“Chrissy, did you hear me?” Of course she didn’t. She hadn’t even noticed me walking through the room. She was glued to and enthralled by what held her attention…the television.
Barney and Friends first aired in 1992 and quickly became my five-year-old daughter’s favorite television program. Barney was a fictional purple dinosaur who taught educational messages through optimistic songs and peculiar dances. I found him less than interesting, but from my daughter’s perspective there was no other show like it. She watched it religiously and intently. She absorbed and was absorbed. Read more...
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Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. Psalm 92:14 NLT
I couldn’t imagine what a sixty-year-old person was doing in my college classroom.
Eight years after graduating high school—and finally succumbing to God’s call to enter full-time ministry, I enrolled in college. I wasn’t excited about attending a traditional college where most of my classmates would be newly graduated high school students.
Fortunately, I found a college that accommodated people in my age category who were entering ministry as well. But when a retirement age student walked into the classroom, I couldn’t help but wonder why God would call someone that late in life. For a person in their late 20’s—as I was, a person in their late 60’s was near death.
Attending college with some older students taught me the truth of what the psalmist wrote. Age is relative, and it certainly doesn’t keep one out of God’s service. Even now, I have a Canadian friend who is her 80’s and in a nursing home but still writing for God.
In God’s work, there is no retirement age. Some places of employment might require me to retire at a certain age or after I’ve worked a certain number of years with their company, but God never will. He offers the best retirement plan, but He’ll never ask me to retire early…or at all.
Age brings with it certain limitations, but it never takes away all possibility of serving God. He always has something I can do that will trump any physical limitations age may place on me. If nothing else, I can pray or send a card of encouragement to someone. I could even find someone to mentor in the faith.
I plan to eat right (most of the time) and stay in good shape so I can serve God with vigor for as long as possible. Then when it comes time to enjoy His retirement plan, I can die satisfied—knowing I did all I could for as long as I could.
Don’t let age—along with its limitations and ailments, keep you from serving God.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the years You give us to serve You. Encourage us to give You our all until we take our final breath.
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You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. Matthew 7:16 NLT
The excitement over my first killed bird quickly turned to disappointment.
My cousin lived on my grandfather’s farm and introduced me to dove hunting. Of all the birds flying around, I wondered how he could distinguish a dove. “Look for curved wings,” he said.
One day, Dad and I were invited on a dove hunt. Now in the middle of strangers, I wasn’t sure if I’d bag any birds. After a few misses, a single dove came directly toward me. These were the easiest shots to make. I aimed carefully, pulled the trigger, and watched the bird fold and fall to the ground.
Proudly, I walked over to retrieve my prize. When I reached down for the bird, I noticed I had killed a mockingbird, not a dove. Obviously, I needed more training in recognizing the markings.
Jesus made it plain that His followers would have markings—things that would distinguish them from others and make them stand out. Among the markings is unconditional love. The ability to love like their heavenly Father. An ability to show love consistently, regardless of how others treat them in return.
They are also marked with kindness. Empathy for others exudes from their veins. They will inconvenience themselves to convenience others.
Another marking is a servant attitude. For them, it’s not enough to love. They are driven by a desire to put love into action and obey the second greatest commandment.
Abundant joy invades their lives. Regardless of their circumstances, they have a smile that radiates from the inner peace of knowing God is in control of their lives.
Patience is a further virtue they’ve mastered. When others treat them harshly or unjustly, they tolerantly endure.
Jesus’ followers have also learned crowd control. Not how to control the crowd but how to control themselves so they don’t have to follow the crowd to find contentment in life.
Make sure your markings are evident for everyone to see.
Prayer: Father, mark us with those traits that show others we belong to You.
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They ran as quickly as possible; their life savings were at stake. But they were greeted with only a “Closed” sign and the demise of their savings.
The Wall Street Crash of 1929-along with hundreds of banks closing, led to loss for thousands of people. No safety net hung above the bottom to prevent people from falling into poverty’s pit. Fortunately, American President Franklin Roosevelt saw the need for one. With Congress’ help, he signed the Banking Act of 1933 and established the Federal Deposit Insurance Cooperation (FDIC) which insured depositor’s savings up to $250,000. Read more...
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You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. Psalm 16:1l NLT
As I walk to the front door, the expression on his face reveals the joy in his heart.
My wife and I have the privilege of keeping two of our three grandsons. The middle one, Colton, is almost two years old and is still learning to balance as he walks and runs. When I come home from work each day, he meets me at the front door with a huge smile on his face and arms waving. If I don’t pick him up immediately, he cries. His older brother, however, is content to continue watching television or doing whatever he is doing.
The psalmist found joy in God’s company presently and looked forward to experiencing the same joy throughout eternity.
So often my happiness in God’s presence is tied to something He has done for me. God promises to supply my needs, and when He comes through I experience joy.
But if He doesn’t supply them the way I anticipated or think He should have, my joy is tainted—or even absent. My goal is to reach the pinnacle of finding joy in the sheer presence of God regardless of what my circumstances are. Relishing in the relationship itself…even if there are no frills.
If I’m not careful, the passage of time—along with busyness, will steal the first love I had for God. My oldest grandson once ran to the door to meet me as his younger brother does now. Age and interest in other things have curtailed his excitement over seeing Pop.
Colton loves for me to stroll him when I first get home. Although his vocabulary is very limited at the moment, he has ways of letting me know what he wants. Neither can I have a normal verbal conversation with God, but if I look for joy in His presence, His spirit will speak to mine, and I’ll eventually find joy from simply being in His presence.
Learn to discover your peace and joy in the presence of God.
Prayer: Father, may Your presence in our lives be enough to bring us joy.
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For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are. Hebrews 4:12 NLT
No book exists forever…with the exception of one.
Collecting old books is a hobby I started several years ago. In that short time, I’ve amassed hundreds of books dating from the 1800’s. One I happened upon was dated 1821. For its age, the book was in excellent condition. The inside page noted it had been housed in a Charleston, South Carolina, library. I quickly grabbed it, took it to the register, and gave them two dollars. But despite its condition, one day it too will deteriorate.
Only one book will last forever, and the writer of Hebrews tells why. The Bible is living, not bound by covers that will fade, crumble, separate from pages, and finally dissolve or be thrown away. No material that books are made from is indestructible—the Bible included, but God’s Word won’t cease to exist because the covers and pages deteriorate.
The Word of God is more than covers and paper. It is a person. John wrote, "In the beginning the Word already existed" (John 1:1). God gave His Word to writers, but it existed before then, and it will continue to exist even if all Bibles are destroyed.
God’s Word is preserved by His life-giving Spirit who is more powerful than any force imaginable. The Word is sharper than the sharpest knife, slicing deep into my innermost being to expose my true self so that I might compare my current state with what God wants it to be. When the gap has been revealed, I can petition Him for guidance to bridge the chasm.
I shelve my old books. Some I wrap in cellophane. Rarely do I read any of them. Turning the pages would only hasten their demise. Not so with God’s Word. It is meant to be handled, digested, and experienced.
Let God’s eternal Word shape your actions and attitudes.
Prayer: Father, enable Your Word to become alive in our lives.
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They can be organized or unorganized…neat or cluttered.
My wife and I once lived in a one-hundred-year-old home with two diminutive unlit closets. Then we moved to a 2500 square foot home with closets galore. Presently we’re enjoying inadequate closet space again. One is stacked with treasures we don’t have room to unpack, another is crammed with coats, and still another functions as a laundry room, clothes closet, and linen closet combined. Read more...
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If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. Luke 16:10 NLT
His absence almost caused a catastrophe in the coffee café room.
I never paid much attention to what Bill did—until he was absent one Sunday. Noticing that he wasn’t there at his normal time, I plugged the coffee machines in, thinking he was running behind. When it became evident he wasn’t coming, another gentleman and I hurriedly prepared the coffee, only to have the first pot turn out cold, weak, and full of grounds.
That night after the evening services, I made my rounds to lock the buildings. When I came to the coffee room, I noticed both pots were still on—one hosting a carafe with baked coffee.
Those who visit our coffee café room probably take what Bill does for granted as I did. His absence reminded us how important the little things are. Jesus thought so too and taught one’s faithfulness in doing small things would lead to greater responsibilities.
Greatness is normally measured by our titles, by how much we’ve accomplished, or by how many people we manage. Not so in Jesus’ economy. He’s more concerned about our attitudes and motives—the why’s behind what we do. If done for the wrong reasons or with ulterior motives, the doing doesn’t count—at least not in His eyes.
By our definition of greatness, quantity is important. Jesus considers quality. Whatever He gives me to do, He wants me to do it well—even if it’s no more than making the morning coffee at church. Doing the little things also fosters humility—a trait highly praised by God.
A lot of people doing a multitude of little things is what makes God’s Kingdom advance. We may hear more about the larger churches or the more influential movers and shakers, but the no-names who work faithfully at their respective churches and in their communities make large impacts for Christ.
Be faithful in whatever God gives you to do—even if it appears to be a small task.
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your faithfulness to us. May we be just as faithful to You.
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For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes. Romans 1:16 NLT
Some things I was ashamed of growing up, I’m now ashamed I was ashamed of.
Until my middle school years, I was proud of my parents. While they didn’t give me everything I wanted, they gave me all I needed. I never had to wear raggedy clothes or holey shoes. Mom prepared home-cooked meals, and our cabinets were never bare. Though my parents were not lovey-dovey, they always acted in ways that let me know I was loved. Abusive or negative words never flowed from their mouths. They wanted the best for their three sons.
When I reached the teenage years, my attitude changed. Suddenly, feelings of shame over who my parents were arose. I didn’t enjoy telling people my father was a preacher because then I was labeled a “PK.” I was expected to be good all the time. And the rules I had previously willingly obeyed now seemed foolish. Being made to go to church every time the doors were opened didn’t help either. Many of my friends never darkened a church’s doors.
Reflecting now, I’m ashamed that I was ever ashamed of my parents. Unfortunately, I was sometimes ashamed of what Paul proclaims loudly that he wasn’t ashamed of: the gospel of Jesus Christ. I didn’t like others to know I was a preacher’s kid. I certainly didn’t flaunt my faith—and rarely shared it.
Things changed when I was in my mid 20’s. I adopted Paul’s attitude—and for good reason. The gospel is good news, and people need to hear some good news. After all, bad news is almost all we hear from media sources. Telling people they are loved unconditionally and can be forgiven of their sins is encouraging news worth spreading.
I’m not ashamed to share something that includes an invitation for everyone. God excludes none except those who refuse on their own volition to come. Nor am I ashamed to share something that has eternal consequences. Refusing to accept God’s gospel means an eternity in a less than pleasant place.
Sharing news that has the power to change lives is something to be proud of, not ashamed of. When the good news of the gospel is received, everything changes: my outlook on life, my priorities, my relationships, and my eternity.
Are you unashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Prayer: Father, give us the fortitude to boldly proclaim the best news we could ever share.
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A negative occurrence or a positive event; it depends on how I interpret it.
Perspective. Defined, it’s my point of view about particular experiences. But I’ve come to realize it can be flawed…or completely erroneous. I once considered being knocked off my feet for a week by a bleeding ulcer combined with the lengthy recuperation period as an aggravating interruption to my important life. In reality, it helped rearrange my priorities. Having a negative attitude about financial struggles was also perhaps unwise. Struggling with these issues taught me to make better choices in my spending and saving. Read more...
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And now I want to plead with those two women, Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. Philippians 4:2 NLT
“Sometimes the circus is larger than the tent.”
My wife and I were mingling with a few church friends at one of the local funeral homes when I heard the remark. Why the subject of people not getting along came up, I’m not sure, but the statement holds so much truth and is similar to a more well-known quote, “Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.”
As we talked, my wife contended that women are more likely to be contentious than men. Perhaps Paul would agree. He had two he could shove forward as examples. One gentleman disagreed. He worked with nothing but men and had several stories to tell about their contentiousness. Truthfully, the circus houses both.
Like Paul, I once knew two women who were church members and couldn’t get along. Both were strong-willed and enjoyed being in control. While one was more humble than the other and normally gave in, the disagreements always created a strong undercurrent in their relationship and also had a ripple effect in the church.
When the circus becomes larger than the tent, several things have been forgotten. Believers are unified in Christ. This doesn’t mean believers are clones, but we do have a common bond—our belief in Christ and in the work He has given us to do.
Remembering I share this bond with other believers should make me work harder to put aside what divides me from them and look harder at what attaches me to them.
Just because believers share a common faith doesn’t mean we share the same personalities. Obviously, Eudoia and Syntyche didn’t. Neither did the two ladies I worked with. I’ve discovered, though, that I can disagree without being contentious. There is always common ground if I look hard enough.
The faith journey I’m on isn’t all about me. It’s about my faithfulness to God and His Kingdom’s work. My responsibility is to promote Christ—not me or my selfish ideas. My testimony—and the testimony of God’s church, is at stake. And if the disagreement is such that I honestly can’t see a way to solve it, I can always find another church rather than ruin the reputation of the one I’m attending.
How far are you willing to go to make the circus smaller than the tent?
Prayer: Father, help us love each other in a bond of unity so our testimony before others will shine brightly.
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