what we do in secret – Daily Devo Time

Daily Devotional for April 25, 2024 – God can read human hearts…it’s time for us to clean up our act!

Proverbs 15:11-12
Even hell holds no secrets from God—
do you think he can’t read human hearts?
Know-it-alls don’t like being told what to do;
they avoid the company of wise men and women.

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

A few days ago, I mentioned that I recently read The Village Healer’s Book of Cures by Jennifer Sherman Roberts. This historical fiction recalls the life of a young widow who learned herbal medicine from her mother, grandmother, and other women in a small village outside of London, England, in 1646. Along comes a man who declared himself to be the “Witchfinder General” (and falsely insists he is sanctioned by Parliament), and he makes all sorts of claims to the villagers that convince them this woman is a witch and should be hanged. In fact, this self-appointed charlatan has set himself up as an “authority” and “witchfinder,” and he has traveled through several villages condemning local healers and hanging them as witches.

Like this Proverb describes, the man is secretive and a “know-it-all” who avoids the company of anyone who might question his claims and motives. He “leads” with arrogance and selfishness and all but dares anyone to challenge his pronouncements. Ultimately, the readers learn the truth about this man – and the secrets he harbored – demons in his own life that made him truly evil. The villagers may not have known all this man’s specific sins and wrongdoings…but I assure you that God knew. And as Solomon reminds us in Proverbs 15:11, God can read our human hearts.

You may never say an untoward word aloud or do anything that others would deem to be disrespectful, dishonest, arrogant or selfish. But if you curse someone as he/she walks away, God knows. You may be cordial and pretend to be accepting and kind toward certain people…all while loathing them privately. And God sees your hypocrisy. You may think you are guarding your reputation, or protecting another person’s feelings by suppressing what you really think and feel…but you’re not fooling God for even a split second!

This is not to suggest that we should simply “let it all hang out” and see what happens! Often when we hide our true feelings and sugarcoat our words, we know in the moment that God would not approve of our words and actions. After all, when we do this, we are insulting and denigrating God’s children…each one as precious to Him as you and I. And those who make false claims and seek the company of people and groups who will listen and believe them are wasting God-given energy – and disavowing any commitments to love and serve as He commands.

We are all guilty of saying hurtful and unseemly things about others under our breath or behind closed doors. And we are all wrong for doing so. Even if nobody ever sees or hears these things, GOD KNOWS! And pleasing God is all that matters. So choose your words – and your company – wisely. Speak and act in a way that brings honor and glory to your LORD and Master. Let’s get real here…it’s way past time for many of us to clean up our act. This is the perfect day to get started! Alleluia!

Daily Devotional for March 6, 2017 – Who Do You Think You Are?

Matthew 5:5
“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

Who are you? No, really…how do you see yourself? Are you the sum of your belongings…your house, car, clothing and other possessions? Is your “worth” based on your intelligence…your pedigree…the color of your skin…your gender and sexual orientation…your occupation…your social circle…or your physical appearance?

When my mother began chemotherapy for Ovarian cancer, the doctor told her that she would lose her hair within two weeks of the first treatment. Almost to the day, Mother’s hair fell out in clumps. It had always seemed that my mother’s unruly, naturally curly hair was somewhat the bane of her existence. She wrestled with it for as long as I could remember and talked of many unpleasant hours spent as a child sitting while her mother or a “sitter” combed out the tangles and created “Shirley Temple” ringlets. And yet, when we “buzzed” her head, she would not even look in the mirror. Like many people, my mother’s hair was tied to her self-image.

I’m not telling you this to be critical of my mother. We all have things that we don’t even realize are significant to our idea of who we are. And maybe for my mother, the soft white curls that crowned her head in her last decade of life gave her a sense of personal identity and uniqueness – or something of a “shield” or covering. I know that when others think of her, they recall a woman of great integrity and caring who was always thinking about others, offering encouragement, and sharing the love of Jesus.

My mother was blessed…and so are you and I. We just may not realize HOW blessed we are. We may be letting something get in the way of true contentment. We may be focused on possessions…how we think others see us…what we have/have not accomplished in life…or something else equally insignificant to our true Christian faith and discipleship.

I’m not saying designer clothes or a product to grow longer, fuller eyelashes (if you can afford them) – or even that class you want to take to learn a new craft/skill – are wrong or wasteful. I’m not saying that friends aren’t important…that looking neat and clean and feeling good about yourself are bad things. But Jesus is telling us that we must examine what truly defines us…what really gives us contentment and self-worth. If anything comes ahead of the desire to please Jesus…and an appreciation for His blessings, we have missed the mark.

I look around quite often and want to pinch myself, because all that God has given me seems surreal at times. I am blessed with good health and a loving husband, children to love and opportunities to serve. Yes, I have been blessed with a lot of “creature comforts”, too…but they are all secondary. I have to remind myself of this from time to time…and maybe this is the day that we all need a cue to take another look at ourselves!

Ask yourself these questions…”What truly defines my self-worth? Where do I find comfort and contentment? Do I fully understand that I am enough in Jesus’ eyes without any adornments or ‘stuff’?” See if your answers line up with what Jesus is saying…and make any necessary adjustments. “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less.” What are you trying to add?

Daily Devotional for February 28, 2017 – When Others Look at You…Who Do They See?

February 28 ~ Matthew 18:6-7
It will be terrible for people who cause even one of my little followers to sin. Those people would be better off thrown into the deepest part of the ocean with a heavy stone tied around their necks! The world is in for trouble because of the way it causes people to sin. There will always be something to cause people to sin, but anyone who does this will be in for trouble.

If I told you even a fraction of what the children tell me when I volunteer at school, you would be astounded. I know I sound like an “old-timer,” but the things our children see and hear these days absolutely blow me away. I wonder, “What on earth are their parents – and grownups in general – thinking?!” It’s no wonder that children behave the way they do. Either they are worried sick about what is happening at home…they are learning terrible habits and behaviors…or there is a sad combination of both! Children today know far too much about jail time, parole and probation, foul language and gestures, discrimination and hatred, and so much more.

As I read this scripture passage, I thought about the collective group of children in my circle of influence at school and church…and the “children” in our own family, who presently range in age from almost one year to 19. And I considered about our words and actions – and reactions. Are we careful and intentional? Do we show them the love of Christ…AND His teachings? Do the “children” we encounter pick up words and behaviors that would cause them to sin? Do they hear us speak with discrimination and/or disdain about people who are different from us in some way? Are we fully nurturing their faith in Jesus and an understanding of what it means to belong to Him?

Just as importantly, are we demonstrating this same discipleship to ALL of God’s children? Or are we letting down our guard in certain situations and circumstances…and offering others a glimpse of someone who talks and acts sinfully – especially when they think nobody is watching…at least nobody they know personally?

I’ve said this a zillion times, but people.are.watching! What we say and do matters. When we close the door at home, our family members are often still there to see and hear us – often at our very worst! Every single person is important to God…and how we witness to each of them matters. What – and WHO – are you showing the “children” of the world?

Daily Devotional for February 23, 2017 – What’s Your Distraction?

Mark 9:43-48
“If your hand or your foot gets in God’s way, chop it off and throw it away. You’re better off maimed or lame and alive than the proud owner of two hands and two feet, godless in a furnace of eternal fire. And if your eye distracts you from God, pull it out and throw it away. You’re better off one-eyed and alive than exercising your twenty-twenty vision from inside the fire of hell.

Every child dreams of growing up and getting to do “forbidden” things…

“When I’m a grown-up, I can smoke and drink if I want!”
“When I get older, I can watch PG-13 or R-rated movies!”
“When I’m an adult, I can say ‘bad words’!”
“When I grow up, I can do whatever I want!”

When children say such things to me, I always ask them, “But why would you want to do this?” I remind them that just because we are old enough to use bad language, smoke cigarettes – or engage in other activities that are “forbidden” to children – doesn’t mean that we necessarily should do this!

Adults will say, “What I do in the privacy of my own home doesn’t hurt anyone else.” But let me ask you…does your activity distract you from the things of God? Even if no one else “knows” what you are doing…if you feel that you have to hide this conduct, wouldn’t that imply that God might not approve? Are your words and actions consuming your time and energy…and leaving little to no room for God?

Let’s be honest…if we put on a few pounds, and we realize that the package of cookies we keep in our pantry may be contributing to this dilemma, we probably should stop buying cookies! It would follow that if we are saying or doing something that diverts our focus from God – or worse yet, that we think would displease or dishonor Him –we should remove it from our routine!

For you, this may very well be getting rid of junk food that is causing you to be less healthy than God desires. Others may need to stop being so materialistic and cut back on shopping and buying things that really are not necessary. Still others may need to clean up their language…or their “act!” But we all have areas where we can do better…a little something it would be best to “cut off” rather than lose our connection with God.

This is the day to discover what your “distraction” is…and do something about it. Are you with me?

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