March 2019 – Daily Devo Time

Daily Devotional for March 31, 2019 – Are you “rich” in the ways that matter?

1 Timothy 6:17-19
Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.

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 do know that much of mankind has made most everything in this world about money, don’t you?! Those who don’t have money and a lot of material possessions are trying to figure out how to get some…while those who have plenty are trying to figure out every angle to acquire more! We spend a lot of time trying to top our last acquisition…or someone else’s. And we can quite often behave like a three-year-old who walks around pointing at things and saying, “That’s all MINE!”

We may well be able to afford the necessities of life – and then some. But surely don’t want to have to help someone else afford the same provisions. We go to great lengths to protect our money and our “stuff”…and we often look down our noses at those who are not on “equal footing”. We judge, we discriminate, and we elevate ourselves to a stature that is completely fabricated in our own minds.<

All the while, we fail to seek the riches that God piles on…to bask in the joy and confidence of knowing that we are demonstrating respect and honor to Him. We don’t seek to do the things that will earn “accolades” of a Heavenly kind, much less further God’s Kingdom. If it doesn’t “pay” in physical dividends that we can amass and/or spend, we’re not interested!

King Solomon was a lot like this…until he realized how much he had squandered God’s gifts and had little to show for it. I don’t mean that he lost his material wealth…but Solomon learned that to focus on money and material possessions was like “chasing the wind”. In the end, it did not satisfy…at least not in the way that serving God and living generously can. “But I don’t have a lot of material wealth,” you may say. “I am by no means ‘rich’. I don’t have a lot of money,” you may add.

This is not about your money. It’s about what we are doing with the “riches” that God has given us – and wants to give us going forward. Where are your priorities? Are you willing to sacrifice to help your neighbor? Do you look for ways to aid him/her…not just by writing a check, but by “being there” in a time of need, offering a hand, and saying an encouraging word or two? Do you demonstrate the love and teachings of Jesus to others – always and in all ways?

Some of the “richest” people I’ve ever known truly had little to no money. At best, they lived paycheck to paycheck and maybe had a tiny bit left over after all of the bills were paid. Yet they were the among the most generous givers…the busiest servants of others…the most cheerful and positive disciples I’ve ever witnessed. And I have no doubt that God is blessing them now and piling up riches in Heaven with their names on it.

But they do not serve for what they can acquire – not even in Heaven. They serve and give because Jesus came to earth and lived and died for them. They serve and give because it honors and glorifies God Almighty, who loves us beyond anything we can ever understand or imagine. They serve and give because they understand that their duty and purpose is to love God and share Jesus – the King of Kings and LORD of Lords – with others.

They serve and give because this is what makes our lives “rich” in all of the ways that matter. And I want to be “rich” just like them, to the glory of God…what about you?

Daily Devotional for March 30, 2019 – Offering hope in Christ to our brothers and sisters…ALL of them!

1 Timothy 1:1-2
From: Paul, a missionary of Jesus Christ, sent out by the direct command of God our Savior and by Jesus Christ our Lord—our only hope.

To: Timothy.
Timothy, you are like a son to me in the things of the Lord. May God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord show you his kindness and mercy and give you great peace of heart and mind.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

It is clear that Paul truly loved Timothy like a son. His two “letters” to him are quite beautiful and filled with love, wisdom, encouragement…and hope. They are a lesson for us in how to share Jesus with others…especially those closest to us.

Too often, we treat our friends and acquaintances better than our own family. I think in part it is because we are so close to our family members that we start to somewhat take them for granted or become too “comfortable” about how we speak and act around them. Additionally, I believe that sometimes, the “grass looks greener” elsewhere.

If you stop and think about it, much of the Bible centers on family relationships…some of which function better than others! But the bottom line is that we are all a part of God’s family. As such, we should be conscious of how we speak and act toward everyone…not just those we deem to be deserving of our kindness and attention – or even those we feel need the bigger witness. You and I should be busy demonstrating the love and hope of Jesus Christ to every single person we meet…every single day.

So toward that end, let’s get started. Figure out how you need to greet a “family” member today – or speak with kindness and encouragement toward him/her. One of our goals as Christian disciples is to “grow” our family of believers…and a good place to start is in our own circle. Do the little things that make a big difference and draw you closer in the Holy Spirit. Speak gently to one another and build each other up in even the smallest of opportunities. Offer hope in Christ to everyone by the way you conduct yourself on a daily basis.

Live in a way that demonstrates your desire that every one of your “brothers and sisters” experience kindness, mercy and great peace of heart and mind in Jesus Christ our Lord. Be a “Paul” to the “Timothys” of this world…and watch God multiply your efforts for His glory!

Daily Devotional for March 29, 2019 – Dressing in faith, love and the hope of salvation…what are YOU wearing?

1 Thessalonians 5:1-8
I don’t think, friends, that I need to deal with the question of when all this is going to happen. You know as well as I that the day of the Master’s coming can’t be posted on our calendars. He won’t call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would. About the time everybody’s walking around complacently, congratulating each other—“We’ve sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!”—suddenly everything will fall apart. It’s going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman.

But friends, you’re not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.

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.

We all know people who are eternal optimists and forever positive. Unfortunately, we also know people who are perpetually negative. For me, this is made all the worse when these people purport to be Spirit-filled Christians. You know the type. They sit on your pew at church – or maybe even attend the same Bible study or small group as you. But every comment and gesture speaks of doubt, despair and disappointment. If they have hope in Jesus, it surely isn’t evident.

I am reminded of our own little ones and how they have asked both Greg and me…”Why are you always so happy?” They have seen firsthand that life is not a constant “picnic” for us. They’ve watched us grieve the loss of loved ones. They know we have had occasional sickness and ailments. They understand that they try our patience from time to time! And yet, we do our dead-level best to remain positive and hopeful. And when they question this, we have a ready answer – “We are too blessed by Jesus to be unhappy!”

I don’t mean to elevate myself to a position of nobility…or to make my “witness” seem more important than that of others. But I do sense a deep obligation to demonstrate, particularly to the children in my “orbit”, that nothing is too big for Jesus. I feel a profound responsibility to “walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.” And you know what? If you are truly a redeemed believer in Jesus Christ, this is your responsibility, too!

Jesus is counting on us to speak and act in a manner that offers no doubt that we are hopeful and excited about Him and what He is doing – and will do in the future. From the minute our feet hit the floor in the morning, we should exude optimism and confidence that God is in complete control. I will admit that there are days when this is difficult…particularly if we start our day by checking the “news”. But we must still make the effort.

For those who are ill or injured, it can be difficult to remain positive. Honestly, these are the times when our witness of hope and promise are most critical. Anyone can be “up” when things are going well! The true test comes in our consistency throughout all of life’s challenges. Are you a “Son of Light” or “Daughter of the Day”…or do you often sleepwalk through life? When others see you approach, do they look forward to greeting you, or silently groan at the anticipation of your sour attitude? When people look at you, do they think of the love and grace of Jesus?

Changing attitudes and behavior patterns can be difficult…but it can be done. If you are sleepwalking through life in the darkness of negativity, I urge you to spend some time with God today and ask Him to give you strength, courage, hope…and a new personality! Don’t be someone who makes others groan. Be the person that others look at and say, “If this is what it’s like to live in Christ Jesus, count me in!” Walk in the Light! Christ has called us to be “creatures of the Day”! Don’t you think it’s time we got started?

Daily Devotional for March 28, 2019 – Demonstrating faith and loving work – and a firm hope in Jesus Christ…how well are you doing?

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3
We thank God for you and always mention you in our prayers. Each time we pray, we tell God our Father about your faith and loving work and about your firm hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

In 1973, my next-door neighbor, who was like another grandfather, suffered a heart attack and died suddenly. Just two days earlier, a young businessman in our community had also died unexpectedly. As we helped my neighbor and her daughter receive visitors who came to offer condolences, I recognized that one of these was the widow of this businessman. Mrs. Dorothy attended the same church as my neighbor’s daughter.

I can still see this young widow standing on my neighbor’s porch. It was raining, and I can picture her standing under her umbrella as she comforted my neighbors. I was sixteen years old, and the impression she made on me that day was lifelong. Her faith and hope sustained her – to the point that she could set aside her own grief to console someone else who was hurting. And I knew I was observing a woman who had incredible hope and confidence in our Lord Jesus.

Recently, Mrs. Dorothy was called home to Heaven, where I know her reunion with Jesus and loved ones was glorious. I didn’t know her all that well, but I never forgot this quiet-yet-poignant demonstration of Christian faith and hope. No one would have even thought twice if she had retreated to her home and left the consolation and visitation to others. No one would have questioned her strength or faith…it would have been perfectly understandable for her to quietly tend to her children and mourn privately for a season.

But a 16-year-old girl would have missed out on an incredible witness to hope in Jesus Christ and the promise of Eternity. When I think of this woman, I recognize that everywhere we turn, people.are.watching. They notice what we say and do…and it makes a difference. I’m not saying that we have to push ourselves to attend funerals and visit those who are grieving, particularly right after we suffer a loss ourselves. There is no shame in finding this a difficult activity. But what I am saying is that we all have things that we say or do which either demonstrate our faith and hope in Jesus…or reflect a lack thereof. In both cases, others notice.

Jesus has called us to share His Good News with others…to love them in His name and as He loves them…and to make sure that everything we say and do as His disciples reflects His teachings and commands. Jesus has commanded us to be busy living with faith and loving others – and offering them a firm hope in Him. I am forever grateful for the image of this faithful, hopeful widow. I want to live in a way that someday, someone might be able to say that they saw a firm hope in Jesus demonstrated in my words or actions. What about you?

Daily Devotional for March 27, 2019 – Living with hope and faith – even when you’re the “statue”

1 Peter 3:13-18
If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.

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.

A few days ago, my “daily quote” on a desktop calendar said “Some days you’re the pigeon, and some days you’re the statue.” This always makes me chuckle. There are days when you will indeed be covered in “mud”…and these are the days that probably matter the most. How will you react and respond? How will you continue to demonstrate hope and faith in Jesus when you face challenges or opposition?

The message of this scripture passage is that people are watching. They want to know how you handle “life”. Do you fly off the handle at the smallest of insults? Do you fall apart at the first sign of trouble? Do you hold grudges and speak impertinently to others? Do you wear your feelings on your sleeve?

I will be the first to admit that I often handle things poorly. I take comments and the reactions of others personally…and sadly, it probably shows. I am human, I make mistakes…but I am trying so hard to do better – and here’s why. Jesus suffered on my behalf so that I could rise above the slings and arrows of others (which will surely come). He gave me His gift of salvation, so that I can “take the high road” and live with hope and faith – even when I am the “statue”.

This is not the end…you and I have been promised an eternity in Paradise, where there are no tears, no insults, no pain and suffering of any kind. But until the day that our “home” there is ready, we are called to live like we believe a better day is coming. We are not to give any opposition a second thought. We are to stand before Christ Jesus in everything we say and do and demonstrate to others through our own witness that our aim is higher, our future is secure, and we operate under the invincible power and protection of Almighty God. And we are to give them the clear indication that they can have all of this, as well.

When people look at you these days, what do they see? Who are you representing? On days when you are the “statue”, Who sustains you? Is this readily evident to others? Don’t you think it should be?

Daily Devotional for March 26, 2019 – Decisions, decisions! Where is your hope…and your future?

1 Peter 1:3-5
What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.

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.

We all make decisions. And while some are mundane or routine and matter very little in the scheme of things (like whether to have eggs or cereal for breakfast)…others are quite literally a case of “life or death”. If you have ever had a doctor come to you and say, “We have done all we can, and we would like to take your loved one off of life support – or place him/her on Hospice care – you know what I mean.” Perhaps you have been in a situation where you had to tell someone that “I no longer need your services”…knowing that this person relied on the income. Or maybe you had to tell a child that…”We cannot afford for you to attend XYZ.”

MAYBE you have had to admit to someone that…“I don’t know what will happen next…or where we go from here.” Today, lot of folks are wondering and worrying, “What is our world coming to…and what will happen next?” And you may be among them.

The GOOD NEWS is that God ultimately holds our future. He secured the prospect of Paradise for each of us when He sent Jesus to live among us – and die for our sins. Because of God’s grace, love and generosity, we don’t have to make a single decision on our own. The Author of Perfection is ready, willing and able to help us decide everything from the most mundane option to the most serious matter.

But there is one decision that must be totally our own…and that is the choice to accept God’s gift and follow Jesus…to confess our sins, ask forgiveness, and surrender our will to His. We must choose to serve Jesus and share His message with others…to operate in His will and obey His commands. If we do this, God will handle the rest. And our future is secure…beginning here, now – TODAY – and for all Eternity!

I’ll admit…there are days when it all seems a bit too much…when I am weary and disgusted by the evil and ungodliness of this world. There are days when I honestly think, “I cannot even decide between cereal and eggs for breakfast! It’s just all too much!” But these are times when I have dropped my guard and let the devil have a little speck of room…and I bet you have them, too! We must be on constant alert against this…we must keep a steady focus on God and continually call on Him to fill us with His wisdom and confidence. We must constantly invite the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us…and fill us with hope and strength.

I don’t know about you, but I have decided to follow Jesus! I have chosen to live with faith and confidence that He is in complete control. So bring “it” on, world! There is no challenge too big for my God! HE is my hope and strength…and with Him at the helm, my future is not only secure…it is glorious! Are you with me?

Daily Devotional for March 25, 2019 – Pay attention to the journey…recognizing – and appreciating – God’s gifts and sacrifices

1 Peter 1:18-21
Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.

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.

Have you ever driven or ridden down the road and later thought, “How did I get here?” I don’t mean that literally, you don’t know how you made the trip…but more that you were unable to recall a lot of the details. Perhaps on your way to work each day – or to the store each week – you have grown so familiar and complacent with the route, that you don’t truly pay attention to what you see along the way. So you realize later that…”I really don’t even remember passing by XYZ.”

Or maybe you were lost in your own thoughts. You were so preoccupied with something else that you were not consciously “in the moment” of driving or riding to a specific destination. You couldn’t actually recall how you got from ”Point A” to “Point B”…you just knew that a car delivered you, per your usual routine.

In this scripture passage, we are reminded to pay attention to the journey. More importantly, we are prompted to recognize Jesus at every turn. Without Jesus, we would have no future. Without Jesus, there would be no guarantee of an eternal life in the presence of God. ”Paradise” would be out of reach for us. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to spend even a minute in the Old Testament times of having to present living sacrifices and burnt offerings to God for every one of my transgressions – or wondering if God will reward me with a home in Heaven when I die!

I am beyond thankful for God’s gift of Jesus…and I am determined to live with a deep consciousness of God and His love for me. I am ready to pay closer attention…to drop whatever distractions take my focus away from Jesus…and to fully recognize everything along the journey. So I must live with intention. I must check each word and action against the commands of Jesus, the One who sacrificed His very life for mine. I must ensure that when I get from “Point A” to “Point B”, I know how I got there…and that what I said and did along the way glorified my Heavenly Father.

While God is truly “in the Driver’s seat”, I must not become a complacent or zoned-out “rider”. I am determined to pay attention…to make every effort to glorify and honor the incredible sacrifice and salvation that has been offered on my behalf…and to be delivered safely to Heaven’s gates when God is ready to welcome me there. What about you?

Daily Devotional for March 24, 2019 – Getting “in the groove” to holiness…and staying there

1 Peter 1:13-16
So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

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.

A few years ago, I made an intense workout part of my daily routine. I was in some of the best shape of my adult life. Then arthritis and a bad knee began to cause problems…and I was unable to exercise in the manner that had worked so well for me. “Life” threw me a curve…and I’ll admit, I’ve had trouble adjusting. I now work out at our community pool, where water equalizes the pressure on joints and enables me to do things I cannot do on dry land. It’s not the same…the intensity is not there, and I don’t sweat off the calories like I once did.

There is also the “hassle factor” of having to leave home and drive somewhere, deal with gear and wet towels and clothing, and other considerations. This is not as easy as throwing on some shorts and a t-shirt and getting in a workout in your living room! It would be easy to throw up my hands and quit…and I’ll admit, there are days when I simply skip the workout because I am too lazy to make the effort. The daily workouts I was doing at home have been reduced to about 3 visits per week to the pool.

Still, I am blessed to have this option…and the good health and stamina to get up and get going! I am committed to always try to find some way to exercise and stay in some semblance of shape.

There are a lot of parallels here for our life as Christ’s disciples. Over time, challenges and “life” can seem to get in the way. The devil tries to derail us with even the simplest of things and throw us off our game. He has a way of causing us to ask, “What’s the point?” – or at least to grow complacent in our relationship with God.

A few days here or there go by without any prayer and communication…a month passes without cracking open our Bibles or thinking about scripture…we skip several Sundays at church…and the next thing you know, we are back to “Square One”. We try to make the best of things on our own…but surely we realize that something – or Someone – is sorely lacking.

Starting over is hard…whether it’s a diet, exercise – or getting back on track with God. But it can be done. And when “Life” throws us a curve ball, God will help us figure out how we need to adjust to stay in His will and on the right path. But we have to take the first step and make the effort to remain in close communion with Him. Then we must ask Him to help us stay there!

If you have grown complacent – or even lazy – in your relationship with God, make this the day that you get back on track. If something has momentarily derailed you, ask God to show you how to work around it and get back “in the groove”. Make this the day that you call on God to help you “get your holiness” back…and keep it going for good this time.

Daily Devotional for March 22, 2019 – Don’t get too cozy in your faith and discipleship!

1 John 3:2-3
Yes, dear friends, we are already God’s children, right now, and we can’t even imagine what it is going to be like later on. But we do know this, that when he comes we will be like him, as a result of seeing him as he really is. And everyone who really believes this will try to stay pure because Christ is pure.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Greg and I have lived in our present location for 11½ years…the longest we’ve ever lived in one place. By contrast, my mother lived in the same house for about 57 years! A dear friend moved recently from the Missouri city she had called home for decades to a senior living community in Florida. As I have observed how attached we get to our homes and “abodes”, I think the lesson for me has become, “Don’t get too comfortable, because this is all temporary.”

Indeed, this seems to be at least part of the message of 1 John 3:2-3…”Don’t get too cozy.” Don’t become complacent in your Christian faith and discipleship. Don’t take your salvation – or the promise of Eternity in the presence of God – for granted. Live like everything is temporary…because it is! Make every day count. Speak and act with intention and thoughtfulness – and with the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Make a point to live in a way that glorifies your life as a child of God…a servant of Jesus…and a representative of His love and teachings to others. And do this daily. As this scripture passage puts it…”try to stay pure because Christ is pure.” If you want others to see Jesus in you, there is no other option.

So what are you doing toward this end? Are you demonstrating the purity of Jesus…or are you demonstrating your own version of Christian faith and discipleship? In other words, are you making up the “rules” as you go…or listening to God and taking your cues from Him? Too many people are claiming to be Christ’s disciples…and speaking and acting in a way that bears absolutely no resemblance to the life and teachings of Jesus. Are you in this camp?

If you are truly a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, you have been given great privilege and honor in salvation by His blood and the promise of Eternal Life. If you choose to speak and act in a way that is “unpure” and misrepresents Jesus, this is your choice. But a day is coming when we will be called into account for our “discipleship”. On that day, I want to be able to say that I did my best to fulfill the commands of Jesus. I want to confidently declare that I tried to represent Jesus to others in a way that made them want to become believers, as well.

Whether I have another day – or 57 more years on this earth, I want to know that when I meet Jesus, He will be pleased with the way I served and represent Him. I want to know that I tried at every turn to make my life mirror that of my Jesus. What about you?

Daily Devotional for March 21, 2019 – Getting in on God’s “conversation” and understanding His hidden wisdom…are you thinking like He is?

1 Corinthians 2:6-12
We do use wisdom when speaking to people who are mature in their faith. But it isn’t the wisdom of this world or of its rulers, who will soon disappear. We speak of God’s hidden and mysterious wisdom that God decided to use for our glory long before the world began. The rulers of this world didn’t know anything about this wisdom. If they had known about it, they would not have nailed the glorious Lord to a cross. But it is just as the Scriptures say,

“What God has planned
for people who love him
is more than eyes have seen
or ears have heard.
It has never even
entered our minds!”

God’s Spirit has shown you everything. His Spirit finds out everything, even what is deep in the mind of God. You are the only one who knows what is in your own mind, and God’s Spirit is the only one who knows what is in God’s mind. But God has given us his Spirit. That’s why we don’t think the same way that the people of this world think. That’s also why we can recognize the blessings that God has given us.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

Last night, Greg and I went outside to photograph the “super moon”…the last one of 2019, we’re told. The full moon was supposed to appear brighter and larger in the sky…and indeed, it was impressive. For several years, I have been on a quest to get a good shot of the moon, including its “cheesy” appearance. I had some success last fall…but since I really don’t know what I’m doing, it took me awhile to figure out some camera settings that might work last night. I posted a photo on Facebook with a list of the settings that I used. I vaguely know what those settings mean, but I knew my “photography geek” friends would appreciate the info…and judging by their comments, I was right!

When friends talk about F-stops and apertures, I pretty well glaze over…which is why my camera has a “point and shoot” feature that is my most frequently used setting! There are plenty of people in this world whose entire “range” of photography skills extends to pointing their smart phone at something and pressing the button! And that’s okay. Sometimes they even get lucky and get a fantastic shot or two! But for those who “speak photography”…the settings and exposures are everything.

What I am about to say may seem smug…but I do not mean it so. There is a “speak” among Spirit-filled Christians, too. Believers who are filled with the Holy Spirit and remain attuned to His voice have a different understanding of many matters of faith from other believers. When two Spirit-filled believers get together, the “talk” between them is not always the same as when speaking to others.

Perhaps you know what I mean. Maybe something has happened, and someone in your circle has made a comment like…”It was just the strangest thing! I don’t know what came over me, but I was able to do XYZ.” Others listening may nod and agree that “this was the Holy Spirit”. It doesn’t mean that one person is less a Christian believer than another…it just means that we are not all at the same point in our faith journey…and we don’t all share the same appreciation and understanding of God’s wisdom – and of His Spirit dwelling within us.

I am not ashamed of my photography skills…but I wish I knew more and was better at it. Toward that end, I must study and practice. And it’s the same with the Holy Spirit and the hidden wisdom of God. The more we study, pray and strive to know Him and feel His presence, the more the Holy Spirit will fill us. The more we pay attention to what God is doing in our lives, the less “mysterious” His workings and wisdom will seem – and they will become more beautiful and exciting.

I am convinced that Heaven is going to be more than I could ever envision or imagine. And this excites me. But I know that God wants to give me beautiful, magical glimpses of His power and wisdom in this earthly lifetime. Through His Holy Spirit, God wants to fill me with His strength, peace, and yes – insights and wisdom. And He wants this for you, as well. But we have to be willing to do the work…and to present an open and welcoming heart.

I want in on everything that God desires for me to have and experience, so this is a no-brainer for me. I’m already studying and practicing to learn more…what about you?

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