Ready To Live!

July 31

For in him we live and move and have our being.

Acts 17:28

Stran Smith is a professional rodeo rider. His passion is steer-roping…jumping off his horse at 25mph!

Stran had been riding the circuit for seven years, when one day he exhibited alarming medical symptoms and was transported to the local hospital, where doctors discovered he’d had a stroke. Further testing revealed a hole between two chambers of Stran’s heart; a condition known as ‘PFO’ had led to the blood clot in his brain.

Faced with choosing between a risk-filled experimental surgery to repair the hole, or lead a sedentary life—where watering his grass was the limit of his physical exertion, and rodeoing was no longer an option—Stran and his wife, Jennifer, spent a great deal of time in prayer, seeking God’s direction.

Ultimately, they opted for surgery, which was a remarkable success. Stran, now healthier than he’d ever been, returned to the rodeo circuit within two months of the procedure. When asked what the biggest lesson of his experience had been, Stran commented, “Until I was ready to die, I wasn’t ready to live.”

Stran credits his professional rodeo status to blood, sweat, and God’s guidance through his relationship with Jesus Christ.

†

Faced with a crisis of faith, we must decide whether we want to hang up our saddle, becoming a reluctant spectator in a full-contact arena, or trust God to fully and faithfully live through us in the time we have left.

In Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection we have the ability to die to ourselves daily, preparing the way for God to resurrect us each morning through our relationship with Jesus Christ, under the power of the Holy Spirit. Our deliberate dying-to-self leaves the door open for God to do miraculous things with and through us. By intentionally facing death, finding our purpose and being in Jesus Christ, we become ready to live!

Prayer

“I want to live today, Lord! But it’s so hard to lay down my own desires each day. I want the benefits of having You in control, but sometimes my wants get in the way. Show me how to humbly listen and await Your instruction at the beginning of each day as I spend this time with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

 

Some Will Perish

July 30

They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

2Thessalonians 2:10

Mindy’s sense of guilt and shame deepened as the pastor continued his message, “There is a Heaven to be sought and a Hell to be shunned! The Bible says that once we’ve accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior we must maintain good standing with God, so that on the day we see Him face to face we will be acceptable in his sight."

To Mindy it was just more proof that God was vengeful and unyielding. She’d heard of God’s great love for her, yet the God this man preached about sure didn’t sound like someone who cared about anything but keeping track of her mistakes, so He could read the long list to her on the day she stood before Him to be judged. All she could expect from this God on that day was a sentence to Hell.

Where’s this great love I keep hearing about? Mindy wondered. How could I ever hope to measure up to those standards? She felt the grip of hopelessness tighten on her heart. There’s no way I could ever meet his demands…Mindy left the service feeling defeated.

†

My prayer is that you understand we can no more maintain our salvation than we can earn it. So when you hear a message of ‘sustaining our good standing with God in order to be acceptable’, that message is not accurate. We should want to honor our Creator out of our love for Him. But to fall down and fail does not rob us of our right-standing with God. His grace abounds in this world that so desperately needs such love.

But as real as this misconception of a vengeful God is, so is the danger of presenting a God who will allow no one to perish; even to the extent that He withholds judgment completely. Some say this is the meaning of grace.     

Here is the truth: God’s holiness cannot abide the presence of unrighteousness. Jesus’ death provided victory over all sin, with one exception: We must personally accept God’s gift of Jesus’ atoning blood. Failing that, we sentence ourselves to Hell, by rejecting such love. This is not the act of an angry, vengeful God. It is the act of a selfish, petulant child refusing to be saved.

Prayer

“Lord, help me to know You as the loving Father You are instead of the vengeful bully some present You to be. In Jesus’ Name, amen.” 

 

Leaving No Stains Behind

July 29

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;

Isaiah 1:18

Jenny was up to her elbows in grass stains. To her, cleaning grass-stained jeans and elbows wasn’t a chore; it was a blessing. She smiled as memories filled her mind, and the exuberance of youth flooded her soul. She was remembering how much fun she’d had rolling down the hill behind the house.

Her kids had inherited her love of the outdoors, as well as the house Jenny’d grown up in. So naturally, they’d set out to see what the mystique of tucking their hands against their faces, holding their elbows tightly against their sides, and launching themselves off the precipice of the hill was all about. Jenny heard them laugh as they recklessly rolled to the bottom, only to race back to the top and do it all over again. By the time they’d had enough for one day, their jeans and elbows were as green as the lime Kool-Aid they were enjoying.

Jenny had scrubbed their elbows until she thought they’d bleed, all the while listening to their complaints of ‘This is child abuse!’ But eventually the stains and complaints vanished. The jeans, however, were a different matter. She scrubbed and scrubbed, throwing everything in her arsenal of cleaning products at the stains, yet they remained. Jenny smiled insightfully, No biggie, hearing their laughter is worth it!

†

The laundry detergent Tide claims, ‘It gets the stains out that others leave behind!’ And speaking from personal experience, it does a pretty good job. But even Tide can’t remove every stain.

Our spiritual disposition is much the same. While rolling down the grass-covered hills of life, many of the things we do seem fun and harmless…until we look in the spiritual mirror. And over time, the stains of sin mar our soul. Our best efforts to clean ourselves up always leave stains behind.

The good news is…God can take away the stains that others leave behind. If we ask, He will wipe away every transgression, every smudge, every mistake, leaving no stains behind!

Prayer

“I’m dirty from the top of my head to the soles of my feet, Lord Jesus. And I haven’t got the power to do anything about it. Please forgive me, and wipe away every sinful stain You see. Amen.”

 

Guppy

July 28

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God

2Corinthians 1:3-4

Trish was the Student Attendance Officer at the local high school. One of her duties was making sure all twelve hundred students were in school, and if not, where they were and why. Because of her position, Trish had garnered certain insights into the lives of many of the most disruptive and troubled students; the ones where teachers were actually relieved when they were not in class. Trish knew that their behavior was a result of their home life. Many were from broken marriages, abused or neglected, and left to fend for themselves. As a result, most of them had become thick-skinned and hard hearted, wanting to keep the world at a distance lest they be wounded again.

But Trish, having had her parents separate when she was young, understood them. She was known for having an empathetic desire to help mend the brokenness. So much so that the principle and teachers brought students to her for counseling and prayer, rather than expel or detain them. She’d had remarkable success in helping resolve issues and rekindle openness and trust.

Years ago, one of Trish’s students had nicknamed her ‘Guppy’, an affectionate play on words of the Hebrew word agape’, which means unconditional love, and her petite stature. To them Trish was the living definition.

†

Today’s scripture tells us that God will put to use the pain of our lives if we’ll let Him. If we remain faithful to God’s purpose there will be times we find ourselves suddenly understanding why God didn't immediately deliver us from our struggles.

Like Trish, we are meant to be good stewards of our wounds, to use experience and understanding to make a difference in the lives of those who are hurting.

Having persevered through hardships and heartache we can be the ‘Guppy’ to those in need of our experience and love. We can, like Trish, teach them to hope again.

Prayer

“Lord, use my past to help someone in the present. Help me encourage those You bring to me for healing and direction with the agape’ love You show to me. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 

Yep, Every Hair

July 27

And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Matthew 10:30

“Grandpap! Quitit!” Ellie squealed. “I’m gonna’ pee my pants! Stopit!”

“Grams wouldn’t be too happy with me if that happened,” he said. “Nor you either I’m thinkin’! But I think it would be hilarious!” he growled, tickling her one last time.

“Oh, Grandpap, you’re so silly!” Ellie giggled. She loved roughhousing with her grandfather…she knew she was the apple of his eye. “Grandpap?” came her inquisitive tone. Clyde could see mischief in his granddaughter’s eyes. “Hows come grandpas lose their hair and grammas don’t?” she asked.

“Cause grammas would look silly without hair,” he answered. He knew this was leading somewhere…

“In my Sunday School class last week,” Ellie cocked her head at an angle as if she were contemplating the implications of her next statement, “my teacher said that God knows how many hairs each of us has.”

“Yep, every hair,” Clyde said. “Even on an old bald guy like me!” he said, reaching to tickle her again.

Laughing, Ellie ducked his reaching hands, and said, “He must have an awful time keepin’ track of yours! He probly has to recount ten times a day!” she teased, and skittered away, just as Clyde tried to grab her.

“I know one little girl who’s gonna be missin’ some hair if I get hold of her!” he threatened, laughing heartily as she ran from the room and out the front door, screaming, “Grams! Grams! Grandpap is gonna’ pull my hair out!”

†

Most of us get our first impression of God from our earthly fathers and grandfathers; it’s supposed to be where we learn of His loving nature and admirable character. Sadly, many fathers and grandfathers do not present a true likeness of God, and He is seen as uncaring, unloving, judgmental, and sometimes even hostile.    

But that is just not true. He is more loving than the Clyde’s of the world. And it is His will that regardless of how we’ve been treated in the past, we will draw close enough to discover that He truly does care about us…enough to know the number of hairs on our head. And bald or not, He keeps track of each one, yep, every hair!

Prayer

“Father God, I want to know You intimately. Show me how truly precious I am in Your eyes. Amen.”  

 

Color Blind

July 26

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature Galatians 5:16

Art and Linda placed an online ad for someone to care for their two dogs for a week. So far, not one of the candidates interviewed had met their expectations. Hopefully, their three o’clock appointment would.

Arriving promptly at three, a teenage girl sporting a bright smile knocked on the door. Looking through the peep, Art was immediately ready to disregard her as well. Although looking very capable, she was outrageously dressed. She had on a red blouse, pink skirt, one yellow sock and one pale blue one. I’ll bet she’s one of those punk rockers, or something…he figured. Opening the door, Art couldn’t help but ask, “Young lady, why are you dressed that way?”

Her answer was immediate and direct, “I am color blind, Sir. Does that present a problem?”

“Well, it might,” he said. “Our dog, Brutus, requires medicine each day. Since he is grey and Boca is light brown, how will you know which one to give the pill to?”

She thought for a moment, and then asked, “Does Brutus come on command?”

“Yes!” Art responded, immediately grasping her reasoning.

“Then,” she replied confidently, “all I have to do is call his name. I will give the pill to the dog who responds.”

“I like the way you think, young lady,” Art said, laughing. “Let’s discuss the arrangements.”

†

There is a saying that within each of us are two dogs; one good (white), and one evil (black). Whichever dog we feed becomes the stronger of the two. Most Christians do their best to feed the white dog.

But what happens when we can’t tell the difference because of spiritual color blindness? Many times we wind up feeding the black dog. Conceivably because we fail to view our harmful habits for what they truly are. Or perhaps it’s because we enjoy the danger of petting the black dog occasionally. Whatever the reason, it is unwise and unsafe.

Paul told Timothy that the only way to be sure which dog he fed was to live by the Spirit, and judge the dog, not by color, but by its spirit.

Prayer

“Father, give me discernment to know when evil comes cloaked in white. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 

Obedience, the Beginning of Blessing

July 25

All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 28:2

In his position as usher, Dave greeted people as they arrived for church each Sunday. He enjoyed being the first person they saw at church. A dear woman named Lucile approached. She smiled, and with tears in her eyes she pressed something into his hand. She beamed, saying, “You bless me so much! Your smile brightens my day!” Then she added, “I’m not sure why God wanted me to give you this, but I knew I had to obey. Obedience is the beginning of blessing you know!”

Dave felt a little uncomfortable taking her gift. But, he’d learned not to rob someone of a blessing. So he smiled and said, “Thank you, Lucile! You brighten mine as well.” And with that she went into the sanctuary.

Following the service Dave walked into the pastor’s office intending to say ‘no’ to the pastor’s offer of the position as ‘Head Usher’. If he took the position he would be responsible for overseeing some twenty ushers, setting schedules, and securing the money that came through the church each week. He just didn’t feel he had enough time to do the job right. But for some inexplicable reason, when he walked into the office the word ‘yes’ came out instead ‘no’. That’s when Lucile’s words came back to him. Okay, Lord. If it’s obedience You want, it’s obedience You get, he said silently.

Since that day, God has poured blessing after blessing into and through Dave, and somehow time has never been an issue. His obedience has led to an ongoing blessing that has never ended.

†

In this fast-paced society, with our lives full, and time a precious commodity, it’s difficult to say yes when God asks for our time and skills. In our mind it would be easier to blow Him off.

But the truth is, if it is God who is asking, He will equip us, and provide the time necessary to serve. He’s asking for a leap of faith. He’s trying to teach us that Lucile is right; obedience is the beginning of blessing.

Prayer

“When You call, Lord, may I always say yes, knowing You will provide the time and energy needed to serve others in Your Name, Amen.”