January 2020 – Daily Devo Time

Daily Devotional for January 31, 2020 – Whether things go right or wrong…trust God!

1 John 2:15-17
Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

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.

I needed these verses tonight. They serve to remind me Who is really in charge – and Whose will we should seek. The January 28th entry in Jesus Calling* says that God is far less interested in right circumstances than in right responses to them…and our correct response is to trust God – regardless of whether things are going right or wrong.

I will be the first to tell you that this is hard to do…at least I have found it to be so. I have struggled with situations that I knew were wrong. I have had a terribly hard time when I begged God to intervene – and nothing changed. I won’t go so far as to say that I have questioned God’s presence…but I have surely wondered why His answers didn’t come sooner. And in some instances, I look back and see that God did answer – but I still wonder what took Him so long! Clearly, God knew something I did not…the wait and any discomfort it rendered served some purpose in His grand plan. And I have to trust this – and to accept it.

Here is what I want us to focus on today…God’s ways are not the world’s ways. And as this passage reminds us, wanting our own way actually has nothing to do with God or His plans. In other words, what we want doesn’t really concern God. And I must conclude that kicking and screaming when He doesn’t answer our prayers immediately – or exactly as we wish – tends to isolate us from Him, at least temporarily.

So what are we to do? The Bible is clear…trust God. Lean on His plans and desires – and embrace His timetable as our own. Accept that when things don’t go our way, it doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love us or care about us. In fact, it may mean just the opposite! Most likely, God has a plan that is far better…more beneficial…and in the end, serves those who love and trust Him with blessings and abundance that we cannot even begin to understand. I’m trusting and holding steady – and believing this to be the case. What about you?

*Jesus Calling – http://jesuscalling.com

Daily Devotional for January 30, 2020 – It’s time to “be like Ruth”!

January 30 ~ Ruth 2:11-12
Boaz answered her, “I’ve heard all about you—heard about the way you treated your mother-in-law after the death of her husband, and how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth and have come to live among a bunch of total strangers. God reward you well for what you’ve done—and with a generous bonus besides from God, to whom you’ve come seeking protection under his wings.”

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.

Surely you know the story of Ruth and her faithfulness…how she loyally stood by her mother-in-law, Naomi, after the death of her husband, Mahlon. If you recall, Naomi gave the wives of her sons, Mahlon and Chilion (both of whom had died), the option to leave her and go back to their homeland and parents. Orpah took the “out”…but Ruth refused to leave Naomi.

It was customary when a man died for his brother to marry the wife. But Naomi had no more sons. It’s pretty clear that she had no one. Her husband and sons had died – and Ruth refused to leave her alone. And as we see in this beautiful story in scripture, God placed Boaz in the path of Ruth and Naomi – and he ultimately became Ruth’s new husband. God blessed Ruth’s faithfulness, perseverance, and the way she treated Naomi with such love and kindness. And Boaz took care of both Ruth and Naomi.

The lesson for us in this scripture lesson is to always be kind and faithful…and to always do the right thing – even when it would be easier to choose a different path. Take the high road…always. Oh, how we need to hear this today! There are so many people who are making selfish choices…who are choosing what is best for them – and them alone. They are paying absolutely no attention to what is best in the grand scheme of things – much less what they know in their hearts is the will of God.

My prayer today is that we would all become a little more like Ruth – or maybe a LOT more like her! I pray that we would listen to God and do what He commands…and that we would always, always be kind and loving toward others. Let’s park selfishness at the door and think about the other person. Let’s consider that the world does not revolve around us – and give credit, glory and honor to The One who truly is worthy.

It is important that we be like Ruth. We must stop and remind ourselves Who we serve. What is God calling/commanding us to do? Are we willing to listen – and obey? If God calls us to stay in a foreign land where we know only one person and have no idea how we will even eat or sleep, are we ready, willing and able to follow His lead?

If we have to choose between what suits OUR desires or our pocketbook – or what (or who) boosts our ego – and serving the greater good as God directs, will we have the courage and faith to be like Ruth? We must ask ourselves often, “Am I serving myself, a ‘leader’ or person of influence, a friend or loved one? Or am I truly following God’s directives?” The choice should be simple, if we truly love God and have fully surrendered to Him. So what will you decide? Are you ready to be like Ruth? Isn’t it time you were?

Daily Devotional for January 29, 2020 – Thanking God for clothes and coupons…and caring about the details

January 29 ~ Romans 8:26-28
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

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 weeks ago, I stopped at my cousin Natalie’s house to drop off some store coupons. I noticed a bag of boy’s clothing sitting where I usually leave the coupons. She shares the clothes her son Owen has outgrown with our nephews. So I texted and asked, “Is this bag of clothes for me?” The reply came quickly that yes…she kept forgetting to text me to come by and get the bag. Then Natalie texted again and said, “I love it that God sent you with coupons when I had clothes that you needed to get.”

Now you may say that God doesn’t care about such mundane things as a bag of hand-me-down clothing or some grocery coupons. But I would beg to differ. Romans 8:26-28 tells us that God knows us far better than we know ourselves, and that His Spirit is right alongside, helping us. Why would we even question that the God who knows what to pray for us when we are unable to gather our words would not care just as much about the minutiae of our day?

I am quite convinced that God is greatly interested in every single detail of my life – and yours. And as I make a concerted effort to follow His lead and serve Him completely and unquestionably, I see how He orchestrates even the smallest things. That is why my cousin and I can see His hand in something as seemingly unimportant as kids’ clothes and store coupons (although to be honest – to each of us respectively, the clothes and coupons are golden!).

My point is that God loves those who love Him and strive to serve Him…and He never takes His eye off us. This is huge! It’s great news…the best assurance in the world! Aren’t you grateful? Have you told Him so lately? Isn’t this the perfect time to stop and give thanks to God for His goodness, grace, mercy, love and care? Are you ready to begin?

Daily Devotional for January 28, 2020 – Sharing the Good News of Jesus with others – to the last minute!

Romans 1:16-17
For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is God’s powerful method of bringing all who believe it to heaven. This message was preached first to the Jews alone, but now everyone is invited to come to God in this same way. This Good News tells us that God makes us ready for heaven—makes us right in God’s sight—when we put our faith and trust in Christ to save us. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scripture says it, “The man who finds life will find it through trusting God.”

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

The world has been turned upside down in the last few days by the news of the tragic deaths of basketball legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna – and 7 other people… baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri and their daughter Alyssa (a team-mate of Gianna Bryant); Sarah Chester and her daughter, Payton (also a member of Team Mamba); Christina Mauser (Mamba Academy basketball coach) and Ara Zobayan the helicopter pilot. This heartbreaking event has dominated news headlines around the world, as people struggle to wrap their brains around this heartbreaking loss.

This disastrous event reminds us all that life is incredibly short and tentative. None of us are promised another minute. What we do, how we live, and Who we serve is incredibly important. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 1:16-17 that God’s promise of Heaven is available to EACH of us. All we must do is believe in Him and surrender our will to His…or as this passage says it, we must “put our faith and trust in Christ to save us.” We must speak and act in a way that demonstrates to others that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life everlasting.

I don’t know much about any of the people I have mentioned here. It has been said many times these last two days that a lot of people related to Kobe Bryant – that they felt as if they knew him because he “visited our living rooms” on a regular basis via the television screen. People can also relate to the victims of this tragedy because they were husbands, wives, and parents…or because many of us have young people in our own immediate circle – perhaps even teenagers. We cannot imagine our lives without them.

We are not wrong to grieve when a person passes. The Bible tells us that when Lazarus died, even Jesus Christ shed tears of sorrow. But the bigger question for me when someone dies is always, “Will I see him/her again in Heaven?” Sometimes, I know the answer…sometimes, I am left to wonder. None of us truly knows what is in another person’s heart.

But I would remind you again that Luke 12:48 tells us…”Much is required from those to whom much is given, for their responsibility is greater.” For those of us who have confessed our sins to Christ Jesus and surrendered to serve Him on this earth, we are called to share His Good News at every opportunity – and with every person we encounter. This doesn’t mean we have to stand on the street corner and preach – but all of our words and actions should honor and glorify God – and give others a model of Christ’s teachings and commands.

I have read that Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, attended early Mass on Sunday before boarding their helicopter to travel to their ballgame. I know that attending a church service doesn’t necessarily mean that the Bryants were Christians. But the fact that they took time to attend a worship service before heading to this ballgame leads me to believe that they knew God and revered Him. And it demonstrates to the world where their priorities lay.

We have been given such an incredible gift…Salvation by the blood of Jesus and the promise of Eternal Life in His presence. We should be so grateful and thankful that we want to shout from the rafters about Jesus and His wonders, miracles, grace and mercy. We should want to live in a way that others know Whose we are – and more importantly, they want to get in on this gift for themselves! We should be speaking and acting like every minute of our lives might be our last…that in the next few breaths, we could wake up quite literally at the feet of Jesus in Heaven. Because this is the truth.

What – and Who – are you representing to the world? And what will be your legacy when you have passed from it? Are you “right in God’s sight” – and living like it? Don’t you think it’s time you were?

Daily Devotional for January 27, 2020 – Serving as Christ’s “recruiters” – and thanking Him for this privilege

Romans 1:5
And now, through Christ, all the kindness of God has been poured out upon us undeserving sinners; and now he is sending us out around the world to tell all people everywhere the great things God has done for them, so that they, too, will believe and obey him.

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

Imagine if you were the president of a major college, and you were looking for people to travel across the country and promote your institution and encourage students to matriculate there. So you went to the local jail and selected a couple of thieves, some drug dealers, and a murderer. You cleaned them up, put them in nice clothes, coached them on how to speak and act, and gave them expense accounts. Then you entrusted these inexperienced and wayward people to crisscross the country and recruit students for your university. Sounds a little crazy, right?

On a far grander scale, this is what Jesus has done for you and me. He knows better than anyone how terrible we truly are…what awful, “undeserving sinners” you and I have been. But as Paul points out in Romans 1:5, Jesus has poured out His kindness (and His salvation) on us. He entrusts us with the mission of telling the world about God and sharing His Good News, so that they also may have the opportunity to experience the redemption and blessings of God Almighty.

When you stop and think about it, we have a tremendous responsibility. Luke 12:48 tells us that…”Much is required from those to whom much is given, for their responsibility is greater.” And no gift comes close to our Salvation by the blood of Jesus Christ – and the blessings and abundance that God showers upon us as His children.

We did not deserve to be redeemed. We most certainly are not worthy to represent God Almighty to others. But that is exactly what He calls us to do. And the whole point is that we can say to them, “Look what God has done for me. He will do these things for you, too – if only you will confess your sins, change your life, and follow Jesus.”

The role of “personal recruiter” for Jesus Christ is not one that any of us deserves. But we have been called to serve in this capacity, and it truly should be our deepest honor and privilege. We should thank God daily that He has placed His confidence in us – that He has completely wiped the slate clean of our sins and transgressions and set us up as His “agents” to share the Good news with others. Hopefully, our words and actions will bring them into His family ,as they make their own commitments to Christ.

None of us are worthy to represent Jesus Christ…but He chose us anyway – and “cleaned us up” for the mission at hand! Let’s take this charge seriously, and humbly give Him glory and praise for entrusting us with such an incredible honor and privilege.

Daily Devotional for January 25, 2020 – Serving God with praise and trust – or worry and frustration…attitude is everything!

Psalm 95:1-5
Come, let’s shout praises to God,
raise the roof for the Rock who saved us!
Let’s march into his presence singing praises,
lifting the rafters with our hymns!
And why? Because God is the best,
High King over all the gods.
In one hand he holds deep caves and caverns,
in the other hand grasps the high mountains.
He made Ocean—he owns it!
His hands sculpted Earth!

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.

There is plenty in this world to frustrate and upset us. Some of our concerns have national and global import…while others are more mundane – if not downright petty. We tend to get tunnel vision and focus on what is happening only in our own little world. We don’t often step back and take a look at the “big picture”. And even if we did, we still would not see the world as God sees it…because this is beyond our human capacity.

What I would suggest is that you and I must focus on the One who truly is “the best”! Let’s take a collective breath and consider the “High King over all the gods”…the one who “holds deep caves and caverns” in one hand – and “high mountains” in the other. Let’s focus on God Almighty, who owns the ocean and sculpted the earth.

As we go about our day and address this issue or that, let’s stop and shout a praise to God – the Rock who saved us. Let’s put a song in our heart and on our lips. I firmly believe that attitude is everything. And when we allow the devil to have even the tiniest grasp on our thoughts and feelings, we start to lose our grip on God’s power, grace and mercy – and His incomparable love and care.

Every day will bring some sort of challenge. There will be things that frustrate us on a regular basis. We won’t always agree with our neighbor…and there will often be someone who gets on our last nerve. Evil and corruption are real – and abundant. But GOD is bigger than all of this. We cannot bury our heads in the sand…but we don’t have to bathe and wallow in dishonesty, deception, and hatred every day. We can say, “This is the day that the LORD has made” and focus on ways to praise Him and give Him room to work.

It all comes down to who we trust and serve. We can wring our hands and wallow in worry and misery – and focus on the evil in this world. We can speculate on what will happen, whether truth will win out, and who might “get what’s coming to them”. OR…we can believe God’s promises, trust Him completely, and praise Him at every turn. We can put a song of gratitude on our lips and trust that “God’s got this” – and He will orchestrate everything perfectly.

I don’t know about you, but option #1 is not possible for me. To choose to focus on evil indicates that I don’t really trust God to be my Rock and Redeemer. It belies my belief that God is our Creator – the Author and Finisher of all things. I cannot – and will not – grieve and disrespect my Heavenly Father in this way. The world is watching to see what Christians will say and do…who they will ultimately serve – and how they represent their Master. This is a no-brainer for me…what about you?

Daily Devotional for January 24, 2020 – Developing an “attitude of gratitude” – and praising God morning and evening

Psalm 92:1-2
It is good to say thank you to the Lord, to sing praises to the God who is above all gods.

Every morning tell him, “Thank you for your kindness,” and every evening rejoice in all his faithfulness.

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

If you are like many people, you awaken each morning and begin to wonder about everything from what is on your calendar for the day to what you will eat for breakfast…to “When can I crawl back in this bed again?” Psalm 92:1-2 suggests that we first sing praises “to the God who is above all gods.”

I suggest you try it! I’ve been making a concerted effort to do this each morning…to make my first waking thoughts a prayer of thankfulness and gratitude. Some days, I thank God that I awoke rested and refreshed…others I thank Him for healthy loved ones and ask Him to bless them with a good day. Sometimes, I begin with a list of answered prayers – and thank God for these. In all cases, I have noticed that this initial “attitude of gratitude” has made a positive impact on the rest of my day.

I still need to work on my “evening rejoices”! I often fall asleep talking to God…asking Him to bless and care this one or another – or to intervene in certain situations. But what if I ended my day thanking God for answered prayers? Someone asked recently how much praise of God was enough. I don’t think we can overdo it in this regard.

If we take time to acknowledge the prayers that God has answered – and to express our gratitude for these – I believe that our relationship with Him grows exponentially. It’s not that God rewards us for praising Him. But as we begin to focus on gratitude and a thankful heart for what He has done, we cultivate a deeper appreciation for His love and care. And we grow in confidence that God truly does “have our back”.

There is an old hymn, “To God Be the Glory”*, that says in its chorus:

“Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice;
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.

So I am offering a challenge…let’s start making prayers of thankfulness and praise the first thought and action of our day – and the last of each night. Let’s begin and end each day with gratitude for the great things that God has done in our life – and will do moving forward. Let’s grow in our confidence and faithfulness by acknowledging God’s love and care – even as we bring our petitions and concerns before Him.

Let’s practice rejoicing…and give God the glory for the great things He has done. Will you join me?

Daily Devotional for January 23, 2020 – Praising God for always being there…even when things don’t go our way

Psalm 9:1
I will praise you, Lord,
with all my heart
and tell about the wonders
you have worked.

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

“I have waited for you before, great Spirit, and wondered where you were. I have been impatient in my soul, thinking you had forgotten me, though I spoke to you many times a day, asking for your presence in my life. I have paced the floor with some prayers and then been frustrated when nothing seemed to happen. I have wanted you to be a dispenser of blessings, on call when I needed you. For all of this I am sorry because now I see how you have always been there and never failed to help me, even if helping me was letting me be as upset as I can be when things don’t go my way. My time is now. Your time is forever.”- Bishop Steven Charleston*

For many of us, this is a frustrating time in our nation. Regardless of which side of the aisle you choose or where your allegiance lies, we are collectively disheartened. I have no doubt that people in all “camps” have wondered more than a little…“Where has God gone?”.

But as Bishop Charleston reminds us, God hasn’t gone anywhere. He has never failed to help us. His timetable is simply not ours…and His perfect plans do not mirror our selfish agenda. Rather than think of God as a “dispenser of blessings, on call when we need Him”, let’s consider that He is the Author and Finisher of the universe – and His plans and methods are far greater than we can fathom.

Let’s remember who God truly is…and our “position” as His children/humble servants. Let’s quit focusing so much on the things that cause us to pace the floor. Let’s zero in on the miracles and wonders that He has performed in our lives already – and continues to bring about even into Eternity! Let’s quit wringing our hands and start lifting them in prayers of praise and adoration. And let’s begin today! Are you ready?

*Bishop Steven Charleston – https://redmoonpublications.com, @bishopstevencharleston on Facebook

Daily Devotional for January 22, 2020 – Living in the shadow and shelter of the Almighty – with gratitude and praise

Psalm 91:1-16
We live within the shadow of the Almighty, sheltered by the God who is above all gods.

This I declare, that he alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him. For he rescues you from every trap and protects you from the fatal plague. He will shield you with his wings! They will shelter you. His faithful promises are your armor. Now you don’t need to be afraid of the dark anymore, nor fear the dangers of the day; nor dread the plagues of darkness, nor disasters in the morning.

Though a thousand fall at my side, though ten thousand are dying around me, the evil will not touch me. I will see how the wicked are punished, but I will not share it. For Jehovah is my refuge! I choose the God above all gods to shelter me. How then can evil overtake me or any plague come near? For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will steady you with their hands to keep you from stumbling against the rocks on the trail. You can safely meet a lion or step on poisonous snakes, yes, even trample them beneath your feet!

For the Lord says, “Because he loves me, I will rescue him; I will make him great because he trusts in my name. When he calls on me, I will answer; I will be with him in trouble and rescue him and honor him. I will satisfy him with a full life and give him my salvation.”

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

In my opinion, Psalm 91 is one of the most profound declarations of allegiance to God in the entire Bible. Here we are reminded of how powerful God is…and how gentle. We are reminded that He cares about us and our world so much that He won’t let anything happen to us. Does this mean that we will literally never die…that we can unequivocally endure a plague or natural disaster, meet a lion or step on a snake – and walk away without harm? No…but it does mean that whatever we experience or endure…God is with us, and He will rescue us in His perfect manner and timing.

My prayer is that you would read this passage today – maybe more than once – with a thoughtful, intentional heart. Let the words speak to you and remind you WHO is really in charge – always and forever. There is so much in our world that the devil wants to use to divide us, scare us, and frustrate us to the point that we throw up our hands and ask, “What’s the point?” Psalm 91 is the point! Praise be to God. Be sure to thank Him every day for His Almighty shadow and shelter.

Daily Devotional for January 21, 2020 – Thanking God, who always makes things right

January 21 ~ Psalm 7:17
I’m thanking God, who makes things right.
I’m singing the fame of heaven-high 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 been in a situation where you know things are not right, but no matter how much you “sound the alarm”, nothing seems to change? Maybe you prayed and trusted God to “fix this mess”…and no response seemed to come. You might have even questioned God…or at least asked Him, “Why are you allowing this to continue?”

I don’t know why God allows certain things to go on – sometimes for a long time. I don’t know why He allows war, corruption, illness and suffering, children in cages at the border, orphans and refugees, cruelty to animals AND people, and so much more. I don’t know why God allows us to stay in some situations for far longer than we feel we can handle…and why some really decent, faithful people never seem to “catch a break”.

But what I do know is that God has a plan…and He is not in the business of harming His children. I know that God sees a far bigger picture than we will ever be able to envision. I know that God uses these difficulties and trials to teach us more about His power and provision – and to draw us closer to Him. And I’ve read “the end of the story”…I know that God ultimately makes things right!

So today, I am thanking God and touting His fame and foresight. I will continue to praise Him – even as I beg Him to make changes in people and situations. I will trust Him to do what is truly right…and I will honor His autonomy and supremacy.

God has allowed me to wander in the wilderness a few times…He has folded His arms and watched as I expressed my frustration and impatience. But God has NEVER failed me…and He’s not about to start now. For this, I continue to give Him thanks and praise. What about you?

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