April 2023 – Daily Devo Time

Daily Devotional for April 30, 2023 – Serving Christ with childlike faith…what’s in your wardrobe?

Galatians 3:26-27
But now you have arrived at your destination: By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe—Christ’s life, the fulfillment of God’s original promise.

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.

If you want to have your wardrobe choices questioned, spend some time with a pre-teen or teenager! The line between “cool” and “old geezer” – or even “what-on-earth-were-you-thinking?” is indeed a thin one – and easily crossed! I will be honest, I wouldn’t be caught dead in a lot of what kids wear today (and yes, I know our parents said that about us once!). However, when it comes to a “faith wardrobe,” I want to dress like a kid every time!

I have seen how readily most children accept Jesus and His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion. I have seen how they embrace the commands to love others without qualification. I have observed firsthand how young people interact with each other in complete oblivion to appearance, intellect, income level and more. And before you raise your finger to dispute this, I know that there are instances where this is not the case. Yes, sometimes children can indeed be cruel. But I submit to you that most every time this happens, it is fueled and influenced by adults and their ideas and biases. On the whole, children are far more “Christian” in their words, actions and interactions than any other group.

In the sense that Christ washed us up for a fresh start to our direct relationship with God, we are all “children.” We all have the potential and capacity for loving with childlike faith, grace, and abandon. Our “adult faith wardrobe” should always contain a “hoodie” of love and inclusion – and “a pair of sneakers” that will carry us in the footsteps of our Master, as we study His teachings and blessings and learn to share them with everyone we encounter.

There are few situations and circumstances in which I wish I was a little kid again. But when it comes to childlike purity of faith and trust in Christ Jesus, I’ll make an exception every time. My prayer is that we could truly maintain such faith even as we mature in our understanding and fulfillment of Christ’s teachings and commands – and our witness to others of His great love and care. Dress like a grownup – but don’t be afraid to “put on some sneakers and a hoodie” from time to time as you serve our Master, Jesus Christ! Alleluia!

Daily Devotional for April 29, 2023 – Faithful obedience to the teachings and commands of Jesus…the only “diet” we will ever need!

Galatians 3:21-22
Does the Law disagree with God’s promises? No, it doesn’t! If any law could give life to us, we could become acceptable to God by obeying that law. But the Scriptures say that sin controls everyone, so that God’s promises will be for anyone who has faith in Jesus Christ.

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

Let’s talk about an age-old problem for many…weight loss! Most of us have pretty well tried every diet known to man, all while lamenting that we wished there was a “pill” we could take that would instantly melt away the pounds and make us svelte and skinny! Instead, we’ve tried following certain plans. Don’t eat carbs…don’t eat fat…only eat certain foods certain times of the day…don’t eat meat…drink this shake or eat those bars! We’ve paid good money and tried program after program…and attended meeting after meeting. It’s maddening…and at the end of the day, we often cannot sustain adherence to the “laws of the diet.” And the pounds return – and often multiply!

The simple fact is that you and I must eat to live. We will never be able to survive without food and drink. In order to maintain a particular weight range, we are probably going to have to stop trying every fad diet that comes along and surrender to the fact that portion control and exercise are our best bet. We must also accept that our genetics play a part. My point is that we must focus on doing the things that will keep us healthy – and this generally means balancing what we eat with how much we move.

I hope you see where I’m going with this. There will always be people who tell you to follow this Spiritual law or that one…to believe this tenet, condemn that person or group, or practice such-and-such ritual to truly please God and show your obedience to Him. But JESUS says…“I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35) There is no talk of following this law or making that sacrifice. Jesus makes it clear that we are all perpetual sinners in need of a Savior…and He is offering us forgiveness, grace, mercy, compassion, and Eternal Life in exchange for faithful obedience!

I have heard many doctors say that “diets” are not sustainable. People tire of them and return to old ways. It’s much the same with sin and trying to follow a list of laws and rituals. Jesus changed all of this! He gave us three simple commands to follow. We won’t always hit the mark or serve Him perfectly. But that’s the amazing thing about Christ’s gift of salvation, grace and mercy…He sees us when we try and sets us upright again when we stumble and acknowledge our shortcomings. Jesus recognizes our faith, determination and dedication…and He blesses our efforts to love and serve Him – forever and ever. This is reason enough for me to keep trying to follow His commands. I’ll take a steady “diet” of serving as Christ’s faithful, obedient servant. What about you?

Daily Devotional for April 28, 2023 – Following the rules of Christ Jesus…all three of them!

Galatians 2:19-20
We Jews know that we have no advantage of birth over “non-Jewish sinners.” We know very well that we are not set right with God by rule-keeping but only through personal faith in Jesus Christ. How do we know? We tried it—and we had the best system of rules the world has ever seen! Convinced that no human being can please God by self-improvement, we believed in Jesus as the Messiah so that we might be set right before God by trusting in the Messiah, not by trying to be 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.

Our almost-11-year-old nephew was here last weekend, and there were a couple of things we discussed that involved rules, as in, “It is against the law to do XYZ,” or “Those people are not following the rules.” Nathan would quickly say, “Not me! I follow the rules! I will ALWAYS follow the rules! I am a rules person!” Of course, he would sometimes go ahead to throw his older siblings under the bus and say, “THEY do not follow the rules,” or “THEY say when they get older, they are going to do such and such.”

I know this is all the talk of a fourth-grade boy, and that it truly remains to be seen how well he holds up his end of this bargain. But at the same time, I think there are a lot of people who are on both sides of this issue in their daily living. Some are so rigid in their “adherence” to the “rules,” that they have made a lot of God’s laws into something that either 1) God never intended; 2) Jesus exchanged for new rules; or 3) a little of both. So, we have people who still want to cite Old Testament laws when they suit a particular agenda…but they also want to claim Salvation, forgiveness and redemption in Jesus. They want to parse out believers into camps who follow this rule or that one (or don’t!)…but they like to agree that we are all one body in Jesus Christ.

There is one thing that becomes clearer every day to me as I study scripture and talk with God…Jesus’ “rules” are the only ones that matter. And Jesus tells us to 1) love God with all our heart, mind, and soul; 2) to love all others; and 3) to treat others as we wish to be treated. If we follow these three “rules,” everything else falls into place. Jesus stands in the gap and makes the difference. This is what He came to earth to accomplish! This is why He died on the cross for our sins – and rose again three days later!

If we truly love ALL people and welcome them equally into our hearts, communities, worship settings, and everyday lives, Jesus will show up and show out…and the results will be amazing. Let me hasten to add that people know when you are faking. He knows when we pretend to accept someone – or to like him/her – and then speak and act differently when backs are turned. You cannot fabricate the true love of Christ Jesus for others. We must ask Him to give us a genuine spirit of love and kindness toward all…a sincere desire to operate in His grace, mercy, compassion, and care for every human being.

As I pray for our children, I do ask God to help them grow up to be good, law-abiding citizens. Any reasonable adult would want this for their children. But more importantly, I ask God to help them to grow to love, accept, include, and encourage all others…and I ask Him to help me set the example in my own living. My prayer for you is that this would be your aim, also. Alleluia!

Daily Devotional for April 27, 2023 – Guarding against the fiery arrows of the devil…it’s time to raise our shield of faith in Jesus!

Ephesians 6:16
In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.

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 took the kids to the movie last week, and previews aired for the third installment of Guardians of the Galaxy, which will be released in the next couple of weeks. The children want to see it, and of course, I was the only person in our group who had never seen the first two movies. I vowed to change this before we see the third one…and I rented the first movie on Amazon Prime and watched it last night. I plan to watch the second this weekend.

Let me just say that the Marvel Comics action movies are not my first choice for entertainment. But I wanted to be able to converse with my family about this movie – and to understand what was happening on the screen. I will say…the movies are better and more entertaining than I anticipated. And I share all of this to tell you about a particular villain…“Yondu Udonta.” In a synopsis found at Fandom.com, I read this…“Yondu Udonta, a Centaurian and the leader of a clan of spacefaring smugglers known as the Ravagers, is widely recognized for carrying a Yaka Arrow, which he keeps close by in a holster at his side. Udonta often relies on his arrow to intimidate others while either brokering deals, interrogating others, or dealing with defiant or insubordinate crew members, maneuvering the arrow close to the person’s head to threaten and intimidate them into complying with his interests.”

There was a scene in the first movie where “Yondu Udonta” sent out this “Yaka Arrow,” and it literally wove through the chests of more than two dozen men before returning to his quiver- and all the men fell dead where they stood. Remember, this is a Marvel Comics action movie! But when I read today’s passage about the fiery arrows of Satan, I couldn’t help but think of this scene and the ferocity of this arrow!

Something tells me the “Yaka Arrow” is going to figure heavily in the second and third Guardians of the Galaxy movies. And if you think about our daily lives, the devil always has his arrows at the ready to harm or even destroy us in a million ways. We must always be on guard. We must always be prepared and have our “shield” in position. And Paul tells us in this passage that our shield is our faith in Christ Jesus. I’ve told you many times that early in their little lives, I taught our children to whisper the name of Jesus anytime they felt threatened by the devil. We agreed that when we call on Jesus, the devil just “shrinks away.” Satan is no match for Jesus Christ!

You and I all feel the slings and arrows of the devil. He loves to make us question our decisions…worry about our loved ones, our health, and our livelihood…argue, disagree, and even separate from others over all sorts if ideas and opinions…and so much more. The devil never wastes an opportunity to try to pierce us with his arrows and separate us from our Master and Savior. But we have a shield that cannot be penetrated…and His name is Jesus!

We may not be young children any longer, but the same “rule” applies. When the devil discharges an “arrow” in our direction, we must raise our shield of faith and hope in Jesus – and whisper His name! We must say, “Come, Lord Jesus,” and “Go away, Satan!” And we must stand tall and firm in the confidence that Jesus hears our petitions…and the devil does indeed shrink away at the mention of His name.

The “Yaka Arrow” of a Marvel Comics character named “Yondu Udonta” may be complete fiction. But the “arrows” and persistence of the devil are completely real and powerful. The GOOD NEWS is that Jesus is even greater. His power is more formidable…and readily available to all who will whisper His name. Call on Him to guide and guard you in every battle, and trust that He is always with you – ready and able to keep you safe and well. Alleluia!

Daily Devotional for April 26, 2023 – Serving God with hope and faith – it’s time to trust our roots!

April 26 ~ Ephesians 3:14-19
When I think of the wisdom and scope of his plan, I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God—some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth — that out of his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you the mighty inner strengthening of his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself.

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

According to an online report by Little Rock television station KARK…“April 21, 2023, is the 2nd wettest first 111 days of the year in Little Rock. Only in1882, 141 years ago, was it wetter than this year.” Greg and I live just over an hour north of Little Rock, and we can look out our window and see the Greers Ferry Dam and the lake it restrains…and I can attest that the water levels are abnormally high. So, a few weeks ago, four of the gates on the dam were opened to release some of the excess water downriver. Two days ago, all six gates were opened.

This doesn’t happen often, but it seems like it has occurred more in the last few years than any other time since the dam was completed in 1963. Greg and I often walk along the river and trek as close as we can to the dam to fully experience this “Little Niagara Falls” in all its glory. When the gates opened two days ago, we made such a trip. As we were walking along the path, I marveled at the bluffs towering above us, carved long ago by the flowing waters of the river. I particularly noticed tree roots that protruded from the rocky hillside and seemed to inexplicably suspend in the air, shooting a trunk and branches upward into the sky. I particularly took notice of several amazing trees and root systems on an earlier winter hike in the Arkansas Ozarks. And over the weekend, when we took our nephew, Nathan, to see the water spilling from the dam, he spotted a tiny “tree” growing out of the concrete about one-third of the way down the side of the massive structure.

I share all of this to draw attention to the power, strength, and perseverance of roots – the illustration Paul uses in this passage to help us understand God’s love, strength, and power. The roots of trees and plants often run wide, deep, and high. And the next time you look at roots, think of God and how deeply He cares for us. Remind yourself that the creator of these roots is the glorious, incredible, all-encompassing Master of the universe – and the Father of our great family. His resources truly are unlimited. God’s love, wisdom, and the scope of His great plans encompass all of us on this earth – and those who are already in Heaven.

I will tell you, there are days when I struggle to make out a grocery list! I cannot imagine the vastness of God’s “calendar” and “to-do list!” And yet, everything is perfectly planned and executed. God cares for every single person on this earth and in Heaven, down to the last detail. Even when things happen that cause us to question God, we must realize that in His world, all is working together impeccably and with complete attention to every detail.

Just this week as I walked and prayed, I told God that I do not understand so many things that are happening – war, terminal illness, relational struggles, bigotry, hatred, deceit, and selfishness. I don’t understand why young parents are ripped from their spouses and children, or kids get cancer and other life-threatening diseases. I don’t see why we cannot all get along…and why some have to suffer all their lives from discrimination and exclusion. I don’t know why God allows so many of the things He allows. BUT…I know that I don’t have the vision God has. I don’t see what He sees – or understand what He has designed and how it all works together.

At the end of the day, I do trust God. I want to trust Him more every day – and I am working on this. I know that the God who can grow a tree out of the side of a concrete dam – or make roots emerge from a hillside and shoot a trunk and branches up into the air – can surely design and direct my life perfectly. The God who cares as much about a tiny bird or butterfly as He does about you and me can most certainly make a way where I see none.

My prayer is that we would all learn to operate more confidently in God’s love and care…that we would recognize His power and strength and be filled with hope and faith. To echo Paul in this passage, “I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God—some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth — that out of his glorious, unlimited resources He will give you the mighty inner strengthening of his Holy Spirit.” Lord, let this be so for all of us! Alleluia!

Daily Devotional for April 25, 2023 – Christ brought us together…you belong here!

Ephesians 2:16-22
Christ brought us together through his death on the cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility. Christ came and preached peace to you outsiders and peace to us insiders. He treated us as equals, and so made us equals. Through him we both share the same Spirit and have equal access to the Father.

That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.

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.

This morning, I read an article in NPR about a high school senior in Nashville, Tennessee, who was not allowed to attend prom. What was the reason given? This young lady was wearing a suit! The authorities at this “Christian” school maintained that girls were required to wear dresses. The real motivation for this judgement was that this young lady identifies by the pronouns “they, them, and their.” If you look at her photo in the article, this girl is fully clothed. I would venture to suggest that the girl was probably more covered than a number of the other young ladies attending this same event.

This reminded me of my husband’s Junior-Senior prom in 1971. At that time, the “prom” was presented by the Junior class, and it took place in our high school cafeteria. There was a formal dinner with decorations and entertainment – followed by a dance. This particular year, a Senior boy arrived at the dance wearing sandals and no socks! I am not making this up – there was a “school rule” that all sandals must be worn with socks. When the boy refused to leave, police were called and the young man was arrested!

Sound ridiculous? I agree. So are many of the reasons we separate and divide ourselves from each other for selfish and discriminatory motives. Worse yet, scripture plainly tells us not to do this! If you read this passage from Ephesians closely, you will see that when we divide and exclude, we are totally disrespecting and disavowing Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. If you think The Message has altered the interpretation of Ephesians 2:16, where it says, “Christ brought us together through His death on the cross,” look at this verse in the King James Version…“And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body.” Brought together…one body…there is no division stated here. I love how a following part of this passage says…“You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone.”

It probably wouldn’t be a bad idea for each of us to print out this passage from Ephesians 2 and post it somewhere that we will see it every day. When we are tempted to discriminate or judge another, we could read these words and remind ourselves that Christ died for everyone who will call on His name and believe in Him. When we start to declare that this person or that one is not worthy – and to use some lame excuse like “girls are supposed to wear dresses” to justify our actions – we could ask ourselves, “Are we behaving like true followers of Jesus Christ? Will these words or actions honor and glorify Him – or separate us even further?”

I get that “rules are rules,” and perhaps the rules at these schools did say that girls were supposed to wear dresses – and sandals must be worn with socks. I also believe that sometimes, we must stop and examine the real motives behind such “rules” – and most certainly, we must carefully consider how we react and/or address any “consequences.” In the broader context, there are plenty of times where the “rules” are of our own making – in our own heads, based on personal opinions, selfishness, biases, and even hatred of one person/group or another. We can’t have it both ways…either we believe Jesus and trust Him, or we don’t.

If we truly love and serve Jesus and have faith in Him for all things, we must always operate in the scope of these verses from Ephesians 2. Christ treated us as equals, and so made us equals. Through him we both share the same Spirit and have equal access to the Father. As this passage puts it…that’s plain enough, isn’t it? Alleluia!

Daily Devotional for April 24, 2023 – No more “soul-poisoning!” It’s time to serve Christ and follow HIS laws!

Ephesians 2:11-15
But don’t take any of this for granted. It was only yesterday that you outsiders to God’s ways had no idea of any of this, didn’t know the first thing about the way God works, hadn’t the faintest idea of Christ. You knew nothing of that rich history of God’s covenants and promises in Israel, hadn’t a clue about what God was doing in the world at large. Now because of Christ—dying that death, shedding that blood—you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything.

The Messiah has made things up between us so that we’re now together on this, both non-Jewish outsiders and Jewish insiders. He tore down the wall we used to keep each other at a distance. He repealed the law code that had become so clogged with fine print and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped. Then he started over. Instead of continuing with two groups of people separated by centuries of animosity and suspicion, he created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody.

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.

Did you know that it is illegal in Arizona for a donkey to sleep in a bathtub? In Alabama, it is against the law to drive blindfolded. And in Arkansas, if you honk your horn near a sandwich shop after 9:00 p.m., you could be cited for disturbing the peace! These and more crazy laws on the books in America are enumerated in a 2020 article found at GoodHousekeeping.com Click through and give yourself a good laugh!

To put this in a “spiritual” context, go to Leviticus and read some of the “laws” presented there. My paternal grandparents apparently did not get the memo that they should not plant their corn in rows alongside their butter beans! How many of us would be in trouble with the command not to wear garments made of two kinds of fiber? That denim jacket with the leather trim you like so much is a huge “no-no” according to the laws of the Old Testament! And in Deuteronomy, we are told that if we come across a bird’s nest on the road, it’s okay to take the babies…but not the mother!

Eating the meat of any animal that doesn’t chew cud or has a cloven hoof – or even touching the carcass – makes one unclean in the Old Testament. But in Romans 14:15-16, Jesus tells us…“If you confuse others by making a big issue over what they eat or don’t eat, you’re no longer a companion with them in love, are you? These, remember, are persons for whom Christ died. Would you risk sending them to hell over an item in their diet? Don’t you dare let a piece of God-blessed food become an occasion of soul-poisoning!”

Let’s consider what Jesus said in the context of other things for which we judge others and separate from them. If we make a big issue over skin color, socio-economic status, education, sexual orientation, political party, religious denomination, and so many more biases, we are no longer “a companion with these people in love.” Anytime we draw lines in the sand and declare that we are on one “side” and someone else is on the other, we have dishonored Christ’s sacrifice and risked sending the wrong message to another of His precious children.

Today’s message is simple…don’t say or do anything that would cause the “soul-poisoning” of another precious child of God. Don’t set yourself up as superior…or live in the old laws of Moses. Jesus repealed the fine print and footnotes of old law that hindered more than it helped. He gave us a new “code” – love God, love all others, and treat each other as we wish to be treated. Then Jesus commanded us to share this Good News with everyone we encounter – in thought, word, and deed.

I am grateful I don’t have to worry about mixing fabrics or where and how I plant seeds. I am grateful that Jesus has given us such a simplified, yet all-encompassing “code” – and that He loves us enough to take the burden of every sacrifice that was ever required in the Old Law and atone for it with His own blood on the cross. We are free to live and love as Christ desires. Our allegiance is only to Him. We must not take this for granted…but we must make every effort to honor and glorify such a sacrifice. The Messiah stands in the gap so that we can be together! Oh, LORD, let it be so among us – today and always. Alleluia!

Daily Devotional for April 23, 2023 – Acknowledging the grace and kindness of God – and the “making and saving!” It’s all His idea – all His work!

Ephesians 2:7-10
Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

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.

It happened more than 45 years ago…but I remember it like yesterday. One of my first-grade students, John, came running into the classroom from the playground and opened his fist. “Look, Mrs. Robus!” he said. “It’s a robin’s egg!” I looked down at the little pale blue ball as he put it into my hand, and I said, “Oh, John, I don’t think so!” As I wrapped my fingers around the orb, it smashed into my palm, and a tiny egg yolk smeared across my skin! My heart sank, and John’s little face fell! I apologized up and down, but there was nothing I could do to make this better. And my little six-year-old first grader gave me far more grace than could ever merit. He assured me it was okay. He didn’t cry or fuss. In fact, he went on with his business and didn’t mention it again. But I felt like I had truly failed this sweet boy – and made a huge mistake.

There was a retired lady who volunteered in my classroom one day each week. I am not making this up…her name was Doris Day, and she was every bit as bright and cheerful as the screen actress by the same name. Doris was helping the day I broke John’s egg. She saw how upset I was…and she also saw how sweet my student behaved toward me. When Doris came to help the following week, she said, “I brought something for John.” Carefully wrapped in a tissue was another robin’s egg. Doris “saved” me…and made everything better. I can only assume that God put a robin’s egg in her path at that time, just for Doris to bring to my student to replace his broken treasure.

This is totally how God operates. He loves us and gives us grace and kindness far beyond what we could ever deserve. When we make mistakes and acknowledge them to God – and we all make them – He picks us up and says, “You’ll do better next time.” We deserve blame and scolding for our sins and misdeeds, but so often, we get mercy instead of reproach…encouragement rather than scolding. Though some might try, there is no way to say, “I fixed this!” because it was certainly not our doing!

I don’t know about you, but I know that I fail God daily. I am trying to be faithful, obedient, and “Christ-like,” but I am human, so I often miss the mark. And in his grace and kindness, God lifts me and forgives and says, “Keep trying. Things happen. You will do better next time…and I will be right there with you!” Oh, how thankful I am for this incredible gift. How I want to make God proud every day, and how grateful I am that He sees my efforts and puts people like John and Doris in my path to give me opportunities to experience mercy – and to grow in my own efforts to exhibit grace and kindness to others.

Spend some time today thanking God for everything He does. Thank Him for opportunities to learn and grow from our mistakes – and to still experience the depth of His love and mercy in the process. And ask God to help you to continually improve – in your faith, words, and deeds – and to always give Him the glory! Alleluia!

Daily Devotional for April 22, 2023 – Following Christ’s example for how to love, speak and act – and living to please HIM, not ourselves or others!

Ephesians 2:1-6
It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.

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.

Today, I want you to go back and read this scripture passage from Ephesians as if Paul is talking directly to you! Essentially, this is what is happening, but really put yourself into the scene he has set. Where have you let people tell you what to think and believe? Where have you accepted untruths – and operated in them? Where have you followed a friend, loved one, or leader that you knew was not moral and spiritually sound, but he/she said and did things that you liked – or that you felt like you would like to do, given the chance? How often have you done what you wanted to do, when you felt like doing it, regardless of who else it affected?

As Paul says, we’ve all “been there, done that.” And I totally agree that I am amazed that God puts up with us. Greg and I often look around, shake our heads, and acknowledge that we don’t know why God doesn’t wipe every one of us from the face of this earth and start over! But we know why…because God sent Jesus to redeem us and make us truly alive with His spirit. God showed immense mercy and incredible love, as He sent Jesus to show us how to think, speak and act with love for all others…and to demonstrate honor and glory in exchange for the forgiveness of our sins.

My question for all of us today is, “How are we doing?” I already know the answer…and for many of us, the proper response is, “Not very well!” But the amazing thing about the love, forgiveness, mercy, and grace of Jesus is that we get another chance…and another. It shouldn’t take this much to get things right, but we live in the abundance of knowing that Jesus will never forsake us or abandon us. So, we keep trying. And today seems like a great day for a fresh start!

Ask God to show you the right path…to guide and guard your thoughts, words, and actions. Study the life of Christ, Who knows everything about right living…and make His example your daily mission. And remember to thank God, over and over every single day for loving you so well and giving you another chance to get this right. We have been chosen to live and serve in the presence of the Most High God. It’s time we honored such a gift! Alleluia!

Daily Devotional for April 21, 2023 – When you fall into the crevasse…God is still by your side!

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be brave and strong! Don’t be afraid of the nations on the other side of the Jordan. The Lord your God will always be at your side, and he will never abandon you.

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

This morning, I saw a news story about a man who was snow skiing at La Grave glacier in the French Alps, and he dropped off a mountain into an icy crevasse. The skier was wearing a helmet camera and captured his rapid and unexpected 22-second descent. Thankfully, he was able to grind to a halt, and fellow skiers helped pull him to safety with ropes, pick axes, and ice crampons (cleats for the bottom of his shoes). There is no way to know just how deep the crevasse truly was…and that he was able to stop and get out is nothing short of a miracle. In my mind, it would be an understatement to say that God was with this man!

For every one of us, there are situations and circumstances that are just as daunting as skiing into the crevasse of a glacier. Life can be uncertain, and that old devil likes nothing better than to plant seeds of doubt and fear in our minds. Even on our most faith-filled day, he stands on one shoulder and asks, “Yes, but did you think about this? And what if that happens?” You and I have to stay continually on our guard – and we have to keep Jesus at the forefront of our thoughts in order to battle this demon!

These words in Deuteronomy were given to the nation of Israel by Moses, but they are no less true for us today…“The Lord your God will always be at your side, and He will never abandon you.” Let us remind ourselves of this today – and every day. Let’s remember to always offer prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving for such an amazing gift from our Master. And when that devil taps you on the shoulder, send him packing!

No matter how deep or wide your “crevasse” this day, God is with you. He will guide and guard you and keep you on the path that He has chosen for you. Keep the faith and hold steady! Alleluia!

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