then allows us to decide how to use it. We have been given an amazing body with a mind, hands, ears, eyes and a voice. But do we use these to serve him or ourselves?

All of our faculties must be in line with one another in order to do God’s will. We cannot have our minds focused on the world, for example, as we study his word. Our thoughts need to agree with what we are saying, seeing, hearing and doing. It is not possible to serve God fully if we are double-minded or if our actions do not reflect his love.

We must live for him with our entire being. Our mind, hands, ears, eyes and speech work together to glorify him – one depends upon the other. If one is missing or going in the wrong direction, the result will be far less than what he expects.

Each day we need to align ourselves with him, not with what we experience and encounter all around us. Jesus is our standard. He showed us how to live on the earth without being of the world.

Today's daily bread (Thursday, February 18)

What we need from God today is different than what we needed yesterday or what we will need tomorrow. When we pray for Our Father to give us our daily bread, we are asking him to help us meet our special needs this day.

The circumstances of this hour are unique. Each day unfolds in a distinct way even though we might go through the same routine. All around us the world is changing. God can give us the strength, wisdom and ability to cope with every situation that arises in the next 24 hours, whether it is something small or large.

Much of our time, however, is spent in looking back or thinking ahead. We tend to live outside the moment. Our minds often take us away from where we are and what we are doing now. In a way, we are guilty of distracting ourselves by our own thoughts and concerns; we follow our worries and anxieties rather than his wisdom and reason.

God will give us our daily bread for today. If we do not receive it, perhaps it is because we are trying to live on the daily bread from the past or what will come in the future. Nothing else will satisfy us right now than what God is providing for us this day.

Going deeper in faith (Ash Wednesday, February 17)

As we enter the season of Lent today, we need to face ourselves and our sins. Each day of this journey toward Easter Sunday should take us deeper and deeper. We need to confess our weaknesses as we seek to realize who we are and what we are. Otherwise, we will not grasp entirely what Christ did for us on the cross.

We are sinful creatures with a perfect future because of his death. We must think about his sacrifice and be willing to sacrifice ourselves for him, not for ourselves. It is said that in twelfth-century Rome, the Pope and the Cardinals would walk barefooted between two churches (St. Anastasia and St. Sabina) on Ash Wednesday. The distance is about six-tenths of a mile and they did this as an outward sign of inner penance.

How many of us would do the same today to show that we are sorry for the wrongs we have committed in our lives and to ask forgiveness? As tourists, my wife and I have taken this same route several times on our many trips to Rome. Traveling from one church to the other is a long, uphill climb – symbolic of our crossing through life. Our voyage is difficult, but it is made bearable and possible with our savior.

We have to keep our eyes on Jesus as we move closer to him. We can never lose sight of him, for he both forgives us and saves us. Through everything he makes the suffering sufferable, and gives us his crown of victory when we are finished.

God first (Tuesday, February 16)

Decades had come and gone. Still, the people of Judah never finished rebuilding a temple to the Lord as they had promised. According to Haggai, the prophet, everyone throughout the land complained that the time was not yet right – that many of the Jews had not yet returned to their homeland after the fall of Babylon.

During all of these years, they managed to build houses for themselves even though they neglected God’s house. The Lord was not pleased with what he saw or, rather, what he did not see. He told Haggai exactly what to tell the people: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin? Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."

Then the Lord ordered them to go up into the mountains and to bring back enough wood to finish the work. “Build the house,” God commanded, “so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored.” The Lord added that he had allowed famine and drought to fall on the land because of their disobedience. The people finally got the point. A short time later, God’s house was finally completed.

They should have put God first when they came back home to the land that God had given them originally. Instead, erecting a place to thank and worship the Lord was second. Sometimes, we get our priorities turned around. We put ourselves before others and we put God even lower on the list. He must be number one, before our family, our friends, our houses and our desires. If we put him first in everything we do, he will make sure that we are never last. He will take care of us, no matter what our needs, because we have taken care to place him where he belongs: at the top of everything in life. 

His humility (Monday, February 15)

The real greatness of God is seen in all that he has done for us, not for himself. He formed an enormous world out of nothing. He created every living creature. He came to earth in the form of a child. He works daily through the Holy Spirit. All of these things are completely and totally for us.

We do not truly comprehend God’s care and devotion. If we did, we would willingly give up everything to serve him. We would offer our lives in the same way he has offered himself to us. We would do anything or go anywhere he asks. We would gladly allow ourselves to be broken for his sake rather than to be made whole for ourselves.

We must constantly remind ourselves of all that God has done for us. Our lives, and everything we will ever do, are the result of his humility. He blesses and loves us even though we do not deserve it. All he asks in return is to let him do more for us.

Transfigured (Sunday, February 14)

Jesus performed many miracles during his lifetime. Without question, the greatest miracle is his own transfiguration by the Father. According to the account in Mark, “His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.” Matthew wrote that, ”His face shone like the sun.” A cloud suddenly appeared and God spoke: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" The magnificent painting of this transfiguration by Raphael in St. Peter’s basilica gives us an idea of the scene on the top of a mountain. But we can only imagine how James, John and Peter felt as they saw Jesus in all his glory with Moses and Elijah.

The three disciples were completely out of their element. In their physical form they were witnessing heaven on earth. They must have been awed, frightened and perplexed at the same time. All Peter could think to say was, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters.” Peter did not realize that Jesus, Moses and Elijah had no need for earthly refuge of any kind. They had been transformed into their eternal form, yet were visible.

How would we react today to such an encounter? Undoubtedly, there would be a metamorphosis of sorts in our own lives. We would be changed in an instant because of this life-changing moment. We would be transfigured as well having witnessed the presence of the Father for ourselves. We would view the world in a whole new way after seeing and hearing the majesty of infinite goodness. Nothing else would matter. Not our finances. Not our job. Not our mistakes. Not even our future. We would know what is first and foremost in the universe.

As we think about the transfiguration of Jesus, let us remember that he came to transform us now. We should not need a mountain-top experience to changes our lives. We should be able to go to the Bible and realize that the transfiguration occurs each time we read about it. The story is always new and it is always alive, just like Jesus both then and now.

Grateful hearts (Saturday, February 13)

Life is not perfect by any means. But we can learn to see God’s perfection in the world by appreciating all we have been given. This morning, for example, I am nice and warm as I sit in front of my computer at home. Yet, the temperature outside is a chilly 30 degrees. And without ever leaving my soft chair, I can get on the Internet and travel around the world. I can go anywhere I wish and also send messages to people I know over in Asia or Australia.

Recently, as I walked into a Wal-Mart store just a few miles from our house, I suddenly realized something. I could stroll up and down the dozens of aisles, picking out whatever I wanted or needed. I had enough money to buy anything, small or large, from one item to an entire cartful. I could even purchase a wide screen television or a set of tires for one of our two cars! How blessed I am.

I know that I need to spend more time praising God rather than always protesting. What good does it do us when we grumble and complain? God, I don’t have this or that. God, I need more money. God, I have no chance to rest. God, I am tired of being sick all of the time. For our own good, we have to turn our perspective around. We need to proclaim what we do have. Thank you, Lord, for all these things in my house. Thank you, Lord, for the money you give me. Thank you, Lord, that you keep me busy serving you. Thank you, Lord, for letting me feel better than yesterday.

We need to have grateful hearts for the great things God has given us. I doubt he will bless us with more if we do not appreciate what we have now. In the parable of the shrewd manager, Jesus reminds us of an important principle: "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” We have to ask ourselves, seriously, if God can really trust us with more.

The choice today (Friday, February 12)

Our lives, even before birth, are fashioned and molded for a specific purpose and reason. God does not ask or consult with us before he decides his plan. He puts us somewhere, gives us a job to do and no one else can complete his work for us.

You and I need to reassure ourselves over and over again that God’s plan is true. He is right all of the time. If we would just follow him and not make him follow us, we would be fine. Sometimes, I imagine that God spends more time chasing us than he does leading us. We are like overactive children who take off on our own without realizing the dangers or the risks. All we think about is our freedom.

We need to realize that our freedom is found in God’s will and not in our will for ourselves. He has already released us from everything that can ever keep us in bondage. Yet, we always want to run back to what enslaves us: jealousy, anger, revenge and selfishness to name a few. God says we do not have to deal with these things any longer. We are totally free if we want to be.

In one of his Holy Sonnets, the seventeenth-century English poet John Donne wrote about the freedom we can possess only by going to God: “Take me to you, imprison me, for I / Except you enthrall me, never shall be free.” May we learn more today about being captives for freedom rather than slaves to our sins. God has opened the prison door. You and I have to make a choice. We can go free to do his good and perfect will for our lives – regardless of where he leads – or we can sit there inside the cell doing what we want.

They are watching (Thursday, February 11)

I recognized the car and the driver flying past me in traffic. I was both surprised and disappointed to see this particular person going well over the speed limit. Here, I thought, is the same individual who always talks about being obedient, patient, kind and considerate. Not on this particular day, though. God most certainly took a back seat during this ride.

We never know when others will see us. Whether they are people we know or complete strangers, the world notices our every move. People watched Moses to see if they could trust what he said. People watched Paul to see if he was truly changed. People watched Chuck Colson to see if he was really sorry for what he did during Watergate.

I know people are watching me as well. I recall an incident many years ago when I was in a store. I was getting quite upset because I could not get anyone to help me. When a sales person finally came over, I said rather abruptly that I had been waiting for 10 minutes. The young man apologized and suddenly pointed to the emblem on my jacket. “Hey, I used to go to that school,” he said. “It’s a great place.” Immediately, it dawned on me that I was hardly displaying the values of the Christian college where I taught writing and literature.

No matter where we go, people are watching us. We are not safe from their view anywhere. The only way to be safe is to do the right thing. There is no room for error when it comes to being like Christ. The world expects to see him in us and us in him.

Bigger wisdom (Wednesday, February 10)

Solomon was once considered the most intelligent man in the world. According to the Bible, his wisdom was greater than all the men of the East and more than everyone in Egypt. In addition, Solomon knew 3,000 proverbs and had composed 1,005 psalms. People from all nations came to listen to him. No doubt they also marveled at his feats of engineering as well.

For seven years, King Solomon directed the construction of an enormous temple to the Lord. There were 30,000 laborers who cut timbers and prepared the stone, 70,000 carriers who moved materials from the quarry, 80,000 workers who chiseled the great blocks, and 3,300 supervisors.

The temple itself was a large project for that day – 90 feet long, 30 feet wide and 45 feet high – but much smaller than the residence Solomon erected for himself. His palace, which took about twice the number of years to build, was 60 percent longer and more than double the height of the temple.

As I think about the difference between the temple and the palace, I wonder why God’s house was not larger than Solomon’s. I would like to think that I would have done things the other way around. Yet, I know myself all too well; I usually have a tendency to put God first but to give myself more. I am still learning how to be wise when it comes to devoting what I should to the Lord. I need to give him the first fruits and not my second best.

Follow the rules (Tuesday, February 9)

There is a similarity, I think, between living my life and driving my car. Both require that I follow certain rules or definitely pay the consequences. When it comes to obeying God, though, I occasionally think I can disregard the signals he is putting in front of me. I tell myself that he will understand and nothing bad will happen. Everything will be okay because God loves me.

What if I had the same attitude toward driving my car each day? Suppose I was always in a hurry and went through red lights? Maybe I ignore the speed limit signs and act like I am the only person on the road. The results could be disastrous for me as well as for others who get in my way. I might have to pay a stiff fine for my actions. Worse yet, I could injure myself or someone else.

All too often in our daily journey we drive on ahead knowing that we are not following God’s will. Then, when we wind up in a mess or get into trouble, we wonder what happened. We ask, “Why did God let this happen to us?” Frequently the answer is that we did it to ourselves. God had nothing to do with our decision to be reckless and careless.

God tells us how we should live. He also warns that there are penalties for our actions, just as there are when driving a car. We might get along fine on our own for a while. Sooner or later our acts will catch up with us. God is long-suffering and patient, but he has little tolerance for disobedience. May we remember this the next time we want to go off on our own. Let us not be guilty of paying more attention to the rules of the road than we do to the rules of our lives.

A word of prayer (Monday, February 8)

We should constantly acknowledge God’s sovereignty and control. Yet, we often accept God’s authority as only a last resort – almost as if everything else we have tried has failed. How many times have we heard someone say, “I guess all I can do is pray.” Turning to God in each situation needs to be the first thing we do. Not the last.

In what is believed to be his very first written epistle, Paul wrote to the Thessalonians telling them to pray without ceasing. He knew that prayer had to be the very core of our faith and belief. Our lives are formed by prayer and out of prayer we become God’s obedient servants. The more we rely on prayer, the more we realize why God wants us to depend on him each minute.

Contrary to our way of thinking, prayer is not a magic formula for getting our way. We should not expect to take our wants or wishes to God for his blessing and approval. God does not always give us what we ask. Prayer is a chance for us to bring ourselves in line with his divine will. Not for us to convince God to see things our way.

We need to be honest with God when we pray. We should confess that we want him to grant our petitions and, at the same time, admit he knows what is best. We have to give him room to work in our lives, to show us greater things than we can imagine. Going to God in prayer means we are willing to trust him even when we do not understand. Even when we do not agree. Even when we hurt.

Even if we do not always receive what we hope for, we will receive Our Father’s comfort and peace. 

Second chances (Sunday, February 7)

There is always hope in the morning. As the sun begins to shine – clear and bright – on a new day, the problems of yesterday fade away. What went wrong or what we did wrong is gone. We have a second chance today.

Sometimes our lives can be like the weather: dark, gloomy and rainy one minute but sunny the next. God gives us one opportunity after another to get it right. He is patient and compassionate as he waits to see if we take advantage of his grace.

Thankfully, his mercy is great. I know that in my own life I fall down time and time again. I say the wrong things and act the wrong way. I almost want to give up on myself. But God is there, ready to forgive me and to encourage me.

All of us need to spend more effort trying harder, trying to be more like the person God created than the person we have become. He can and will show us how, if we ask. We also need to give ourselves a break; we need to move on and not live in yesterday. God is not able to do much with us if we refuse to step away from the past. Remember, he is a God of second chances, not first mistakes.

Think on this (Saturday, February 6)

My hope today is that the Lord will help me to be “here” and not someplace else. Like most people, my thoughts wander everywhere at almost every moment of the day. I might be driving down the street, for instance, and I am thinking about what I will do tomorrow. Or I could be wondering about what a particular person said to me yesterday, especially if it happened to be a disturbing or critical comment.

The apostle Paul told us how and what to reflect on in his letter to the Philippians: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” All of these values are positive. They bring us closer to God and keep us going in the right direction. There is no chance of us being led astray by negative thoughts.

Most of the time, we catch ourselves thinking about circumstances that really do not matter. What can I possibly gain today by pondering a remark I heard yesterday? Or how can I be effective right now if I am anticipating what may or may not happen tomorrow? When I am distracted, I get off track; I allow my thoughts to take over.

We can stay on the narrow road by meditating on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable. These qualities make us more like Christ. Things like worry, anxiety, anger, regret and stubbornness make us more like the person we were before we came to Jesus. Why go backward in our lives when the Lord longs for us to move forward toward a better life?

Make disciples (Friday, February 5)

The great commission is our mission. We know what we are called to do. Go and make disciples of all nations, Jesus commanded, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The question is how do we do it?

Perhaps we give money to various charities that support missionaries here and abroad. Maybe we take an occasional mission trip ourselves. We might collect used Bibles or books that are then sent to people far away. Many of us also help Bible translators who can put scripture into native languages all over the world.

We can also become personally involved in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Never before has it been easier to reach those living on the other side of the planet. We have cell phones, televisions, computers, the Internet, iPods and iPhones. Even those who live in remote areas without electricity now have a PC. As technology advances in the years ahead, no doubt there will be more efficient and effective ways to let people know about salvation.

Our message is old, but timeless. Now we can tell every nation and individual about Jesus in a new way. If we want, we can sit in our living room in the U.S. and, through an email or a website, explain the gospel to someone in Asia. Jesus wants us to take his words seriously. He wants us to go and make disciples everywhere. Today we can go everywhere without ever leaving home. Let us use technology in the best way we can – for Jesus’ sake.

I believe (Thursday, February 4)

The people could not believe their eyes. A man, blind from birth, had been healed. Yet the Jews doubted he was the same person who sat and begged for money each day. They forced the man to tell what happened. Not satisfied with his account – how Jesus put mud on his eyes and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam – they brought the Pharisees to investigate. Once again, he recounted the details of his healing. Even his parents were questioned about the incident.

Still, no one understood how or why this man could suddenly see. So the Pharisees commanded him to proclaim that Jesus was a sinner; after all, Jesus had healed on the Sabbath and he claimed to be the Son of God. “I don’t know if he is a sinner or not,” the man replied. “All I know is that I was blind and now I see.”

For this man, the fact he was able to see is all that mattered. It did not matter how he regained his sight or when (on what particular day). Nor was he concerned with the things people said or thought about Jesus. The man didn’t even seem to care if people believed his story or not. His words, “Now I see,” said everything that was important.

We also need to focus on what is foremost in our lives. When people question us, doubt us, even mock us, we need to explain what we know and believe from our own experience: “I believe in Jesus. I believe he will help me. I believe he will heal me. I believe he will strengthen me. I believe he will take care of me.” Much like the blind man, we need to say, “All I know is that I was lost and now I am found.” Let the world think what it will about the “amazing grace” that has saved us. Only those who know Jesus will understand.

Freedom (Wednesday, February 3)

You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. We have heard the phrase so often that we barely give it a second thought. Do we really understand what Jesus meant? The Jews certainly did not and Jesus was standing right in front of them. They were quick to remind Jesus that they were descendants of Abraham – that they had never been slaves to anyone. So how, they questioned, will we be set free? Freedom from what, they wondered?

What does the truth mean to you and me? Maybe it has to do with God’s word. Or perhaps it is knowing that God controls the universe. It might even be the recognition that Jesus is God’s son and that he shows us the right way to live.

Jesus is talking about much more here than what is right or wrong. The truth is he came to earth to offer everlasting freedom. Yet, many of the people of his day could not accept him. They did not understand how he could claim to take away their sins. Only God could do that.

Because many of them did not know Jesus, they did not realize his power and authority. Nor did they have any idea he could remove their transgressions forever. In short, they missed the truth about Christ. They would not let him set them free, in spite of his hope for their salvation.

Where is He? (Tuesday, February 2)

Quick to complain and slow to remember. Does that describe you in any way? We usually waste no time in wondering if God has forgotten us when we face difficulties. Conversely, we always forget what he has done for us in the past. Like the plaintive cries throughout the Psalms, we lose our hope from time to time. Where is God when we need him most, we ask. Why doesn’t he help us and why doesn’t he punish the wicked?

In our humanness, it is natural for us to grumble. But let’s not continue on and on until we are tired of hearing ourselves moan and groan. Let us learn from the Psalms. Let us turn our laments into hymns of praise. We cannot forget his good deeds and gracious blessings.

Most every psalm in the Bible follows a similar format. The song begins with an expression of grief, followed by a plea for help and mercy. Soon the words become softer and gentler; the writer turns the problem over to the Lord. Finally, there is worship and adoration for the greatness of God.

Since the beginning of creation, people have had the same concerns and worries. Perhaps we can be the generation that at last learns from the past. Maybe we can see all the good God has done throughout thousands of years; maybe we can stop doubting where he is all of the time. He has always been right here, guiding the same universe he formed out of nothing and helping each one of the children he created.

Choose one (Monday, February 1)

We can never be completely satisfied until we find peace within ourselves. Sometimes we think we will be happy when we have a certain job or when we live in a particular place or when we have a chance to do something else. We believe we know what will make us content even when we are not sure what we are searching for in life.

If we are feeling impatient, we need to practice being patient in the Lord. Most of our struggles come from within ourselves. We want things to happen right away. We do not want to wait. We sense the clock ticking and time growing short.

What we fail to remember is that God is in control of every second. He will change our circumstances and situations when the time is right. For his will to be accomplished, everything must line up. Not just our needs or desires. But all that is going on around us.

We have one choice to make today. We can either be anxious about what we want or be anticipating what the Lord has in mind. If we choose our way, we most certainly have a reason to fret. If we choose God’s way, we will not have to worry about anything.

His power in us (Sunday, January 31)

Crowds sought Jesus as he traveled from town to town. News of his power and authority had spread far and wide. Everywhere, people came to see this unusual man from Nazareth because they sought healing from sickness, pain and disease. Most seemed to want relief from earthly afflictions more than what Jesus could offer for all eternity.

The world still comes to him today, seeking freedom from difficulty, obstacles, problems and illness. Many of us live only for the moment and forget all about forever; we want his cure now rather than his salvation later. In our earthly impatience, we often put aside the imperishable for the perishable. We ask for bodily peace instead of spiritual fulfillment. We have it all backwards.

Any kind of suffering is never easy. At times, it can be almost unbearable. But it is never impossible with Jesus. He can and will ease the pain as long as we come to him for the right reason: with our eyes, hearts and minds firmly set on heaven rather than on earth.

When all is said and done, it is eternity that truly matters. What we are going through right now will pass, just as Jesus’ anguish on the cross eventually gave way to a new and permanent life through the resurrection. If our hope is in him, then he is in us both now and forever. We possess his power to endure anything that comes against us.

Never changing (Saturday, January 30)

How quickly things can change. Yesterday afternoon was sunny and cool – not a cloud in the sky. The kids who live behind us were playing on a trampoline and their dog was running around the backyard in circles. Still other children were playing in the street, riding bikes and skateboards, celebrating a half day off from school.

But that scene is a mere memory this morning. As far as I can see in every direction, our neighborhood is covered by four to five inches of snow. Everything is white, clean and quiet. How beautiful and how amazing! Just 15 hours earlier, it seemed almost like spring or fall. Now it is winter once again.

Life happens unexpectedly. We never know exactly what will occur down the road, even though we often try to plan ahead. There may be obstacles that we cannot anticipate, much like driving on the same streets every day. One day is fine and the next there is a huge pothole that throws the front end of the car completely out of alignment and damages the wheel drum. Without warning, we have to spend $200 or $300 on repairs.

Suddenly, we begin to fret even though there is nothing we can do to change our situation. Instead of feeling anxious and hopeless, why don’t we become full of hope in knowing that God will help us? Somehow, some way, God will provide a way for us to survive this difficulty. He has been there for us in the past and he will be there now. Remember all he has done before and you will see there is nothing to worry about. Life may change, but God never does.

Think carefully (Friday, January 29)

We might think something malicious or wicked about a person, but not say anything. To our way of thinking, we are okay. From God’s perspective, though, we are wrong even if we keep quiet. What concerns him is that the evil thoughts entered our mind in the first place.

There is a philosophical game that goes something like this: “If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?” How we answer the question depends on our perspective. On the one hand, the laws of physics dictate that the tree would make a sound even if no one is around to hear it. On the other hand, someone has to be there to perceive the sound; if no one hears the crash, there is no sound. We can go back and forth arguing all day long, and never reach a satisfactory conclusion.

Sometimes, we use the same logic when it comes to what we do or don’t do. Suppose a person has wronged us in some way. We want to get even and think of all sorts of ways to get revenge. We might go so far as to plan an elaborate scheme to flatten all the tires on his car, for example. But we never go through with it. In fact, we do not seek any vengeance at all. Therefore, we conclude, we haven’t done anything wrong.

From God’s standpoint, the mere fact that we thought about getting even is the same as committing the act. Why? Because God is present all of the time. He knows and sees what we are thinking every moment. There is no fooling him with our silly riddles, such as “If we think about getting even but never do it, have we done anything wrong?”

We should know the answer by now. Today, may we become more cautious of what we think because our thoughts do matter to God.

Be who you are (Thursday, January 28)

It would be worthwhile and valuable to spend more of our time thinking about who we are rather than who we want to become. We can be all sorts of things: teachers, writers, secretaries, vice presidents, lawyers, doctors, actors, etc. We cannot say the same when it comes to declaring who we are.

That question was answered long ago, even before our birth. We were created by God and chosen to be his children as the heirs of his kingdom. We are his and we belong to him. If we accept what he has given to us, including salvation through the Son and power by the Holy Spirit, then there is no mistaking who we are.

In other words, we do not have to become anything. We do not have to spend our lives attempting to be someone else or strive to be something we are not. We are God’s. Pure and simple. Nothing else is required.

Decades ago, American poet Archibald MacLeish wrote in “Ars Poetica” that, “A poem should not mean / But be.” The world will always try to make us think that we have to work to become or mean something. As long as we believe in God, though, we can just be.

Looking for a sign (Wednesday, January 27)

God works through signs, visible demonstrations that he is present. Some signs are small, barely noticeable. Some are large, almost overwhelming. All are amazing wonders of his love and care. He guides each one of us each day, but we have to watch to see where he is leading.

When the Lord told my wife and me to move to another state years ago, God gave us a sign. I had received a job offer almost without trying. That should have been enough. In our doubt, though, we asked for another sign. Our house sold in just three days. Still not completely convinced, we asked God for more confirmations of his will for us.

The Israelites received the signs of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Another sign was that they always had enough food and water. Over and over again, God made it known that he was protecting them and leading them to the Promised Land. Still, they complained and grumbled that they were going to die in the desert.

When we stop looking for the signs that God shows us every day, we lose our way. We become lost and confused. We wander about aimlessly without any direction or purpose. The Lord cannot take us very far if we are not looking for his divine signs. They are always in front of us, but we have to keep our hearts, minds and eyes open so we notice them.

Our concept of God (Tuesday, January 26)

We need to ask ourselves a critical question about God: What is our concept of him? Is he a Father, a friend, a counselor, a helper, a savior, a guide, a comforter, or all of these? How we view God determines, in large measure, how we serve him.

If we look at God as an extension of ourselves, chances are we will not go very far with him. We, as human beings, are made in the image of God. He is not made in our image. Yet, we often treat God as if he is one of us – one of the guys. He is friendly, helpful, kind, gentle and understanding. He would do anything for anyone. I would contend that such a being is little more than a good person, much like that particular individual at church who is always ready to help anyone at anytime.

Our perception of God must be more, much greater and higher. We need to see God as the creator of all life, the sustainer of all things and the Father of all people. He has a divine plan for each person and every situation. His will has always reigned throughout the universe and controlled the motion of the planets. He made everything, from the smallest to the largest, to reveal the glories of his power. He stands as the “I am” above the heavens but lives and breathes among us each day.

Let us resist the temptation to reduce God to our level. We cannot expect God to do what we would always do. We would stop earthquakes, fires, accidents and hurricanes from ever occurring. He does not, and we wonder why. If we are going to accept him as our God, we must also accept that he has a reason, no matter how circumstances might look to us. He is above everything we know, and it is natural that we do not understand his ways.

Beyond the prison walls (Monday, January 25)

The opportunities to serve the Lord are boundless. Everyplace is a chance to share his love with the world. We miss these chances because we become preoccupied with our own situations. Maybe we are waiting for outpatient surgery; in our anxiety, we forget about those around us. Perhaps we have lost our job; we think our purpose in life has been taken away. We could be experiencing some other type of loss or suffering, making us feel forgotten and alone.

The apostle Paul certainly must have felt lonely at times. Probably no more than when he was in prison. As far as we know, Paul was put in jail at least four times: in Philippi, Caesarea, and Rome on two separate occasions. The total time might have been five to six years. What did Paul do for so long? He certainly did not sit there day after day thinking about his plight and feeling sorry for himself. Instead, he kept serving the Lord while he was in prison.

Paul wrote four books of the New Testament – Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians and Philippians – behind bars. Being in prison did not hold him back in the least. He used his time to write these “letters from prison” to encourage the churches he had helped to establish. From inside, he ministered to those on the outside.

When you and I start thinking more about other people and less of ourselves, we will be making the most (and best use) of our time. What we do for the Lord is always greater. We don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to understand this principle. Just remember what God did through Paul. Think about the “Prison Epistles” and how many times they have ministered to people during the past 2,000 years. Even though Paul was confined, nothing could limit his will to serve the Lord.

Jonah's anger (Sunday, January 24)

The Lord does many things that we do not understand. Sometimes he forgives those who deserve to be punished or he allows the wicked to be set free. Even though we trust his wisdom, we are always standing by ready to help him exact justice, just like Jonah.

God instructed Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach against the city because of its wickedness. But he ran the other way, boarding a ship to Tarshish. The sailors drew lots when a storm came up; they were looking for someone to blame. They threw him overboard, hoping to save their lives. As we all know, a huge fish swallowed Jonah and he spent the next three days praying for God to spare him. Eventually, Jonah was cast out. When he reached land he headed straight to Nineveh.

The story does not end there. When the Ninevites heard Jonah proclaim God’s condemnation on the city, they were convicted and began to fast and pray. Forty days later, God was pleased and did not harm anyone.

Jonah was not happy. In fact, he was actually mad at God for not destroying the people. Scripture explains that Jonah said to God, “I am angry enough to die.” God tried three more times to make Jonah understand patience and compassion. Unfortunately, Jonah was not aware – because of his own anger – that God had forgiven him and spared his life. Sometimes we are too blind to recognize our own faults, yet we easily see the flaws in others.

Helping or hurting? (Saturday, January 23)

I am always too quick to judge others. Even when I do not know the full story, I seem to gather enough of the details to make a decision about someone or something. God is teaching me, day by day, that I need to change. Sometimes the lessons are downright embarrassing.

A few years ago, a family moved in down the street. For weeks, they kept bringing in more and more furniture until their garage and van were packed. They kept having garage sales on weekends. One Saturday, I abruptly told them I would call the police if they persisted. You can guess what happened. They set everything up one morning and I notified the police.

An officer came out and told me there were no more regulations on garage sales. The city had changed the laws a year earlier. I knew I had to apologize. As I approached the family, they informed me they were moving soon and would not cause problems anymore. It was then that I learned their house in the country had burned down recently and they were trying to salvage anything they could. They were just renting the townhouse nearby. Plus, they had a young son who was physically challenged and they were attempting to raise money to keep him in a special school.

Each time I am tempted to make a rash decision, I try to remember this example. God showed me, in a very painful way, what happens when I get (or see) only half of the story. If I would have spent more time helping them, I would have spent much less time hurting them.

Deleting old messages (Friday, January 22)

I recently deleted, forever, the outdated messages in my email folders. I had stored up more than 10,000 emails, many with attachments, over the past year. It took some time to get rid of all this junk mail, but the effort was worthwhile. My computer, especially my email program, ran twice as fast once the old stuff from the past was completely gone. I also gained one gigabyte of free space.

Our lives are similar. From hour to hour and year to year, we carry around all sorts of useless stuff we have collected or received: regrets, mistakes, humiliation, anger and sorrow. We never realize how much these things slow us down and wear us down. No doubt this is the reason why on some days we feel like we are crawling, not soaring like eagles as God intends.

This day is a perfect opportunity to delete the old messages and memories. It may take some time, but the work will pay off. You will be able to do much more for the Lord because you will not be carrying around the past. The items you have stored up will be erased forever, and you will be free to move forward without any baggage. In addition, you will have more room in your life and mind for the things that truly matter.

Our lives run so much better when we throw away all of the clutter and mess. There is no need to store up what we do not use.

The right decision (Thursday, January 21)

We make our choices and our choices make us. The Bible is full of examples of those who made both good and bad choices. There is the story of David and Bathsheba, Lot’s wife, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Moses, Jonah, Esau and Jacob, Abraham and Sarah, and so on. The list is endless. Time and time again, people make decisions that affect the rest of their lives.

What is our individual story – yours and mine? How many times have we made choices – good or bad – that changed who and what we are? We have to make up our mind all of the time, everywhere we go. Which house should we buy? What grocery store is the best? How should we spend our weekend? When should we go on vacation? Who can fix our car? Where should we go to church? Why should we buy a new wide screen television? The choices are endless and so are the results.

For us as believers we have to make only one choice: whether to follow God or not. Consider what Joshua told the people of Israel. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve,” he proclaimed. “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua was willing to trust the Lord to make all of his decisions for him.

If we allow God to make our choices, we will not fall victim to our own failings. God knows what to choose and exactly what will happen for our good.

Seeing clearly (Wednesday, January 20)

I suspect there are a great many people – Christians included – who claim to know God, but fail to see him clearly. When they peer into the distance to make out his will, all of the details appear blurry and out of focus. Perhaps the future is too far away from them to be seen at all.

Those who have myopia cannot see more than a few feet away without wearing glasses. Corrective lenses allow them to observe what they could not discern before. If we lack proper vision, then we need to do something. Otherwise, we will never catch sight of things as they are; objects will always seem hazy.

The apostle Peter said that it is possible to be nearsighted and blind when it comes to actual knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot, though, simply put on a pair of glasses and see God better. But we can put on certain qualities that will make us clear-sighted followers. In addition to our faith, we need to add such things as goodness, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love. These virtues, Peter says, will keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in our lives.

As we add each separate quality to our faith, God will gradually come into focus. We will see him better and know exactly what lies ahead. In short, we will realize his purpose for us. No matter where we find ourselves right now, we have his perfect vision to see far beyond the present moment.

Stand still (Tuesday, January 19)

The saying goes that we should choose our battles. We also are told to back away from fights we cannot win. There may be a bit of truth in both of these statements, but the fact is that we rarely have a chance to pick our battles. The difficulties and trials of life seem to come at us when we least expect them—when we are the most vulnerable and sensitive. We do not usually go looking for trouble. It has a way of finding us.

When problems attack, our first instinct is usually to fight back. We want to defend ourselves. Unfortunately, most of us do a pretty sorry job when we are on the defensive. Our emotions, our pride and our anger get the better of us. We are doomed to failure even before we begin. You and I need to learn there is only one way to deal with hardships and assaults. All we have to do is stand our ground and let the Lord take over, as Jehoshaphat learned.

A vast army from three entire nations once declared war on this great king. Ironically, these were the same territories that God had told Israel not to invade years earlier. “See how they are repaying us,” Jehoshaphat complained to the Lord. Overwhelmed by the forces that would decimate his country and not knowing what else to do, he called everyone together for prayer and fasting. “We will stand in your presence and will cry out to you in our distress,” he said to God, “and you will hear us and save us.”

The spirit of the Lord answered, telling them not be discouraged or afraid. “Tomorrow march against them . . . and take up your positions,” the voice instructed. “You will not have to fight this battle.” In the end, two of the opposing armies defeated the third, and then they fought among themselves. Jehoshaphat’s men arrived and found all of the other soldiers dead. God had done what he said he would do.

We could stand to be more like Jehoshaphat. Let us turn to God rather than turning to ourselves to prepare for battle. For us, there is no fight. If we can stand still long enough, God will win the battle and give us the victory.

Rooted in the Word (Monday, January 18)

It may seem puzzling that a group of Christians can hear the same sermon, read the same Bible, pray the same prayers and all react with different degrees of faith. The answer is quite simple really. All those who hear the Word of God do not listen.

Recall the parable of the sower. Some of the seed fell by the wayside and was eaten by the birds. Another portion fell on stony ground and perished as quickly as it sprang up. Other seed fell among the thorns and was choked out by the weeds. Still more seed was planted in good soil and flourished; there was good fruit and plants multiplied.

At some time or another in our lives, we have each fallen into one of several categories: we allowed the Word of God to be stolen from us; we have not had deep enough roots to survive trials and temptations; or our faith in God has been choked out by our trust in the world. On occasion, we have survived and actually grown because we were firmly planted in God.

We reap what we sow, especially when it comes to the kingdom. How much we produce depends on how deep our faith goes into God’s ground. Good fruit comes only from deep roots, buried well in the soil of the Word.

Like Jesus (Sunday, January 17)

Peter believed he could walk on water. The minute he saw Jesus in the distance, he jumped out of the boat and went toward his master. Suddenly, though, he began to sink. He cried out for help and Jesus rescued him. Think about the story a little deeper. Perhaps what happened was that Peter lost faith in himself. He doubted that he could be like Jesus.

You and I are much like Peter. God shows us Jesus and says, “Be like him.” But we come up with all kinds of excuses: I am not perfect; I don’t have his power; I am just a human; I simply can’t. Who says we lack the ability to follow Jesus and to be like him? Didn’t Jesus tell the disciples that he was going away in order to send the Spirit—that they would do greater things in his name?

Somewhere along the line we got the notion that we are weak, feeble and unable to do much. We think we are nothing in comparison to our Savior. Remember, though, Jesus lives in each one of us every day. That means we are like him and can do what he did. The whole problem is that we just don’t believe in ourselves as much as God believes in us.

Knowing (Saturday, January 16)

Even though my life at this very moment is perfect, I know that many people are in pain. Others, maybe next door to me or in nations far away, are suffering with grief, tragedy and misery. Some, like the people in earthquake-torn Haiti, are facing another day of heartache, homelessness and helplessness. The suffering on their faces shows it all. Still, millions of people throughout the world watch the events unfold on television and do nothing. From the comforts of their living room, they see but do not fully realize the magnitude of the catastrophe.

I do not know why God allowed this to happen. Nor do I understand all of the death and destruction. It is completely beyond my imagination. Even if God would explain the reason, I don’t think I would comprehend. All I know is that thousands are dead, thousands are hurt, thousands are without food and water, thousands are without homes.

Yet, I believe that far below the rubble, the mass graves, the crushed bodies and the tears of mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers, God is there. He is there in a way that we can never realize right now. Not until we sit next to him in paradise will we begin to glimpse the purpose.

And so I pray. I pray for the people of Port-au-Prince. I pray like their lives depend upon it because, in many respects, it does. I also do what I can to donate my time and money here. Later this morning, as I donate blood at the Red Cross, I will be hoping that my small contribution will help a little.

Above all, I know that every small thing we do is magnified a hundred-fold in the kingdom. What might seem tiny on earth becomes a great treasure in the kingdom. I do not understand how God does this either, but I believe he does. Despite all of my doubts and questions, that is all I need to know.

Guarding our words (Friday, January 15)

What we say with our lips can often be more harmful than what we do with our hands. Ask any child. Or think about your own life. There is a silly adage that we are told from the time we are very little: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me. I don’t know about you or your experiences. I have long forgotten what other boys did to me – the fights, scuffles and disagreements – but I still remember the awful names I was called.

Whether it is saying something about a person or making a comment about a particular situation, we have to be extremely careful not to offend others. Every word from our mouth should bring glory to God, not shame. That is why it is vitally important for us to pray and listen first, then speak exactly what the Lord tells us speak. We have no business speaking our mind to anyone.

I recall an incident in my life some 45 years ago. I was a stock boy and bagger in a local grocery store. On a busy Saturday morning, one of the cashiers a few counters away kept trying to get my attention. I did not hear her until she finally screamed “Are you deaf or something?” To this day, I can still picture her shouting at me. Little did she know that, yes, I could not hear well. In fact, I had almost no hearing in one ear. Despite the passage of time, her words echo through my head occasionally.

This matter was no big deal. But for me, it was extremely disturbing. The cashier had not even thought about how I would feel because of her sarcastic question. The next time we want to say something off the cuff, so to speak, let us turn to God first. He will tell us what to say and precisely how to say it. After all, he is the Word.

Wanting more (Thursday, January 14)

Let us try to be grateful for what we have even though it may not always be what we want. All too often, we have to lose something before we realize how fortunate we have been. We complain about our jobs, but how would we feel if we were unemployed? We complain about our homes, but how would we feel if we were homeless? We complain about not feeling better, but how would we feel if we had a terminal illness? We complain about not having enough money, but how would we feel if we had none at all?

Our list of wants is long. But so is our list of blessings. Look around and see all you possess, everything from material objects to eternal life and everything in between. No, we may not have all we desire. Still, would being wealthier make us any happier? More content?

Years ago when I was in a city in China, I had a chance to speak to a class of college students about my life in the United States. They wanted to know all about my family and where I lived. Everyone in the large lecture hall was shocked when I told them we owned a four-bedroom, two and one-half bath house; we had three cars, four televisions and two computers. Plus, we had a large yard where our two children could play and there was a park just down the street. “You must be rich,” said one person. “No, not at all,” I replied. “In American, we are just average.”

As I reflect on that experience, I realize the young Chinese student was right. I am rich. Sorry to say, though, I don’t always realize it because I am too caught up in thinking about the things I still want. What if God was the same way? What if his happiness depended on me doing more or giving more to him? We would all be in trouble if God acted like us.

A hard lesson (Wednesday, January 13)

One of the most difficult lessons I am learning is to look at myself more. I need to watch what I do and say rather than always focusing on others. My natural tendency is to judge the people around me, but to excuse myself. “Look at what that person is doing,” I tell God. “That isn’t right. He needs to be told about it.”

Sometimes I talk to God as if he is a blind man – a Father who cannot see what is going on and what people are doing (or not doing). Certainly he knows and sees much more than me. Yet I wonder why he doesn’t do something. Why does he let people hurt someone? Why doesn’t he punish those who take advantage of others?

What I need to do is to stop worrying about everyone else all of the time and start examining my words and actions. The real question is how do I treat people, and do I speak out of love even when I am hurting? I should have more than enough to keep me busy by simply taking care of myself.

Jesus once told Peter to stop asking about what will happen to other individuals. “You need to follow me,” he said. You and I need to make a renewed commitment to follow Jesus and to forget about everyone else. God sees what they are doing and he sees what we are doing. He will take care of the other people if we can learn to take care of ourselves.

His touch on our lives (Tuesday, January 12)

God’s hand is upon us as we go on our daily walk. He guides us and moves us for our good. Nothing will happen to us as long as we allow him to show the way.

But sometimes we take his hand off of our shoulder. We remove his presence in our lives and begin to wander free. Without restraint, we go here and there, roaming wherever our emotions and desires take us. No wonder we become confused. Our whims are without direction or purpose. They are completely irrational, certain to take us toward greater danger.

Why we stray from the Lord is anyone’s guess. Perhaps we think we can do a better job than God. Maybe we get tired of waiting for him to make a move. We might even get angry and rebel against him. There are dozens of reasons. In each case, the result is the same: we take away his hand and replace it with our own.

How many times have we become lost in situations and circumstances because we thought we knew exactly what to do? For myself, I have lost count. Dozens of times each day I wander off without thinking. Fortunately, he always brings me back to where I belong. God always puts his hand back on me and leads me home.

Our identity (Monday, January 11)

Who are you? Better yet, who am I? Am I who others say I am? I wonder if I am who I even think I am. I’m sure there is a great difference between who I am and who God wants me to be. The former is my little notion of what I want while the latter is being the heir of a great kingdom.

Instead of looking to God to discover the creature he created in me, I often ask the world to define me. I let others determine my self-worth and value rather than asking the creator himself. Who knows me better than God? Is there any human being anywhere who is wiser than God? No, of course not.

Let us stop looking everywhere except to God for our identity and importance. Only he can see inside of us. Only God can see our entire lives, from beginning to end, and know all of the goodness in us. The world cannot possibly realize who we are. Nor can it change whose we are.

If we belong to him, he tells the world who we are. Not the other way around.

The living church (Sunday, January 10)

We can never really say ‘this is my church’ or ‘that is their church.’ We know well what we mean: I go to a certain place to worship and they go to another church down the street. When we make such a statement we may be referring to our sense of ownership and belonging to a particular congregation, along with taking pride in a physical structure. Perhaps there is the implication that we or they attend the weekly services there.

Perhaps, though, we need to be more deliberate and definitive in the language we use and the kinds of things we say. In this case, we might be giving someone the wrong idea. We could be lowering the stature of the church, reducing it to a worldly and human level, when we describe it as something made by man.

But there is nothing earthly or lowly about the church, except for the fact that it is God’s indwelling presence in our daily lives. For all intents and purposes, we are the church. Each one of us is the
church. It does not matter whether we are male or female, young or old, black or white, rich or poor. People from all continents, nations, cultures and communities make up the cathedral of God.

His church is everywhere we go: at home, away, on vacation and overseas. We see it all around us in the people that are made by the same Creator and Father. In him and through him, we make up the one true and living body of God’s church.

God's love (Saturday, January 9)

The miraculous power of God’s love is all around us each moment of our lives. His divine love can give us reassurance when we feel uncertain, provide comfort during times of stress, light the way when the path is dark, strengthen us if we are weak, heal us in our sickness, fill us with wisdom when doubt arises, and save us when we are lost.

All through our physical lives, from the moment we are created until the time we return home to him, the love of our Father is with us. It is present in divine ways that we in our humanness cannot even begin to understand. We know it exists, though, because of the many times we have been rescued from harm and despair without knowing how or why.

As we go through this day, let us be conscious of God’s love. It enables us to continue serving him and living for him in a supernatural way. We do not need to know how his love works; only that it does.

Feeling secure in ourselves (Friday, January 8)

We are easily lulled into a false sense of security. Our lives often depend on what we can do for ourselves. We rely on what we earn, what we buy, what we eat, what we wear and what we do. Life is sometimes more about ourselves than it is about God.

The parable of the rich fool is all about how we can be misled by our own devices. The farmer who had a good crop built more barns to store all of his grain and goods. He thought he could then rest and take life easy. Little did the man realize that his life would be demanded of him that same night. “This is how it will be,” Jesus explained, “with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

We may think we are doing the right thing when we take care of ourselves and our needs. But the truth is that God wants us to help others and let him take care of us. God blesses us with abundance so we can, in turn, bless others. Using our good fortune to store up for the future is foolish, for we never know what our days ahead will bring.

It is better to share what we have than to hoard what we may never use.

Giants in the land (Thursday, January 7)

Are you facing anything today that seems overwhelming? Maybe it has to do with physical pain, a difficult job, some task you have to perform, or many little things that are wearing you down. Perhaps you are even fighting yourself, battling thoughts of depression or loneliness. Whatever seems to be coming against you, know that you are not alone. God is both your strength and your shield, just as he was with a small shepherd boy.

The account of David and Goliath is more than a simple children’s story. There are details that we as adults need to remember. First of all, when David implied he could fight Goliath, his own family came against him. His oldest brother accused David of being conceited and wicked, that he came to watch the war between the Israelites and the Philistines out of mere curiosity. Then King Saul mocked him by saying David was only a boy: “You are no match for this giant; he has been training since his youth to be a warrior.” When David argued he, too, was prepared for battle, Saul replied halfheartedly, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.” Finally, Goliath laughed at David. “Come here,” said the mighty Philistine, “and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”

Despite all odds, David was victorious. What we need to realize is that it does not matter what or who comes against us today or any other day. When God is with us, we have no need to worry or reason to fear. We will be victorious because God is fighting the battle for us. Recall what David said as he walked slowly toward the giant: “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel.”

All we need in any struggle is the name of Lord. His word is stronger than any sword, spear or javelin. Most of all, his power and might are sure, no matter what tries to defeat him. With him on our side, we will never ever lose. Nothing in all of the universe can come against him or his children and win.

Believing in His future (Wednesday, January 6)

Why we have to go through sickness, experience tragedy and see people in pain is something that only God knows. Why does someone get cancer? Why do people lose their jobs? Why do natural disasters harm thousands of persons? All of these things leave us weak and lost, searching for answers that never seem to come. As human beings, we often cannot see beyond our immediate thoughts and feelings.

I do not understand the hurt of life any more than you. It does not make sense and it is often unfair. At times, our suffering and that of others may be so bad that we doubt what God is doing. If he truly loved us as his children, we say, he would not let these problems and difficulties harm us.

Still, there is heartache all around us. We see it everywhere and wish God would stop it. He could if he wanted. So why doesn’t he?

I don’t know. But I do know that we are the closest to God during these terrible moments in our lives. We are never nearer to him than when we are crying and weeping. He endures the grief, too, as he holds us in his arms. He knows that the future will heal us, but he realizes that we do not understand right now.

As we work through the difficult times in life, may we begin to trust what God already sees ahead. Let us be comforted by his caring and loving hand when our world is falling apart. And let us believe that he knows what is best for us in spite of our present questions and doubt. He knows the plans he has for us – plans for our complete and lasting good.

The church (Tuesday, January 5)

Upon this rock, Jesus said to Peter, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The Savior says the same to each one of us today. He is depending on us to build his church here on earth.

We have an incredible responsibility both to the kingdom and to God. What happens or does not happen is up to us. Either we stand with Jesus or we fall alone. As much as we might want to run away or deny Jesus at times (as Peter most certainly did), the truth is that we made a commitment to God himself.

Our spiritual faith must always be stronger than our physical fears. Christ is building a church that will last forever, not one that is subject to earthly decay and destruction.

The foundation was created 2,000 years ago. Jesus now commissions you and me to continue building. Peter is the rock, but we are the stones that will make the church rise high into the heavens.

How long, Lord? (Monday, January 4)

There are times in our lives when we turn to God and ask, “How long do I have to wait?” Maybe you have been waiting for months or years for God to answer your prayer, and you wonder how much longer it will take. How many more days and weeks will pass without any change or improvement? When will you help me, Lord?

Before we lose hope or give up completely, we need to remember that there is another side to our requests and petitions. Perhaps what we want is not good for us or might even cause us harm. We say we trust God – that he knows what is right in every situation – but then we turn around and think only about ourselves. We look at everything from our perspective.

While we are waiting on God, maybe he is waiting on us. It could be that he is saying, “How much longer will it take before you realize that what you want is not the best thing for you?” Are we willing to accept his decision or do we continue to go to him time and time again with the same demand?

Maybe it is high time for us to be honest both with ourselves and with God. Perhaps today is the day when we say, “Lord, you know what I want. But help me to want your will more than mine. Give me the faith to trust you and to know you know what is best.” Our lives will be dramatically changed the moment we let him take complete control. We will no longer worry about exactly when he is going to help us. Instead, we will realize he has been helping us all along.

Let us be wise children (Sunday, January 3)

God is the Father and we are the children. He knows what is best for us and exactly what we need to do each moment. Yet, we often act like we are in charge of our lives – that we know what to do and how to do it. As adults, we think we are old enough and smart enough to make our own decisions. We tend to believe that we are all grown up and able to make our own choices.

How many times each day do we forget our right relationship with God? We take matters into our own hands. We do what we want. We say what we feel. We live as we desire. We do all these things without first asking God. We go to him only after the fact and hope he will bless what we have done, right or wrong.

Time and time again, Jesus said he was the Son of God. In one parable after another, he spoke about children. He taught that God was the Father and that he would watch over us, his children.

Unfortunately, we usually try to take care of ourselves. We do not go to our Father until something goes wrong or we are in trouble. When will we learn that we need to ask him what to do before we do it? We could save ourselves a great deal of anxiety and heartache if we let him make the decisions in our life, rather than always running to him after we make a mistake.

He is there always (Saturday, January 2)

How good it is to be in the company of fellow believers – those who love the Lord as we do. We delight in singing together, praying together and praising together! We can feel the Holy Spirit breathing new life, hope and courage into each one of us. There is force and energy as we unite in one purpose and for one reason: to worship Our Father.

That same Spirit is with us daily, each minute throughout the week, as we continue our journey. Many times we might feel alone and separated, especially as we suffer with illness, as we go off to work, as we shop at the store, as we sit at home, as we face an uncertain future, as we visit the doctor, as we find our finances dwindling, as we receive bad news in the mail, and as we think about loved ones far away. All of these things can make us believe we are powerless and weak, almost that we are nothing by ourselves.

But God is there in our loneliness just as he is when we are celebrating together. We are the same in him whether we are with others or on our own. The same authority and might are present when God is present, no matter if we are one or 100.

The world tries to convince us that there is strength in numbers. The only one we need as Christians, though, is God. He is greater and stronger than anything on earth. No force can overcome him and no enemy can defeat him. He is the same in the past, present and future, and he is the same if we are alone or all together. We can take delight in him always and through all ways.

Your year (Friday, January 1, 2010)

For many years, Paul persecuted Christians. For four decades, Moses was exiled in the desert. For fourteen years, Joseph remained in prison. Noah spent 120 years building an ark. Abraham and Sarah were too old to have children. The Hebrews wandered around in the wilderness for 40 years.

In each instance, a particular day came when God miraculously changed everything: Paul began spreading the good news of Christ; Moses was sent to save his people from the Egyptians; Joseph became ruler of the land; Noah was kept safe during the flood; Abraham and Sarah became the parents of many nations; and the Hebrews reached the Promised Land.

This year, God will change your life. What you have been waiting for, praying for and hoping for will come to pass. God will suddenly set you free from the past and send you forth with his blessings, strength and confidence. You will do great things in his name because he has prepared you for this time.

No matter what you have been going through – sickness, depression, loneliness, distress or anguish – believe that God is going to transform your circumstances in 2010. Watch and see what he does when you give him a chance to prove himself. He is the same today as in the past. What he did before, he will do again. But this time he will do it through you and especially for you.

Happy new life (Thursday, December 31)

Tonight at midnight, we will leave this present year behind and look forward to what lies ahead. We will anticipate happier moments, better health and closer ties with family and friends. We can even resolve to enjoy our lives more and to worry less. Whatever we want to do, we have a new start.

Each day of our life, though, is much like New Year’s Eve. God does not wait until one full year is finished before he gives us another chance. He offers us a constant opportunity to be renewed and refreshed. His unconditional love allows us to put the past behind immediately. He forgives and forgets forever as soon as we come to him with our failings.

Unfortunately, we are the ones who tend to remember. We recall circumstances that happened five, ten, fifteen, twenty years ago and let the events of the past determine our path for the future. You and I need to come to the abrupt realization that we cannot alter things that occurred long ago. But we can determine and control, with God’s help, what takes place tomorrow and the next day.

How the coming New Year turns out depends on how much we are willing to trust God. Let us resolve that 2010 will be different. This will be the year when we move on and move forward to complete the good work that God has already begun in us. It all starts at midnight tonight.

The celebration continues (Wednesday, December 30)

Very soon now, faded Christmas trees will be thrown away. The beautiful lights on each house will be taken down. The many decorations will be boxed and stored. So, too, the little manger scenes on the mantle will be packed away. All of these things have served their purpose for another holiday season. In a few more weeks, we will forget about the joy and happiness we feel right now. Our lives will return to normal as we fall back into the same daily routine.

With each passing decade, I am reminded how much more we need the spirit of Christmas throughout the rest of the year. What we do and say during Advent must be part of our lives all the time. We cannot afford to put away the kindness, the generosity, the caring and the compassion that we show toward one another, even to those rushing around at the mall.

Christ came to give us abundant life—one rich in love and grace. He expects us to live for him and like him every day, not just for a few weeks in December. If we change once the season is over, then we have forgotten why Jesus came to earth in the first place.

The message we should carry in our hearts throughout the many weeks and months ahead is that we are saved for all eternity. That fact is true each day of our lives. May we remember this great gift as we put away all of the garland and tinsel. Our salvation is sure and constant. Although the decorations are gone, the celebration continues.

The Bible as our mirror (Tuesday, December 29)

Not only does the Bible show us who God is, but it also reflects who we are in him. We can hold it up in front of us and see our reflection as Christians. How do we look? Have we done what he commands? Have we followed his will? Have we served him more than ourselves?

Looking into the Bible is very much like staring into a mirror. We can see all kinds of details about ourselves that we might otherwise miss. The more deeply we peer at the word of God, the more we will discover the flaws and imperfections that keep us from him. Similar to seeing our image, we can make changes. Not the physical changes that are important to us and the rest of the world. But spiritual adjustments in our living, thinking and acting.

Every morning as we look into the mirror, let us remember to look into our hearts as well. Holding up the Bible can tell us what needs to be changed. The real transformations that matter in our lives are those inside of us. Not those on the surface, such as our face or hair.

We need to make sure we reflect the true love of God which can only come from the inside out. His light must be shining inside of us before others can see it.

Meaning what we say (Monday, December 28)

A devoted man of God died recently. Accolades and tributes from around the world poured in. Many quotes of gratitude were read at the memorial service: “His legacy will continue to bear fruit. He was a true man of God.” “Today we celebrate the homegoing of a true man of God.” “He was a spiritual father to millions around the world. He opened the door for all of us who are now in Christian television.” Sadly, the same prominent Christians who said these things did not attend the ceremony.

I sometimes wonder if our own words and actions are similar when it comes to serving Christ. We tell him how committed we are to him: “Here I am Lord. Send me.” “I will do whatever you ask.” “May your will be done. Not mine.” “I will follow you all the days of my life.” “I surrender all.” We go on and on about all we plan to do for him in his name.

The words sound great, but then we do not make the time to follow through. Our promises become empty and hollow because there is nothing to back them up. We praise God and, at the same time, go on about our business as usual. Our priorities do not change despite what we say. We are much like those who sent their condolences and tributes to the memorial rather than actually being there themselves.

We always need to make sure that we put our life where our mouth is. If something is really important, we will do it and not merely say something that sounds good and pleasing to the ear.

Renewal (Sunday, December 27) 

The essence of both Christmas and Easter is found in spiritual transformation. Through the savior’s birth and resurrection from death, our lives are made new – reformed and reborn – regardless of what we see with our earthly vision. The heavenly message, the very word of God, is proclaimed to all who will listen. Only those that are willing to believe what they hear, rather than what they see, will understand and be comforted.

Reflecting on my life – on what has brought me to this particular time and place – I realize I have been both a victim and a victor. I have fallen victim to the world’s problems and tribulations, yet I have experienced victory through God’s power and strength. Despite many hardships, I know my life is much more than an accident. Each of my days has been carefully planned by a loving Creator. He designed and ordered my years even before I was born.

So it was with Jesus as well. Before his birth in Bethlehem, God prepared each detail of our Savior’s life. Old Testament prophesy told about the coming of the Messiah. The Book of Matthew also recounts precisely the 42 generations from the time of Abraham to the holy birth. That Jesus was born at a certain time and place was no coincidence. All had been divinely structured even before the universe began.

We are alive today, living in this place, because of God’s will. He has a unique purpose for each one of us, just as he did for his only begotten son. As we celebrate the gift of the Christ, from beginning to eternity, let us recognize the new life we have through him. Not only do we have purpose and meaning through his birth, but we also witness the fulfillment of God’s perfect plan in our lives today.

The eternal light (Saturday, December 26)

The brightness of yesterday still shines. Even though the Christmas lights seem a little dimmer today, the light of God’s love does not lose any of its power. He is the one constant in a world of never-ending change. Our lives may vary from day to day yet, in the center of everything, God remains the same. He is no different today than he was on the morning of Jesus’ birth. His light is like an eternal flame that glows forever in the darkness. It kindles our hearts and spirits with warmth and joy every day of the year.

Silent night (Friday, December 25)

A census was ordered—the very first in the world. Caesar Augustus commanded all in the land to be counted. Everyone had to return home to register with those in their house and line.

At that very time, in the midst of the chaos and confusion, Jesus was born. He would be numbered with all of the others in his family in Bethlehem that day. Like his father Joseph, he was listed as a descendent of David.

How strange that God would choose this particular moment for the birth of his son. With everything else going on in the land, who would notice the savior of mankind in a little stable outside the inn? It would be three decades before the earth realized what had happened quietly during the night.

This morning, as we reflect on the full story of Jesus’ life, let us see how God brought us salvation. The gift came almost without notice, in meekness and love. This is the true spirit of serving him and serving others. May we be servants of the most high with the same sense of humility. Whatever we do, may we do it silently and gently—just as Jesus came down from heaven.

The light of the world (Thursday, December 24)

Perhaps the reason why Christmas is one of the most beautiful times of the year is because we take time to appreciate what God has given us. In spite of the shopping, decorating, baking and traveling we take time to pause, ever so briefly, to celebrate being alive.

The birth of a child reminds us of the simple gift of life. No matter what we may be experiencing, Christmas centers our attention on people. Friends and family become more important than all of the most expensive gifts under the tree. What shines most in our hearts is the treasure of memories we unwrap over and over in our minds. With each passing year, the remembrances are sweeter and more fragrant. They fill our life with meaning and purpose.

A tiny babe lying in a manger is the perfect symbol of Christmas. There, among the rustic surroundings, our attention is drawn to life itself. Jesus is the light of the world that took away the darkness both now and forever. His light shines through us and for us to give us eternal and everlasting life.

Revelation (Wednesday, December 23)

The first persons to hear about the birth of Jesus were not kings. They were not the wealthy or powerful. Nor were they religious leaders or rich merchants. Instead, they were lowly and simple shepherds, who were out in the fields, protecting and caring for their flocks. All was ordinary and routine that night. They could not have imagined what was about to happen.

The fact that God revealed the greatest miracle ever known to these humble men makes the event even more meaningful. God could have chosen anyone, yet he proclaimed the Savior’s birth to common shepherds. They were the first to hear the good news. Their eyes saw what their minds could not imagine: this little child in a dirty stable would grow up to change the world forever.

In much the same way, God appears to us. He uses people like you and me to tell others about the authority and power of Jesus. He declares his word to us so we, in turn, can tell the miraculous story to all we meet. He allows us to share in his joy and glory.

Declaring the Savior’s birth is the most important part of Christmas. We can only celebrate when we reveal what has been revealed to us.

Defeating the enemy (Tuesday, December 22)

Serving Jesus means suffering like him and for him. God’s path will not be easy. Satan never gives up. Time after time, the attacks will come. The enemy will strike out through sickness, failure, tragedy and heartache. He will use anything, even doubt and temptation, to obscure God’s plan.

Satan knows our weakness: the physical things of this world. He realizes that all sorts of questions and fears enter our minds when we are sick, when we hear of someone losing a job, when we experience problems, when we see disaster, when we feel depressed.

What Satan does not want us to see is the power we possess in God, in Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit. He does not want us to know that we can conquer any situation. We have the spiritual authority to overcome the corporeal through the spiritual.

Often, we listen to the devil when we should be listening to God. We accept lies over the truth because we base our conclusions on the seen rather than the unseen. In God’s universe, the invisible is stronger than the visible. His Holy Spirit is no match for the enemy; God does not need to rely on the tangible properties of this world.

He is much higher and greater. That is why we will overcome evil each time when we place our faith in God.

Be amazed (Monday, December 21)

Could anyone living 2,000 years imagine what was about to happen at a dark manger in tiny Bethlehem? Who knew that the world was about to be turned upside down by the birth of a boy?

The only witnesses were his parents, Mary and Joseph, some shepherds and a few animals. But a heavenly host of angels appeared and worshiped the newborn child. A star in the East proclaimed the great news. All this while the entire town slept, unaware of the life-changing event that shook the universe.

This year, too, many people all around us will be oblivious to what is going on. They will not know why the trees are decorated or why they are giving gifts to one another. In their ignorance, they will not understand why we are celebrating and why we are crying.

There still is a need to tell the story of Christmas. Not the tale found in children’s books, but the real and true one. It is the account that Matthew and Luke gave us long ago. The message remains as new and bright as the night when it occurred. Let us remember and, once again, be amazed.

Five days (Sunday, December 20)

Today, on this fourth Sunday of Advent, we are beginning to feel the excitement build. The time is very near. In five days, we will celebrate the most important event in the history of the world—the moment when the Creator of the universe came to reunite all creation with himself.

Without the birth of Christ, our lives would have little meaning. There would be no reason for hope or joy. We would not be able to rejoice in our suffering and pain. There would not be any future beyond tomorrow, and there could be no purpose for our journey.

When Jesus came to earth he brought with him eternity. He gave us time without end to spend with him. What happened in the manger on Christmas morning made possible all of heaven for each one of us.

God’s gift to the world was much more than his Son. It was ever-lasting life.

Are we fit? (Saturday, December 19)

Many organizations use the word “fit” when interviewing prospective candidates. They want new employees to fit into the scheme of things and to be like the many others who already work there.

Being fit for the kingdom of heaven is much different than being fit for a company or business. When it comes to God, we do not have to worry about fitting in and being accepted by everyone else. The only one we need to please is God. He alone decides whether we are fit for service.

He gives each one of us a different role to play. No two are the same. To God, it is more important that we fit together to complete his divine will than if we fit in with everyone. Chances are, if we are doing his will here on earth, we will not fit in. We will seem out of place and even unfit.

What the world thinks should not matter as long as we fit the mold God has in mind for us.

Being faithful (Friday, December 18)

We know that all things work together for good to those who love and serve God. Yet, Satan has a way of twisting things around and using these words against us. “Look at what happened to you,” he says cunningly. “You have done all these wonderful things for him. Now that you need him, where is he? Why did he let you down if he really wants what is best for you?”

If we are not careful, we might buy the clever rhetoric and overlook the fallacy. Satan’s argument seems to make sense, except for one thing: what we are going through at the moment is not the end of the story. There is much more for us to live and experience. The good that God is bringing out of evil may not show up for many months or years down the road. We have to be patient. We need to trust what God says, no matter how long we must wait.

For if we believe God for just a little while, and then give up, we do not have the faith we need to see the outcome. Going halfway in our faith will not get us anywhere. In fact, it may even make us worse and more upset.

We either trust wholly in God or not at all. How long we wait should not matter. Time is irrelevant when it comes to the ways of God. We can be sure that, in the end, he will reward those who have been faithful and punish those who have not. In order to be among the faithful, though, we have to have faith.

A star in the East (Thursday, December 17)

How many times have we heard the Christmas story? Over and over again, from the time we are little children, we are told how Jesus came to earth as a tiny babe in a manger. He was born in a stable because there was no room for him in the inn. There is always a certain mystery to the events that captures our wonder and imagination. The details of that morning never seem to grow old.

Perhaps the reason is because it is something unexpected—something we could not have predicted or guessed. We never would have anticipated that God might send his only Son to be born quietly, without much fanfare at all, among lowly animals and a few shepherds.

We seldom think about how God chose to give us our salvation, but if we pause long enough we may understand more of his purpose and meaning. We might also begin to realize that his ways are above everything else we think or know. His quiet power transcends anything else we experience throughout our lives.

God is always there, yet he will never force himself upon us. He offers us the opportunity to choose: to accept his precious gift or not. He points the way with a star. Whether we draw near to the manger is up to us.

For me (Wednesday, December 16)

The older I become, the more I see God’s plan in action. When I was young, the parts of my life seemed fragmented and confusing. Now, nearly half a century later, I am finally seeing the pieces of the puzzle form a beautiful picture that only God could have created.

I recall all those times when I lost my job, when I felt out of place in various places, when I was sick and lonely, when I failed as a husband and a father, when I felt as though I had no reason to live. Through it all, God had a plan. What I needed to do was to trust him. Yet, in my anger I tried to fight back, to do what I wanted and to make things happen that could never happen. In my foolishness, I failed to see what God was doing: bringing good out of the bad.

The life that God has created in me is one I never could have done on my own—there have been too many twists and turns. But each step of the way, God was there. And all the while he was moving me closer to where I needed to be, rather than where I wanted to be.

Thank goodness he never gave up on me even when I gave up on him. Now I finally understand and believe. To think, he did everything for my own good.

Stop sign (Tuesday, December 15)

Driving to work the other morning, I saw a stop sign with garland wrapped around the pole. Whether it was done intentionally or by some young children who were trying to be funny, I thought it was a great way to share the spirit of Christmas with everyone who passed by. I am sure other motorists stopped and smiled, just as I did, when they came to the intersection.

The problem with the season of Advent is that we don’t stop and think. We rush on in our busy lives and fail to pause long enough to appreciate the beauty that is all around us: the many houses on our street that twinkle with a rainbow of lights, the Christmas trees that sparkle in the windows, the decorations throughout the malls and stores, and the manger scenes at almost every church in our neighborhoods. Are these scenes a beautiful picture in our minds or do they appear as a blur as we race by?

Stop long enough to see the little things that proclaim the Christmas story to the world. Take time to realize the many wonders of Jesus’ birth. The symbols are all around us, much like they were 2,000 years ago, but we have to be looking for them. The small star in the east appeared the brightest in the sky because the wise men were searching for a sign.

Today, may you and I seek the true meaning of Christmas, expecting to see a sign—something out of the ordinary that will make us stop long enough to remember why Christ was born.

Immanuel (Monday, December 14)

Jesus is the Word in flesh, the living substance and body of God himself. He is everything we read in scripture. His birth is the physical reality of the Father’s presence that is with us each day.

As we look at Jesus, we see the Father. We can see God healing the sick, saving the lost, teaching the children and feeding the hungry. He is always there to guide and comfort. He offers hope to the hopeless and help to the helpless. He is a constant companion to all.

What we celebrate at Christmas is God’s love for all creation. In his mercy, he gave up his Son to reveal himself to the world. He is Immanuel—God with us. We can proclaim with certainty this season that God is here. Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

How will we receive Our King on December 25? By our open arms or by opening presents? May we remember the reason why we give gifts to one another. They are reminders of the living gift that God gave to the world so long ago. This heavenly gift continues to live each day in our lives, and it will never grow old.

Sacrifice (Sunday, December 13)

Am I willing to surrender? Not only what I want, but who I am. Can I give up all that I have in submission to God? Jesus did. Now it is my turn to follow his example.

We seldom think of the act of submission at Christmas. Our minds turn, instead, toward giving gifts and making ourselves happy. What greater gift could there be than our own life? Jesus showed us what to do and how to it. He was willing to surrender his life when he left his throne in heaven and came to earth as a child.

His was the ultimate sacrifice. He willingly gave up all he had to be crucified for us. Yes, there is great joy in his birth. As we celebrate this wondrous occasion each year, we do so knowing the full magnitude of his physical life and death. His story is one of surrender, both to the world and to the will of the father.

Jesus laid down his life for you and me. We need to recommit ourselves this season to do the same for him. He knows the cost and the price we will pay, but he also reminds of the promise of salvation. His birth in the manger is a sign of how we will one day be reborn in heaven. Like a tiny child, we will be made new in him and live without any pain or suffering. In eternity, it will be Christmas every day forever.

The most wonderful time (Saturday, December 12)

Our journey to the manger has begun. We are like the wise men who traveled months to see and honor the Christ child. Day by day, hour after hour, the next two weeks will bring us ever closer to the morning when we celebrate the birth of our Savior and King.

What we do between now and then will make a difference both in our lives and to those around us. Do we find ourselves rushing everywhere? Are we running from store to store, quickly buying presents for everyone and bags of food for the Christmas meal? Or are we frantically decorating our houses, inside and out, with lights, tinsel, garland and trees? We might even be getting ready to visit loved ones far away so we are hastily packing the car and our suitcases.

In all of the chaos, we can easily forget the peace and joy that Jesus brought to the world. From the time he was born until his death, he showed us how to live. He was never anxious, in a hurry, or worried. Neither did he rush from village to village trying to heal everyone. Nor did he wonder if he would get everything done by a certain time.

This time of the year, in many ways, should be the most restful and calm. We should be content and completely at peace because we know what Jesus’ birth means. He was born in order that we would have true life now and forever. That should make us confident, sure and secure in him. May you and I make the time this Christmas to go to the manger, just like the shepherds and wise men, to worship the great miracle of our salvation. Let us bow down and remain there for a while so we can really see Jesus for who he is.

A gift for all (Friday, December 11)

At this time of the year, our thoughts naturally turn toward gifts and presents. We think about what to buy for others, and we also wonder what we will receive on Christmas morning. We want to show those whom we love what they truly mean to us while they, too, are doing the same for us.

There is great joy in both giving and getting. We want to see the smiles of people as they open what we have bought especially for them. In turn, they want to see our happiness as we unwrap their gift for us. No other time of the year seems to hold the magic and beauty of Christmas as we remember the most important thing in the world: the gift of life and the reward of sharing our lives with each other. Opening each present, small or large, reminds us of why Jesus was born in a manager.

God gave us his son as a precious gift to the world. The remarkable thing is that his gift is as miraculous and wonderful at it was 2,000 years ago. It has not faded in the least. One star over the tiny village of Bethlehem is as bright and brilliant as ever, proclaiming that Jesus is the hope of salvation for everyone in every age. God did not give us the present of his son only for the present moment, but for the future. Eternity is something we can look forward to each and every day of our life here on earth; it is a gift that never grows old or wears out.

The message of Christmas is always new and it is reborn each time we tell the story or open a gift. Our little presents to one another symbolize the great present God has given to us: a future in glory with him.

Beyond our limits (Thursday, December 10)

Our tendency as believers is always to build an earthly structure, a place where God can be found. There are numerous accounts throughout Scripture that talk about building tabernacles for worship. One of the most well-known stories occurs on the Mount of Transfiguration, where Peter, James and John see Elijah and Moses with Jesus. Peter immediately suggested it would be good to put up three tents, one for each prophet. Many centuries later, no doubt Peter would be surprised to know that an enormous cathedral bearing his name was erected in Rome.

It is hard to fathom the grandeur and size of St. Peter’s Basilica, especially when seeing it in person. There are immense marble monuments, spacious Renaissance paintings, spectacular hand-carved sculptures and grand white columns that support one of the largest domes in the world. The church is so large that it took 120 years to complete.

Thousands of tourists from all over the world visit St. Peter’s every day, each one amazed at what has been constructed to the glory of God. As magnificent as this structure is, though, the building does not represent even the slightest majesty and power of God himself. Nor is God small enough to be contained in such a space, no matter how large.

God is far beyond our worldly concept and representation. He is outside of everything we know and he needs no tabernacle. He is everywhere we go and everywhere we look. God transcends all. It is well and good for us to build churches where we can gather throughout the week. But let us keep in mind that we do not need to go someplace special to seek him. He is with us each moment and he will come to us despite where we are.

Safe journey (Wednesday, December 9)

We often talk about the storms of life: the trials and hardships we have to weather on our journey through each day. Sometimes it is something small—like dealing with a difficult person. Every now and then, though, we have to endure great pain, such as a physical illness or tragic events of our past. We might even have to cope with the loss of our reputation and the rejection of friends through no fault of our own. Many times we find ourselves innocent victims of various circumstances, yet people blame us for the outcome.

When we are attacked by the forces of life swirling all around us, we need to remember what common sense dictates during a rainstorm or snowstorm: we seek safety and shelter. We may even stay at home until the worst is over before we venture outdoors. The worse the storm, the more action we take. If there is a tornado or hurricane approaching, we get out of the way. We do not fight back because we are powerless against such immense outbursts of nature.

Yet, how frequently do we try to battle what opposes against us? Instead of taking shelter in the safety of our father’s protection, we think we can fight back. We go out into the storm and rail against forces we do not understand, let alone have any chance of overpowering. In our ignorance, we become like David standing up to Goliath.

What we forget, though, is that David did exactly what the Lord told him to do. That is the reason why he was victorious. He took shelter in a divine plan and allowed God to fight his battle with a slingshot and a stone. The next time we are tempted to fight back, no matter what the opposition might be, let us remember to take cover and protection in God first. Then we will be able to weather any storm, most especially those caused by human beings.

Remember his presence (Tuesday, December 8)

My dear child, I watched you as you slept last night. You looked so very peaceful and beautiful. I recalled the day you were born, how you cried and screamed when your whole world suddenly changed. I remembered how quickly you grew into your new life, though. I smiled as you took your first steps, walking on your own. It hurt me when you fell down over and over again, but I made sure you did not hurt yourself. I laughed as I later saw you on the playground at school, running around and having fun, enjoying the life I had given you.

I also thought of all the many difficulties you have overcome: the disappointments, the trials and the failures. I know these were not easy, but I stood by you when you felt alone and confused. You probably did not even realize I was there because you could not see me. But I knew that later in life, as you reflected on those times, you would know in your heart that I could never abandon you. I told you I would never leave you nor forsake you. And I never will.

As you begin to face this new day, live it with the strength and confidence I have given you from the beginning. Remember who you are in me. You are my child, my creation, and I am proud of you. I want everyone to know that you belong to me. You are my chosen. I will protect you and guide you, just as I have always done.

Keep in mind that I will be with you, no matter what you encounter or where you might go today. I am pleased as I watch you. I take great delight in you because I love you. As your Father, I will be with you all the days of your life. I will be there through everything. You will never be alone. I promise.

A simple matter of trust (Monday, December 7)

We know what we believe. But, do we believe what we know? If only we could answer with an unqualified yes. If only our faith came close to equaling our knowledge.

Look at all we know: God loves us; he tells us that all things work together for those who love him; he says he will always guide and protect us; he makes our paths straight; he promises to comfort and calm us. How different our life would be if we accepted each one of these as truth. Why is it that we believe in eternal life, yet we doubt God’s concerns for us during our time on earth?

God declares, I will not leave you nor will I forsake you. We know what he proclaims. Still, we sometimes feel alone and abandoned. The difference in what God says and how we think all has to do with us, not with his assurance. We somehow get it in our heads that God should take care of us in a certain way. When he does not, we conclude that we are indeed alone and cut off from him.

Even our rational minds, as worldly as they are, should tell us that God would not and could not act contrary to his word. It does not make sense that he loves us and abandons us at the same time. More than likely we are the ones who forsake him because of our selfish and narrow perspective. Maybe we need to begin trusting him more and ourselves less. Perhaps we should start believing all that we know, rather than what we think we know.

One day of rest? (Sunday, December 6)

Would our week be any different without Sunday? While this may seem like a somewhat foolish or ridiculous question, consider how some people use Sunday. Rather than regarding Sunday as a day of rest (mentally and physically), they often treat this day the same as all of the others.

We do all sorts of things on Sunday: we go to the mall, clean the house, cut the grass, wash the car. Some people even go to work. Perhaps Sunday is a time to catch up on what we have not done during the past six days or to get ahead on the coming week. Either way, we forget about what this one day can do for us.

Years ago, we did not have a choice about what to do on Sunday. Most everything was closed. Instead of running around all day, we went to church and then we visited family, spent time relaxing and talking, maybe taking a walk through the neighborhood or park. Sunday truly was a day of rest. Using this day for the purpose God intended may seem a bit old-fashioned. So be it. I have to wonder at times if we are, indeed, better now than decades ago. Has giving up our one day of rest made us stronger and better? Has it brought us closer to God or has it put more distance between him and us?

We would do well today to heed the advice of biblical scholar Matthew Henry who commented on the importance of resting on the Sabbath: Once a week they must rest, even in ploughing time, and in harvest. All worldly business must give way to that holy rest; even harvest work will prosper the better, for the religious observance of the sabbath day in harvest time. We must show that we prefer our communion with God, and our duty to him, before the business or the joy of harvest.
Our labor can wait. Our relationship with God cannot. Sunday allows us to commune with him so we are ready to face the spiritual struggle of next six days of the week.

He repairs our lives (Saturday, December 5)
 
In life, we become upset and frustrated when things break. Often, we end up throwing out the object, whether it be a favorite coffee mug or a family heirloom. My wife once had an antique lamp she loved, but she had to give it up when it broke into pieces during our last move. It would have been impossible for anyone to restore the lamp to its original condition.

God, however, specializes in repairing what is broken. In fact, he cannot use us until we are broken and useless. For in our brokenness, God can make us whole and restore us to what he originally created us to be. Let us not be discouraged and lost when we feel broken. When we are all apart and in pieces, we know that the next step will be for God to repair our shattered and fragmented lives.

The imperishable (Friday, December 4)

Our spiritual nature, the part that exists inside of us, will live on into eternity. Our physical body, however, will pass away. This simple truth is easy enough to understand, yet we often overlook the obvious: that our spiritual body is the one that continues from this life to the next.

There is no spiritual death for the Christian. We live now and eternally through the same spirit. All that we are touches the spirit in one way or another, positively or negatively. Right now, this day, there are eternal consequences to what we do or do not do. That is precisely why it is vital to edify and serve the Lord in everything, from our thoughts to our thinking to our words to our actions. We must constantly strive to develop the non-physical part of ourselves much more than the physical.

The imperishable nature that is alive within us at this moment is the same spirit that one day will be in paradise with God. When we realize the implications here, we are more likely to change everything about us, even our very view of life. Slowly, our lives (and minds) can be completely transformed as we grasp the fact that we are really living today on earth for tomorrow in heaven.

You and I would do well to look at life from God’s perspective – through his everlasting sight rather than from our earthly vision. When we do, we will see the profound mystery of all we are in him.

Everything in our nothingness (Thursday, December 3)

Unless we find our purpose and value in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are deceiving ourselves. For in and of ourselves we are nothing. In God we are everything. Yet, how often we regard ourselves above others. We measure our importance by the work we do or the acts of kindness we perform. These are earthly matters which do not matter to God.

We must consider ourselves as nothing in the world. In doing so, however, we become everything in the kingdom. That is when God can use us most to accomplish his will in this world. The one who plants and waters is nothing, says Paul. Only God, who actually makes things grow, is worthy to be praised.

We have but one purpose, whether we plant or water. We were created to be used by God, and we will be rewarded in proportion to our service to him. We are God’s fellow workers, adds Paul. We are God’s field and we are his building. What he does through us depends on how we look at ourselves. He can do little when we take credit for what he does.

The greatest step we can take in life is to do what we are formed to do, all the while realizing that it is God who accomplishes everything. We are but a piece of the puzzle in his divine plan. When we find our place next to all of the others he has chosen, then we find fulfillment in our “nothingness” here on earth.

Our time, God's talents (Wednesday, December 2)

All are called according to the gifts they received at creation. The calling did not precede the gift, nor the other way around. Both were implanted in us at the same time from the beginning.

Paul reminded the Romans that they possessed different gifts depending on the grace given to each person: prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, helping others, being a leader, showing mercy. No two are alike and there are endless combinations. Two people might have the same gifts but in varying amounts. What matters most is not how much we have. It all hinges on how the talent is used.

My own life is an example of what I mean. I am not an overly bright person. In fact, I am rather simple-minded at times. Yet, I have always attempted to use all I have been given to reach beyond my own shallow capabilities. Because of God’s grace and help (the gifts he imparted to me), I was able to succeed where others often failed.

Today, I encourage you to use your gifts, whether they are limited or many. Perhaps God gave you just one gift. Maybe you are blessed with three or four. No matter. How we make use of our God-given ability is the only thing that is important.

Seeking what we own (Tuesday, December 1)

Looking for happiness. Some look for happiness in their work, others seek happiness at home. People are always searching for happiness in one way or another: a new car, a vacation, an LCD television. There seems to be an endless longing for happiness in today’s culture, even among Christians. We, too, are easily tempted by the materialism all around us.

The happiness that we need, though, is not found “out there.” It is not in the workplace, in an expensive trip or even in an elaborate entertainment center. True happiness cannot be bought, yet it is one of the most valuable possessions in the world. We do not have to spend our time paying for it or wasting time to find it. God has already given us his happiness.

Sometimes we forget about the happiness that we received long ago, when we made the decision to give our lives to the Lord. Along with our new life came a new nature. At that moment, our constant search for happiness should have ended forever. We would never be unhappy again.

Jesus would not have told us so if it was not true. Peace I leave with you, he said. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. There is no need to keep pursuing what we own. We have his divine peace; it is a part of us and inside of us. Our happiness, then, is found in the peace we possess right now.