Teach me, Dad

O God, in mercy bless us; Let your face beam with joy as you look down at us. Psalm 67:1

Isn’t it amazing to realize there is something we can do to put a smile on God’s face!?

What could He possibly be smiling about? Why do we brighten His day?

Well, for one thing, we are His children and He loves us.

Those of us who are parents, nothing makes us smile more than our children. They are our greatest joy. Not that they always make us smile. They can be our greatest grief.

But I love my children and any grief they cause is quickly forgotten when they show their love for me. When they are doing well. Working hard, playing hard. When they laugh. The bad times aren’t even a blip on the radar compared to the joy they bring.

And the real kicker? When I look at them, I see a bit of myself, and I smile. Or cry. But mostly smile. Nathan’s crazy sense of humor. Rachel’s compassion for those who hurt. Rebecca’s love of music and writing. All of them leaving their clothes on the floor.

Nope. The apples don’t fall far from the tree!

And as we are conformed into His image, He looks at us and sees a bit of Himself.

And He smiles.

Let your face beam with joy as you look down at us!

Suddenly, there was a light in the cell and an angel of the Lord stood beside Peter! The angel slapped him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick. Get up.” And the chains fell off his wrists. Acts 12:7

The setting was Herod’s maximum security prison. James had been put to death and it pleased the Jewish leaders so Herod arrested Peter and scheduled him for execution the following morning.

He was in chains behind multiple locked doors, guarded by sixteen Roman soldiers.

I’m trying to imagine what was going through Peter’s mind. He must have reflected on the events of recent years. Only four short years ago, he was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee, destined, he thought, to be a fisherman for life. Then Jesus said, “Follow me,” and life would never be the same!

Peter remembered the miracles. He remembered walking on water. He remembered Jesus calming the storm, healing his mother, feeding the five thousand.

He vividly remembered the crucifixion and the events leading up to it. How could he forget his betrayal of Christ?

But he also remembered the empty tomb, and Jesus on the seashore after the resurrection. He was there when Jesus returned to the Father.

Now, he is chained between two guards and in the morning, he goes before the firing squad. So what does Peter do? He falls asleep. In fact, he sleeps so soundly, the angel has to whack him on the side to wake him up.

Now, I don’t know about you but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be bagging Zzz’s, not on the night before I’m going to die. If I did doze it would be a light, restless sleep.

Not Peter. He is sawing some serious logs. It wasn’t the angel who shook the prison, it was Peter’s snoring!

Peter had no fear. He was ready to meet Jesus and he decided he might as well have a good nights rest before the reunion!

O Lord, may we have the faith and boldness of Peter, I pray. Amen.

She glanced over her shoulder and saw someone standing behind her. It was Jesus but she did not recognize Him… She thought He was the gardener. John 20:14,15

Mary Magdalene was standing at the tomb weeping because it was empty and she supposed someone had stolen the body of Jesus.

Interestingly, Jesus was standing right over her shoulder, in fact He spoke to her, but she mistook Him for the gardener. She didn’t recognize her closest friend.

Maybe her eyes were so full of tears she simply didn’t get a good look. But I suspect there was more to it than that.

I think she was so consumed in her sorrow she paid no attention to the one behind her. She was too caught up in her own emotions.

It makes me ask myself, when I am faced with a crisis, how often do I become so self absorbed that I fail to recognize Jesus standing over my shoulder? How often are my eyes so blinded by fear or pain that when He speaks, I mistake Him for the yardman?

Jesus promised He would never leave us nor forsake us. Through good times and bad… and especially in bad, He’s right by our side. 

Twenty four, seven, three sixty five. And an extra day on leap year, He is there.

In everything give thanks… 1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Take it from me,” on this day after Thanksgiving. “We have much to be thankful for!”

The mighty oceans thunder your praise. You are mightier than all the breakers pounding on the seashores of the world. Psalm 93:3,4

I don’t remember seeing that verse before. Unusual I missed it. Since childhood, I have had a fixation with the surf.

College days in Seattle, I would go down to the Puget Sound and watch the waves, almost by the hour. They weren’t big but watching them was therapeutic. Seemed to wash my stress away.

Here in Hawaii, when I’m feeling low, I find myself at the lighthouse near Diamond Head, watching the sets come in. Or at Sandy Beach near the Blow Hole, listening to the waves crash on the shore. Sandy Beach has what’s called a shore-break. The waves don’t break far out. The ocean bottom slopes up fast and they break right on the shore. The sound is thunderous!

I’m not sure what kind of surf the Psalmist was listening to but no way could it compare to what we have in Hawaii. Yet he stood in amazement as the oceans thundered the praises of God.

Yep, I love the sound of crashing waves, but I have to agree with the Psalmist:

You (O God) are mightier than all the breakers, pounding on the seashores of the world!

Thank you, for what a wonderful God you are!

O Lord, I know it is not within the power of man to map his life and plan his course, so you correct me, O Lord, but please be gentle. Don’t do it in your anger or I would die. Jeremiah 10:23,24

The farther down life’s road I travel, the more I realize the futility of trying to make it in my own strength…. my own wisdom. I have way too many bumps on my head from hitting the wall, too many strawberries on my knees from stumbling and falling.

Thankfully, God is there to guide and direct. To provide course corrections along the way. And He does it gently if we call on Him often.

Driving down the H-1, I make constant itty-bitty course corrections with my steering wheel to keep between the lines. If I don’t, I’ll drift across the shoulder and then it will be the guardrail that corrects my course.

Calling on God often, spending time with Him daily, I allow Him to make innumerable small corrections in my life. If not, I will find myself calling on Him only in times of crisis and then enduring the pain of the guardrail.

O Lord, continue to perfect your will in my life, each and every day, I pray. Amen.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a tiny mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds but becomes the largest of plants and grows into a tree where birds can come and find shelter. Matthew 13: 31, 32

I’ve always been intrigued by the story of the mustard seed. Jesus once said if we have faith like a mustard seed, we can move mountains.

So exactly, what kind of faith does that little guy have? Well, let me go out on a limb (pun intended) and try to find out.

First, I’m guessing he has vision. He says, I may be tiny and insignificant now, but someday, I’ll be a tree! I read the Purpose Driven Life and I know God has bigger and better things in store.

But then, I’m thinking he also has courage. You see, as long as he stays attached to the branch, he will never amount to anything. Now, that branch is his security. He draws life from it. But if he wants to become a tree, he will need to let go. Venture out. Cut the apron strings.

This little guy is not afraid of adversity. He knows that to let go and fall to the ground means danger. He could be trampled. Mud thrown in his face. He says, “Bring it on!”

But one last thing, and I’m wondering if he knows about this. Before a seed can become a tree, the seed must first die. That is the hard part! 

Jesus said, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies it will be alone. But if it dies, it will bring forth much fruit (John 12:24).

So how does all of this apply to us today?

There have been times I have had vision. I’m sure you have as well. Maybe we had the courage to venture out. Weren’t afraid of a little adversity. But that dying part… whoa, let’s not talk about dying. We don’t want to go there.

Interestingly, I have found that sometimes, the things you want most in life, you must release. You must let go. And it can be like a death. But often, the vision simply cannot come to pass until that death process takes place.

I once read an article on the thee stages of a vision: the birth of a vision, the death of a vision, the fulfillment of a vision. I’ve seen it happen in my own life. I don’t know why it has worked that way, but it has. More than once.

The concept was personified in the life of Christ. God’s redemptive plan could not be fulfilled until Jesus gave His life.

That little seed has the potential to move mountains. I believe you and I can as well, if we have vision, courage, and a willingness to do whatever He asks, no matter how great the sacrifice.

So my prayer today is that you and I might have faith like that mustard seed. Full of vision. Willing to take risks. Unafraid of adversity. And if necessary, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to see His plan fulfilled in our lives. Amen. 

But Jesus ignored their comments and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just trust me.” Mark 5:36 (LB)

Jairus, the leader of the local synagogue, came to Jesus for help. His twelve year old daughter was at the point of death and she needed a miracle.

It’s interesting Jairus would turn to Jesus. Most synagogue leaders saw Jesus as an adversary. When you think synagogue you think Sabbath. You think Jewish customs and traditions. You remember Sunday morning headlines: Jesus breaks Sabbath!

The Jewish leaders were intent on discrediting Jesus. Sabotaging His ministry. Even plotting His death.

But Jairus was desperate. His daughter was dying. Doctors couldn’t help. There was no medicine, no further treatment. So he swallowed his pride and turned to Jesus.

It must have been humbling. How, he wonders, will Jesus respond? What will Jesus say? “Hey. Don’t I know you? Yeah. You’re the leader of the synagogue. You’re the guy who tried to throw me headlong off a cliff the other day.”

“Who, me? Oh, that’s a guy who looks a lot like me. I get that all the time.” 

But in desperation, he humbly asked Jesus to come and heal his little girl. Forget the past. Forget the differences of theology. He had a problem and only Jesus had the solution.

Thankfully, Jesus responded the way he does with all who turn to him with a broken and contrite heart. In His mercy, He offered to heal the little girl.

But then the text message came through, “It’s too late. The girl is dead.”

Jesus told Jairus, “Ignore it. Put it on vibrate. The girl will live. Trust me on this.”

And Jesus touched the girl and she sprang to her feet, alive and well.

So, what is the application? How does this apply to us today?

There may be things we no longer trust God for. Things we have given up trusting him for. We hear the words, “the girl is dead” and we become discouraged and give up.

Today, Jesus is saying, “Ignore the detractors. Don’t believe the circumstances. Things are not always as they appear. Trust me on this one.” 

O God, forgive us for the times our faith has wavered. Forgive us for our lack of trust. You have always proven yourself faithful and you will continue to be faithful until the end. Amen.

Some things you can do today:

1. Think of something in your life that has died; a dream, a goal. Now ask God to renew your vision and restore it to life.
2. Begin to trust Him for the answer. Don’t focus on the circumstances - they will pull you down. Look to Jesus - He will lift you up.

Continuing our series on the importance of daily devotions… and we’ll be wrapping it up in a day or two.

Today, I want to share something very simple, hardly seems significant, yet it has been a key in my life to having devotions on a consistent basis. It’s simply a matter of having a good Bible reading schedule.

Most schedules, you will typically read three chapters of the Old Testament and one from the New each day. Some will add a Psalm or Proverb. So typically, on January 1st, you read Genesis 1-3 and Matthew 1. By December 31st, you’re in the last three chapters of Malachi and the final chapter of Revelation.

Here is a problem I have had and you tell me if you can relate. I start off January in Genesis with stories of Adam and Noah, Abraham and Joseph. Interesting. Intriguing. 

Later in the month, I’m in Exodus. More interesting stuff but certain passages become a bit difficult to follow.

By February, I’m in Leviticus and now, it’s getting heavy. Ancient laws and rituals the Israelites must observe.

Then comes Numbers. By now, I’m losing focus. Some may be fascinated with Numbers. I’m not. My enthusiasm wanes. I don’t feel the same inspiration. I start missing days, and sadly, I often drop out. It’s happened more times than I care to admit. 

My pastor, Wayne Cordeiro of New Hope Christian Fellowship, recognized many have the same problem and he put together a reading schedule that is the best I’ve seen. It takes some of the difficult passages and spreads them throughout the year. He may have you in three or four, sometimes five different books the same day. You may be in a tough passage one moment but sit tight, you’ll be in a very inspirational one a bit later.

Some folks skip over those tough passages but you’ll be amazed at the little nuggets of truth you can discover if you read through them.

“All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable…” 2 Timothy 3:16

I am providing a link in the side panel that will take you to Pastor Wayne’s schedule. I encourage you to follow it, and let’s read through the Bible together each day.

We’ve all seen those before and after pictures. Here’s how I looked before I went on the all beansprout sandwich diet and here I am after. Notice how skinny I am! Or someone else is pulling out their little photo album. Here I am before and after my nose job. Notice how skinny my wallet is!

Well, recently, I’ve been writing about the importance of spending time daily in devotions. Taking time to read the Word and jotting down the thoughts and insights you receive. Why am I so big on it? It’s all about the before and after. It has made a huge difference in my life. Not just in my Christian walk. It’s made a difference in who I am as a human being. My disposition. My outlook on life. The way I view circumstances.

In a day or two, I am going to show you some before and after pictures. I’m going to scan a page from an early journal and one I wrote more recently. You won’t recognize it is the same person writing. One is filled with fear, the other, faith. One is full of doubt, the other, trust. And what made the difference? I can only say it is the transformation that takes place as you spend time in the Word. It is gradual. Subtle. You can’t always tell it’s happening. Not until you see the before and after shots. Then you realize the incredible power in God’s Word.

When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven. Jeremiah 15:16 (The Message)

If you are not having daily devotions, I really hope you will begin to set aside time each day. It’ll make a difference in your life, I promise. 

Speaking of promises, I promised you a little blurb on how to deal with those “difficult to read” passages. I’ll try to get that up tomorrow. Thanks for your patience.