Unconventional Tactics

In 1980, a woman hoped on a subway during a the Boston Marathon. No big deal, except for one small detail. She was supposed to be running the the marathon! Later, witnesses saw her jump into the race less than a mile from the finish line. She finished well ahead of all the other female runners, and oddly, she wasn't winded or even sweating much. For a brief time she looked like the winner. In a conflict long ago, a people who were losing a battle found a more honorable way to win. When messengers told King Jehoshaphat, " A vast army is coming against you from Edom," he was terrified. But instead of turning to typical military tactics, Jehoshaphat turned to God. He acknowledged God's supremacy and admitted his own fear and confusion. " We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." Then the king chose singers to lead the army into battle. Instead of a war cry, they sang of God's love. The result was startling. Their enemies turned on each other. In the end, " The kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side." Life can ambush us with overwhelming challenges. Yet our fear and uncertainties give us the opportunity to turn to our all-powerful God. He specializes in the unconventional.
Lord, You are not the source of confusion or fear, but of strength and peace. We exchange our panicky plans for Your amazing answers. Encourage us as we wait for You.
Our God is never predictable, but He is unfailingly reliable.
Please read 2 SAMUEL 3-5, Luke 14:25-35, and 2 CHRONICLES 20-1-13
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Great Sacrifice

W.T Stead, an innovative English Journalist at the turn of the 20th century, was known for writing about controversial social issues. Two of the articles he published addressed the danger of ships operating with an insufficient ration of lifeboats to passengers. Ironically, Stead was aboard the Titanic when it struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic on April 15, 1912. According to one report, after helping women and children into lifeboats, Stead sacrificed his own life by giving up his life vest and a place in the lifeboats so others could be rescued. There is something very stirring about self-sacrifice. No greater example of that can be found than in Christ Himself. The writer of Hebrews says, " This man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God...For by one offering He has perfected those who are being sacrificed." In his letter to the Galatians, Paul opened with words describing this great sacrifice: " The Lord Jesus Christ...gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age." Jesus' offering of Himself on our behalf is the measure of His love for us that willing sacrifice continues to rescue men and women and offer assurance of eternity with Him.
    God of love and grace, words can never capture the wonder of the sacrifice that Christ offered on our behalf. May our love respond to You with faith and worship-for Your Son who was slain is worthy of our praise. Jesus laid down His life to show us His love for us.
Please read 1 SAMUEL 27-29, LUKE 13:1-22, and Hebrews 10:5-18
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This is the Day

This is the Day

In 1940, Dr. Virginia Connally, age 27, braved opposition and criticism to become the first female physician in Abilene, Texas. A few months before her 100th birthday in 2012, the Texas Medical Association presented her with its Distinguished Service Award, Texas' highest physician honor. Between those two landmark events, Dr. Connally has enthusiastically embraced a passion for spreading the gospel around the world through her many medical mission trips while living a life of service to God and to others-one day at at time.
    Dr. Connally's pastor, Phil Christopher, said, " Every day for her is a gift." He recalled a letter in which she wrote, " Every tour, trip, effort, I wonder if this will be my last and ultimate? Only God knows. And this is enough."
    The psalmist wrote, " This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." So often we focus on the disappointments of yesterday or the uncertainties of tomorrow and miss God's matchless gift to us: Today! Dr. Connally said of her journey with Christ, " As you live a life of faith, you're not looking for the results. I was just doing the things that God planted in y life and heart." God made today. Let's celebrate it and make the most of every opportunity to serve others in His name.
Lord, thank You for today. May I embrace it as Your gift, celebrate Your faithfulness, and live this day fully for You.
Welcome each day as a gift from God.
Please also read 1 SAMUEL 25-26, LUKE 12:32-59 and Psalm 118:19-20

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Who AM I Working For?

Who Am I Working For?

Henry worked 70 hours a week. He loved his job and brought home a sizeable paycheck to provide good things for his family. He always had plans to slow down but he never did. One evening he came home with great news-he had been promoted to the highest position in his company. But no one was home. Over the years, his children had grown up and moved out, his wife had found a career of her own, and now the house was empty. There was no one to share the good news with.
    Solomon talked about the need to keep a balance in life with our work. He wrote, " Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves." We don't want to go to the extreme of being lazy, but neither do we want to fall into the trap of being a workaholic. " Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after wind." In other words, it is better to have less and enjoy it more. Sacrificing relationships at the altar of success is unwise. Achievement is fleeting, while relationships are what make our life meaningful, rewarding, and enjoyable.
    We can learn to work to live and not live to work by choosing to apportion our time wisely. The Lord can give us this wisdom as we seek Him and trust Him to be our Provider.
    Lord, show me if my priorities are skewed and where I need to make changes. Thank You for the gift of family and friends.
    To spend time wisely, invest it in eternity.
Please also read 1 SAMUEL 17-18

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ECCLESIASTES 4:4-16

ECCLESIASTES 4:4-16

And I saw that all achievement spring from one person's envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves. Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: There was a man alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. For whom am I toiling," he asked, and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?" This too is meaningless- a miserable business! Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands are not easily broken. Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor. There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

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LUKE 11:1-28

LUKE 11:1-28

 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, " Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, " When you pray, say: " ' Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. Then Jesus said to them, " Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ' Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.' And suppose the one inside answers, ' Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. " So I say: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. But some of them said, " By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons." Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven, Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: " Any kingdom divided against itself will fall. If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim I drive out demons by Beelzebul. Now if I drive out demons be Beezebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. " When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder. " Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. " When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ' I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first." As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, " Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you." He replied, " Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

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Take Heart!

Take Heart!

I like to watch birds at play, so years ago I built a small sanctuary in our backyard to attract them. For several months I enjoyed the sight of my feathered friends feeding and flitting about-until a Cooper's Hawk made my bird refuge his private hunting reserve.
    Such is life: Just about the time we settle down to take our ease, something or someone comes along to unsettle our nests. Why, we ask, must so much of life be a vale of tears?
     I've heard many answers to that old question, but lately I'm satisfied with just one: " All the discipline of the world is to make [us] children, that God may be revealed to [us]" ( George MacDonald, Life Essential). When we become like children, we begin trusting, resting solely in the love of our Father in heaven, seeking to know Him and to be like Him.
     Cares and sorrow may follow us all the days of our lives, but " we do not lose heart...For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far out weighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal"
     Can we not rejoice, then, with such an end in view?
    Lord, we do rejoice even in our struggles because we are rejoicing in who You are and Your good purposes for us. You are powerful, loving, in control, and eternal. We trust You and love You.
      Heaven's delights will for outweigh earth's difficulties.
Please also read 1 SAMUEL 13-14

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