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Tuesday Aug 7th

Held Together

In [Christ] all things hold together. Colossians 1:17

Joseph loves to make toy airplanes. He gets a kit from the store and dumps the pieces on the floor. There are the wings, the fuselage, the tail, the nose, and the propeller. Individually the pieces aren’t much, but fit together in the right way, they are valuable parts of the airplane. Only one more element is needed: glue. With all the pieces held in place by the glue, the airplane is complete.
The Church, too, is made up of many individual parts: people. We are those people. Like the pieces of Joseph’s airplane, we are many different shapes and sizes. God our Father has created us in unique ways to serve Him through His Church. Some of us preach, some teach, some encourage, some support, and some lift up others in the faith.
Yet the Church cannot hold together without Christ. He is the glue that binds us together and keeps us faithful. Through Christ, God reconciled all things to Himself, including us. Connected in Christ, each of us is bound to Him through our Baptism into His life, death, and resurrection. Through Him who made peace with God through His cross, we are bound together so the love of God in Christ Jesus may be revealed in us.

O Christ, You are the glue that holds us together in faith. Join and keep us together in Your love. Amen.

Thursday Aug 9th

It’s Okay to Cry

Jesus wept. John 11:35

We often try to keep a stiff upper lip in the face of sadness, difficulty, or loss. Perhaps we think it’s weak or inappropriate to weep. But Jesus lets us know that it’s okay to cry. Jesus grieves and weeps at the death of His friend Lazarus. He does not try to hide or deny His feelings. His tears flow. Jesus’ tears reveal that He truly is fully human as well as fully divine. He understands the wide range of our human emotions.
So how have we been feeling today? Are you sad, angry, happy, melancholy, disappointed, sorrowful, lonely, upset, or content? Whatever emotions we may experience, we should not hesitate to share them with Christ. When we cry, Christ weeps with us. When we are happy and content, He rejoices with us. When we are angry, upset, disappointed, or melancholy, He is there to listen.
Our emotions truly are gifts from God. But even when we are in the throes of various emotions, God reminds us that our faith is based not on our feelings, but on the truths revealed in His Word. And the truth is that Jesus died for our salvation, our sins are forgiven, and we are children of God. Our moods may change from day to day, but the steadfast love of the Lord remains ours forever.

Help us express our emotions and hold tight to the truth of Your steadfast love, O Lord. Amen.

God's Peace

Jesus' disciples had spent three years in His company. They'd seen Him move with intense purpose and obedience to the leading of God Almighty. They watched as Jesus stopped along the road to give sight to a man blind from birth. They were amazed when He opened the ears of a deaf person and stood in awe as the man's auditory senses came to life. They had witnessed Jesus bringing dead people back to life!

They'd heard His stirring messages as He held the attention of thousands, eaten His fish buffet that began with only a few fish and a few slices of bread. The disciples had learned to pray from Jesus. They had cried together, laughed together and talked of His approaching Kingdom. They were proud to be among the chosen 12 recruited by Christ Himself to spread the news of the saving gospel.

Though Jesus talked about His approaching death - and even predicted His crucifixion - His disciples still didn't “get it.” They thought His Kingdom was going to be set up on earth. They all looked forward to ruling with Him as He freed His people from Roman law.

So when Jesus was arrested, they ran like scared rabbits. Hey, this wasn't part of the plan, they thought. What about the kingdom? He said He'd set us free! What's happening?

When their Lord was crucified, the disciples were devastated. Now what? We've given up everything to follow Him! We left our careers, our friends, our homes. Now what? He's dead!

Imagine the doubt and confusion. Imagine the turmoil, the huge knots in their stomachs. Imagine the fear - If the government crucified Him . . . they may come after us, too!

Picture it: They're all huddled together somewhere in a little upstairs room. And into the confusion . . . right in the midst of the despair and fear and hopelessness . . . into the center of doubt . . . walks Jesus Christ. In the flesh!

We would imagine He might say, “You guys just don't get it, do you? I told you over and over again that I was going to die. But I also told you I'd conquer death and rise out of the grave after three days. Why didn't You believe me?

“And about the Kingdom thing - we went over it again and again - My Kingdom is not of this earth. When I talked about setting you free, I wasn't talking about freedom from Roman law. I was talking about something much deeper and more confining. I was talking about sin! Do you get it now? Is it starting to sink in?”

Jesus didn't say anything close to that. Instead, He simply spoke words of peace. Wow. Imagine how that must have comforted the hearts of His followers!

Know It!
Jesus does want you to “get it” spiritually. He wants you to understand His Word and His plan. But He won't come down on you when you're confused. Instead, He offers incredible peace. In the midst of your doubt and confusion and fear, He offers peace!

Read It!
John 14:27; John 16:33; Romans 8:6; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Ephesians 2:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:16.

Pray It!
Lord, I desperately need Your peace right now. I'm so glad Your peace isn't temporary. Please fill me with Your eternal peace. And when doubts fill my mind, may I be overwhelmed with Your peace.

Paid In Full

A young many was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could easily afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As graduation day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box.

Curious, and somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young mans name embosses in gold.

Angrily, he rose and said to his father, “With all your money, you give me a Bible?” And he stormed out of the house.

Many years passed, and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family but knew his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day years earlier.

Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still gift- wrapped Bible just as he had left it years ago. With tears running down his face, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse of Scripture: “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 good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11).

As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation and the words “Paid in Full.”

How many times do we miss God's blessings because we can't see past our own desires?

(Author unknown)

Know It!
God, as your loving, heavenly Father, wants to bless you. He loves to give gifts to His children. Can you trust Him to know your needs and desires even better than you do?

Read It!
Deuteronomy 7:13; Psalm 72:15; Ezekiel 34:26; Acts 20:35.

Pray It!
Dear Jesus, I know You're not a giant Santa Claus with a bag of goodies. But I am beginning to realize that You will bless those who follow Your path. I want to follow Your path, Jesus - not just to get blessings - but because I love You and trust that You know what's best for my life. Thank You so much for the incredible blessings You've already given me. I love Your faithfulness, Lord.

Keeping Your Strategy

Actor Buddy Ebsen (who became famous as Jed Clampett in the TV series, “The Beverly Hillbillies” and later starred in TV's “Barnaby Jones”) was originally cast to play the role of the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz. He had to give up the role, however, because he experienced an allergic reaction to the aluminum dust that was used to powder his face as part of his Tin Man costume. (The role was then given to Jack Haley.)

Imagine how difficult it must have been for Buddy Ebsen to walk away from such a great role - a fun part in a movie that families could enjoy together. He gave it up, but later received incredible praise, fame and accolades for future roles.

Sometimes, we too, have to give up something we desperately want in order to get something better. As we wind down with our A to Z strategy for keeping your resolutions, ask God if there's anything you need to give Him in order to make your resolution stick. It may be hard to give up what you want now, but God has something much better in store for you!

X: Xenophile: (Yep, it really is in the dictionary.) It means “One who is attracted to foreign things.” Don't allow yourself to be attracted to the things of this world. This is merely a temporary dwelling place. Your real home is not of this world. Set your sights - as well as your resolution - on something that's eternal . . . the power of Jesus Christ.

Y: Yield every single area of your life to the authority of Jesus Christ. Not just the area you want to change - but yield your will to His will. Ask Him to help you live in total obedience to His Lordship.

Z: Zealously attack your resolution. That means to go after it whole-heartedly. Don't make any half-hearted, weak-kneed promises. Be zealous about your decision, and it will show up in your results.

Know It!
Yes, God wants to make you a winner with your resolutions, but He also dreams much bigger for you! He wants to give you a brand-new touch. That's why total surrender to Him is so important!

Read It!
Isaiah 43:19; Ephesians 3:20-21; 1 Timothy 1:18-19.

Pray It!
Dear Jesus, show me daily what more I can give to You to grow deeper in my relationship with You. When I struggle with giving You what You ask for, please remind me that You know best. Help me to trust You, Lord, in all situations.

You Can Do It!

When Michael Jordan was a high school sophomore, he tried out for the varsity basketball team and was cut. But he made a resolution that he'd make the varsity squad the following year. He took that resolution seriously and practiced hour upon hour every single day.

You know the rest of the story. He not only made his high school varsity basketball team, but also went to college on a basketball scholarship, played pro and is still known as the world's greatest player.

It's not enough to simply make a resolution; we've gotta follow through. And to follow through, we need a strategy. So let's get back to our A to Z strategy on keeping your resolutions.

T: Track your progress. If you've resolved to read the Bible through in one year, mark off the chapters as you read them. Or if you're exercising, create a chart that you can put stickers on. Any kind of graph or progress report can serve as motivation to continue your success.

U: Understand you're not perfect. You'll probably mess up. You'll skip a day of Bible-reading; you'll eat that second piece of cake; you'll watch too much TV, you'll forget to do your homework. Understand it's okay to fail - as long as you commit that failure to Christ. He doesn't want you to stay down. He wants to pick you up and get you back on track. Let Him.

V: Visualize victory! Imagine how great you'll feel next year at this time when you've brought your science grade up from a D to a B-. Imagine how good it will fee to say you read the whole Bible through in one year. Or you lost that 10 pounds. Or you read those 28 novels. Or you brought five friends to church. Or you led three teens to Christ. Visualize your victory and success in one year.

W: Write it down. Make time to actually write out your New Year's resolutions. Don't simply think about it. Write it out. And then rewrite it the next day. They copy it the following day. By writing the same thing over and over and over again, you're pounding your goal into your mind and your thoughts. Write it down and hang it up, stick in on your mirror, stuff it inside your wallet or post it inside your locker. But write it down!

Know It!
Like Michael Jordan, your resolution may require daily work. And that will mean making some sacrifices. Are you willing to make sacrifices if necessary? What, specifically, will you need to deny yourself in order to reach your goal and keep your resolution?

Read It!
1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

Pray It!
Lord, I admit it's tough for me to deny myself some of the things I need to give up to keep my resolution. It's hard taking a step back from some of my friends who don't share my faith. It's not easy to stop doing the same things with them any longer. But I realize You have a high calling on my life. And, Jesus, I want to answer Your call.

Keep Your Resolutions!

Any goal worth reaching requires a strategy. All great athletes have a strategy. Imagine Tiger Woods as a child aimlessly hitting golf balls across the green. Didn't happen that way, did it? His dad created specific strategies to help his son learn the required skills and follow-through needed to be a successful golfer. Whenever his dad took him to a golf course, they went with a strategy.

It works the same with resolutions. Anyone can aimlessly make a half-hearted pledge. But God wants His disciples to solidify their pledges into resolutions that equal lifestyle change. So let's keep on keeping on with our A to Z strategy on maintaining your resolutions.

O: Optimistic. Always remain optimistic! Even when you feel you can't go on. How can you do this? Memorize a Scripture that will help! Start with this one from The Living Bible: “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don't know why things happen as they do, but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

P: Pray daily about your resolution. God is even more concerned about it than you are! That's right! He wants you to be victorious. So keep your resolution right at the top of your prayer list, and pray daily.

Q: Quit doing things that hinder your ability to keep your resolution. For instance, if you've resolved to make better grades this year, quit leaving your books in your locket. Quit putting off your homework. Quit talking during class. Quit anything that's holding you back from being successful with your resolution.

R: Repeat progress. If getting up at 5 a.m. works in helping you get your jogging done, do it! If you can memorize Scripture better in the afternoon, do it then. Whatever works, repeat it!

S: Surround yourself with positive people who can cheer you on to victory. If you've resolved not to attend any more R-rated movies, terrific! But it would be wise to surround yourself with people who have similar morals. Why continue to hang out with students who will tempt you?

Know It!
Not everyone will applaud your determination to keep your resolutions. Some of your friends may get angry because you're not doing the same stuff with them any longer. Expect flack, and continue to draw strength from your growing relationship with Christ.

Read It!
1 Peter 4:1-3; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 John 5:1-4.

Pray It!
Jesus, it hurts when others give me a hard time about my standards. Help me toughen my spiritual skin. Guide me to the point where I care more about what You think than what my friends think.

Still Resolved?

Let's keep plowing ahead with our A to Z strategy on how to keep our New Year's resolutions. Remember, God doesn't expect you to forge ahead on your own. He desires to work with you. Aren't you glad He's not saying, “I'll check on your next year at this time to see how you did.” But rather, “I'm proud of you for making some important resolutions. Let Me help you keep them. I want to strengthen and empower you.”

H: Hold on! There's an old saying, “When you've come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” Guess what! There's a lot of wisdom in that. No one said making this lifestyle change would be easy . . . or even fun. When it gets tough, simply hold on tighter to the promises God has given you in His Word.

I: Iron sharpens iron . . . which brings us back to accountability. Don't dismiss the power of allowing someone to hold you accountable with your new resolution.

J: (Yep, this one's taken from an old NIKE commercial.) Just do it! Quit thinking about it. Stop talking about it. Just DO it!

K: Kvetch. (What in the world is that?) It's actually in the dictionary, and it means “to complain habitually.” Don't do it! If you're going to whine and complain about how hard it is to keep your resolution, you've got bigger problems than keeping your resolution.

L: Live it! Make your resolution a part of your lifestyle - not simply a promise you hope you can keep on your good days. Live it out!

M: Mean it. Don't make a resolution just to make a resolution. Mean what you say and say what you mean! Back your words with action. Make a lifestyle change.

N: Never give up! You may blow it. That's OK. That doesn't mean you have to stop and wait till next year to try again. If your resolution is to exercise consistently, and you miss a day, don't beat yourself up. Talk with your accountability partner and keep going.

Know It!
The most powerful resolutions you can make are ones that glorify your heavenly Father. An incredible resolution King David made is found in Psalm 101:3. What specific changes in your life will you need to implement in order to make King David's resolution your own?

Read It!
Psalm 101:3; Psalm 1; John 21:15-17.

Pray It!
Oh, Jesus! I really want to be all You call me to be. Sometimes, though, I fall so short. Thanks for never giving up on me! Please help me not to give up on myself.