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 Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:54 am
Devotional Reading for:
3/3/2008
Associated Scripture Readings:
1 Peter 5:6-11
Psalm 40:1-5
How to Be Carefree
Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
We all want to be carefree. Children expect to be carefree when school is out for summer vacation. Adults expect to be carefree when they become empty nesters. Everyone looks forward to carefree years of retirement.
We don’t escape the cares of life that easily. Issues of health, family problems, and difficulties in the workplace intrude upon us. As we wrestle with these problems, the cares of life can easily drive us to despair. Despair will destroy us, because it is giving up on God.
There is a way to be carefree even when the cares of life are whirling around us: “Casting all your anxieties on [the Lord], because He cares for you,” wrote St. Peter. St. Paul wrote, “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31–32).
The Lenten story reminds us that Jesus bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. Even more, He carried our sins to the cross. When Jesus died and rose again, He took away the greatest care-maker of all, our sin. In Christ, we find forgiveness and peace with God. All the other issues of life are under His control as well. We can be carefree in Christ.
O God, I lay my cares upon Your heart. Amen.
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:49 pm
Shake It Off!
One spring day, Farmer Green’s donkey fell into a well. The animal cried loudly as Mr. Green tried to figure out a solution. He finally decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway. It just wasn’t worth it to rescue the donkey.
He recruited his neighbors to help, and together they all grabbed shovels and began to toss dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and wailed louder. After several minutes, however, he quieted down. The neighbors were amazed at how calm the animal had become.
Farmer Green finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit the donkey’s back, the animal was doing something incredible. He would shake the dirt off and take a step up.
As Farmer Green’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, the donkey continued to shake it off and step up. It wasn’t long, until the donkey was able to step up over the edge of the well and simply trotted off!
We can’t go through life without having some dirt tossed on us. Every single one of us will experience trials and loneliness. When life tosses dirt in your path, you have a choice: Let it bury you alive, or shake it off and step forward. Try to view your problems as a stepping-stone. If you so choose, you can actually learn from your trials.
Know It!
You can’t escape troubles. But you can become stronger through each one. The next time you’re faced with a problem, go straight to God.
Read It!
2 Corinthians 4:8-9; James 1:1-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7.
Pray It!
Jesus, it’s easy to think, Why me? When I’m faced with a problem. Help me to stop focusing on the why and start looking for the lesson. I want to become stronger through my trials and learn to trust You more because of them.
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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:32 pm
Devotional Reading for:
3/4/2008
Associated Scripture Readings:
Romans 6:5-14
Psalm 142
The Way Out of Sin Addiction
We know that our old self was crucified with Him, . . . so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. Romans 6:6
Young people addicted to drugs talk about two habits you have to break: the body habit and the mind habit. Breaking the body habit puts you in hell for several days, with a little less torture for another month. The mind habit is the hardest to break. There’s something inside you that makes you come back to drugs. Breaking the habit of the mind—and keeping it broken—is for life.
The Bible talks that way about sin, the destructive desires inside us, and sins: abuse of alcohol, drugs, and sex; use of pornography; all greed, envy, and hatred. These and many other sins we can name are addictive. They become a habit. They destroy the body. Ultimately, they destroy body and soul in hell.
Jesus is the way out of sin addiction. All our sin and guilt was His as He suffered and died for it on the cross. He took away sin’s guilt and broke its power over us. In Baptism, our old self was crucified with Him, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. The struggle between the old and the new in us goes on, but in Christ God forgives and sets us free. In Christ, the old gets weaker and the new gets stronger. Freedom from sin’s addiction is God’s growing gift.
Lord Jesus, free me from sin’s enslaving power. Amen.
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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:58 pm
That’s Expensive!
We often complain about the rising costs of gasoline. But let’s put it in perspective with other liquid items we regularly purchase.
• Lipton Iced Tea 16 ounces for $1.19 = $9.52 per gallon.
• Diet Snapple 16 ounces for $1.29 = $10.32 per gallon.
• Gatorade 20 ounces for $1.59 = $10.17 per gallon.
• Ocean Spray 16 ounces for $1.25 = $10 per gallon.
• STP brake fluid 12 ounces for $3.15 = $33.60 per gallon.
• Vick’s Nyquil six ounces for $8.35 = $178.13 per gallon.
• Pepto Bismol four ounces for $3.85 = $123.20 per gallon.
• Whiteout seven ounces for $1.39 = $25.42 per gallon.
• Scope 1.5 ounces for $.99 = $84.48 per gallon.
• Evian water nine ounces for $1.49 = $21.19 per gallon.
Next time you’re filling your vehicle, be grateful your car doesn’t run on Nyquil, Scope or even water!
As much as we complain about gasoline prices, when compared with purchasing gallons of any of the above liquid items, gasoline suddenly doesn’t seem that expensive, does it? That’s because we’ve put it in perspective. Cool things happen when we’re able to put life’s’ events into perspective. Things suddenly don’t seem so bad; that person really isn’t out to get us; the homework assignment didn’t actually kill us.
On February 27, we talked briefly about the prophet Elijah. He felt as though he was the only follower of God left on the earth. He really wasn’t. He simply needed a perspective adjustment. When he allowed God to shift his perspective, he realized there were actually several thousand godly people around him! Do you need a perspective adjustment? If so, you’re not alone! At times, the disciples even needed help with their perspective. Luke 9:54 shows us that James and John wanted to pray fire down from heaven to nuke an entire town! Thankfully, Jesus helped them with perspective. It truly can make all the difference.
Know It!
God wants to help you see life clearly — through His perspective.
Read It!
1 Kings 19:11-18; Proverbs 13:20; Proverbs 21:22; Luke 9:52-56.
Pray It!
Lord, I often jump to conclusions without asking for Your perfect perspective. I admit . . . my life would sure be a lot easier if I learned to see people and situations through Your eyes. Please teach me Your perspective.
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Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:35 am
Devotional Reading for:
3/5/2008
Associated Scripture Readings:
2 Corinthians 6:1-2
Psalm 119:25-32
Are You Getting Anywhere?
We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 Corinthians 6:1
Lent is a good time to ask this question: Are we getting anywhere? Are we getting anywhere in terms of a growing faith and a life expanding in Christian living and service? Are there areas where we remain weak and crippled, because the challenge is particularly strong, or because satanic opposition is working particularly hard to keep us down? Is our Christian faith and life sitting on dead center or even tilting downward?
Judas Iscariot is an example of that downward curve—once a disciple, then a thief, then a betrayer, then full of despair, then plunging not only to his physical death but also to his eternal death. That’s our course too, if we receive the grace of God in vain, that is, letting it go for nothing.
The grace of God brings hope and help. It is God’s mercy toward those who deserve no mercy, His forgiveness of the guilt of our sin for the sake of Christ who died for us, His strength to help us more and more break out of the rule of sin to newness of life. To want it is to have it. To ask for it is to receive it. This is how we receive the grace of God: not in vain, but in faith—to forgive us and strengthen us in newness of life.
O God, give me grace to grow in faith and in newness of life; in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 2:26 pm
Honest Prayers
The Old Testament prophets were very inquisitive. Seems they were always asking God questions. It’s important to know that God doesn’t mind our questions, as long as we learn to listen for His answers.
Habakkuk the prophet, and Habakkuk the book, are both full of questions . . . and answers. Habakkuk was fed up! You can read the list of complaints in his book. He’s unloading on God: “I don’t like what I see! Bad people are rich, and the good people are suffering. How long must I call for help? God, it feels as though You’re not listening.”
Have you ever felt like that? Did you know you can tell God exactly how you feel? He wants your honesty. We often think He only wants to hear the good stuff — praise, worship, thanksgiving. But God wants to hear your heart. All of it. The disappointment, confusion, frustration, hurt, loneliness. He wants to hear your prayers filled with honesty.
Think about it. Are you telling God what you think He wants to hear? Or are you being honest with Him?
Habakkuk has three chapters of “Why God?” But here’s the key: After he asked the questions and presented his case to God, he waited for God’s response. And he waited expectantly. (See Habakkuk 2:3.) Too often, we bombard God with questions, then walk out the door. We don’t want to wait.
Habakkuk waited. And waited. And waited. God doesn’t always promise a fast answer. He does promise perfect timing. (Again see Habakkuk 2:3.) He’s never early, yet He’s never late.
God’s delays in your life are not denials. Delays never ruin God’s purposes. There’s a huge difference in “No” and “Not yet.” When you receive a “not yet” from God, use that as a time of preparation, meditation and cooperation. Let Him prepare you during the “not yet” for the time when He’ll say, “Yes, now.”
Know It:
God always answers your prayers. It’s not always with a yes, and it’s not always the answer we want, but He always answers. So remember to pray with honesty. It’s okay to bombard God with questions — as Habakkuk did — as long as you’re willing to wait expectantly for the answers.
Read It!
Habakkuk 1; Habakkuk 2:1-6; James 1:5-8.
Pray It!
Dear Jesus, thanks that I can ask You anything. I confess, though, I’m often not patient in waiting for the answers. Please remind me that Your timing is perfect. Teach me to wait.
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Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 3:53 pm
Devotional Reading for:
3/6/2008
Associated Scripture Readings:
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Psalm 9
The Right Kind of Boasting
Let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. Jeremiah 9:24
It’s all right to boast, but not in our own wisdom, might, or wealth. The tendency is always to say, “I did this. I did that. I’ve made my place in the world. I am a self-made person.”
Boasting in spiritual matters is even more serious. Recall the Pharisee in the temple who boasted, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get” (Luke 18: 11–12). He did not go home with God’s favor. If he is our model, we stand condemned with him.
The Lenten Christ is our hope and help. He did not boast. He was silent before His accusers. His actions spoke louder than words. He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross—for us. That’s why I can boast like this: “I am a wayward child, but God my Father loves me. I am a poor, miserable sinner, but Jesus is my Savior. I stand condemned in my sin, but God has declared me holy and acceptable to Himself, in the merits of Christ.” That’s the right kind of boasting.
Thank You, Father, for a Savior in whom I can boast. Amen.
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Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 3:59 pm
Lessons From Habakkuk
The Old Testament prophet Habakkuk bombarded God with lots of questions, and he complained about the injustice around him. But it’s important to note there’s a difference in complaining to God and being a grumbler. James warns against grumbling. You’ve heard the expression, “Rise and shine.” Unfortunately, for many Christians, they’ve turned that phrase into “Rise and whine.”
Again, God wants your honesty. It’s okay to give Him your complaints. But don’t forget to thank Him for His blessings as well. If you simply focus on the bad without making time to acknowledge the good, you’re whining.
God wants to teach His children perseverance. That means He wants you to “keep on keeping on” in the midst of injustice and trials. Habakkuk learned that lesson. So did Job. In just two 24-hour periods, Job experienced murder in his family, disease, death of servants, cattle and friends. His “friends” came to mourn with him. You’d think that would be a good thing, wouldn’t you? They sat in silence with him for three days, then began berating and accusing him of sin in his life. It wasn’t sin — it was spiritual warfare!
How would you respond if what happened to Job happened to you? Job responded in praise. He maintained his faith. He said to his friends, “I came into the world naked, and I’ll leave naked.” In other words he recognized he didn’t have anything when he was born and he wouldn’t be able to take anything with him when he died.
Through it all, Job learned to persevere. He, too, questioned God with an honest heart, but He waited expectantly for the answers. God honored Job’s patience and blessed him with more than he had before his trials began.
You have a choice. When life doesn’t turn out as you expect, you can grumble, whine, become angry at God and walk away from your faith. Or you can give God your complaints — as well as acknowledge His blessings — and wait expectantly for His answers. Know what else you can do? During the time of waiting, you can ask Him to teach you perseverance.
Know It!
God wants to strengthen your faith. Sometimes He chooses to use the trials in your life to accomplish that. Instead of grumbling because you don’t understand, keep praying and trust His wisdom.
Read It!
Habakkuk 2:7-20; Job 1; Job 42:16-17; James 5:9.
Pray It!
Oh, Jesus, I don’t want to be a spiritual grumbler! Teach me patience and perseverance. And through my trials, Lord, help me to deepen my faith. I want to always be growing stronger in You .
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:21 am
Devotional Reading for:
3/7/2008
Associated Scripture Readings:
Matthew 11:25-30
Psalm 55:1-11
Where to Find Rest
Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Do we become weary and heavy laden today? There’s no doubt about it. We mourn at the grave of a loved one or a friend. Family issues give us anxiety. We have financial problems. We are concerned about our health. Advancing years take their toll on us. We are troubled by guilty consciences and the burden of sin. We would like to escape it all.
The psalmist speaks for us: “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest” (Psalm 55:6). Despair is right at hand to cast us down and separate us from God. Despair is a sin unto eternal death.
“Come to Me,” Jesus said, “and I will give you rest.” He understands our earthly struggles. He was “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). He understands our spiritual struggles. He was “tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). In Him is hope and help. No need to despair. Through the cross and resurrection of Jesus, our sins are forgiven, gone “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). The rest He gives is not a comfortable pillow. His rest is to be renewed, refreshed, and strength- ened for the task, for the cross, for death and resurrection.
O God, give me rest in the midst of all my struggles; in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:31 pm
Quiz Time
• When we PRAY
a. God doesn’t always answer.
b. He answers exactly how we want Him to, if we have enough faith.
c. He always answers but sometimes not in the way we want Him to.
• God ANSWERS our prayers
a. with “Yes,” “No,” “Not yet.”
b. by making deals with us.
c. as late as He can to remind us who’s in charge.
• God only wants to hear prayers
a. filled with praise and thanksgiving.
b. LACED WITH JOKES to make Him smile.
c. of honesty — even if they’re filled with questions and complaints.
• When we pray with an HONEST HEART
a. it means we can ask God to zap the people we don’t like with diseases.
b. it means we’ll probably complain a little, question some, and also thank God for His blessings.
c. it means we can expect God to answer right away with the response we desire.
• When God DELAYS in giving us an answer
a. we have permission to walk away from our faith.
b. we can assume He never heard our prayer.
c. we should use that time of waiting to develop perseverance and deeper faith.
• When we experience trials in life
a. it means God is no longer with us.
b. we can trust Him IN SPITE OF what’s happening around us.
c. it must be because we did something to make God mad.
• During the MIDST OF A PROBLEM, we can assume
a. God didn’t give us the problem, but He wants to help us through it.
b. God placed the problem in our path to see how mad we’d get.
c. God no longer loves us.
• Trials can develop
a. great material for stand-up comedy.
b. stronger faith and more DEPENDENCE on God.
c. into punishment for not understanding God’s ways.
• During Job’s trials, HE LOST
a. his mind.
b. his patience.
c. his children, servants, livestock and health.
• Through his trials, Job GAINED
a. national coverage on CNN.
b. more than he had before the trials began.
c. a new Porsche.
• Habakkuk was
a. a prophet in the Old Testament.
b. angry because he had a WEIRD name.
c. ready to fight anyone who made fun of his name.
• Habakkuk asked God LOTS OF QUESTIONS and
a. that ticked God off!
b. waited expectantly for His answers.
c. left the scene before God had a chance to answer him.
• Habakkuk COMPLAINED
a. that bad people were rich and good people were suffering.
b. so much that no one wanted to be around him any more. Even his own mom got angry and called him a “cry baby.”
c. that the rich people were bad because they wouldn’t give him any of their money.
Read It!
Habakkuk 3; Isaiah 45:18-19; Job 42:10.
Pray It!
Lord, I don’t always understand Your ways, but I want You to teach me to accept without understanding. I love You, Jesus. And I believe You really care about everything in my life.
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Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:31 am
Bridges
By: Caitlin Henderson
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
Last week was my youth week at church. It was absolutely amazing. Our theme was “Bridges” and how you could make bridges between almost everything in our lives. I was privileged to speak at church Sunday night on one of the spiritual bridges in our lives, the Word of God.
The Word of God not only is a bridge to God, but it is God. John 1:1 says that the Word was God. Since the Word is God, we know that we can turn to it whenever we need comfort or are lonely and He will always be there.
The Bible shows us how it can be a bridge when Jesus points out prophesies while teaching in the Temple. He is able to prompt discussion about His identity by pointing out these things in the Word.
Today when you need to be close to God, pick up your direct bridge to Him. You can learn about Him, be comforted by Him, and see that great things that He has done and will do.
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Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:31 pm
Devotional Reading for:
3/8/2008
Associated Scripture Readings:
Genesis 6:5-8
Psalm 32
When God Smiles
Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. Genesis 6:8
God smiled on Noah. Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Noah had faith, a gift from the God who would save him from the flood, the God who would ultimately send His Son for the salvation of all humankind.
God wasn’t smiling on the people of Noah’s day because of their evil ways and unbelief. He destroyed them in the flood because of their unrelenting wickedness. God isn’t smiling when He sees our sin, when we take His Commandments lightly, when we are comfortable in the worldly climate around us. Even if we abstain from the obvious sins of the day, there is still the evil inclination of our hearts. God doesn’t smile on our sin. Like the
people of Noah’s day, we are ripe for judgment if we love our sins and go our own way.
God calls us to repentance, and that is the smile of God upon us. He turns us from sin and unbelief. And He turns us to Christ, who made good for our sins through His death on the cross. Now He lives to gladden our hearts with forgiveness, peace with God, and newness of life with Him. Like Noah, we have found favor in the eyes of the Lord. God’s smile is upon us.
O God, I am sorry when I bring pain to Your heart with my sins. Forgive me for the sake of Jesus. Amen.
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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:17 pm
Devotional Reading for:
3/9/2008
Associated Scripture Readings:
Matthew 5:1-11
Psalm 4
Blessed Hunger and Thirst
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 5:6
We’re not always very hungry or thirsty for righteousness. How do we show it? When we’re self-satisfied. That self-satisfied attitude might sound something like this: “I admit I’m rather selfish at times, but I don’t care. My temper gets out of hand at times, but I don’t care. I know what I’m doing isn’t right, but I don’t care. I really don’t want to change any of that, and I don’t intend to change. After all, I’m only human.” That’s being self-satisfied. There’s no blessed hunger or thirst for cleansing or freedom from sin. This is a starving soul, drifting toward spiritual and eternal death.
Blessed hunger expresses itself like this: “O Lord, I’m troubled by my sins; have mercy on me. Forgive me, and give me strength to overcome.” That’s hungering and thirsting for righteousness.
Jesus is the bread and water of life who stills our hunger and thirst for righteousness. His body was broken. His blood was shed on the cross to take away the guilt of our sins and to break their power over us. He invites us to come to Him with a blessed hunger and thirst. In His Word and at His altar, we find the bread and water of life that blesses and satisfies.
O Lord, satisfy my hunger and thirst for righteousness in Christ. Amen.
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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:34 pm
I Don’t Get It!
“Natalie, wanna grab a Coke after school today?”
“Nah.”
“Oh, come on! It’s been a few weeks since we’ve had the chance to just hang out and talk.”
“No thanks, Megan.” “What gives, Nat? You didn’t come to Allison’s slumber party last Friday, you haven’t been to youth group in forever, and you’ve started eating alone during lunchtime. I miss you, Girlfriend!”
“Megan, I . . . uh . . . well . . . I don’t know. I’m just not happy anymore.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know,” Natalie said. “I can’t figure it out. Maybe I’m depressed.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean, Girl! I was really depressed when I made a C on that history project.”
“No, Meg. I think it’s more than that.”
“Yeah, I’m hearing you. I get totally depressed when I don’t have anything new to wear, or when Jason’s a jerk to me, and when I forget something important — like what we’re supposed to read in literature.”
“Whatever, Megan.”
“So, are we on for a Coke?”
“I don’t think so. In fact, I don’t even think you’re hearing what I’m saying.”
“Sure I am, Natalie! You’re bummed. You’re down.”
“No, Megan. I honestly think it’s more than that.”
“I’m not following you.”
“Obviously.”
“Well, don’t cut me off. I can’t help you if I don’t know what you’re talking about. Explain what you mean, Natalie.”
“Megan, I’m not just bummed. It’s more than being a little down. I can’t seem to get happy.”
“But . . . why?”
“That’s just it! I don’t know why!”
“Do you think you should talk with Pastor Steve? He just happens to be the best youth minister on the planet, you know.”
“Yeah. But I’m so down . . . I don’t want to talk to anyone. Or be with anyone. I just wanna run home and crawl in bed, pull the covers over my head and sleep. Forever.”
“Wow. I’ve never been that tired.”
“See, Meg, that’s just it. I’m not tired. I just wanna be alone and sleep and sort of withdraw from everyone . . . and everything.”
“Look, Natalie. I care about you. I don’t understand what you’re going through, but I care. And I’m going to call Pastor Steve and ask him to come get you for a Coke tomorrow after school.”
“But Meg — ”
“No excuses, Nat. You need to talk with someone. I’m calling Steve. So be ready to meet him after school tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Megan. You really are a good friend. I don’t think I’d ever make the call myself. And I don’t know . . . I’m kinda scared about talking with him.”
“Want me to go with you?”
“Would you, Megan?”
“That’s what friends are for, Girl!”
Know It!
God understands everything you feel — in spite of whether you understand it or not. And He wants you to experience His joy. That doesn’t mean you’ll always feel happy, but
Read It!
Psalm 9:10-12; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 43:5.
Pray It!
Jesus, sometimes I don’t understand why I feel the way I do, but I want to thank You for knowing everything about me. You understand me way better than I even understand myself. I want to experience Your joy
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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:37 am
Devotional Reading for:
3/10/2008
Associated Scripture Readings:
John 16:16-33
Psalm 139:1-18
God Is Near
You hem me in, behind and before, and lay Your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5
Is God really near? In those times when God seems silent and out of sight, our thoughts are troubled: This problem is getting the best of me. This burden is more than I can bear. This sorrow seems to get deeper all the time. I pray and pray. Silence. Where is God? Faith lets go, and unbelief takes hold when we no longer ask and seek.
God is near. Let the psalmist reassure us. “O LORD, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. . . . You hem me in, behind and before, and lay Your hand upon me” (Psalm 139:1–3, 5).
God laid His hand upon us to claim us in our Baptism. He doesn’t let go! God speaks. Christ crucified and risen for our salvation speaks volumes: “I love you. I have redeemed you. I forgive you.” The Lord feeds us at His Table, saying, “Take, eat. Take, drink. My body, My blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of your sins.” God is our refuge and strength even in life’s hard hours. God is paying attention to us. When life gets low, “underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27).
O God, You understand my needs better than I do. Help me in the down moments of life; in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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