20080116

WELCOMING CHANGE

Years ago, I walked into the office one day and saw our church secretary at her desk holding her finger on a button on her telephone. She was talking to someone, so I went on to my office, wondering what was going on. Later, she confided in me. “I tell you that new telephone with two phone lines is driving me crazy. The problem is having to hold the hold button when I get a second call.”

I quickly explained she didn’t have to keep holding the hold button, just press it once. She was skeptical, but agreed to try it. Later she said, “That’s wonderful. Having to hold down that hold button while talking was really hurting my finger.”

Sometimes we just don’t understand new things. There have been many changes in our churches in recent years. But change is not always bad. In fact, becoming a Christian is the greatest change of all.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

20080115

WALKING WITH GOD

When I was in college a friend told me that when she walked on campus she always stayed on one side of the sidewalk. She said she did this to leave room for God to walk beside her. She also said, during those walks she often talked to God and felt His presence.

We often hear sermons and devotionals about walking with God. This is an expression picturing our ceaseless relationship with the Lord. Walking with God is much more than attending worship or Bible study each week. It is more than an occasional prayer when we are distressed.

Walking with God may mean different things to different people, but surely it is living in the consciousness of God through prayer, Bible reading, and by simply recognizing His presence moment by moment.

The Bible speaks often of those who walked with God. We can do it, too.

Noah was a just man . . . and Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:9 (KJV)

20080114

ANSWERED PRAYER

Do we expect God to answer prayer?

I recently heard a preacher advocate keeping a list of things we pray about. His suggestion was to list the prayer need and beside it put the date it was added to the list. Then when a prayer is answered, mark a line through the listing and put the date the prayer was answered.

Maybe doing this would help us realize how often God answers our prayers.

We all have needs of our own, plus needs of friends and relatives. Sometimes we think God is too big or too busy to be concerned with our needs. But the opposite is true: God wants us to come to him with our problems, our concerns.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 1 John 5:14 (KJV)

20080113

TREASURES

As a small child growing up on a west Texas ranch, I often dreamed of finding a buried treasure. On several occasions, I made up some sort of box or package and buried it. Later I went back to the spot and dug it up, pretending to find pirates’ gold, or some other treasure.

As adults, many times we may dream of a way to “dig up” a great treasure. Seldom does this happen. But it’s not important. What’s important, is finding God’s great treasure: Jesus Christ, the Savior. Through Him we find the greatest treasure of all: eternal life.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV)

20080110

GRACE

It is a good thing we are not required to buy our way into Heaven. We would not be able to pay the price. No one, even the richest of us, has enough money for that.

In fact the price, though so very high, has already been paid. Our Lord paid that price by His death on the cross. He was the only one who could pay that price. He was the only sinless one, and only one who is sinless could die for the sins of others.

It is also good that we are not required to live perfect lives to enter Heaven. We are not perfect. Neither do we have to perform good deeds. We want to live for Him, but our salvation is by grace rather than works.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (JKV)

20080109

HUMILITY

"A leader is best when people barely know he exists. . .when his work is done and his aim fulfilled, they will all say `We did this ourselves.'" (Lao-Tzu, Chinese philosopher)

I have observed many people in leadership roles. I have known tyrannical leaders, reluctant leaders, and inadequate leaders. I have also known excellent leaders.

I worked for a short time in a state agency office in Fort Worth, Texas. The director in that office was one of the finest leaders I have known. Mike molded us into a team, and he expected everyone to do his share. Yet he was a gentle man and a humble man. He was fair in his dealings with those of us who worked with him.

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 (KJV)

20080108

FAITH

When I was young and in seminary, friends told me about running out of money when it was still a week until payday. But they realized they would be all right, because they had enough food to get them by, except for one thing: they needed bread to help their small store of food last until payday.

They said they prayed for an answer. Later one of them found two dollars lying on the floorboard of their car. This was enough to purchase the bread they needed to tide them over until payday. My friend said, "I didn't know whether God would really hear our prayers, but He did!" This was small faith. But God honored their prayers.

And Jesus said unto them . . . if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Matthew 17:20 (KJV)

20080107

REFUGE

I remember how secure I felt when I was in the care of my parents. I had no worries, no needs, and no fears.

So it was somewhat of a shock as I grew older, and realized for the first time that Mother and Daddy were human, and therefore vulnerable to life and death, as were all others around us. I can remember lying in bed at night, worrying about what fate would be mine should anything happen to my parents. Such are the frailties of human existence.

But our relationship with God is different. God is not subject to our human frailties. He never ceases to exist. He is always there to offer shelter, to sustain us in our weakness, and to help us in times of need by His very presence.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 (KJV)

20080106

CARING FOR THE SHEEP

As a small child, I enjoyed ranch life. I remember the times Daddy would bring an orphaned newborn lamb into our kitchen for shelter from the cold. Lambing season was always in the winter, so it was not unusual for one or more newborns to be snuggled in a box behind our wood-burning kitchen range.

When that happened it was my job to care for these lambs. Mother would provide warm milk in a baby bottle and I would hold the bottle while the lamb sucked it. Sheep are extremely vulnerable at best, and an orphaned newborn is totally helpless.

Jesus used the analogy of sheep and the shepherd to illustrate how God cares for His people. He said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 (KJV)

”I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 (KJV)

20080103

JOY

I stood with Mother, my sisters and my brother beside the casket. We shared a deep sadness, for we loved my father deeply. However, as we stood together, there was something much more deeply felt than our tears.

In spite of our sorrows, we knew God’s peace, and we knew a profound joy. Joy is totally different than happiness. We weren’t happy, but we felt the assurance of God's loving presence with us that day. And that brought joy.

Some who read these words may be finding life hard to live. Sorrow, illness, depression may be taking their toll. But there is hope! Stop to think about all God has done for you. As you do, you’ll feel His joy, His peace.

And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. Psalm 35:9 (KJV)

20080102

HAPPY PEOPLE

Two things happen at Wednesday night prayer meetings at my church: prayer and Bible study. After a prayer time for those who are ill and for the many spiritual needs in our church and community, Jackie Brem, my pastor usually leads the Bible study. Recently he has been teaching from Psalms and last night the study was from Psalm 144.

But last night Jackie did something unusual. He started his study with the final verse of the chapter rather than the first. The reason, he said, was that the entire chapter leads up to the final, most important verse. He didn’t want us to miss the climactic verse, so he discussed it first.

That final, most important verse talks of happiness—a kind of happiness experienced only through knowing God.

Happy is that people . . . yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord. Psalm 144:15 (KJV)

20080101

A MIGHTY TREE

I grew up in west Texas where the most common tree is the mesquite. There are several varieties of this prolific tree, and some are large enough to climb in, and can give nice shade from the hot summer sun.

Such a tree grew in our yard. Under it was my favorite place to play with my little cars. I loved using a hoe to carve country roads and build up hills for my imaginary community. And I was able to climb the tree to survey my world. To me, that was such a large and wonderful tree.

The Psalmist said a righteous man is like a mighty tree. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:3 (KJV)