The Chimneys of Life

February 13

 

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away … and

where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:16, 17

Dave knew what the thump from the basement was. So getting out of his chair,

he grabbed his gloves from the coat rack and headed downstairs. An old brick

chimney rose from the cellar up through the middle of the house, allowing the

gas furnace to be vented.

During the coldest months, birds would swoop into the chimney, warming

themselves in the updraft. Occasionally one ventured too far, and unable to fly

out, it would drop into the furnace where it could become trapped and die. The

fortunate ones made it through the vent pipe into the basement, escaping an

immediate death sentence, but remaining trapped.

Trapped by means of deception, they would fly against the basement win-

dow, believing it to be a way of escape. The very thing that appeared to bring

gratification brought entrapment and sometimes death. Dave, knowing they

would die without his intervention, would go into the basement and catch

them, cradling them in his hands until he set them free outdoors. To not do so

would impose a death sentence.

h

Starved for love and security, we swoop into the chimneys of life, seeking life-

giving warmth and protection, never realizing that to venture too far traps us,

and we are unable to find our way out alone. We are deceived! Without inter-

vention, we may die in these traps.

But God, in His infinite mercy and grace, reaches into the chimney, offer-

ing to set us free. He desires to remove the veil Satan has placed over our

spiritual eyes and heart, keeping us captive. God urges us to turn to Him. He

wants to cradle us in His hands, bringing us out of captivity and setting us free

in the Spirit. God speaks to our hearts, saying, “See the chimney for what it is;

take hold of My hand. I want to exchange the death sentence for eternal life.”

Prayer

“I sometimes end up in places I’m not supposed

to be, Lord. Psalm 139 says no matter where I go,

You will hold me fast. Hold me, Lord. Don’t let

me go. Set me free. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 Boundaries

February 12

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed

is he who keeps the law.

Proverbs 29:18

Paula looked in her rearview mirror to see red and blue flashing lights; the siren

wailed as the cruiser gained on her. Pulling over and rolling down the window,

she waited on the officer. He shined his flashlight on her as he bent over and

asked for her license and registration, asking, “Do you know how fast you were

going, ma’am?” 

Paula explained, “The dash lights just went out as I came over the hill back there, so I’m not really sure. Somewhere around twenty-five miles per hour, officer.” She wasn’t lying; her dash lights really had failed. It was almost 5:00 a.m., and she was on her way to work. 

Figuring she’d get away with a warning, she was angry when the officer came back with a ticket. “I can’t believe you’d write me a ticket when my dash lights failed on me at 5:00 a.m.!”

To which he replied, “You were doing thirty-five miles per hour in a twenty-five mile-per-hour zone, ma’am. And this happens to be the time of

day I work.”

h

Boundaries are limits placed upon mankind to avoid anarchy and assure every-

one’s safety. Boundaries are guidelines that teach us how we are to act and treat

each other. They are as old as the foundations of the earth. The universe is full

of them, both physical and spiritual.

Satan is also limited by boundaries. He tries to cross them and gain

entrance into our lives, sometimes subtly, sometimes in frontal attacks. We, as

believers in the power of God, must exercise our authority in Christ to main-

tain those boundaries. We enforce Satan’s boundaries by resisting temptation

and speaking truth from the Word, by standing firm in the knowledge of God.

It’s up to us to contend for our freedom from the enemy by entering the battle.

By seeking God’s will for our lives, we’re halfway there.

Prayer

“Help me stay within the boundaries You set for my life,

Lord. I understand that when the enemy comes in temptation,

I must put up barriers to keep him from leading me into

destructive behaviors. Speak to me through Your Word,

circumstances, and others. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 Snow*

February 11

Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins

are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as

crimson, they shall be like wool.

Isaiah 1:18

The air was cold and crisp as she sat in her car, awaiting her husband. The snow

had started out light and then quickly became heavy. The flakes were nickel-

sized wafers, floating gently down, touching everything within her view. A

hush fell with it, covering everything.

As she watched, it began to cover trees, bushes, grass, parked cars, the

street, even the wires strung overhead, blanketing everything in a layer of pure

white. It was as if God was speaking to her through the beauty of this moment.

It was so white! The world looked so clean! No dirt! Not a single track

from a car.

When she’d arrived an hour earlier, there had been visible clutter and dirt.

There were things people had discarded and left behind, such as gum, candy

wrappers, and cans. Things that had been splattered by passing motorists, leav-

ing a layer of grime on everything in its wake, were now unseen, even the layers

of thick dirt between the bricks that paved the street. It was as if God were

saying, “I make all things white as snow. I can wash away all the dirt, all the

wrong.”

h

As we walk down life’s path, making choices that cause us to become dirty,

God wants us to know we are still redeemable. When we are willing and obedi-

ent, choosing to follow Him, Jesus promises to cleanse us and make us white as

snow. Unlike the things covered by the snow, God’s cleansing touch completely

removes the dirt in our lives. Psalm 103 says, “As far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

When we repent, turn from our sin, and submit to His will, we can be

assured we are covered with the righteousness of Christ; we are made pure as

the driven snow.

Prayer

“Lord Jesus, thank You for being our spiritual healer.

As we come surrendering our lives to Your will, please

cleanse us and cloak us in Your righteousness. Amen.”

* Written by Nancy Cloustonh

 He Exceeds Expectations!

February 10

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or

imagine … be glory … ”

Ephesians 3:20, 21

Having lost a kidney to cancer years ago, Donna’s remaining kidney was failing

for the same reason. On dialysis five days a week and needing a kidney trans-

plant, there was less than a one in four hundred thousand chance of a match.

The elders anointed her as the church body gathered around. They prayed

for a match to be found, prayed for God’s peace, and for God to sustain her.

What happened wasn’t on the list.

At her next doctor’s appointment, an MRI was ordered to check on the

progress of the tumor. As he entered the exam room, the doctor had a dismayed

look on his face. Holding the film to the light, he said, “I believe you have

another tumor where your first kidney was removed.” The negative revealed a

small growth resembling a lima bean. Donna felt a rush of hope. “I know what

that is! It’s a new kidney, not cancer!” The doctor tried to reason with her that

kidneys do not replace themselves, especially after so many years. But to his surprise,

over the next two weeks, this lima bean grew to become a viable, working kid-

ney. Donna has not needed dialysis to this day. And by the way, the diseased

kidney was also healed.

h

We are amazed and somewhat surprised when God steps onto the scene in

power. We pray in faith and yet are stunned when God chooses to answer in a

way that eclipses what we pray for.

Miracles and healings did not pass away with the apostles. It is for God’s

glory that they occur. He is sovereign and will bestow or withhold healing as

He sees fit. We should always pray in unshakable faith, believing for miracles

and healing, leaving room only for God’s decision as to how He will answer

our petitions. With boldness, in prayer and thanksgiving, we are to approach

the throne of our Creator.

Prayer

“Sovereign God, we are humbled when You recreate

what You first created. Teach us to come boldly

before Your throne, with faith that produces hope!

We yield to You in all we do and continue to believe

for healing when it serves Your purpose. Amen.”

 The Look

February 9

Immediately a rooster crowed.

Matthew 26:74

This wasn’t the first time Jeff had played the part of Peter in the passion play.

He’d even felt a small portion of Peter’s anguish in past performances. But

tonight something shocking had happened. As he turned from the fire barrel,

having denied Christ a third time, he was looking into the eyes of Jesus. Not

the actor playing the part, but Christ himself! 

He folded to the floor and wept uncontrollably, great sobs racking his body. To the audience, it appeared to be a tremendous performance. To Jeff, it was as if he were Peter! He had received a large measure of the agony the apostle must have felt that night.  He couldn’t stem the flow of tears as he pried himself from the floor.

Jeff didn’t share his experience immediately. When he finally did, the tears

came again, unabated. Yet this time there wasn’t shame and conviction. In their

place were love and restoration. Jeff understood that Jesus had done for him

what He had done for Peter.

h

Romans 5:10 says, “That while we were still God’s enemies … Christ died for

us.” The look Jeff saw in Jesus’ eyes wasn’t one of condemnation but of sorrow—

a sorrow born of the knowledge that there is within each of us a weakness that

places flesh ahead of spirit.

Jeff received a gift, a revelation. Jesus showed him the depths of His love.

Christ freely came knowing we would kill Him. First as an infant—in an infant

there is no fault. This baby was pure enough to meet the demands of Justice. 

He grew into a warrior with the strength to lead us through the murkiest waters

and lift us from the pits of hell; so fierce is His love that He left His throne to

live in our world! 

Finally, as a Savior willing to stand in our place and be defiled because He could not stand that we would spend eternity without Him! The look says, “I love you!”

Prayer

“Jesus, we come humbly in response to that look into

our soul. Though we have denied You in the past,

forgive us today as we ask to understand and surrender

to You. Lead us into reconciliation. Amen.”

 Do This

February 8

Do this in remembrance of me.

1 Corinthians 11:24

He donned a hygienic mask, latex gloves, and sterilized the communion kit.

Then he prepared the elements. He was bringing the Lord’s Supper to a recov-

ering cancer patient. She had been isolated from the public for the past twelve

weeks due to an insufficient white cell count as a result of chemotherapy.

He thought about God’s healing power as he broke the matzo into the tiny

tray. As he poured the juice, the blood of the Holy Lamb of God, he reflected

on last night’s phone call. “Hi, Dana. It’s Pastor Chuck. I was wondering if it

would be all right to bring communion to you and Paul tomorrow morning.”

“That would be wonderful!” she replied. “I just hung up from talking to a

friend. He mentioned that he was getting ready to take communion to a shut-

in. As I hung up I said, ‘Oh, Paul, I wished our church did that.’”

Chuck was never surprised when he found that God’s urging was in

response to prayer.

h

Divine appointments are opportunities to do the work of the kingdom for

God, to be His instrument of blessing. In our busyness, we sometimes view

these as inconveniences. Yet if we listen closely, stop rushing, and respond to

His urging, we discover God’s eager desire to bring blessings. When Chuck

brought the Lord’s Supper to Paul and Dana, he brought God’s love and heal-

ing power. When we obey, God sends His power through us to encourage

others. It always amazed Chuck that he was the recipient of a large portion of

that blessing.

As our relationship with God deepens, He asks us to carry His love further

into His kingdom. Fear from the enemy wishes to stop that from happening.

God wants us to know His strength is sufficient to meet that fear head-on

and walk right through it. Our obedience will determine if someone receives

a blessing.

Prayer

“Father of inspiration, right now we give ourselves over to

You to be used in bringing a blessing to those in need of

one. Touch our hearts and minds so that we can respond as

Your instruments of love. Blessed be Your Name, amen.”