giving up our ego and selfish desires for Christ’s Kingdom

Daily Devotional for June 8, 2024 – Lessons from an Old Testament king…are you a proud person or a humble servant – and what difference does it make?

Daniel 4:36-37
“At the same time that I was given back my mind, I was also given back my majesty and splendor, making my kingdom shine. All the leaders and important people came looking for me. I was reestablished as king in my kingdom and became greater than ever. And that’s why I’m singing—I, Nebuchadnezzar—singing and praising the King of Heaven:

“Everything he does is right,
and he does it the right way.
He knows how to turn a proud person
into a humble man or woman.”

You owe it to yourself to read the entire 4th chapter of the Book of Daniel. In a previous message, I told you about how God gave Daniel the ability to interpret a dream for King Nebuchadnezzar. In Daniel 4:37, we are reminded of the essence of Daniel’s message to the king…“So, king, take my advice: Make a clean break with your sins and start living for others. Quit your wicked life and look after the needs of the down-and-out. Then you will continue to have a good life.”

In Daniel 28-30, we learn of Nebuchadnezzar that “Just twelve months later, he was walking on the balcony of the royal palace in Babylon and boasted, “Look at this, Babylon the great! And I built it all by myself, a royal palace adequate to display my honor and glory!” Instantly, the heavens declared to Nebuchadnezzar that “Your kingdom is taken from you.” For seven years, Nebuchadnezzar was driven into the wilderness, where he roamed and lived like an animal. And then he prayed and asked God to heal him…and Nebuchadnezzar was instantly restored and given back his kingdom.

This time, Nebuchadnezzar was humble. He gave the glory and honor to God. Truly, he was turned from a proud person to a humble man. Let me hasten to say that I believe in the redemptive blood, grace, mercy, and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. I do not dare to suggest to you that if you operate in arrogance and selfishness, God will banish you to the wilderness to live like an animal – or punish you in any manner. But because of the redemption of Jesus Christ, we are commanded to “Love one another” and to “Treat others as you wish to be treated.” Anything less constitutes disrespect and dishonor to God in my opinion!

I cannot tell you how to speak and act. I can tell you what the scriptures say about arrogance and selfishness…and how to give God all honor and glory. I can tell you that the Bible is clear that we are to refrain from thinking more highly of ourselves (or our race, denomination, socio-economic status, level of education and more) than we do another person. We are commanded not to judge others…to see each person as a precious child of God, perfectly created and designed for His kingdom.

In the Book of Daniel, we have examples of a man who walked humbly before God…and one who declared his own omnipotence. We see how well that worked for each of them. But we also see that ultimately, King Nebuchadnezzar admitted his own “human frailty” – and humbled himself before God. My question to you is this…”Why waste 12 years – or even a day?!” Humble yourself before God. Admit that He possesses wisdom and power over all situations – and ask Him to guide and guard your every word and action. Follow the commands of Jesus Christ – and make them your daily aim in all situations and circumstances.

Remember the words of King Nebuchadnezzar regarding God – and make them your own…“Everything He does is right, and He does it the right way!” Make this your daily refrain – and humbly give God complete control – not because you fear retribution, but because you truly want to serve and honor God with every breath. Alleluia!

Daily Devotional for June 2, 2024 – Trusting God with faith and humility…He knows what’s going on!

1 Samuel 2:1-10
Hannah prayed:

I’m bursting with God-news!
I’m walking on air.
I’m laughing at my rivals.
I’m dancing my salvation.

Nothing and no one is holy like God,
no rock mountain like our God.
Don’t dare talk pretentiously—
not a word of boasting, ever!
For God knows what’s going on.
He takes the measure of everything that happens.
The weapons of the strong are smashed to pieces,
while the weak are infused with fresh strength.
The well-fed are out begging in the streets for crusts,
while the hungry are getting second helpings.
The barren woman has a houseful of children,
while the mother of many is bereft.

God brings death and God brings life,
brings down to the grave and raises up.
God brings poverty and God brings wealth;
he lowers, he also lifts up.
He puts poor people on their feet again;
he rekindles burned-out lives with fresh hope,
Restoring dignity and respect to their lives—
a place in the sun!
For the very structures of earth are God’s;
he has laid out his operations on a firm foundation.
He protectively cares for his faithful friends, step by step,
but leaves the wicked to stumble in the dark.
No one makes it in this life by sheer muscle!
God’s enemies will be blasted out of the sky,
crashed in a heap and burned.
God will set things right all over the earth,
he’ll give strength to his king,
he’ll set his anointed on top of the world!

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.

The CBS Sunday Morning program for this week included a story about homeless people in Oregon – and a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals judgment that upheld their right to camp on city streets. The 8th Amendment to the US Constitution was cited, particularly where it says that this correction “protects against imposing excessive bail, excessive fines, or cruel and unusual punishments.” Those last four words were highlighted to contend that every human being is entitled to have a place to sleep – and to prohibit this amounts to “cruel and unusual punishment.”

I have said before that we can barely stand to watch or read the “news” today, because at every turn, people are behaving badly – and justifying their words and actions, sometimes by hiding behind God. Ultimately, their “reasoning” is unsound as they selfishly and arrogantly seek to serve their own personal interests – often at the expense of other human beings who also happen to be precious children of God. Doing the hard work of providing food and housing for the homeless is the tip of the iceberg. Even in my own community, I see evidence of people wanting to make decisions and take actions that benefit a select few – often at the expense of the feelings, and actual well-being, of others. And I am left to ask God, “Where does this end?”

Hannah offers an answer in this prayer. If you read 1 Samuel 1, you will see that Hannah was barren. She was dearly loved by her husband, Elkanah…but he favored another wife, Peninnah, because she bore him children. Hannah was distraught. Her inability to bear children made her a pariah, and she was truly heartbroken by how others treated her and her seeming “lack.” For women of her day, being able to bear children was everything! So Hannah prayed – so fervently that a priest thought perhaps she was drunk – and she begged God to give her a child. Hannah promised God she would commit her child to Him, if only He would bless her in this manner. And “the rest of the story” is that Hannah gave birth to Samuel…and this passage we read today is part of her prayer of praise.

Now, I am not saying that God will give us everything we ask Him to provide. Surely, God had big plans for Samuel and knew how this would happen all along. But I do think that sometimes we don’t humble ourselves enough before Him. We don’t trust God fully – and ask for things that might seem ridiculous or impossible. Why can’t the God of the Universe help us figure out affordable housing, put an end to gun violence, and help us to amicably figure out the border situation? Why can’t our amazing, omnipotent, supreme Heavenly Father work in us to bring about world peace and help us live together with grace, mercy, compassion and inclusion? Why do we throw up our hands rather than ask God to end wars, cure cancer and other diseases, and fix all the things that are beyond human capacity to do so on our own?

I needed this prayer from Hannah today. I needed the reminder that with God, all things are possible. I needed to be prodded to pray more fervently – and to believe that God will answer perfectly. I needed to hear that God will reward the humble and faithful…deal justly and fairly with those who are dishonest, selfish and deceitful…and restore dignity and respect to those who serve Him faithfully and selflessly.

We need to be “all in” with God – and trust Him…now more than ever. We need to surrender to God’s will and give Him room to work. And we need to begin to do all of this today. Alleluia!

Daily Devotional for December 19, 2023 – Walking in the Light of God through Jesus Christ…and 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 what we claim

1 John 4:3-7
We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!

This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there’s not a trace of darkness in him.

If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth—we’re not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin.

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.

Last night, Greg and I took Nathan with us to a high school basketball game. Afterward, we drove through my childhood neighborhood and looked at fantastic light displays in a couple of yards adjacent to my childhood home. Nathan was enthralled…and indeed, the displays were over the top and quite magical. I am pretty sure both yards featured Nativity sets, but I know that one had an almost life-sized presentation. Nathan said, “Those look like real people!”

Being the engineer and creator that he is, Nathan also speculated on the time, details – and even the motor power necessary to propel a sleigh and reindeer into the air and rotate them, as well as the inner workings of other mechanical display pieces. (I was just imagining the electric bill!) I could see Nathan’s “wheels” turning as he envisioned how the homeowner made all this happen. When I read today’s verses, I thought of God and His power as our Creator…and how He is the Light of our world in every way that matters. The intricate details of His “displays” are astounding – and yet, many of us never give them a single thought.

Don’t take God’s Light for granted. More importantly, don’t stumble around in the dark. Truly invest in sharing a life with God through Jesus Christ. Talk the talk…but also walk the walk – and live what you claim. Too many are not only hurting the witness of Jesus Christ by their darkness…they are also missing out on the pure joy that comes from fully trusting and serving Him over their own selfish desires and attitudes.

When I think of God’s Light in my own life, I like to envision the light displays in my childhood neighbors’ yards – times a bazillion! I hope and pray that my “display” has meaning for others and brings glory to God. I pray that those I encounter are enthralled with God’s love, light, and power for themselves – and filled with awe and wonder at how God does what He does! My prayer is that more people would start to truly live what they claim. Others will notice, and God’s glory and Light will be multiplied. And this, my friend, is our true purpose – this Christmas season and always! Alleluia!

Daily Devotional for November 5, 2023 – Take up your cross and follow Jesus…it’s time to “order the cake” and serve with hope

Luke 9:23-24
Then Jesus said to all the people:

If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross every day and follow me. If you want to save your life, you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me, you will save it.

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

This morning, I watched NBC’s Sunday Today with Willie Geist. The pervading theme throughout today’s program seemed to be courage, persistence, faith, and living with hope and intention…and thinking as much (or more) about others as we do ourselves.

Dr. Rex Marco, a prominent spine surgeon at UTHealth Houston, was riding his bike in 2019, when his front tire got stuck, and he was thrown to the ground – head and helmet first. The result was a spinal cord injury that instantly rendered him a quadriplegic. The father of three grown sons was expecting his fourth baby – a child he would never be able to physically hold. His career as a well-respected spine surgeon and oncologist appeared to be gone. But Dr. Marco was determined to overcome adversity – and work again as a surgeon.

Today, Dr. Rex Marco is a full-time lecturer and consultant who offers firsthand knowledge to medical students and teaches them how to better care for spinal cord patients. He emphasizes the importance of hope. Marco has also served as an inspiration to other patients with spinal cord injuries. He says he feels more connected to his fellow human beings, and there is a bigger, deeper message in his life and work.

The ”Life Well Lived” segment of Sunday Today featured Dr. Wanda Półtawska, a Polish Holocaust survivor who smuggled secrets to the allies in WWII, until she was caught and imprisoned. As one of only a few who survived the concentration camp, Półtawska returned to Poland, married, and became a psychiatrist who specialized in the treatment of traumatized Holocaust survivors. She also met a Catholic priest who would become a lifelong friend – ultimately named Pope John Paul II. Półtawska was one of the last people to visit with the Pope before his death in 2005. The story of her suffering, perseverance and faith is truly an example of “taking up your cross and following Jesus” every day.

And then there was the story of actor John Stamos, who I include in this group because he has just written a memoir that details how his life journey has included a battle to become sober and live life to its fullest. Stamos recalled a visit last year with his best friend and fellow actor/comedian, the late Bob Saget. The two were sharing a meal, and Stamos was in a bit of a rush. Saget persuaded him to linger…to “order cake” and enjoy dessert and coffee. This would be the last encounter Stamos had with Bob Saget…and it left him with the ever-present reminder to “order the cake” and fully embrace every minute of our lives.

I share these three stories to illustrate that each of us has “something.” It may not be as devastating as quadriplegia, as horrific as the Holocaust, or as all-encompassing as the struggle for sobriety…but we all have our “crosses” to bear. And we can all call on Jesus to help us carry our burden. How we react and respond to the challenges of this life will fully define our lives…and whether we are ultimately saved or destroyed – in every sense of these words.

I am grateful that my own “burdens” have not approached the severity of these I have described, but I fully trust in Jesus to help me with whatever challenges I am given. This is my prayer for you, as well. Take to heart the words of Jesus – and the stories I have shared. Focus on sharing the love of Christ with all others – and think more about how to do this than how to serve your own self-interests. Remember to “order the cake” and to savor every minute God grants you, because none of us is promised another day.

As someone once said, “This life is not a dress rehearsal.” We must make the most of every minute! Ask God to show you how and where He wants you to serve…and trust that He will walk alongside you every step of the way. Alleluia!

Daily Devotional for August 13, 2023 – Loving others as God commands – how easy to live with are you?

1 Corinthians 13:3-8
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies.

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.

My “quote of the day” calendar entry for this date says, “Lord, when I am wrong, help me to be willing to change. And when I am right…help me to be easy to live with.” This passage of what I call the “love verses” in 1 Corinthians 13 seems to sum up this quote in four words… “I’m bankrupt without love.”

If we operate solely in love, we will never give up. We will care more for others than ourselves and never wish to be like the other guy – or have what he/she has. We will never strut our stuff or puff our chests. We will never demand our own way.

This morning, Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church Pastor of Community Ministries, Abby Maynard, shared a story about a mission camp she attended with a group of teens. Near the end of the camp, a participant came to Abby and complained that she still had not taken them to Sonic® for treats, as promised. The teen was quite demanding and insulting. Abby Maynard said she retreated to her cabin and shed some tears of frustration.

Haven’t we all “been there, done that” – and on both sides of this spectrum? Haven’t we demanded our own way and complained without giving any thought to what the other person was experiencing? And by contrast, haven’t we given until we had nothing left to give, only to have someone tell us, “It’s not enough,” or to demand more from us or be insensitive to what we were experiencing in the moment? Both represent instances where someone operated in “me first mode” – and often, these same people claim to be loving servants of the Most High God.

By the same token, this passage notes that those who truly operate in love do not delight when others grovel. We are not supposed to make others pay – and enjoy it! Rather, we are to offer grace, mercy, forgiveness…and second chances. And yes, I get it…this is often very hard to accomplish! We are human beings, after all – and thereby fickle, fallible, and selfish sinners by nature.

Still, Paul reminds us that those who love God trust Him, never look back, and keep going…even when belittled, denigrated, disparaged, and even greatly abused. Pastor Maynard noted that the teen did come to her the following day to humbly, sincerely apologize. And of course, she accepted the expression of contrition with love and grace, as God wants all of us to do.

I know there are times when it is hard to demonstrate love. There are times when we behave badly “on accident” as our kids would say. We don’t mean to come off arrogant or hateful…but often, our mouth engages without really thinking through what we are about to say. We fly off the handle…or we let selfish desires – or the ideas and opinions of others – control us. And it is often hard to act with love toward those who have “wounded” us in some way.

Today, let’s ask God to help us operate in love – and nothing less. Let’s ask Him to help us see areas where we speak and act with our own interests in mind, regardless of what God wants – or how this affects those around us. Let’s make it our daily prayer to always be guided and guarded by love – and to demonstrate this to others with every word and action. In doing so, may we be easier to live with, as we seek God’s will over our own. Alleluia!

Daily Devotional for August 6, 2023 – Living with hope, peace, joy and patience…a lesson from the shelter animals….

Romans 15:4-6
Even Christ did not try to please himself. But as the Scriptures say, “The people who insulted you also insulted me.” And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope. God is the one who makes us patient and cheerful. I pray that he will help you live at peace with each other, as you follow Christ. Then all of you together will praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Yesterday, our local animal shelter held a “free adoption” event at a local bank parking lot. The point was to try to clear the shelter, because it is overflowing with stray or abandoned dogs and cats. Our local shelter does a great job of pulling at our heartstrings with photos taken by a professional photographer who volunteers his services. These pooches and kitties look into the camera with sad faces that ask the question, “Does anybody love me?” And of course, the answer is, “Yes!” And many get a new home thanks to these photos and events. God loves these animals, too. The fact that He orchestrates the events leading to so many of them finding a “forever home” proves this to me. And the God who loves dogs and cats loves every human being, too.

As Paul reminds the Romans, God makes us patient and cheerful as we cultivate hope and learn to live at peace with each other. Jesus demonstrated this as He took on the insults and abuse of others. He could easily have said, “I’m not doing this! I’m going back to Heaven where peace, joy and beauty abound – and everyone gets along!” But Jesus didn’t do this…He stuck it out and did the hard work of showing us how loving others and treating them as we wish to be treated can make all the difference.

I don’t know about you, but I have found several news reports lately to be particularly upsetting. How human beings can claim to know and love God – and be so selfish and hateful – is beyond me. How some of them can blatantly set things in motion, like the barbed-wire buoys set in the Rio Grande River near the Texas border to deter the crossing of migrants, astounds and disgusts me. And indeed, there appear to have been several drownings because of this – and the rescue of children who were in danger of drowning.

How politicians and elected “leaders” can stand before the world and speak so hatefully about colleagues and constituents – and various individuals and groups in our society – makes me wonder why God allows us to keep on living. When a person announces that if he is elected, he will “slit the throats” of certain people and line others up and shoot them, I have to stop and ask, “Lord Jesus, what do we do with such rhetoric and hatred?” How do we assure our children that their future is bright? How do we followers of Jesus demonstrate to the world that there are plenty of reasons to be hopeful and joyful?

I look at the “success rate” of our local animal shelter for adopting out the animals that land there and find a hopeful metaphor to apply to our daily living. The God who cares so much about “forever homes” for stray dogs and cats surely has plans for you and me to live in joy, peace, and harmony. Jesus showed us how to treat others with love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and patience. It’s time for us to be like Jesus and “pay it forward” to others.

It’s time for us to stand up and speak out for love and kindness – and treat others with hefty doses of both! It is time for you and me to say, “The God of hope is guiding and guarding my steps. Because of His presence and power in my life, I will move forward with faith and joy. I know that He has adopted me and is preparing my ‘Forever Home.’ Until that day, I will serve Him with confidence and courage.” It’s time to live like children of the Most High God – and mean it! Alleluia!

Daily Devotional for July 26, 2023 – From Coffee Clubs to wiener roasts – to serving Jesus – make sure your focus is in the right place!

James 4:4-6
You people aren’t faithful to God! Don’t you know if you love the world, you are God’s enemies? And if you decide to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. Do you doubt the Scriptures that say, “God truly cares about the Spirit he has put in us”? In fact, God treats us with even greater kindness, just as the Scriptures say,

“God opposes everyone
who is proud,
but he blesses all who are humble
with undeserved grace.”

I’ve been cleaning out old photo albums that belonged to my parents and grandparents – trying to decide what to label and keep – and what can go. Don’t judge – we are drowning in old photos! And while I love each one, there are plenty of pictures of people no one knows, landscapes from long-ago trips that are so faded you can barely make out the image, and lots of duplicates. Yesterday, I discovered four photos of my maternal grandmother, my great-aunt, our next-door neighbor, and several other dear ladies who collectively formed what I called a “coffee klatch.” I think officially, they called themselves the “Coffee Club” – or often just “Coffee” for short.

The “Coffee Club” formed in 1938 – the year before my mother was born. They met each Monday morning for coffee after their husbands went to work – even bringing children along in the early days. When the war broke out, the ladies met at a local department store and rolled bandages for the Red Cross. After the war was over, these women resumed their meetings for coffee. By the time I came along in the late 1950s, the “Coffee Club” had taken things to new heights…at least as best I can remember! They always rotated where the coffee was hosted, with each of the eight or so ladies taking a turn. I can remember when it was my grandmother’s turn to host, she worked for several days to press linens, polish silver, set the table and make sure every detail was “just right!”

The photos I shared were snapped in 1977, at my parents’ home. Grandmother was no longer able to host a coffee herself, and I remember that Mother offered to do this for her. If you look closely at the photos, Mother had pulled out HER finest crystal and china – and prepared a breakfast feast second to none. Every detail of this event had to be perfect in my grandmother’s eyes. I shared these photos on Facebook and tagged children and grandchildren of the ladies who attended. I also shared a story that ran in our local newspaper about the Coffee Club.

One person commented that these ladies were all active in their churches and communities…and indeed, the group included Baptist and Methodist women…and perhaps a guest from another denomination on occasion. They shared far more than coffee at these get-togethers. These ladies were my grandmother and great-aunt’s dearest friends. But what struck me was how important the “details” seemed to be – at least for my grandmother. When she would “have Coffee” at her house, it was a BIG deal…and the details were what seemed to matter most. I would venture to recall that the next day, the question was not whether everyone had a good time, but rather, “Did they like how everything looked and tasted?”

I get it…I am a “details” person. But over the years, I have left the china and crystal in the cabinets and drawers in favor of paper plates and cups – and more time to visit with family and friends. Well into my adulthood, my family always had lavish holiday dinners, replete with the fancy tableware and linens. But one summer evening, we had an impromptu get-together at my parents’ house, where we “dined” on pimiento cheese and tuna fish sandwiches, and some hastily made potato salad and baked beans. There might have even been a store-bought bag of cookies for dessert – or maybe a brownie mix thrown into the oven last minute. But I’m pretty sure we used paper plates and cups.

My cousin noted as he left that we had such a great time…and we really didn’t need a big fancy meal for that. We also began to enjoy impromptu “wiener roasts” – where everyone grabbed their lawn chairs, coolers of soda pop, store-bought chips, cookies, marshmallows, buns and hot dogs – and we headed to one of our area campgrounds on the lake for a day of catching up and reminiscing. These were some of our best family get-togethers, and everyone came away remembering the fun of being together – not the preparation and cleanup!

We are reminded in this scripture passage that God is jealous. When we make things about something besides Him – or loving others and serving them in the name of Jesus – God does not like it one bit! He wants our focus and our aim to always be about Him. When we worry about what others will think…how we look…whether our homes or church buildings are nice enough – or we have state-of-the-art (aka “fancy”) gadgets and gizmos…or even that the “right” people are included…we are concerned with the wrong things. The message for this day is to “let it go!” Let God have complete control – and all the attention. Make everything you say and do about serving and pleasing Him and see how far God takes you!

One of my friends suggested that we should resurrect the Coffee Club of our grandmother’s generation. If we can meet at a local coffee shop and keep it about the people who attend, I’m all in! As we move forward, let’s all focus on doing God’s will and loving others in the name of Jesus. When we keep the attention centered on our Heavenly Father, He will surely bless and multiply our efforts and our joy. Alleluia!

Daily Devotional for May 14, 2023 – It’s time to sit with God, calm down, and trust Him to show us next steps

Isaiah 30:15
The holy Lord God of Israel
had told all of you,
“I will keep you safe
if you turn back to me
and calm down.
I will make you strong
if you quietly trust me.”

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

Earlier today, Greg and I watched CBS Sunday Morning, which featured several segments regarding the immigration crisis at our nation’s southern border. One “data point” noted that if every unemployed American took a job, we would still have over 4 million open jobs. I looked at Greg and asked, “Why can we send a man to the moon, but we cannot figure out the solution to this problem?” His answer was…“Because ‘we’ don’t want to.” And he is so right! The hatred and selfishness in this country – and the world at large – has run rampant.

We don’t want to get along with the other guy. Like a petulant 3-year-old, we don’t want to share. Yesterday, we had a birthday lunch for our oldest nephew. His mother was looking through a box of toys and found a string of skulls. Since Halloween is her favorite holiday, she expressed great interest in these as a “swag” for decorating. I told her that Nathan and I bought those at a thrift store when he was three, and he still plays with them. Greg said, “I think she wants them!” I told my niece she had better consult her youngest son first…and she said, “I’d better leave them here.”

Honestly, I think that Nathan would probably be glad to give this decoration to his mother. But so many people in countless situations do not want to give an inch – or share anything with anyone else – including the love of Christ! We find dozens of ways to discriminate and isolate…and quite frankly, I am just done with it. Yesterday, the Arkansas United Methodist Conference ratified the disaffiliation of 67 churches in our state. A United Methodist pastor remarked online to a woman from one of those congregations that she and others who chose to stay were “in a great position to start something new.” Honestly, some are so weary and beaten down from the ugliness and heartache of all this that I am not sure they have the energy to rebuild – at least not yet. And that’s okay.

Before you take me to task and remind me that “with God, all things are possible,” read this verse in Isaiah 30 again. I hear God telling me to take a breath, calm down, and sit quietly with Him for a while. I hear God saying, “Step away from the division and hatred, and trust Me to guide your next steps.” Perhaps if more people on both sides of the issues of racism, bigotry, hatred, sexism, and discrimination of all kinds took a breath and sat quietly with God, His answers might become clearer. Rather than propel us forward willy-nilly…or heaven forbid, move ahead with the insistence that we are right, and the other guy is wrong – perhaps we should sit quietly and let our Master tell us what to do next.

I realize that some issues like the border crisis are pressing and all but demand an instant response. Still, there is no harm in taking a breath and asking God to determine the next steps. And in some situations, it may take a little longer for God to straighten us out and get us going in the direction He desires. Let’s not be afraid to do the work. Let’s not hesitate to sit quietly with God and put our trust in Him. Let’s turn back to God and calm down…and give Him plenty of room to work. Alleluia!

Daily Devotional for January 2, 2023 – Feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit – and operating in His blessings

2 Corinthians 2:14
This is why only someone who has God’s Spirit can understand spiritual blessings. Anyone who doesn’t have God’s Spirit thinks these blessings are foolish.

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

Someone posted on a Facebook local group page and asked if there were any haunted houses in the area they could visit. They wanted to look for spirits. Several people weighed in and mentioned a few old homes in our community and cited incidents such as the television turning on every Sunday at a certain hour and the channel changing to a televised service. He said his family got to where they left the TV on this channel and let the service play. The funniest one was a comment that three ladies at the First Baptist Church saw a water faucet in the restroom turn itself on spontaneously. The mental image of this – and the idea that this was done by a “spirit” made me laugh out loud.

I honestly don’t know whether either of these stories are true. I am not sure why a TV would inexplicably turn on and change channels every Sunday. I don’t know what (if anything) these ladies saw – or how it happened. And I cannot say that the church building – or any other structure – is not inhabited at times by spirits. But I do know this…the only “Spirit” that interests me is the Holy Spirit…and I can totally vouch for His power and presence.

As Paul tells the Corinthians, I know that there are plenty of people who laugh at claims of the Holy Spirit in action just as I laughed about these two experiences with “spirits.” But I could cite chapter and verse where the Holy Spirit has shown up in my life…and I knew it – then and now! I know He came to me one Christmas Eve night when I sat in a hospital chapel. I asked God to take care of a seemingly impossible situation involving my grandmother, who lay in an ER exam room suffering from a concussion – and almost instantly, a precious nurse offered the perfect solution. I know that the Holy Spirit was with me when I sat with my brother, mother, and grandmother in the last hours of their earthly lives. I know that the Holy Spirit was with me when my sister died suddenly one Saturday morning – and as I drove to a nearby city to be with Greg when Grandma E left for heaven.

I know the Holy Spirit was with me on a mountain-top in the middle of Greers Ferry Lake one sunny March morning…and again as I stood atop Hawksbill Crag in the Arkansas Ozarks last winter and surveyed the majesty and vastness of the wooded valley below me. I felt the Holy Spirit with Greg and me as we peered over the edge of Loonbeam Cutoff – and stood atop Mt. Nebo and Petit Jean Mountain after hiking there. And just yesterday, I felt the blessings and presence of the Holy Spirit as we stood along the banks of the Little Red River, almost within view of our house – yet seemingly miles away. In the stillness and calm of that moment, with birds and squirrels chirping and the river gently gurgling, I heard the Spirit whisper, “I will be with you every step of this New Year.”

Not everyone feels the presence of the Holy Spirit. This saddens me…not that I feel superior in some manner, but because I want everyone to know His presence, power, and peace. I want my children to feel Him with them as they navigate these next few years of teenage challenge and angst. I want my adult family members to know Him as they face the worries and struggles of “life” – and as they minister to others in the name of Jesus. I want those who are so filled with hate, selfishness, ego, and evil to feel the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, so that they might be satisfied and empowered by something so much more significant than their own desires or the whims of the devil.

My prayer this second day of a New Year is that many might sit quietly and listen for the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit…that He might become the largest, most prevalent presence and Guiding Force in their lives. I pray that others might experience – and recognize – the blessings that God bestows exclusively by way of His Holy Spirit. He is here…He is available to all who will call on Him and recognize His presence. I pray you are in this number – today and every day to come. And if He happens to turn on the TV and change the channel to a church service, I pray we will have sense enough to stop and watch! Alleluia!

Daily Devotional for November 15, 2022 – Making yourself at home in the Vine, and serving as He commands…have you “pruned” too closely?

John 15:5-8
“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

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.

Each year I taught kindergarten, my class celebrated Thanksgiving by creating our own “feast” in the classroom. Every child was assigned something to bring…canned or fresh vegetables for the stew, marshmallows or pudding mix for the “cold salad,” cranberries, and ingredients to make a dessert. We created hats and headdresses, placemats, and decorations. We invited a few parents and special guests (like the principal – and one year, a local television news celebrity, Chuck Dovish) to come and eat with us.

Everyone had a part to play. If all the ingredients were not supplied, the meal wouldn’t come together. Yes, I had “backup” plans, but the point was for each student to do his/her part to bring about this delicious and momentous meal. And I will say, most years the feast came together well (although there was that one time when the potatoes in the stew did not want to cook for some reason, but we persevered!).

Unlike today, when students are out of school the entire week of Thanksgiving, we held classes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. For several years, I scheduled my classroom feast on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I always let the cafeteria ladies know that my students and I would not be coming for lunch that day, and we ate in our room. If memory serves me correctly, these ladies graciously even baked our pumpkin pies for us.

But one year, the cafeteria manager approached me and said, “You are being disrespectful!” I was perplexed, and she continued… “Your class always skips our special Thanksgiving meal. We work really hard on that, and you just dismiss it.” In my defense, I did not believe 5-year-olds were especially fond of turkey and dressing. But I saw that I had clearly hurt the feelings of these lovely cafeteria ladies by stepping away and doing things differently. I promptly rescheduled my classroom feast to a different day – and it remained so for the rest of the years I taught.

My point is this…sometimes even when we think we are doing things right and working together, we get it at least a little bit wrong. When we strike out on our own and fail to consider the much bigger picture, we often cause unnecessary hurt and heartache toward others – and in the Kingdom of Heaven.

You may think that everyone in your church interprets scripture as you do, so it’s okay to embrace certain rituals or tenets and trust they are “God-ordained.” Meanwhile, you may be excluding others and making it abundantly clear to them that “their kind” is not welcome or included. This is NOT God-ordained…it does not represent the teachings of Jesus. Not only is such behavior unproductive – it can do great damage to the missions and ministries of Jesus Christ. Sometimes, this can even sully the name we claim as “Christians” – or members of a certain religious belief or denomination.

Thanksgiving Day is a time to be thankful…but it is also a time to celebrate unity. Sadly, a lot of folks have separated from the Vine these days and decided to have things their own way in some manner. This will surely affect the “harvest.” Jesus reminds us in this passage to stay attached to the Vine…to make ourselves at home in Him and listen for His voice. When we keep the words of Jesus in our heart…and demonstrate His commands in every utterance and action, there is plentiful bounty and more than enough for all.

Ask Jesus to show you where you have started to “prune your branches” a bit too closely – and where you need to draw closer to Him and pay attention to serving all others in His name. Do the necessary work to let this be the year that your Thanksgiving Feast is a celebration of Christ’s blessings and abundance for all of us. And let your words and actions bring glory and honor to His Kingdom, forever and ever. Alleluia!

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