Uniquely crafted by His hands....for a purpose!

Ephesians 2:10  "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

Nothing relaxes me more than the smell of sawdust.  It floods my mind with happy memories of time spent in the garage with my dad.  From the time I was a little boy I would watch, and often help, him design and fashion something from wood.  He taught me to use and care for his woodworking tools, and he instilled in me a love for carpentry.

Now I work mostly with people and, in so doing, I never see a finished product.  They're always a work in progress.  That's another reason I like to build things.  I design a piece of furniture or a cabinet, draw up the plans, purchase the materials, and build it.  Then I stand back and say with satisfaction, "There, it's done!"  That feels good.  It brings me pleasure.

I think that it might have been something like that for Jesus, too.  Remember his occupation?  He was a carpenter.  He was also THE CARPENTER!  Paul tells us that each of us is a uniquely designed work of His hands.  He designed us and fashioned us into something that brought Him pleasure and satisfaction.

But... He didn't make us to be a decoration, something hung on a wall or set on a shelf to be admired.  He created us to be functional!   Intrinsic in His design was an action plan.  He made us to be useful, to act on His behalf, to be His mouth, hands, feet... to represent Him to the world and draw others to Himself.

When am I truly the happiest, full of joy and satisfaction?  It's when I am doing what He created me to do.  It's when I am loving/caring for my wife, when I'm nurturing my children (and grandchildren and great-grandchildren), when I am teaching His Word or mentoring a younger believer.

Lord, I am in awe  of Your creative love.   I am humbled in the knowledge that the same God who fashioned the universe also designed and created me.  I can't get my mind around that!  Lord, please help me today to walk in the path You have set before me and let me feel the warmth of Your pleasure.  Amen

The gift that keeps on giving...

Ephesians 2:8   "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;"

Christmas.  Inherent in that word is the concept of giving.  You can't escape it.  Turn on the TV, check your email, open the newspaper and you are inundated with gift ideas, both for yourself and for those you love.  Unfortunately, as I look and listen, the focus is often more on receiving the perfect gift than giving it.

What is the life expectancy of most Christmas gifts?  Regardless of the price, the size, or the quality of the present, it will sooner or later break, wear out, be re-gifted or discarded.

There is, however, one perfect Gift - one that is always fresh and new, one that keeps giving and giving.  I'm talking about the the Gift from our Heavenly Father.  Because He knows us intimately, He knows what we desperately need and deeply desire.  He also knows that we can't afford it; we are totally incapable of acquiring it by our own means; and we certainly don't deserve it.

You and I were on the "naughty list", but because God loves us so much, He erased our names and re-wrote them on the "nice list"!  That is His gift to us.  It's one of those gifts that, when you unwrap it, there's another gift inside.  I unwrap "forgiveness" and I find "salvation".  I unwrap it and I discover a plethora of "spiritual gifts" that take me a lifetime to fully understand and use.  I unwrap them and I find a place in Heaven with Jesus, a place reserved just for me!

How do you write a thank you note for a Christmas gift like that?!

Lord,  saying "Thank You" just isn't adequate to express my gratitude for such an extravagant gift as You have given me.  You know my heart.  You know I love You.  Please help me today to show You my thanks  by "re-gifting" Your love, grace, and mercy to someone You bring across my path.  Amen.

No man is an island...

2 Corinthians 6:3   "...giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited..."

Sixteenth century poet, John Donne, made famous the phrase "no man is an island".  In his poem, he asserted that each of us is interconnected and that what happens to one affects us all. 

As our children were growing up, they hated to be reminded that their choices, their actions affected not only themselves, but also our whole family.  I feel the same way when the Holy Spirit reminds me of that truth as He reprimands me. No one likes to think that he is in part responsible for the reputation of those with whom he associates.  That's a lot of pressure!

Nevertheless, Paul reminds us that we must be careful how we walk.  Like it or not,  we are walking "billboards" advertising Christianity.  What we do and say, how we treat people affects how others view Jesus.  How many times have you heard the comment, "If that's how Christians act, I want no part of it."? 

The Holy Spirit constantly brings to my mind a simple little song I learned as a 5 year old in Sunday School.  "Be careful little mouth what you say....for the Father up above is looking down in love...be careful little mouth what you say."  It goes on to admonish me to "be careful little eyes what you see....little ears what you hear....little hands what you do....little feet where you go." 

Lord, sometimes it feels like there's too much pressure on me to "be good", too much responsibility.  I don't ever want to do or say something that would discredit the ministry or bring shame on You.  Holy Spirit, I can't handle this in my own strength.  Please help me.  I agree with David's prayer this morning, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You..."  Amen.

I need new glasses!..

.Ephesians 1:18-19   "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might..."

I don't need a calendar to tell me that it's time for me to visit my optometrist.  Street signs are becoming a little blurry, I have to squint to read the newspaper, and I'm constantly enlarging the font on my iPad.  I need new glasses.

Paul, in these verses to the Ephesians, reminds me that it's time to get my spiritual eyes checked, too.   He prays that I will clearly see, and thus be assured of, what God has given me.    God has given each of His children a solid assurance (hope) of a future with Him, an inheritance that exceeds our wildest imagination.  And, while we're waiting for it, He wants us to tap into His mighty power, that we might live boldly, audaciously for Him.

I have to admit that my spiritual eyesight is far less than 20/20.  I don't feel very powerful and my nearsightedness hinders me from seeing the reality of my inheritance.   I tend to get bogged down with the "stuff" of everyday life, and I lose focus of what God is doing and wants to do in and through me.    I need the Holy Spirit's constant examination and adjustment of the "eyes of my heart" to help me clearly see and understand His plan for me each day.

Lord, I echo, I say "Amen!" to Paul's prayer.  I ask that You will enlighten my eyes today.  Let me see more clearly what You have given me.  Give me a glimpse of Your power.  Help me to walk joyfully, gratefully with my eyes on You.  Thank You!  Amen.

Getting to know You...

Ephesians 1:17    "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better."

Often times when I look at my wife, I remember our college days.  We had met as teenagers and were friends throughout high school, but something changed during our sophomore year in college.  I found myself thinking more about her than my studies.  All I wanted was to be with her, to get to know her better.  You would think that, after 46 years of marriage, those feelings would diminish.  Not so.  If anything, they have intensified.  I think of her throughout the day, can't wait to get home to her, and, surprisingly, I am still getting to know her.

It's like that in our relationship with God. That's what Paul prayed for the Christians in Ephesus.  The Holy Spirit draws us to Him and, after we have entered into a relationship with Him, He begins the process of revealing Himself to us.  I find that the longer I know Him, the more I want to spend time with Him and get to know Him better.

But wait!  This is the Holy God of All Creation we're talking about!  How can I expect to know and understand Him?!  It's really not that complicated.  In my relationship with  my wife, I can only know what she chooses to reveal.  So it is with God.   Fortunately, God wants to reveal Himself to us, and His Spirit in us makes it possible.  He gives us wisdom and revelation for that very purpose!

Dear Lord, I have been your child for many years, but I feel like I am still just getting to know You.  Please reveal more of Yourself to me today.  Holy Spirit, help me to keep my eyes and ears open so I don't miss anything.  Father, I want to know You more!  Amen.

I love it when a plan comes together!...

Ephesians 1:9-10.  "He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. "

Our kids loved watching the TV show, "The A Team".  First airing in 1983, it featured characters such as Mr. T and Hannibal Smith, lovable tough mercenaries who always found a way to help the underdog. Hannibal was the leader of the team, the mastermind, and one of his favorite lines was, "I love it when a plan comes together!"  I still use that phrase occasionally today when things turn out the way I had planned.

That's the gist of what Paul is saying in these verses.  God had a plan, formulated before He created the universe, a plan that He kept hidden from everyone (including the angels!).  When the time was "ripe", He revealed the mystery:  He sent His Son Jesus to bring all creation back into line, into fellowship with the Father.

Thank God He included you and me in that plan.  We are part of the "all things".  Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection made it possible for us to become the people God intended from the beginning that we should be.  In the end, when Jesus comes again, we will see the finished product.  That's what Paul refers to in Philippians 2:10-11, "that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord..."

Thank You, Father, that You have always had a plan to bring us back to You.  I am so blessed to be part of your Divine Strategy, your Mystery!  Please,  Holy Spirit, use me to reveal that mystery to someone today; let me join the angels in Heaven as they shout, "I love it when Your plan comes together!"

Free at last, free at last!...

Ephesians 1:7   "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. .."

I have been reading Martin Luther King, Jr.'s  legendary "I have a dream" speech.  I had just graduated from high school and I remember watching the television coverage of the "Great March on Washington"  in August of 1963.  Delivered to an audience of 250,000 in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. King concluded his stirring oration with the now-famous words, "Free at last!  Free at last!  Thank God Almighty,  we are free at last!"

Dr. King was speaking of equality and justice for African-Americans.  Those words also echo the apostle Paul's reminder to the Ephesians (and to us).  Scripture teaches that each of us was born a slave to sin, and Satan was our master.   Paul  joyously declares that because Jesus paid our purchase price (death) with His own blood, we have been redeemed.  We are free at last, no longer in bondage to sin!

The Emancipation Proclamation of 1865 freed the American slaves, but for many, the realization of freedom was a gradual process.  It took years to shed the mindset that had been engrained in them for generations.

So it is with me.  God lavished His grace on me, paid the redemption price in full on the Cross, and declared me to be free!   However, it has taken me a lifetime to actually think and live as a man freed from the domination of sin.  I'm doing better, but I occasionally fall back into old old patterns of thinking and behaving.  Thank God that His Holy Spirit indwells me and keeps making "course corrections" in my life.

Lord, I read Paul's words and I understand what they mean, yet I will never in this lifetime fully comprehend the vastness of your love and grace.  Thank You for freeing me from a life dominated by sin.  Please help me today to live as a free man.  Let my countenance and my behavior declare with Dr. King and with Paul, "Free at last!  Free at last!  Thank God Almighty, I am free at last!

Why Christmas?....

Luke 2:13-14  "And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,  'Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased!'"

"Happy Holidays."  That phrase, meant to wish good cheer, rings hollow in my ears.  Rather than lifting my spirits, it reminds me of how far our society has fallen.  In our efforts not to offend anyone, we have offended the most important One!  He is the very reason for,  the center, the focal point of the celebration we call "Christmas".

When we say, "Merry Christmas", we're not just uttering a seasonal greeting.  We are echoing the joyful, enthusiastic, "so-loud-the-earth-shakes", whole-hearted cry of a thousand-voice angelic choir.

Paul, in the first chapter of Ephesians, captures that sentiment in a simple, yet profound phrase.  Three time he exclaims, "to the praise of His glory!"    Each instance reveals an aspect of the Incarnation.

We praise the Glory of God because Christmas reminds us that:
1. We are now part of His family!  Eph 1:5-6 "He predestined us to adoption as sons...to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved."

2. He enables us to live in such a way that we reflect His grace and point others to His Gift.   Eph 1:12  "to the end that we who were the first to  hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory."

3. His Holy Spirit in us guarantees the fulfillment of His promise: our resurrection bodies.  Eph 1:14  "who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory."

So, with a joyful, grateful heart, I wish you an enthusiastic, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!!" to the praise of His glory!

Lord, thank You that Christmas isn't really seasonal.  Please keep this truth alive and vibrant in me throughout the year and let others see You in me and give you praise.  Amen.

I've been adopted by someone really important!...

Ephesians 1:5-6  "He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved."

 One of my favorite stories about adoption is that of Pippi Longstocking.  She was a precocious little orphan girl with flaming red hair, a quick temper, and a penchant for getting herself into "fixes".    A spinster and her unmarried brother decided to adopt a boy to help on the farm and, through a series of mishaps, ended up with Pippi instead.


Like Pippi, we too have been adopted.  Unlike Pippi,  the motive wasn't to get more help, and it didn't happen by chance.  God  knew us before we were born and He picked us out to be his children.   Like Pippi, we also have a knack for getting into trouble.  In spite of that, He loved us and wanted us to be part of His family.

Adoption, in Scripture, is spoken of both as something that was decided before the world was created (Eph 1: 2-3) as well as something yet to be fulfilled (Rom8:23).  According to Paul,  God predestined us to adoption, we received the spirit of adoption when we received Christ, and we are eagerly anticipating the adoption that will occur (our new eternal bodies) when Jesus returns.

As a little boy, I used to brag to the other kids about my dad.  I thought there was no one as important as him.  As I grew up, he pointed me to someone infinitely greater than he was.  He introduced me to my Heavenly Father and now I have the unbelievable joy of knowing the God of all creation as "Daddy"!

Thank You, Father, for picking me out to be your child.  Thank You for giving me an earthly mom and dad who loved me enough to introduce me to You.  Lord, please keep me alert to others who need to become part of Your family.  I'd love to help them get to know You.  Amen

Shifting my attention...

Ephesians 1:3  "Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places in Christ..."

"Hi, how are you doing?"  How many times do we utter this phrase (or something like it) every day? It is inevitably acknowledged with a "I'm doing well." How sincere is my question and is the response really genuine; do we actually listen to it?  Not very often.  Rather, it's mutually understood that it's a simple greeting rather than an inquiry into, or revealing of one's well-being.

I find it that way when I am talking to God.  I glibly speak words of thanksgiving and praise that are more of a preamble to my list of requests than actual expressions of gratitude and awe.  Paul uses the phrase, "Blessed is the God..." three time in his epistles.  I usually skip right over those four words to find out what's in it for me.  In this case, He's blessing me with untold spiritual blessings;i n 2 Corinthians 1:3 He's comforting me in my trials; in 1 Peter 1:3, He's blessing me with the living hope of eternal life.

I am truly thankful for the blessings God showers on me, but the Holy Spirit is prompting (convicting?) me to shift my focus from the blessings themselves to the Blessed One who bestows them.  This particular adjective, "blessed", is used only eight times in the New Testament and is used exclusively as a description of God.  It characterizes how I should think of Him, what my heart's attitude ought to be.

Oh God, I haven't the words to express my gratitude to You for who you are, what you have done, what you do, and what you promise in the future.  Please, Holy Spirit, help me today to shift my attention from me to Him.  Let words of praise be continually on my lips. Amen.

Earning your credentials...

Philemon 1:6  "... and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ's sake."

The year was 1980.  I was halfway through an 18 month regimen of weekly chemotherapy treatments. Fatigue was my constant companion and nausea always hung just below the surface, eager to make its appearance.

In the midst of the physical discomfort, God was birthing something new deep inside me.  The fear and despair that enveloped me were being displaced by an inexplicable peace and joy.  The Holy Spirit was renewing me, remaking me with promises from His Word and by the prayers and  encouragement of my Christian friends.  I remember telling friends that He was "tenderizing" my heart.

The people who impacted me most were those who had overcome similar circumstances and had experienced God's mercy first hand.  They had "walked in my shoes" and, because of that, what they said pierced the surface and stuck in my heart.  They had instant credibility and I hung on their every word.

Paul's message to Philemon echoes my journey.  As we experience the "good things" Christ is doing in us, He is building in us a testimony.  My walk through cancer has given me credentials, allowing me to effectively share my faith with others who may be traveling the same road.  Whatever your circumstance, He's doing the same thing in you.

Lord, I can honestly say "Thank You" for my membership in the fraternity of cancer survivors.  Although it wasn't clear at the time, looking back, I see that the suffering was an essential part of my spiritual journey. I'm so thankful that I can trust You with every facet of my life.  Please let others see in me a grateful heart today. Amen.

"Being and Doing...."

Titus 3:8   "This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men."

Titus 3:14  "Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful."

Ephesians 2:10   "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

James 2:14-18.  "What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?   If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?  Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.  But someone may well say, 'You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.'"

These few verses are but a sampling of God's Word that describe the relationship between "being" and "doing".  These two concepts are inextricably linked in the word "faith".  Faith is inherently an action word.  It is dynamic and by its very nature involves vulnerability and risk.

Trusting Jesus, committing my life to Him, drives me to action.  According to the verses above,  acting on my faith in a way that honors God is a learning process,  is proactive ("careful"),  becomes a way of life ("walk in them"), and meets the pressing needs of others.

Lord, I confess that too often I am so self-absorbed that I miss the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and in so doing, I miss the opportunity to be engaged with You in living out my faith.  Please help me to look upward and outward more than inward.  Help me to "be" and "do" today.  Amen.

Be prepared...

Titus 3:1.  "Remind them ... to be ready for every good deed..."

I grew up in the Boy Scouts and their motto became ingrained in my thinking, part of my DNA: "Be prepared."  I came to understand that there are three key components to preparedness: resources, training, and state of mind.

Living in Southern California,  preparedness is usually linked to earthquakes. We are constantly reminded to be ready for the "Big One".  At school we have equipment and supplies sufficient to sustain our student body for 72 hours.  We have a plan and we practice it and, for me as the leader, the anticipation of an earthquake is always lurking just below the surface of my thinking.

Paul exhorts Titus to remind the Believers to be prepared for every good deed. How do we do that?  Joshua 1:8 says, "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."

For me to be "ready for every good deed", I must spend time daily in God's Word, allowing it to saturate my thinking.  Then, as opportunities arise, the Holy Spirit will guide me in using what I have learned. That's the "resources and training"  part.  In order to be fully prepared, I must also maintain the right mindset, always anticipating opportunities to share God's Word with those He brings my way.

Lord,  I know You have a plan for me today.  Please help me to be sensitive to Your leading.  Holy Spirit, please bring to mind the appropriate Words for every encounter.  I'm ready

Meet my personal trainer....

Titus 2:11-13  "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing ("training") us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus..."

I celebrated turning 40 by competing (I use that term loosely!) in the Seal Beach Triathlon.  It was a significant event for me in that it marked 5 years of surviving colon cancer.   My primary goal in the race was to finish; my secondary goal was to do it in under two hours.

I dedicated 6 months to prepare for the race, my regimen consisting of daily jogging and biking, and  occasional swimming   In addition, I went to the gym three days a week and worked out with a personal trainer   Knowing what lay ahead of me, he created a specific regimen geared toward my goals.

As Believers, each of us has a personal trainer, the Holy Spirit.  By the grace of God, He designs a training plan custom-fit for us.  We share a common goal: to "finish the race" victoriously.  The race is a triathlon, having three components: denying, living, and looking.

Training isn't easy.  Hebrew 12:11 says, "All discipline ("training") for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."

With the help of my Personal Trainer, I will successfully get rid of the bad habits, replace them with godly ones, and keeping my eye on the goal, reach the finish line in victory.

Lord, thank You for not leaving me to figure things out for myself.  Thank You for Your indwelling Spirit who relentlessly trains me to run the race well.  Please help me to keep my eye on the finish line.  Amen

Are you an adornment or a stain?

Titus 2:10   "... showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect."

"What's that on your shirt?"  I hear that occasionally when I get home from school or after a meal.  It's not a compliment.  It's recognition that I am very skilled at attracting food or other stains that detract from my appearance.

"That looks good on you!"  That's a comment I would much rather hear.  Something I am wearing is adding positively to my appearance, making me more attractive.

Paul tells Titus that each day the way we conduct ourselves will either stain or adorn the Gospel.  Our conversation, our attitudes, our body language, our choices will attract people to Him or will detract from Him.

I have a choice today to either be an adornment or a stain.  It's up to me.

Lord, I want to draw people to You today.  Please let my life complement the Gospel as Your Holy Spirit lives in and through me.  Amen.

I hear what you say, but....

Titus 1:16  "They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed."

For months we have been deluged, overwhelmed with "spun-truths", "half-truths", and outright lies.  They're everywhere.... T.V., radio, newspapers, automated telephone calls.  Everyone wants us to believe what they say, but they rarely tell us the whole truth.

Paul told Titus to confront the false teachers who had infiltrated the church at Crete.  They were seeking to become the leaders,  proclaiming a relationship with God, but their actions revealed their true colors.

I believe our country is at a crossroads today.  I pray that Americans across our land will vote for truth, that we will be able to penetrate the smokescreen, wade through the verbiage, and evaluate the claims in light of actions.  I pray we will vote into leadership men and women whose lives demonstrate a stand for godly, moral values.  I fear for our country if we continue down the road we currently travel, a road littered with the bodies of unborn babies and reeking with the stench of immorality.

Oh, God, I believe we are like Israel of old, rebellious, not heeding the warning of Your prophets to repent. Please, God, forgive us, let righteousness prevail today.  Give Christians the courage to stand together for You.  Amen.

"Living above reproach..."

Titus 1:7   "For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain..."

The Holy Spirit often brings to my mind songs I learned as a little boy in Sunday School.  Sometimes they reassure me and other times they rebuke me.  One such song starts out like this, "Oh, be careful little hands what you do...for the Father up above is looking down in love..."  It goes on to remind me to "be careful little eyes what you see, be careful little ears what you hear, be careful little mouth what you say, be careful little feet where you go."

Paul's words to Titus are directed at Christian leaders, but they apply to each of us as well.  Twice in a few verses he says we should be "above reproach".  Our lives should be of such quality that there is no basis for accusation of wrongdoing.

How can I do it?  For me, the key is in that simple children's song..."for the Father up above is looking down in love..."  The Father is ever present; His Holy Spirit is within me.  There is nothing I can see or say, nothing I can do, nowhere I can go that is  beyond His observation   It is the awareness of His presence that keeps me "in line".

Lord, as I begin this day, I acknowledge my inability to live above reproach; I am inclined to stumble.  Thank You for Your presence around me and within me.  Please guide me, restrain me from thoughtless words or actions, remind me that You are near.  I want to represent You well today.  Amen

Tying up loose ends....

Titus 1:5    "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you.."

I hate unfinished business.  Although my personality is far from "obsessive-compulsive", unfinished tasks are big stress-producers for me.  "Loose ends" wake me up in the middle of the night; throughout the day they lurk in the back of my mind, subtly pressing for my attention.  They affect my emotions and drain my energy. Oh, what a relief it is when I'm able to "tie them up"!

One of the reasons Paul wrote to Titus was to "set in order what remains".  There was unfinished business, a need to bring some order to the churches of Crete.   There were several congregations, lots of Christians, but no organization, no leadership.  Titus was in Crete to remedy the situation.

It's not just unfinished tasks that fill my "to do" list.  In working with people, I often find that there are "loose ends" in relationships.  The Holy Spirit relentlessly prods me to tie them up.  He convicts me when I've hurt someone with my words, when I've neglected to express appreciation, when I don't follow through with a commitment, when I hold on to offense, when my pride gets in the way of reconciliation.   Resolving those situations, painful as it may be, brings with it peace and joy, relief.

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for Your tenacity.  You never let me off the hook.  Please help me to keep my accounts short, my communication open and loving, my relationships honest and sincere.  I need Your help in tying up any loose ends.  Amen.

Liar, Liar...

Titus 1:2   " in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago..."

In the 1997 comedy, "Liar Liar", Jim Carrey portrayed a career-obsessed lawyer who was a compulsive liar.  He did and said whatever it took to advance through the ranks of his firm  Truth was seemingly not in his vocabulary until his son made a birthday wish for him to speak nothing but truth for an entire 24 hours.  The results are hilarious and life-changing for him!

Truthfulness is a foundational character trait of God.  Paul describes Him as the "not-lying God".  Jesus describedi Himself as, "The Truth". Everything about Christianity, especially our hope of eternal life, is built squarely on that foundation.  Remove truth and everything else crumbles.

Satan, on the other hand, is portrayed in Scripture as "the Father of Lies."  It is his nature to "spin the truth".  We see it from Genesis to Revelation.  That same inclination is "standard equipment" in each of us.  It is foundational to our "sin nature", our "flesh".

As a child of God who is in the process of being transformed into the image of Christ, God expects me to reflect His nature.  For that to happen, truth needs to become the baseline of my life, too.  David says that those who would have fellowship with God must "walk with integrity, work righteousness, and speak truth in his heart."  If I am honest with myself and with God (Who already knows the truth!), those words don't always describe me.

God, I confess to You my natural inclination to "spin" truth.  Thank You for Your patience with me, for mercy and grace and forgiveness.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for Your relentless intervention in my heart.  Please, Lord, let me reflect You; help me to think and speak Truth throughout this day.  Amen.

Here come da Judge...

2 Corinthians 5:10  "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."  (See also Rom 14:10-12; 1 Cor 3:10-13)

I laughingly remember a recurring comedy skit on the 1970's TV show, "Laugh In" in which Sammy Davis Jr. walked across the stage announcing, "Here come da judge, here come da judge; everybody look out 'cause here come da judge!"  His entrance never failed to produce a chuckle, but at the same time, in the back of my mind, it reminded me of an appointment I have with THE JUDGE.

Paul, in a way, is the precursor to the Sammy Davis Jr. character.  In several passages he forewarns us of an encounter each of us will have with Jesus.  The judgement seat he describes is not one of condemnation, but of rewards.  The Greek term pictures a raised platform in the stadium at the original Olympics games.  There the judge places a wreath on the head of the winning competitor.  It is ancient version of the medal ceremony we witnessed at last summer's Olympic Games in London.

When our time on this earth is completed, we will each stand before our Saviour and He will review our stewardship of the gifts and opportunities afforded us as Christians.  His piercing, all-knowing eyes will evaluate our motives, our attitudes, our priorities, our actions.  Only those things that have eternal significance will stand up under His scrutiny.   We will be rewarded based on how we have run the race.

Lord, please help me to tun the race this day in light of eternity.  I want to invest every moment as a wise steward.  Please help me to recognize opportunities and respond to them in such a way that it brings You honor and pleasure, and draws someone else closer to the Kingdom.  Amen.

A recipe for godliness...

Titus 1:1    "Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness..."

My wife really knows her way around the kitchen.  I enjoy watching her bake, and I enjoying tasting the results even more!  Baking doesn't come naturally to me.  I need a recipe unless it's something I regularly prepare... like pancakes.  I've been the designated Saturday morning pancake maker since I was 11 years old, so it's second nature to me.  I still have to be careful to measure the ingredients and be sure that I haven't forgotten any, but I no longer need step-by-step instructions.

My walk with God is similar.  Paul gives Titus the recipe for a godly lifestyle.  Faith (trusting God) combined with knowledge (experience) of the Truth will produce godliness (a life pleasing to God).  The longer I follow the Lord, the more His truths, His principles become a part of who I am.  Walking with Him each day transforms "knowledge" into "experience".

When I am careful to follow His recipe - spend time with Him each morning, actively listen to the Holy Spirit throughout the day, and respond according to His prompting - I sense His pleasure at the end of the day.  If I become careless or overconfident, I make mistakes and the end result is not as pleasant.

Lord, thank You for giving me Your recipe for living a godly life.  I know what to do, but I confess that I tend to become preoccupied with other things and I neglect to include all of the ingredients in their proper proportion.  Please let my walk today result in  a fragrant aroma and delicious treat for You.  I'm following the recipe!  Amen.

Are you an accredited Christian?...

2 Corinthians 13:5  "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?"

Our school is one of about 25% of Christian schools that is accredited.  Accreditation is a rigorous, ongoing process of accountability and, at the elementary school level, is strictly voluntary.  The process requires thorough self-evaluation based upon ten non-negotiable standards, followed by an intense three-day evaluation by a non-partial team of educators.

Why would anyone in his right mind voluntarily submit himself and his staff to such a pressure-packed, nerve-wracking ordeal?  I have asked that question of myself on many occasions.  The answer is simple: We want our school to be the best it can be; we want to keep getting better.  In order to do that, we need someone to hold us accountable.

In his closing words to the church at Corinth, Paul challenges the believers to go through a similar process of self-evaluation.  He encourages them to examine themselves against the standards of the Gospel to verify their position in Christ, discovering their strengths as well as the areas where they need to grow.

Each of us is a work in progress; none has "arrived".  Romans 8:29 tells us that we are in the process of being shaped into the image of Christ.  So, what does the "image of Christ" look like?  What are the standards against which I can measure myself?  Here are a few to start with:

1. Standard of godly character        Gal 5:22
2. Standard of godly priorities         Matt 6:33; Col 3:1-4
3. Standard of godly attitudes          Phil 2:1-5
4. Standard of godly words              Ps 19:14; Col 4:6; Jas 1:26
5. Standard of godly works              Jas 1:22, 27; Eph 2:10
6. Standard of godly relationships    1 John 4:7-8;  Eph 4:32; Phil  2:1-4
7. Standard of a repentant heart       1 John 1:9-10

Lord, I gladly, humbly submit to Your evaluation of my life.  Holy Spirit, You live in me and know me intimately.  I already know several areas in which I need to grow.  Please reveal to me those "blind spots" of which I'm not aware.  Help me to hear you clearly and respond obediently.  I want to be an "accredited Christian"!

"Fight on..."

2 Corinthians 10:3-5  "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ...

Our friends, Judy and Larry, returned to their home in Kenya over the weekend, having been "Stateside" for the last couple of months.  They have been serving the Lord in Nairobi  since the early 1970's.  God has blessed their ministry over the years and they have seen an abundant harvest.  But it hasn't been easy.  They have learned to adapt to the rationing of water and the intermittent electricity, among other "inconveniences". The real challenges are much more serious.  Deadly.

Kenya is a battleground.  Bombings and grenades in churches, riots, and other violent activities have become a way of life.  There is no escaping it.  The real battles, however, occur behind the scenes.  It's like a scene from Daniel, with Michael and his angelic army engaged in battle with"the Prince of Kenya" and his demonic host.  Satan and his minions are not at all happy with the inroads God is making in his territory, and he is doing everything in his power to reclaim what he has lost.  Judy and Larry live in the midst of that struggle, behind enemy lines.

As I pray for my friends in Kenya, God reminds me that the same war rages right here where we live.  The outward manifestation of violence may not be as intense, but the fighting behind the scenes is every bit as real.  The Enemy is at hand and the Lord wants His people (you and me!) to engage him, to fight for the survival of our country.

Lord, when I received Your gift of salvation, I also enlisted in Your army.  I have put on my spiritual armor and am ready to do battle today.  Please help me to be alert to enemy strategies, attentive to your commands, and courageous in battle.  Fight on, Lord Jesus!

Stepping out of my comfort zone...

2 Corinthians 12:7, 9-10  "Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. "

Last Saturday I went with some friends to Mexico.  We took food and supplies to some very needy people who live in really difficult circumstances.  I went somewhat nervously because I had been thrust into the lead position and my Spanish is not the best.  I had prayed for God's intervention, for Him to communicate beyond my own linguistic skills.  Once there, the conversations flowed easily and more than once, my Mexican friends commented that my Spanish had improved.  I came home that evening overflowing with joy at how the Lord had so graciously answered my prayers.

I think that God uses me best when I step out of my comfort zone.  It is when I am stretched beyond my own resources, when I am forced to humbly and purposefully depend on His provision, that I grow spiritually.  It produces thanksgiving in me, blessings to others, and praise to our Heavenly Father.

Lord, I don't like being stretched.  I confess that I enjoy being comfortable.  Please help me today to trust You enough to step out of my comfort zone and allow the Holy Spirit to work through me.  I look forward to seeing what You do!  Amen.

"Inside...Out"...

"Inside Out"...

2 Corinthians 8:5   "...and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God."

"Inside Out" is the theme for our Junior High this year.  It is a simple phrase, yet it encompasses everything about us.   It describes a key, foundational principle found throughout Scripture: "being precedes doing."

Why do we do what we do?  There are a multitude of motivations for my actions, but what pleases God is when what I do flows from Whose I am.  In Luke 2, Jesus is described as having the grace of God upon Him, and the passage goes on to say that "He grew...in favor with God and man."

Paul describes the Macedonian Christians as existing in deep poverty, yet they "set the bar" for generosity as they gave beyond their means to help their suffering brothers in Jerusalem.  What motivated them?  It wasn't guilt or duty; it was the response of a tender heart moved with compassion by the Holy Spirit.  Their giving reflected God in them!

Lord, I want to be like those Macedonian Christians.  I give You myself today to do with whatever You please.  It's a little scary, but also really exciting!  Please let my words, my attitude, my actions reflect Who is inside me; make me sensitive to Your nudging.  Please bless someone through me today.  

"Rejoicing in sorrow..."

2 Corinthians 7:9-10  "I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.  For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death."

Chemotherapy.  I just have to say the word, think the word, and I can feel the nausea beginning to creep up my throat.    Why would anyone in his right mind agree to having poisonous chemicals pumped into his body?  Who would willingly go through that process every week for 18 months?  I did.  And it wasn't a pleasant experience; it was "sorrowful", but it was necessary.  And it led to life.

Paul had written a pointed, confrontational letter to the church at Corinth.  There was a "malignancy" growing within the congregation and it needed to be removed.  Paul's harsh words were painful, both for him to write and for them to read.  However, because they responded to his admonition, both he and they were eventually able to rejoice.

Each of us experiences occasions when we need words of admonition -- painful, confrontational words; words that will wake us up and turn us around.  There are also times when we need to confront a friend who is making wrong choices.  Both situations are difficult and hurtful.  Yet in both cases, the pain is necessary for healing and restoration.  Ignoring it, hoping it will just go away is akin to ignoring a malignant tumor.  Ignorance is not bliss!

Lord, thank you for putting people in my life who love me enough to hold me accountable.  You use them to keep my feet pointed in the right direction.  Please give me the discernment and courage to do the same for others .  Amen.

Risky Business...

2 Corinthians 6:11   "Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide....Now in a like exchange--I speak as to children--open wide to us also."

Here in Southern California we have to lock everything or we risk it being broken into or stolen.  We even had thieves come on campus and steal our trash cans!  Now we have them chained to poles!!  Contrast that to the little town in Utah where my daughter lives.  Everything is wide open, nothing is locked, people trust each other.

It's like that with our hearts.  Because of past hurts or perceived danger, we sometimes close them up and lock them securely.  We don't allow anyone to get too close; we shrink back from revealing anything personal.  And, in so doing, we rob ourselves of the joy that comes with true fellowship.  Paul acted unilaterally.  He took the first step and opened his heart to the Corinthians.  Even though they had hurt him before, he took the risk, became vulnerable. 

Isn't that what God did for you and me?   How can I do less in my relationships with my Christian brothers and sisters?

Lord, You know I don't like being hurt.  It's easier, safer to pull in, close up, protect myself.  Yet, I know You want me to reach out, open my heart, trust You enough  to  become  vulnerable.   Loving others like You do is risky business.  Help me to do it today. Amen.. 

"You ain't seen nothin' yet..."

2 Corinthians 6:4-9. "but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,........ in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of Truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death..."

I used to be afraid of needles, hated going to the doctor, getting shots. Then I experienced cancer.  Needles and shots became a way of life, a way to preserve my life.  I used to think the 24 hour flu was unbearable.  Then I experienced chemotherapy and its side-effects.

As I ponder and absorb this partial résumé of Paul's experience, the truth begins to sink in that, compared to his, my life as a Christian has been relatively tame and untested. Sure, I've had a few trials, but nothing as intense as this.

How do I respond when I do encounter difficulties? I am usually surprised, taken back, wondering what to do next.  Then I look at the 2nd half of Paul's list.  I'm ashamed to admit that my response to trials falls way short of his.

As Christians in America, we live a sheltered, protected life.  We blithely go about our daily business, unaware of the reality that our brothers and sisters around the world experience.  They know first hand what Paul was talking about; they are living it out!  I'm also afraid that we aren't far behind.  Our country is moving in that direction.  Unless things change, our résumés will also mirror Paul's.

Lord, I understand that there is a battle underway and that I am not on the front line.  I get into an occasional skirmish, but nothing like the daily fire-fights my fellow-soldiers in other countries face. Please help me to faithfully pray for them, and please continue to prepare me for the battles ahead.  Although I "ain't seen nothin' yet", You see everything , including Your eventual victory.  I love being on the winning side!!  Amen.

"Empty Grace...."

2 Corinthians 6:1   "And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain..."

I still chuckle when I remember my son's 3rd birthday.  The living room was crowded with family and friends and Michael was sitting on the floor amidst a pile of brightly colored presents.  One by one he tore them open and then he came to the one from his aunt and uncle.  It was beautifully wrapped, its size and shape promising something good inside.  Michael tore off the paper and bow, opened the box, paused with a puzzled look on his face, and exclaimed, "Auntie Anne, it's empty!"  Anne was so embarrassed.  In her rush to wrap the present she had forgotten to put it in the box!

Paul was concerned that the Corinthian Christians resembled that birthday present.  They had received a bountiful measure of God's grace, but it was not bearing fruit in their lives.  It was like an empty birthday present, full of promise yet devoid of substance.

This kind of "Christian" life prompts unbelievers to label Believers as hypocrites, justifying their reluctance to receive God's grace for themselves. Paul goes on to describe what people should see when they get past the pretty paper and open the box.  In verses 6 & 7 he says that in the midst of all sorts of suffering God's grace showed through him "in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left..."

Lord, I don't want to be superficial.  I want Your grace to produce substance, so that when circumstances peel away the trappings, people will see genuine evidence of your power at work in my life.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for your relentless renovation of my soul!


Sent from my iPad

"Pry open my heart..."

2 Corinthians 6:11   "Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide. You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections. Now in a like exchange--I speak as to children--open wide to us also."

Unilateral.  That word is risky, inherently trusting someone without any guarantees that he will reciprocate.  It infers vulnerability, opening oneself up to hurt; but it also opens one up to joy.  It is liberating.

Paul unilaterally opened his heart wide to the Corinthians.  They, in turn, were cautious, fearful, restrained in their love for him.  He urges them to respond to his example, to trust him enough to cast aside their restraints and love him wholeheartedly, unconditionally

That kind of love is frightening, yet with great risk there is great reward.  When you and I are open-hearted towards each other, we create the opportunity for pure fellowship.  We can communicate freely and honestly. We personalize 1 Corinthians 13... "love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things..."

I want that kind of relationship, but  how do I get it?  Where do I start?  How do I trust someone enough to risk it?  It won't happen if I just sit and wait.  It starts with me.  Actually, it starts with God!  His Holy Spirit lives in me and is pushing me in that direction. I need to listen to Him, trust Him, and take the first step.

Lord, I don't want to get hurt.  It's safer to hold back, protect myself.  Yet, I know that You want me to love others extravagantly, like You love me.  Please help me to take a step in that direction today.  Pry open my heart.  Amen.

Living Letters...

2 Corinthians 3:2-3   "You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."

In this day of texts, emails, instant messaging, and social media, the art of letter writing is making its exit; it is becoming an "endangered species" on the verge of extinction.  So called "snail mail" is passé, used by many as a last resort of communication.  If Paul were to write his letter to the Corinthians today, he might have said,  "You are our website, our Facebook page, our Twitter posting..."

Nonetheless, his point transcends the method of communication.  The gist of it is this... who we are, how we act and speak, the way we treat each other transmits a message.  Our lives are "living letters"  (or emails, if you like!).  People learn about Jesus by "reading" us.  What an overwhelming privilege and responsibility God has given us!  As one person put it, "You are the only Jesus some people will ever see."

Lord, I confess my inadequacy for this task.  I'm afraid that because of me, some people will have a skewed perception of You.  I misspeak, I overreact, I'm insensitive to others' needs, and that doesn't portray You very well.  Please, Holy Spirt, control me today.  When people "read" me today, let them see Jesus more clearly.  Amen.

The Ultimate Makeover...

2 Corinthians 5:21   "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

Among T.V. reality shows you will find a couple of "extreme makeovers". . . the  "Home Edition" and the "Weight Loss Edition".  I am fascinated by both of them  because they are, indeed,  extreme.  The climax of both shows is the contrast between "before" and "after", and it's hard to believe the results.

Paul reminds us that, as Christians, we are blessed to be part of the "Ultimate Makeover - Life Edition"!  Just as I have a hard time believing the physical transformations of houses and bodies on T.V., it is difficult for me to comprehend that Jesus has done for and in me.  He, who was sinless (perfectly righteous) allowed Himself to become sin (totally guilty).  In exchange, we who had not one shred of righteousness, became righteousness (sinless) by means of His atoning sacrifice.

From God's perspective, because of what Jesus did on my behalf. I am righteous, pure, whole.... totally "made-over"!

I would like to see a T.V. program that revisits the "made-over" homes and the people a year or two later.  I wonder if they still look as good as they did at the conclusion of the show.  I would guess not.

That's how I feel about myself.  I have been totally made-over on the inside, but I don't always look like it, act like it, feel like it.  It's as if I hear the Holy Spirit calling on the loud-speaker, "Clean up on aisle 7!"  I need daily cleaning, mopping, dusting, vacuuming.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for what You did and continue to do for me, in me, through me.  Please help me today to better resemble the person Your Father sees me to be.  Amen.

"Hoover Dam and Christ's Love..."

2 Corinthians 5:14   "For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died..."

Not too long ago our family visited Hoover Dam.  On one side of the dam is Lake Mead, billions of gallons of water held back by this gigantic concrete and steel wall.  On the other side is a deep valley with Colorado River flowing from the dam.  The dam exists, not only to create a beautiful lake, but to produce power, electricity for millions of people.  How?  Water from one side is channelled, compressed as it flows through narrow openings in the dam.  The "compressed" water moves giant turbines which generate electrical energy.

That's what the word "controls" conveys.  It means to "hold tightly".  In some contexts it has the idea of constraining, in others it conveys comfort and security.  Here it's the idea of channeling us, directing us, like the spillway on a dam compacts and directs the flow of water.

Paul says Christ's love for him is compelling.  It was the motivation for all that he did.  It raises the question, "What is it that drives me?  Why do I do what I do?  What is my motivation?"  If I'm completely honest, I don't often consciously think of Christ's love as the driving force.  Yet, as I reflect, I can truthfully, whole-heartedly affirm that it is my reason for being.  Somehow, I need to bring that affirmation to the forefront, to purposefully reflect on it more often.  I think it will make a difference in my daily experience.

Lord, thank You for your extravagant love for me.  Forgive me for so often taking it for granted, not giving it a second thought.  Thank You for reminding me of it's foundational importance in my life.  Amen.

The Ultimate Exchange...

2 Corinthians 5:18    "Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation."

Each month I go to Mexico.  My friends and I drive to some railroad tracks southeast of Tijuana, almost to Tecate, taking food, toys, toiletries, and other items the Lord gives to us.  We are inevitably greeted by a crowd of 100 or so men, women, and children (and scores of dogs!) with whom we have become acquainted over the years.  They are the poorest of the poor, living in little one-room shanties alongside the tracks, no water, electricity, or plumbing.

We make a stop in San Ysidro before crossing the border for a very important task.... exchanging dollars for pesos.  We're always hoping for a good exchange rate so we can get the most for our money.

The term "reconciliation" in the verses above comes out of the Greek marketplace.  it is the word used for exchanging money.  In Scripture it speaks of exchanging something far more valuable than dollars and pesos. It is exchanging Christ's garment of pure, white, sinlessness for my filthy, disheveled robe of sin.  It's trading my destiny of eternal punishment for His gift of Eternal Life.

He not only made that "exchange" with me; He also has given me the privilege of facilitating it with others. That's why we go to Mexico every month.  It's not about providing food and other necessities to those in need; it's our "ministry of reconciliation" - building relationships with these people, sharing God's Word, and watching the Holy Spirit transform their lives!  What a privilege and joy it is to be His ambassador!

Lord, thank You for providing the "ultimate exchange" for me and for allowing me to share it with others. Please keep it fresh in my mind today so that, as I interact with those You lead across my path, I will be ready to offer Your grace to them.  Amen.

"Seeing others differently..."

2 Corinthians 5:16  "Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer."

Several years ago, a kindergarten teacher was in my office telling me about one of her students.  I couldn't place a face with the name, so I asked her to describe him.  She said, "He's sweet, kind, sensitive, loves to play kickball, likes to help me erase the chalk board, enjoys singing..."  I still couldn't place him, so I asked him to tell me more.  "He's taller than the other boys, can't keep his shirt tucked in, has a great smile...."  I asked if there was anything else.  "Oh," she said, "and he's black."

That's how Jesus wants us to look at each other.  Too often it's the physical characteristics that I recall when I hear a person's name... height, weight, color, etc.  That was the last thing my teacher friend thought of when describing her student.

As Christians, we are to look beyond the obvious, the superficial.  The same Spirit who lives in me, lives in you, too!  The Holy Spirit binds us together, helps us relate on a deeper, spiritual level so that when we hear each other's name, we recall character traits rather than physical appearance.  That's how it's going to be in Heaven, after all!!!

Lord, I confess that all too often my vision is focused on a person's outward appearance rather than who he really is.  Please help me to see as You do, looking at his heart.  Help me today, Holy Spirit, to listen well, perceive accurately, and care genuinely.  Amen.

"I want to make Him smile..."

2 Corinthians 5:9-10    "Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

I used to dread being called to the office.  Whether as a student in school, or as an employee, it was nerve-wracking to receive that summons.  I see it today in the faces of my students or teachers when I ask them to come see me.  That "What did I do wrong?" look fills their countenance.  It's only after they observe my smile that they begin to relax.

It's like that with Jesus.  Paul tells us that each of us will be summoned to Jesus' "office" (actually His throne room -- a little more intimidating setting!).  We'll stand before our Saviour for our "end-of-life performance evaluation"  I think I know myself pretty well, but He knows more intimately the details of my life, the thoughts and intentions of my heart, as well as my actions.  To be honest, the thought of Him revealing all of that scares me.  It also motivates me.

My goal in life is to please Jesus, to make Him smile.  I know I'm going to fail Him occasionally, but thank God He hasn't left me to my own resources.  His Word says that the Creator of the universe, Himself,  is "working in me that which is pleasing in His sight."  (Heb 13:21)  He not only wants me to succeed, He helps me to do it!

Lord, I know that You will walk beside me today, not as a critical observer, but as an empowering partner.  Please help me to be sensitive to Your "nudge" and let me feel the pleasure of Your smile.  Amen.

Shine, Jesus, Shine...

2 Corinthians 4:6   "For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves..."

It was my privilege a few years ago to work for "Joni and Friends".  The founder of that ministry is Joni Eareckson Tada, a dynamic woman through whom God has touched thousands of lives with  His message of mercy, encouragement, and hope... particularly ministering to those with disabilities.  Joni, herself, was paralyzed from the neck down as the result of a diving accident when she was a teenager.

I always knew when Joni had arrived at the office.  She delights in singing praises to the Lord and would wheel through the door belting out a hymn or a praise chorus.  It was contagious, and invariably everyone in the office stopped what they were doing and joined in.  One chorus I never tired of hearing was, "Shine, Jesus, Shine".  It typified Joni.  She personified what Paul describes in the verses above.  Yes, Joni's "treasure" is in an "earthen vessel", but the brilliant Light of God's glory shines from her like no one I've every met before.

That's what I want people to see in me.  Yes, I'm imperfect; I mess up; I'm lacking in so many areas.  But... the surpassing greatness of God indwells me through His Holy Spirit and He delights in manifesting Himself through vessels of weakness.

Lord, You know me inside out.  You know my imperfections and weaknesses.  Please shine through me today.  Touch those I encounter throughout the day with your mercy and love.  Give them a glimpse of You and open their hearts.  Amen.  Yay, Jesus!!

Looking through foggy lenses...

 2 Corinthians 3:16   "...but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away."

I hate it when my lenses fog up.  Occasionally on humid days or when I'm sweating on a cool evening, my vision becomes foggy.  It occurs gradually so that until it's nearly obscured, I don't realize what is happening. Then I take off my glasses, wipe them off, and I can see clearly once again.

It's like that for me in my relationship with Jesus.  When I'm not spending time with Him regularly, when I am sporadic in my reading of His Word, my spiritual lenses start to fog up.  Things around me become somewhat confused and obscured.  My discernment and sense of direction get mixed up, and I miss the Holy Spirit's "sign posts".  My spiritual GPS malfunctions.

How do I clean my spiritual lenses and get my GPS functional once again.  It's simple.  1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."   When I finally realize what I've been doing, I confess it to Jesus, seek His forgiveness, and I reestablish my habit of setting aside the first part of my day for time with Him.  I can see clearly now!

Lord, I want to see life through clean lenses.  I want to discern the Spirit's directional signs today.  Thank you for your forgiveness, Your cleansing.  I love seeing clearly!!!