Silver Lining
Father, the way life is now all seems a little surreal. We still do some of the same things each day, but we are definitely more secluded. May we be there, as much as possible, for each other. Amen.
Luke 8:19-21 (<<click to read the passage)
It may seem a little crazy, but this horrific cloud of pandemic in which we find ourselves may actually have a silver lining.
As we have been out on our buses delivering kid’s lunches this past week, I have seen numerous fathers either step in the doorways or actually come out and meet me in their driveways. Now, agreed, there are lots of things with which to be concerned – finances, the possibility of illness, and a plethora of other things – but beyond family vacations, when and if they do take place, when was the last time that entire families have been together for more than just a few hours?
In today’s culture having several days in a row together is probably a rarity. What an opportunity! And I pray that fathers and mothers and children all take advantage of it to the fullest. Out of this whole crazy mess, we just might rediscover what the family is all about!
I looked back over parallel passages of today’s passage from Luke and I found a wonderful note in regard to Mark 3:33-35,
In our increasingly computerized, impersonal world, warm relationships among members of God’s family take on major importance. The church should give the loving, personalized care that many people find nowhere else.
Lord Jesus, as we are your brothers and sisters if we do Your will, may we be diligent in our efforts to love others as You love us. And, Lord, please put your arms around those families today that are finding themselves in close proximity to each other for who knows how long. Some may know You, please put a burning within their hearts to give themselves over to their children and their spouses. May they love them as they have never loved them before. May they take advantage of this blessing – for that is truly what it is – to invest in their relationships. For in reality it is a fleeting opportunity, and before they know it, it will be gone.
Then, Lord, I would pray for those who may have known You in the past, but it has been so long that it is but a faint memory. May this time together rekindle that relationship with You. And may that rekindling became a raging fire of passion and love for You and their loved ones.
And lastly, Lord, I pray for those who have no idea who You are whatsoever. May we, the Church, let our lights shine so brightly that they, and the ones near and dear to their hearts, would be drawn to You because of the way we live our lives. May we be genuine. May we be transparent. And may we take advantage of every opportunity You send our way that we may be the salt of the earth! (Matthew 5:13) Amen and amen!
Mar 19th, 2020, Thurs, 6:53 pm
Proficient – More…or Less?
Father, thank You for allowing me to be one of the blessed ones who get to interact with many of the children of our school district. Use me and my colleagues to touch those lives each day. Amen.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
I come from a very musically inclined family – my dad’s side in particular. For years my granddad most of his family traveled as evangelists. He preached and he and the family provided a wonderful ministry in music with singing and a variety of instruments. They even recorded a couple of albums, which included at least one song that my granddad wrote!
When I entered college, my goal was to find a position as a full-time minister of music. But the one big hurdle I had was, learning to play the piano well. I played a little, but I had it in my head that I needed to be a decent pianist if I was going to work with a choir. When I started school, I wasn’t even at a college level in proficiency. But after a semester of lessons, I got to that point. I worked and worked my entire college career but was eventually stymied by the inability to memorize all the music I needed for my senior recital.
I was blessed to marry a wonderfully talented pianist (she is still my pianist!) so I’ve never really needed to use the skills I had developed. I played some for my own enjoyment early on but as time moved forward, I played less and less. So, at this point, my proficiency is probably lower than when I went to college.
God’s Word is so important for our spiritual growth. And as Jesus said,
“So be careful how you listen; for whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a longing for truth], even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.” Luke 8:18 (AMP)
So basically it boils down to, “Use it or lose it!”
As all of us know, from many areas of our lives – playing an instrument, keeping up on new developments in your line of work, even how our bodies decline when we become inactive for longer and longer periods of time – that growth is of the utmost importance. Spiritually we are always growing. But the thing is, either we are growing stronger…or we are growing weaker. There is no standing still and just maintaining. How are you growing?
Lord Jesus, give us a hunger for Your Word. If we have little desire for it may we pray for a yearning within our hearts that pulls us to it, for only in time spent with You will we find the growth and development that we so desperately need to remain spiritually fit. Amen.
Mar 17th, 2020, Tues, 6:15 pm
An Outpouring of Joy!
Oh, my Father, I humbly but joyfully come into Your presence. You are my God, and accept me right where I am but You love so much You will not leave me there! What joy You bring in Your care for me. All praise to You!
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
We are overdue for an outpouring of joy!
You may already know this, but you are not alone. You are not forgotten. You most certainly are loved. You are cared for in ways you probably will not even be able to understand this side of eternity.
You have a Friend in God Himself! Jesus came to this old sin-filled world over two thousand years ago just so he could be with us. Not just for the thirty-plus years he lived amongst us but because He loved us so very much that He gave His very life, taking the punishment that we had earned by our wayward ways, paying the price so that we could be with Him, not just for this lifetime, but so we could be with Him for eternity. That, my friends, is the Good News!
Regardless of what this world may bring us today or tomorrow our loving Savior will never leave us nor forsake us. Take a big breath, exhale and take a moment to slowly read the last part of Hebrews 13:5 from the Amplified Bible. Soak up every word in this day of need for so many.
“I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”
I often listen to music as I write, this evening I chose a collection of instrument hymns and the very first one was the old hymn, What a Friend We Have in Jesus. And surprisingly so, after sitting here for over 40 minutes, another rendition is playing as I type. The Lord wants you to listen to it once more for it sure hits home.
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge! Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Words: Joseph Scriven
Music: Charles C, Converse
Here is a beautiful rendition that is sung and played by a wonderful group of young people from British Columbia, Canada.
Mar 16th, 2020, Mon, 8:25 pm
Shine Brightly!
Father, first of all, I want to praise You for Your hand upon the last few days – You have brought us through. And I would ask that we would defer to You as we move forward. Our strength is found in You. Guide us and direct us along our way. Amen.
Luke 8:16-17 (<<click to read the passage)
I drive a 2008 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. I’m getting close to 170,000 miles on it, but it still runs well and really hasn’t given me too many problems since I got it.
If you look closely at my picture, you will notice that my headlights look different. As you can see the one is relatively clear whereas the other one is dull and cloudy. Some years ago, the bulb went out on the one and had to be replaced. When the mechanic did it, he accidentally broke part of it. Being their fault, they replaced the whole assembly – so, a bright and shiny new headlight!
Just a couple of years ago the other light blew and though I hoped I would have a similar outcome, alas it was not to be. A new bulb but the same old headlight.
As you might guess, the clear headlight shines much more brightly than the cloudy one.
So, that brings up the question, in light of today’s passage from Luke, how do I shine? Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV),
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
To keep my light shining brightly I must maintain an ongoing intimate relationship with Jesus. Remember He makes everything new when we are in relationship with Him. The Apostle Paul encourages us to,
Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:24 (NLT)
If I don’t maintain that relationship, things of this world can begin to affect how my light shines. The world inevitably begins to cloud over my light and unlike God, I begin to be less righteous and holy as He calls me to be. I become more and more ineffective in broadcasting the light I am given into the world.
When I typed in the phrase “You are the light of the world” on Google a song popped up that I haven’t sung in twenty years! When I served as a Children’s Pastor way back when, we sang several songs from Steve Green’s Hide ‘em in Your Heart album. It was a collection of children’s songs taken straight from the Bible. For your listening pleasure, here is a link to listen to You Are the Light of the World from Matthew 5:14 & 16!
“…let your light shine before others…!
Mar 15th, 2020, Sun, 7:26 pm
Being There
Well, Father, today has definitely not gone as planned. May Your hand be upon us all. Amen.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
When we woke up, not a single one of us, thought we would be where we are. My wife took her mom to a doctor’s appointment, which eventually became a trip to the emergency room, and now they are waiting for a room to open up at the hospital. We are praying for things to move forward so that she will hopefully be discharged sometime tomorrow, much better off than she is now.
Her dad stayed home, thinking they would probably be back in time for lunch. He was fine through the day but really needs someone with him at night, so here I am. It’s no big deal – it’s just the comfort of having someone here…just in case.
Family. You can choose your mate but none of us really has a choice in regard to the families into which we are born. We have choices after that but definitely not in the beginning.
Some families look spit-polish perfect but absolutely no family even comes close. But as God can take each of us – taking the imperfect – and helps us on our journey to perfection. After time is no more, those of us who have accepted God’s gift of forgiveness and salvation will be perfect.
And with that said, God is at work within us so that we can take even imperfect situations and work in them. None of us chooses to place ourselves in these difficult circumstances. Many of us are blessed with families that give their all, to be there and do what is needed for those we love…regardless of cost.
In our younger years, we had our share of difficulties. And our family was there for us for each and every one.
At this point in their lives, my in-laws are dealing with some difficulties. And we are here for them.
That’s what love does. God gave His all so we could be reconciled in our relationship with Him. And following His example, we, as families, give of ourselves to each other – loving each other – through thick and thin…in good times and bad.
Lord Jesus, help us to serve one another in love. May families that serve You be shining examples of what Your love does for us. Amen.
Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 1 Peter 3:8 (NLT)
Mar 12th, 2020, Thurs, 9:33 pm