April 2017 – Daily Devo Time

Daily Devotional for April 30, 2017 – Is your “flashlight” handy?

Psalm 119:105-108
Your words are a flashlight to light the path ahead of me and keep me from stumbling. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again and again: I will obey these wonderful laws of yours.I am close to death at the hands of my enemies; oh, give me back my life again, just as you promised me. Accept my grateful thanks and teach me your desires.

Last night, heavy rains fell in our area. Much of our county and state were flooded…and one local fire and rescue officer lost his life. It was definitely a dark and dangerous night. In certain areas of our state, people lost power. At 11:15 p.m., one friend posted on Facebook that her 4-year-old daughter was still up and walking around the house with her flashlight. She was ready for anything!

When we know a storm is coming, we get ready, don’t we?! We gather our flashlight… charge our electronic devices…clean our “safe room”…and pay attention to the radar and weather reports. But what do we do when the “storms of life” come?

Where do we turn when our path grows dark? How do we know what to say or how to react? If we rely on our own strength and wisdom, we’re liable to take some wrong steps. We may say or do things that we come to regret…we most certainly may not demonstrate the love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion of Jesus to others.

This Psalm reminds us that God’s word is our “flashlight”. When we open our Bible and turn to Him for guidance, He will illuminate the path to right answers and decisions. When we talk to Him and seek His will, God will keep us from stumbling and give us wisdom. He will show us His desires and how to operate in them.

Preparing for storms is not a bad idea. But we should arrange for the times in life when things will heat up and boil over – and pay even more attention to the details of getting ready for these. God has given us everything we need to be fully equipped and prepared to handle anything that the devil throws at us – including a “flashlight” to light our path. When was the last time you picked up yours?

Daily Devotional for April 29, 2017 – What’s got you worried?

Matthew 6:34
“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

“Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.” – Dale Carnegie

I’ve been working on this week’s Sunday school lesson for the 2nd and 3rd graders. It begins with a story about a little girl who was anticipating a visit from her grandparents, who traveled in an RV helping to build houses for the poor. The little girl’s mother told her that the grandparents were coming…but she didn’t know when they would arrive. Bad weather could delay a building project – and the grandparents’ arrival.

The little girl spent several frustrating days waiting on her grandparents. Her mother suggested that she get busy on a project to pass the time. The child’s grandmother had taught her to sew, and she got out her sewing machine and made a pillow as a surprise welcome gift. Before long, the grandparents had arrived, and the reunion was everything the family had hoped it would be.

Of course, the objective of this lesson is to illustrate the return of Jesus, and how we should be busy serving Him until His return. But I think it also works as an example that we all waste a lot of time on worry and anticipation. Rather than enjoy today – and the people, situations and circumstances that surround us – we are focused on the future. We worry about what might happen…or who will or will not show up in our lives…or speculate about a situation that might not even happen!

At the very least, we are demonstrating a lack of faith in Jesus to equip us to handle whatever comes our way. When we wring our hands, express concerns to our friends and neighbors, and generally put our lives on hold because of anxiety about the future, we essentially say, “I don’t think God is big enough to handle this!”

I offer this message today in large part because I need to hear it! I come from a long line of worry-warts…and I know better! I’ve seen how unproductive this type of behavior is for Christians. I’ve experienced first-hand how foolish it can be to squander time and energy instead of trusting Jesus. And I am determined to do all I can not to operate in worry and anxiety…what about you?

Daily Devotional for April 28, 2017 – Sharing a glimpse of good living…

April 28 ~ Philippians 2:15-16
Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing.

One of the hardest lessons to learn when you are seven or eight is how to do the right thing even when others don’t. It’s even harder if the child feels that he/she is being mistreated in some way. And let’s be honest…this is a tough lesson for us as adults, too!

Here’s the thing…if we “play tit-for-tat” and/or retaliate, we’ve lost – and the devil has won. It may not feel all that great to put on a cheerful smile and move forward without malice or complaint. But I have seen this work more than once. Even if the “other guy” doesn’t feel embarrassed or remorseful over his/her poor behavior…YOU will have the satisfaction of knowing that you did the right thing, “took the high road”, and made Jesus proud. And shouldn’t this be our goal?

With all my heart, I believe that Jesus came to earth to live among us and die for us…and He didn’t do this for nothing. He wants us to show others a glimpse of good living – and of the living God – even when it hurts, or we have to bite our tongue to do so. I pray that children of all ages would learn this sooner than later…and take it to heart.

Be the breath of fresh air that reminds others who Jesus is…and why He came to save us. Carry Christ’s light-giving message to every person you encounter…even those who don’t seem to want to hear it. You never know who might be listening!

Daily Devotional for April 27, 2017 – Does your faith have flavor?

Matthew 5:13-16
“You are the world’s seasoning, to make it tolerable. If you lose your flavor, what will happen to the world? And you yourselves will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the world’s light—a city on a hill, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father.

Easter Sunday, Greg and I hosted a family lunch at our house. Timmy was particularly excited about the “feast” that I was preparing and promised to at least taste of most everything on the menu. Four-year-old Nathan, however, declared that…”I’ll eat vegetables when I’m five.”

Timmy made good on his promise to taste most everything. He declared the sweet potatoes to be “a little flat”…and he said his green peas “needed more salt.” Timmy’s Uncle Greg helped him use a salt shaker at his place setting to remedy the situation, while his mother declared him to be the new – and quite critical – “Gordon Ramsey” (a world-renowned chef).

We all had a good laugh – you never know what kids will say or do. But it’s almost a given (at least in our family) that none of them will hide their light under a barrel! They may not let their light shine for all of the right reasons at this point, but hopefully we can use “teachable moments” like this one to steer them in the proper direction.

I’ve begun giving the children the same place settings at our dinners as the adults get – complete with good china, their own salt and pepper shakers, and a cloth napkin. How else will they learn good table manners and the proper use of tableware? It’s the same with God. He uses “teachable moments” to show us how to behave…what to say…and how to share Christ’s message with others. And He intends for us to take full advantage of these lessons and shine for Him to the best of our ability.

God doesn’t want to squelch our “flavor”…or to make us exactly the same as the next guy. Each one of us has a unique “palate” – and equally distinctive qualities and ideas. God wants us to thoughtfully and prayerfully use our individual gifts, abilities – and “flavor” – to share the love and light of Christ with others.

So color the world in your own unique way. Sample everything that God offers you and find your “niche”. Then shine like the morning sun as you give Him glory for all He has done in your life. Let Jesus be your guide as you represent Him to others – and let others see Jesus in you, “seasoned” with your own flavor and flare.

Daily Devotional for April 26, 2017 – Have you seen the Light?

April 26 ~ Matthew 4:12-17
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went to Galilee. But instead of staying in Nazareth, Jesus moved to Capernaum. This town was beside Lake Galilee in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. So God’s promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said.

Then Jesus started preaching, “Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here.”

There have been more than a few times this year when I have shown a second-grader how he/she got a wrong answer on a math problem…misspelled words or missed capitalization and punctuation in a writing assignment…or did not answer a question properly on a test. When I “shed light” on these issues and offered suggestions for how to turn this around, I often heard, “It’s too late!” The children preferred to move forward and “let the chips fall where they may” with regard to the work that, in their opinion, they had already completed satisfactorily.

I tried to gently show each child how he/she could still turn things around and make corrections. I gave suggestions about how to re-do the math problems, or rewrite the essays and reports. And I always assured them that it is never too late to make positive changes!

I have to say, it concerns me that second graders are throwing up their hands – and throwing in the towel, in many instances. Something tells me that they are seeing this behavior modeled among adults on a much larger scale – about a myriad of things. It has become easier to move on and hope for the best on the next try rather than to correct present mistakes. And I am afraid that often, genuine effort to get things right in the first place is sorely lacking.

We have become complacent – and sometimes downright lazy – in many areas of our lives. And nowhere is this more evident than when it comes to our Christian faith. We go days/weeks/months without cracking open our Bibles – much less setting foot inside a place of worship. We rarely talk to God…and when we do, we’re at the end of our rope and in desperate need of a miracle. We don’t try hard enough to get along with others…to demonstrate the love, grace, mercy, compassion and forgiveness of Jesus Christ…or to reach out to those of His children who are in need.

We muddle through life, do the bare minimum to get by, and declare that “Good enough is good enough!” If we make mistakes, we’ll try not to repeat them the next time. We don’t have time or the inclination to stop and fix what is broken…to mend a relationship or atone for a mistake.

Jesus came to be our Light in the darkness. He doesn’t illuminate our mistakes in order to shame us or make us feel inadequate. Rather, He shows us where we are taking a wrong turn – and how to correct this. He gently reminds us to turn back to God and start each and every task with one question, “LORD, how would You have me do this?”

If we continually focus on pleasing God and doing things in a manner that is right and true according to His word and will, the results will be astounding. I’m not saying we will be perfect…or that mistakes still won’t happen from time to time. But when we operate in the Light of Christ, we are eager to get things right…and He is ready, willing and able to help us do exactly that! And it is never too late to turn back to God!

You and I have plenty of excuses, but none of them are decent. We’ve seen the bright Light of Christ. Are we ready to operate in it?

Daily Devotional for April 25, 2017 – Is Jesus on your “Bucket List”?

Luke 2:29-32
“Lord,” he said, “now I can die content! For I have seen him as you promised me I would. I have seen the Savior you have given to the world. He is the Light that will shine upon the nations, and he will be the glory of people Israel!”

Everyone seems to have a “bucket list” these days…even our Timothy. I cannot recall what is on his “list,” but it tickled me to think that this almost-8-year-old had such a set of goals. A lot of folks have things on their “bucket list”…see the world…visit all 50 states…bungee jump or sky dive…meet a particular person of note…or even finish reading War and Peace! The goals vary greatly from one person to the next.

But have you ever known of someone whose “bucket list” included the desire to “see Jesus”? Have you ever heard of someone who listed “getting to really know Christ and serve Him” as a “life goal”? And yet, shouldn’t our acquaintance with Jesus – and building a rock-solid relationship with Him – be the number one aspiration in our lives?

When I was in my 20s and 30s, I had a laundry list of goals…things that I wanted to accomplish in life. I also had several little “to-do” lists that cluttered my desktop on any given day. Now that I am almost 60, I have far fewer goals (although I still have a “to-do” list or two – mainly so I will remember to do these things!). Some would say that my life is pretty boring. I like to think it’s full-to-brimming with contentment in more simple pleasures.

As I visit with friends and relatives who are my age and older, we often agree that life may not be as hectic as it once was, but it’s also less stressful in some ways…and more enjoyable. I have heard the phrase, “I can die content” – or some version of it – many times in recent years. And for the most part, those who say this have cultivated a deep and abiding kinship with Jesus. They know Him intimately and seek Him daily. They serve Him at every turn…and His agenda takes precedence over their own. They have not only seen the Light of Jesus Christ…they BASK in it every single day!

There is nothing wrong with having goals…or aspiring to accomplish many things in your lifetime, whether they be learning to play the violin – or going to Disney World®! But our number one goal should center on Jesus…getting to know Him and building a relationship with Him that dictates every other aspect of our lives. We may never complete every item on our “bucket list”…but as long as we accomplish this one, we truly can die content.

God has blessed us with His only Son, who came to save us from our sins and fill us with His love and light. As long as we have made the connection with Jesus, everything else will fall into place. So my question to you today is…”Have you seen the Light?”

Daily Devotional for April 24, 2017 – Are you asking the right questions?

John 9:1-5
Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?”Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over. For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world’s Light.”

We recently saw a story on the CBS Evening News about 13-year-old Jamarion Styles of Boca Raton, Florida, who contracted a bacterial infection when he was an infant and lost both hands – and most of his arms. Still, Jamarion longed to play basketball. Countless people suggested that this young man play soccer instead. But he wanted to play basketball. Finally, Eagles Landing Middle School coach, Darian Williams, gave Jamarion a chance to be on the team.

Coach Williams explained that Jamarion told him he didn’t care of he actually played or not – he just wanted to be a part of the team. But with six minutes remaining in a recent game, Darian Williams put Jamarion into the game. He sank a 3-point shot from one side of the court. Another 3-pointer was added from the opposite side at the buzzer . Now, the boy who nobody would pick for their team is wanted by everyone.

It would be easy for this teenager to quit…to sit and sulk and throw one giant pity party. Everyone would understand if Jamarion Styles took the easy route and played soccer, a game at which he says he’s not that good. In fact, he says of soccer…”I’m horrible!” I have to believe that this young man has discovered that with God, all things are possible. Instead of asking, “Why me?”…he is asking, “What can God do here?”

Isn’t this the question for all of us? Don’t we all have situations and circumstances where it would be easy to ask, “WHY?” instead of “What?” Isn’t it time we got busy working in the Light of Christ? My husband and I often use an old adage when we feel we are wasting time…”I’m burning daylight!” You and I do our fair share of “burning daylight” where Jesus is concerned. It’s time to get busy and start asking the right questions…then answering them like true disciples of Christ.

What can God do in your life? How can He use situations and circumstances that you see as handicaps and turn them into something great and glorious? Is this the day you will change your attitude…and your questions…and make the best use of Christ’s light? Are you truly ready to demonstrate what God can do?

Daily Devotional for April 23, 2017 – Do you have Living Light?

John 8:12
Later, in one of his talks, Jesus said to the people, “I am the Light of the world. So if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood path.”

My niece is a personal caregiver for a man who is legally blind. Tom* is “like family”, and my niece’s children have all been around him quite a bit. They see how my niece cares for Tom…how she helps him exercise, go for walks, listen to music and television, and do much more. So last summer, then-3-year-old Nathan began closing his eyes and fumbling around and saying, “I’m blind! I can’t see where I’m going.”

I tried to explain that this was not a game…that there was nothing fun or funny about blindness…and Nathan would say, “But Tom is blind! I need help! You can help me.” Nathan could not make the distinction that Tom got a lot of help because he truly needs it…not because he wants to be this way or enjoys stumbling in the darkness.

In the scheme of things, a lot of people are like Nathan – they see people operating in the “darkness” of life and think…”That looks pretty appealing!” They see people who seem to “get by” with things…to “have fun” doing things that are unacceptable. They even see people who seem to get a “pass” on this type of behavior for one reason or another. And they want in on this!

Here’s the thing…the devil is ready, willing and able to take them by the hand and lead them in this darkness. You and I are not three years old. I remind Nathan and his siblings often that God has blessed us with vision, hearing, and healthy bodies…and we must honor these blessings by taking care of ourselves and operating as He has designed. We must not pretend that we are “blind” or “deaf”…or yearn for the darkness of sin and wrongdoing…and we certainly must not envy others who for whatever reason are getting by with help from a “caregiver” or enabler of some kind.

Just as the devil is waiting to lead those who want to walk in darkness, the GOOD NEWS is that Jesus will lead us in His light. Thankfully, it’s all a matter of choice. We can choose to follow Jesus, “the Light of the world.” We don’t have to stumble through the darkness. There will be plenty of “shadows” along the way…temptations, trials, and dozens of reasons to give up and give in to Satan’s enticements. But keep your eyes on Jesus. Call on Him to flood your path with living light…and trust Him to always illuminate your way.

We take a lot for granted…our health, the ability to see and hear, and so much more. But we also tend to take Jesus for granted. We trust that He will be there, no matter what…and sometimes, we grow smug and wander off into the darkness, anticipating that Jesus will take us back any time. Don’t do this! Do not play fast and loose with Jesus’ love and care.

Jesus doesn’t want servants who play games or dance with the devil from time to time. He wants disciples who trust Him in all things and walk in His living light in every circumstance. Are you following Him – and only Him – these days? Don’t you think you should be?

*Name changed

Daily Devotional for April 22, 2017 – Are you “in the dark”?

John 3:19-21
“This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.”

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand why more crimes take place in the dark…or why homes, businesses, and public areas are brightly lit at night. Statistics show that people are more prone to misbehave under the cover of darkness…when they believe that no one can see them. This fact contributes in part to our astonishment when crimes are committed “in broad daylight”. We are accustomed to evil happening in the darkness.

Additionally, I have noted before that we are sometimes amazed (and not always pleasantly) when we see just how dusty and dirty our homes are in bright daylight. Who doesn’t enjoy the soft glow of candlelight when trying to impress your best guy or girl?! When we are undergoing a surgical procedure, we want the medical team to have the brightest light available. But when our house is less than spotless…or we are self-conscious about perceived flaws of any kind, we beg for “soft lighting” – if not downright darkness!

It is no surprise that those who dance with darkness or evil in their personal or spiritual lives fear “coming clean” with God. Many chose the darkness in the first place for exercising the words, thoughts and actions that please them…but disappoint God. And they really could care less what He or anyone else thinks. Others are so mired in whatever has taken them to a dark place that they cannot see a way out…and as this scripture points out, they fear the bright exposure that God will shine on their problems and sins.

Then there are those who have said, “You know what? I don’t care how bright the scrutiny is…how much it hurts or how long it takes to get this right. I choose to live in the love and light of Jesus…and we’ll deal with the hard stuff together.” These people have realized that nothing is too big for God…that He gave us Jesus and the Holy Spirit to help with the dust and the dirt…the blemishes and flaws. They have come to understand that none of us is perfect…but with Jesus carrying our burdens and the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we have a far better chance in life than we otherwise would. And they have stepped out and said, “Here I am, LORD…I want you to fix me!”

So the question becomes…which camp are you in? Are you hiding in the closet, hoping no one will discover you – especially God? Or are you willing to “let it all hang out” and get real with Jesus – and let Him fill in the gaps and help you clean up the mess? The choice is 100% yours – and mine…and so are the consequences. Isn’t it time to step into the light and let Jesus help you deal with whatever clutter and untidiness you’ve been trying to hide? Will this be the day that you begin?

Daily Devotional for April 21, 2017 – Do you walk by the Light?

John 12:35-36
Jesus said, “For a brief time still, the light is among you. Walk by the light you have so darkness doesn’t destroy you. If you walk in darkness, you don’t know where you’re going. As you have the light, believe in the light. Then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You’ll be children of light.”

Today, the sun popped out for a few hours just around the noon hour…long enough for the second graders to walk to lunch without rain gear and jackets – and to get in a much-needed recess on the playground. The children were encouraged to soak in all of the sunshine and fresh air that they could before more thunderstorms arrived. And indeed, just after the last bell rang and children headed for buses and waiting cars, the heavens opened up – and rain poured from the sky!

Let me assure you that a 30-minute recess does wonders for 7- and-8-year-olds! What is accomplished by that brief time in sunlight and fresh air cannot be fully estimated or explained. Ask any elementary school teacher what it’s like when rain and dark, threatening skies have kept children inside for more than a day or two!

In this passage from John 12, Jesus is telling His disciples to “learn all from Me that you can while I’m still here.” He is inviting them to fill their “sunshine tanks” brimming full, so that when Satan’s darkness and evil comes to trouble them, they will have a steady cache of resolve, wisdom, confidence and courage as they endeavor to resist his wiles.

The lesson for us is to maintain a constant reserve of Christ’s light…to keep in touch with Him continually…to listen for His voice…to obey His commands. We must fill our hearts and minds so full of the love and light of Christ that we are never “in the dark”…that even when “cloudy days” and troubles come, we have Light stored up within us to illuminate the way. When we continually live in the love and light of Jesus, our path is sure…”well lit”…and covered in hope and promise. And others notice!

We all need sunlight and fresh air from time to time…and we all need the Light of Christ. When was the last time you got a hefty dose of both?

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: