Friday, December 30, 2016

Day of Praise

Sat, 12/31/16, Last day of 2016, 7th Day of Christmas, "Day of Praise"

"He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen." - Revelation 22:20-21

Thus ends the Bible book of Revelation. Thus ends the Bible. And thus ends our year.

With God's promise.

With our eagerness for God to come to us through Jesus.

And with our prayer for God's grace to be with all people in Christ.

May God grant us the same in the year ahead.

I personally thank you all for your fellowship in Christ, your partnership in Day of Praise, and your eagerness both to know God and also to share God's Word with others.

By God's grace, see ya next year!

Praise God!


Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Day of Praise

Friday, 12/30/16, 6th Day of Christmas, "Day of Praise" -

Matthew 1:20-21 - "But as [Joseph] considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.'"

I remember a time I was putting my socks on. Ya know, one foot on the floor, and one foot lifted up. Like a flamingo. That lost its balance. And fell over. It hurt. But not too much because, on the way down, I was laughing because I knew I'd tell y'all.

But no puttin'-on-your-socks fall could ever hurt as much as Joseph and Mary knowing from Day One that they were giving birth to a child who had a lot of pain coming his way so he could "save his people from their sins."

The only way a parent could endure such sorrow is by ultimately remembering that every child 1) comes from God, 2) belongs to God, 3) is meant to personally know God, and 4) in every sorrow finds peace through a relationship with God.

Hey, Gang, the sooner we help children know God personally through Jesus, (and they can know him well before Kindergarten), then the easier it is on everybody.

Furthermore, in Proverbs 6:16, we hear that "there are six things that the Lord hates." You can look them up if you like. Bottom line is that I'm pretty sure we've all done at least one of the six. And in light of that reality, let's use the 6th Day of Christmas as another day to thank God for what we hear in today's Bible verses in Matthew 1. Let's thank God for sending Jesus to "save his people from their sins." And, if we remember how God sees us all as his children who belong to him, then we all can be thankful that we're "his people" whom he saves.

So, ok, y'all have a great day! Merry Christmas Day #6! And be blessed in spreading the love!

Praise God!


Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Day of Praise

Thur, 12/29/16, 5th Day of Christmas, "Day of Praise"

"A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs, in the agony of giving birth. Then another portent appeared in heaven: a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne; and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished for one thousand two hundred sixty days." - Revelation 12:1-6

Jesus was born into a violent world.

One of my brothers-in-law once told me how he was threatened by two guys with knives just outside of his young daughter's dance studio in their nice town in broad daylight. Fortunately, police got there and made the arrest.

I also once saw a nicely dressed mom who was about to throw a punch at her young adult daughter in a parking lot while the "mom's guy" just stood there watching. My momentary stop-and-stare seemed to ease the tension.

Furthermore, on the way to visit my parents and siblings one time, in the time it took me to drive from one end of a city to the other, the interstate message board said there were two more driving fatalities.

Jesus was born into a violent world.

On the fifth day of Christmas, my truest love gave to me (and you and all who will receive him), his five identifiable wounds in his hands and side and feet, not counting countless wounds on his head from a crown of thorns and on his back from unspeakably brutish, Roman torture tools.

Jesus was born into a violent world then. He wants to be born in the hearts of all of us today because we still live in a violent world today.

He is the Prince of Peace. True and lasting peace.

Have courage, dear friends, in a world filled with violence. Have courage and tell others about Jesus.

In him alone will the world find peace.

Praise God!


Pastor Chris 
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Day of Praise

Wed, 12/28/16, 4th Day of Christmas, "Day of Praise"

"Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, 'Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.'" - Revelation 4:6-8

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me four living creatures that are talked about in today's verses from Revelation and in the Bible book of Ezekiel. 

The symbolism here is simple and amazing, or, shall we say, simply amazing. So, knowing there's always more we could say, let's keep it simple. 

First, in the Bible, multiples of four always have to do with God's work to increase faith, especially 4, 8, 12, 24, 40, 400, and 4,000, as in 40 years of wilderness for the Israelites and Jesus feeding the 4,000. 

Second, four is also the number of the earth and all humanity, as in all people from all four corners of the earth: north, south, east, and west. 

And, third, four is the number of Gospel books in the Bible, as in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, where the Gospels are traditionally associated with the lion, ox, man, and eagle that are spoken of in today's Bible verses. The matching of the pairs varied amongst the now-famous early Christians: Irenaeus, Augustine, and Jerome. 

If you put the last three paragraphs together, this is what you get: God wants faith in the good news of Jesus, which is known as the Gospel, to be built up in all the earth and to touch all creatures of land, sea, and air. This is prophesied by God in Isaiah 65:25 and 11:6, saying, "The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them." The "little child," of course, is fulfilled in Christmas, the birth of the baby Jesus. 

Merry Christmas Day #4! May God build up your faith through the good news of Jesus so that you know God's powerful and peaceful presence wherever you go over all the earth. 

Praise God!


Pastor Chris 
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Friday, December 23, 2016

Day of Praise

Saturday, December 24, 2016, Christmas Eve, "Day of Praise"

Luke 2:1-5

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

Praise God!


Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Day of Praise

Fri, 12/23/16, "Day of Praise"

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." - Malachi 3:10


Good morning! How ya doin'? Can we have an objective chat? Maybe over a cup of coffee? I understand that the issue in today's verse is a sensitive one. The issue of tithing. So I promise not to get all excited. Let's just have a little chat. Can we? Thanks. 


I remember how I got started. I was in high school. I'd experienced some challenges that even then, I knew, had stirred a deeper hunger and thirst for God in my heart. I had been drawn to read my Bible. And when I came across an encouraging verse, I'd write it on an index card and tack it on my desk top or bulletin board. 


I was drawn in by God's promise in Malachi 3:10 (today's verse). At the time, I didn't know that this verse is the only verse where God invites us to test him. I did know that Jesus tells us not to test God. So I was curious why God would invite us to test him and also promise to pour out unimaginable blessings through the act of tithing. 


I did know that God means "give 10%" of what you receive when God, in the Bible, says to tithe. I came to see later that 10% is a starting point that goes hand-in-hand with both spontaneous giving and also planned thank offerings beyond 10%. 


But through it all, I've discovered that, while there are indeed many blessings that God pours out with tithing, there are two that I value the most: detachment and thankfulness. 


Yes, there have been times when I've been surprised by "unexpected money from heaven." But I no longer see that money as a reward from God in heaven. Such "surprise money" seems to happen to everyone, so it's not necessarily connected to tithing. Besides, it seems strange to me that, if God wants my heart and wants me to have his heart, then why would God tempt my heart to tithe money so I could set my heart on getting "surprise money"? That seems backwards to the ways of God. So I don't see getting money as one of God's blessings for giving money through the tithe. 


So let me just wrap up here by saying a few words about the blessings of detachment and thankfulness that God always does give through tithing. 

Detachment is simply this. I am able to see money and the things I can get with money for what they are. They are not my life or happiness. God is my life and happiness. Let's say I give 4%. (And it is give 4%, not tithe 4%, because that would be like saying that I 10% 4%. Tithe means 10%. So I tithe 10%. I give 4%.) Ok say let's say I give 4%. That means I'm not giving 6%. If I make, $50,000, that means I'm not giving $3,000. My conclusion has always been that $3,000, or the things I can get with it, are not going to secure my life or my happiness. It may "hurt" my budget to give that $3,000, but what it does even moreso is detaches me from the $3,000 and the stuff I might buy with it, and it nurtures an even greater trust in God, which is exactly what my heart is hungry for--a greater trust in God. So tithing hurts my budget, but it feeds my heart by detaching me from the money and the things it might buy, therefore driving me closer to God. Detachment is always a blessing. 


And since my heart is nurtured, it feels greater peace, so my heart wants to say "thank you" to someone. And the obvious one to give thanks to is God. It's as plain as that. My heart is freed from things that will always wear out and freed for the God who never fails. Thankfulness is a blessing that God always gives through tithing. 


There's so much more. But that's enough for today. Thanks for sharing a cup of coffee. 


Praise God!

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Day of Praise

Thurs, 12/22/16, "Day of Praise"

"Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." - Zechariah 9:9

I'm glad you all had such a sense of humor yesterday about happy mornings because today's Bible verse comes right back at us with the same appeal, saying, "Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!" (Zechariah 9:9).

It's as if God is saying, "I'm determined for all you people to be joyful and happy."

Even in the morning. 

And this time God offers the chuckle, saying, "See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (Zechariah 9:9). And you know what I'm talking about if you've seen the movie, "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" (2011). In the movie, there's a scene where all the good guys get a regular horse, except Sherlock Holmes, who gets a mini horse that looks like what's described in today's verse. It looks as if Sherlock Holmes is riding "on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

It's hilarious!

And yet he's the hero. The genius. The warrior who overcomes evil. 

And so it will be with Jesus, according to the prophecy. And so it was fulfilled. On Palm Sunday, Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, as noted in John 12:14-15, "Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, 'Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt'" [fulfilling today's verse from Zechariah 9:9].

Can you picture it?

It's hilarious! A king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt!!!

And yet Jesus truly is the hero. The genius. The king. The warrior who overcomes evil. Far greater than Sherlock Holmes or any other hero for that matter. For Jesus is mighty God in man, riding on a baby donkey, on an itty bitty, beast of burden. 

Eeeyaw! Eeeyaw!

It's enough to make you smile, chuckle, even be happy, isn't it?

Even in the morning. 

"Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." - Zechariah 9:9

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Wed, 12/21/16, "Day of Praise" 

"Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!" - Psalm 147:1 

Somebody long ago impressed on me that if you have to get up in the morning, you might as well get up happy. 

I mean, what's the alternative? Mopin' around? I can see the cow holdin' the sign in a ChikFilA ad, speakin' to the moper, sayin', "Reeeeally?" 

I do realize how Dr. Gary Chapman, in his many books on relationships, talks regularly about morning people versus night owls. I honor that. 

But, I still contend that, if you have to get up in the morning, you might as well get up happy. After all, in my 50+ years, I've only met one person who responded to considerate happiness with surly miserableness. And I think they were trying to be surly. 

Everybody else was clearly blessed by the happy morning person to some degree or another. In response, some give a little smile. Some chuckle. Some get downright happy. 

Smiles and happiness change things, especially when they flow from thinking about the goodness of our God. That's why the psalmist, in today's verse, is inspired to write, "Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!" (Psalm 147:1) 

So here's a great "happy, sing-praises-to-our-God" song to take into our day. If you can't carry a tune, at least carry it in your heart. It'll change your outlook on the day, and probably aaaaaalmost everybody else too. 

By the way, there are a gazillion little phrases like "God hears our prayers," or whatever else you like, that you can use to create and add verses, so be happy and have fun with it! Here's the song: 

"God is so Good" 

God is so good, 
God is so good, 
God is so good, 
He's so good to me! 

He cares for me, 
He cares for me, 
He cares for me, 
He's so good to me! 

I love Him so, 
I love Him so, 
I love Him so, 
He's so good to me! 

I praise His Name, 
I praise His Name, 
I praise His Name, 
He's so good to me! 

Praise God!

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Day of Praise

Tues, 12/20/16, "Day of Praise" 

"Then the word of the Lord Almighty came to me: 'Ask all the people of the land and the priests, "When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted?"'" - Zechariah 7:4-5 

Fasting is giving up earthly food for a meal or longer so you can focus on and eat the spiritual food that God alone can give, namely, the feast of His presence, the food that is fellowship with Father God. Jesus refers to this spiritual food in John 4, when the disciples are trying to give him earthly food; Jesus says, "I have food that you know nothing about." 

Recently, three different people have shared with me that they were fasting. They are different in that one's a young woman, one's a young man, and one's an older man. They are different in that their fasts were of varying lengths. But they are the same in that they all clearly know the Lord with a depth that is greater than the typical believer. 

As the new year is just around the corner, you may want to look into fasting as part of a new spiritual chapter in your life. 
I'm so excited that our Church Council agreed at our December meeting to have 2017 be a year of prayer, a year of praying together and learning together to pray. God's Word is clear in saying that prayer and fasting bless absolutely every area and moment of our life.

As a part of this year of prayer, some in our church have begun to read the book "Old Paths, New Power" by Daniel Henderson. Additionally, we're starting the new year with and we pray you'll please join us for our Friday, January 6, 2017, 7-9 p.m. prayer gathering in our Luther Room, facilitated by my friend, Pastor Kevin Moore, Executive Director of Mission Birmingham. And finally, to start the year of prayer, we're encouraging everyone to dig even deeper into prayer by buying and reading the book, "Transforming Prayer" by Daniel Henderson. 

Remember, just like the scripture with today's devotional, Jesus himself speaks of prayer and fasting by saying, "when you fast," not "if you fast." In other words, Jesus understands fasting to be as much a regular part of the life of faith as is worship, prayer, serving those in need, forgiveness, and tithing. Spiritual disciplines are not oppressive.  God's word tells us consistently that spiritual disciplines are just healthy. 

You may need to talk to your doctor before trying to fast, especially if it's more than one meal. But if you're able to try the spiritual discipline that is fasting, then it is certainly one way to grow into a deeper relationship with the Lord. 

May God bless you richly today. The Lord is with you by the power of the Holy Spirit, as He has shown us plainly in Jesus Christ. 

Praise God!

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Day of Praise

Mon, 12/19/16, "Day of Praise"

"To this John replied, 'A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.'" - John 3:27

Let me start by saying, "Congratulations, Calley!" Some months ago, many of you prayed for our oldest child when she took her medical college admissions test. Well, last week Calley received her first offers from medical schools, and she's probably heading to medical school in Chicago next Fall. So, yay, Calley! And thank you all for your prayers and interest!

Calley is also a great example of the encouragement in today's Bible verse, as John the Baptist's comment testifies to his acceptance of his station in life, namely, he's here to point to and rejoice in Jesus Christ. That's what Calley does; she points to and rejoices in Jesus Christ.

Whether down the street or across the globe, Calley aspires to be a missionary and share Jesus wherever she might go. Calley is living and pursuing the life that has been "given [her] from heaven" (John 3:27). Her life brings joy to her and all of us who know her.

That's what happens when you surrender to the Holy Spirit and accept your calling that's been given you from heaven. You bring joy to many. And you will bring joy to many in all the days that God grants you on this side of the resurrection.

So, friends, whatever you've got in front of you today, try to see it as a gift and a calling from God in Heaven. Then get after it with a spirit of thankfulness to God.

People will notice. Probably even perk up. And God will be praised. Yep! God will be praised!

Praise God!


Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Friday, December 16, 2016

Day of Praise

Sat, 12/17/16, "Day of Praise"

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13

Look for him. Listen for him. Trust him. Christ will be your strength.

May God bless you today!

Praise God!


Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Day of Praise

Fri, 12/16/16, "Day of Praise"

"My sins have been bound into a yoke; by his hands they were woven together. They have come upon my neck and the LORD has sapped my strength. He has handed me over to those I cannot withstand." - Lamentations 1:14

What does it mean that the LORD "has handed me over to those I cannot withstand"?

For whatever other things it could mean, one thing it does mean is this: whatever you feed will be the strongest. 

It is a way that God made things to work. The more you feed something, the stronger it becomes.

The internationally-noted Atlanta preacher, Andy Stanley, talks about this very plainly in his book "Enemies of the Heart". The more you feed something, the stronger it becomes.

God made us to hunger for God as we hear in Psalm 42:1, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God." If we would surrender to the Holy Spirit and feed our hunger for God, then our hunger for God and God's word and God's wisdom would grow stronger. 

But when we feed our hunger for the things of the world, like food or sex or violence or sugar or risqué tv or money or sports or alcohol or anger or pornography or power or material stuff, then our appetite for those things is actually not satisfied, but our appetite for those things grows. Before long, the appetite has become a strong appetite which becomes an addiction. It happens because it's a way that God made things to work. The more you feed something, the stronger it becomes.

This is the Order of Creation that's at work in Romans 1 where God inspires St. Paul to write: "Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts." (Romans 1:24-26a)

What are you hungry for? Is it something constructive of God? Or are you hungry for something destructive of the world?

If you're hungry for God and His truly satisfying word and His life-giving ways, then keep going and feed that hunger with God's word.

But if you're hungry for the perishing things and destructive ways of the world, take it to God. There may be medical elements to your growing appetite for perishing things, but ultimately God is The Great Physician who is able to truly free you because ultimately every matter is a matter of the heart. And being made in the image of God, God made our hearts to hunger for God as we hear in Psalm 42:1, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God."

Think about it. Pray about it. And I hope you might even grab Andy Stanley's book, "Enemies of the Heart". Pastor Stanley is truly God's servant to help us understand from scripture that the more you feed something, the stronger it becomes.

Praise God!


Pastor Chris 
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Day of Praise

Thur, 12/15/16, "Day of Praise"

"For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men." - Lamentations 3:31-33

I am thankful for my parents, athletic coaches, Boy Scout leaders, school teachers, pastors, Sunday School teachers, job supervisors, grandparents and anyone else that God worked through to bring the grief of discipline into my life as a child. 

All of them made me a better person through honest, pruning love. 

Bishops, Church Councils, bosses, Elder Boards, Personnel Committees, and other wise friends in Christ do the same for me as an adult. 

They speak truth that hurts to the end of shaping me into the likeness of Christ.

Today is Thursday. We don't usually get excited on any day, let alone weekdays, to hear truth that hurts.

But it seems to me that we're blessed to have anyone in our lives, be it God or a human being, who is willing to love us enough to tell us what we probably don't want to hear because their words will truly make us better. 

In that vein, as we read the two Bible passages below, let's pause and give thanks for people who are willing to love us enough to tell us what we probably don't want to hear because their words will truly make us better.

"If a man pampers his servant from youth, he will bring grief in the end." - Proverbs 29:21

"And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: 'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.' Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." - Hebrews 12:5-11

"For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men." - Lamentations 3:31-33

Praise God!

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Day of Praise

Wed, 12/14/16, "Day of Praise"

"Do not be afraid to serve the Babylonians," [Gedaliah] said. "Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you." - Jeremiah 40:9

Wait! Isn't Gedaliah one of God's people? And aren't the Babylonians the enemy? And Gedaliah's saying, "Serve the Babylonians"?

Yes.

I remember, years ago, facing the young man who had trespassed against me in a major way. Sinned against me in a major way. Hurt me in a major way. 

To be sure, there are nuances about the whole encounter that now, decades later, I'd do a little differently. But the major part of God's instruction to me was clear then and now.

Forgive the Babylonian, uh, I mean, forgive the guy who hurt you. Forgive your enemy. He's standing right in front of you, so stick out your hand. Greet him. Look him in the eye. And tell him that you forgive him. 

In so doing, you not only serve your enemy. You also serve yourself.

The rational (not emotional) decision to forgive serves not only your enemy. Forgiving your enemy, choosing not to pursue getting even, letting go of the figurative stranglehold on your enemy's throat, forgiving also serves the forgiver.

Forgiveness rids the forgiver of anger. And since anger can destroy the heart, ridding your heart of all anger, like sweeping away anything that feels like spider web when you unexpectedly walk into a spider web, rids the heart of all that would destroy your heart.

This is why St. Paul is God's servant to write in Ephesians 4:31, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." And in Colossians 3:8, "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips."

This is why Jesus, in Matthew 5:44, says, "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Because loving your enemies, praying for those who hurt you, serving your enemies, and getting rid of the cancer of anger from your heart, they all go hand in hand.

To be sure, the wound will be poked and called back to mind by a song or a smell or a story or something, and the hurt that was inflicted on you will be stirred again in your heart and mind.

But when this happens, look up to God, call on God's name and say, "Lord, I'm so thankful that you forgave me an infinite debt for my sin and rebellion against you. May your forgiveness in Christ be my strength to remember that I've already chosen to forgive the person who hurt me. It was a decision. And even now, as the hurt was stirred back up, give me your strength to return to and keep my decision in place so that you and your healing forgiveness, not destructive anger and hurt, are the rulers and master of my life. In Jesus's name I ask this. May it be so, Amen."

Friends, a hurt will most definitely be stirred today. Like Gedaliah in days of old, serve the enemy. Pray for them. Get rid of all anger, like sweeping away anything that feels like spider web in your heart. And return to a decision to forgive, just as God in Christ forgave you.

Praise God!



Pastor Chris 
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Monday, December 12, 2016

Day of Praise

Tues, 12/13/16, "Day of Praise"

"[The LORD says,] I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean" - Ezekiel 36:25

Sprinkle. Clean. Water.

What a nice reminder...

of Jesus telling us that God's grace, like rain showers, falls on all people,

of Jesus washing the disciples' feet and calling us to share such love,

of water spilling from Jesus's side when he was pierced on the cross where he died to cleanse us from sin,

of your baptism, where you heard of God's love for you, and you were touched with water and the Holy Spirit and, depending on your tradition, maybe declared your love for God too, right then or maybe it was later at your Confirmation,

of the water of hurricanes and our prayers for, on the one hand, the people who've tasted sorrow from those waters in recent history, but on the other hand, some drought-stricken lands that need water,

of the innumerable wonders of God relating to "Sprinkle. Clean. Water."

"[The LORD says,] I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean" - Ezekiel 36:25

Praise God!

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Day of Praise

Mon, 12/12/16, "Day of Praise"

"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'" - Daniel 3:16-18

 Dear Friends,

Come what may today, remember that if you have a personal faith in Jesus Christ, then you know the "God who is able." And you will be able, therefore, to stand and endure, with courage, confidence, and wisdom from God, whatever comes your way.

For God sends forth His word by the Holy Spirit that we might yield to His Spirit and receive His Word where God literally tells us what He "is able" to do for you and all who believe.

Daniel 3:17 - If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.

Daniel 6:20 - When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?" [Yes, God did.]

Matthew 26:61 - "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'" [Yes, Jesus did say that, as he referred to his body as the temple with the crucifixion and resurrection.]

Acts 5:39 - [Gamaliel said], "But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

Romans 8:39 - neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 11:23 - And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again [to the vine of God's people].

2 Corinthians 9:8 - And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Hebrews 7:25 - Therefore [Jesus Christ] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

God in Christ is able to do incomparable things for you and all people. Trust Him today, and you will see.

Praise God!

Friday, December 9, 2016

Day of Praise

Sat, 12/10/16, "Day of Praise"

"and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east" - Ezekiel 43:2

Amazing!

What must it have been like for Ezekiel to have seen the glory of God?

Can anything compare?

What are the greatest things you've ever seen?

I've seen three things on an internet list of top 10 sights in the world and 39 of a top 100 in the USA. 

But none of them compares to seeing my wife and three children sing and laugh and share a meal together (especially now, as they're all 17 and older). 

But God says in the Bible, in John 1:14, that each of us, like Ezekiel, has seen the greatest wonder known to humankind. We have beheld God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ, who even now is with us and dwelling in us by the person and power of the Holy Spirit. 

Describing what we've seen in Christ is hard. How do you describe "Glory" which is what some Bible dictionaries call "Weighty Importance" and "Inspiring Majesty"?

And yet it's possible. 

God's glory, God's "Weighty Importance" and "Inspiring Majesty" is seen through God's mighty acts in creation. 

No, you probably haven't seen the parting of the Red Sea as God did for Moses and the Israelites. 

But, c'mon, think! God has done something for you that, when you stop and think about it, it's marvelous to behold.

Stars at night. Heart stopper!

Cahaba Lilies by day. Breathtaking!

Birth of a child. Oh, wow!

Laughter of a child. Glorious!

Laughter of an adult. Miraculous!

Looking in the mirror and smiling at what you see because life is beautiful, and by God's grace you have it. Glory!

Dinner on the table, prepared by your teenage children. Are you kidding me?!?!?!?

At their initiative. Silly amazing!

Jesus on a cross. Shedding his blood for you and me. Speechless!

Peeking for a moment at your loved ones together and bowed before God in prayer saying, "Dear Lord, thank you for...". Priceless!

A sun rise in the east. Incomparable!

The Son Rising from the grave after dying for your sin and mine. Beyond understanding and explanation!

Glorious. Weighty. Important. Inspiring. Majestic. 

"and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east" - Ezekiel 43:2

Praise God!

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Day of Praise

Fri, 12/09/16, "Day of Praise"

"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" - James 1:19 

Many of us here at Christ the King Lutheran Church (LCMC) in Birmingham, Alabama remember our brother Tom Nelson's witness. Tom was at a conference at the World Trade Centers Hotel when the tragic events unfolded that day. His witness was and is that, as he and the others were being moved quickly away from the scene, he was moved by the Spirit of God to ask, "God, what do you want me to do?" 

Such is the essence of today's Bible verse from James 1:19. We are called to "be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" so we can ask, "God, what do you want me to do?" and then listen for God's reply. 

This same counsel is given by Andy Stanley in his book "Enemies of the Heart" as he describes the antidote to greed, which is generosity. Stanley says that you know that you have yielded to God's life-giving word so that generosity reigns in your heart over greed when you have a monetary windfall come your way and the first thing you do is ask, "God, what do you want me to do with this money?" 

The TV commercials for insurance are true; life does come at you fast. But as it does, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" (James 1:19). For in so doing we can listen for God's response as we ask, "God, what do you want me to do?" 

Praise God!

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Day of Praise

Thur, 12/08/16, "Day of Praise" 

"At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored." - Daniel 4:34 

Recently, someone dear to me asked if they could tell me something. "Of course," I said. They proceeded to tell me how they'd been drawn into the temptations of the world. 

When they were done, we talked about both the temptation itself but also the process of confessing. Their closing comment was, "I feel better now that I've told you." 

Confession is good for the soul. 

Just ask powerful King Nebuchadnezzar, who, in today's Bible verse, tells how he himself had persistently turned away from God by sinning. But God, Nebuchadnezzar confesses, was and is more powerful; God is powerful and loving enough to bring us down to our knees. 

And God is powerful and loving enough to restore us. 

Nebuchadnezzar, who had persistently opposed God, was so moved by God's power and love, in dealing with Nebuchadnezzar's sin, that Nebuchadnezzar was compelled to confess his own sin to the world and encourage others to do the same. For he says in Daniel 4:37, "And those who walk in pride, [God] is able to humble." 

Nebuchadnezzar had learned first hand what surely many of us have heard in Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." 

Let us be encouraged by powerful King Nebuchadnezzar's testimony and the dear one who said to me, "I feel better now that I've told you." 

Confession is good for the soul. 

Praise God!

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Day of Praise

Wed, 12/07/16, "Day of Praise" 

"Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up." - Psalm 71:20 

In the Bible book of Job, Job is said to be blameless, upright, a God-fearer, and one who shuns evil. And yet Job loses all; he's personally afflicted; and he curses his birth. 

How should we respond when calamity comes upon us, whether it's Job-like or 9-11ish or something to a much smaller degree at work or in our home? 

Giving up often makes things worse, so hopefully we won't give up. 

But how do we hang in there and not give up? God speaks through the Psalmist to Job and to all who've tasted any magnitude of difficulty, along with you and me. God calls us to stop and pray and believe the word of God in our verse, "Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up." (Psalm 71:20) 

Let us be found believing and encouraging others to do the same. And may God be praised as we do!

Praise God!

Monday, December 5, 2016

Day of Praise

Tues, 12/06/16, "Day of Praise"

"My face is red with weeping, deep shadows ring my eyes" - Job 16:16

God understands, and no one is exempt. God understands the weeping of every soul.

I remember the time I had just visited a dear friend's mom at a local hospital. When I came out of her room, a young nurse came up to me and said, "Chaplain, the woman in 3102 wants to see you."

I told the nurse that I wasn't one of the hospital's chaplains, but I'd be glad to visit the room nonetheless.

As I entered the room, the woman who requested the chaplain was quick to offer that she and the strong man, who was wearing the tight bandana, were not married as I would think of it, but they were married in the eyes of the Lord.

I'd been down this road before, and what that means is "Don't jump to conclusions! Listen! Because God understands, and no one is exempt."

The strong man didn't say a word as the woman, who was in bed awaiting open heart surgery, never stopped talking about her fears.

I merely listened, waited, and asked if I could pray with them.

Holding their hands (with hers being small and his like leather), I had barely said "Lord" and started praying God's promises, when the tears started to pour.

From both of them.

Small woman needing open-heart surgery. And large, strong, unshaven, bandana-covered, leather-handed man alike.

No one is exempt.

Our hearts, and more specifically our fears, as we walk in faith, yearn to hear and hunger to taste the promises of Almighty God in Jesus Christ.

Look at people today as God is looking at you. The eyes never lie. Someone is hurting in their heart, "My face is red with weeping, deep shadows ring my eyes" (Job 16:16).

Greet them. Ask how they're doing. Listen. And offer to pray.

The tears won't be far behind.

God understands the weeping of every soul. And we are his ears and mouthpiece of comfort for those who need to cry.

Praise God!

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Day of Praise

Mon, 12/05/16, "Day of Praise"

"How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?" - Psalm 137:4

Psalm 137 is a lament. A dictionary defines lament in this way: la·ment/ləˈment - Noun: A passionate expression of grief.

I respect grief.

But with all due respect, I think Psalm 137 is mislabeled. Psalm 137 is not a passionate expression of grief. It's whining.

Yes, things have not gone the way that the people want them to, but they do have a choice at this point. They can whine, or they can believe that God is in their midst, blessing them and working on the situation.

I have a friend who doesn't sing very well, but he's singing some kind of a God song all through the day. He's the happiest, most thoughtful, and most generous person I know. He's got troubles. But he's happy. Because he hums and sings and thinks about God all day.

Maybe there's something to that. Think about it. Better yet. Let's hum and sing about it. All through the day.

So, "How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?" (Psalm 137:4) Well, believe in God, trust God, and just do it. Sing and hum to God all day. You and those around you will be blessed.

Praise God!

Friday, December 2, 2016

Day of Praise

Sat, 12/03/16, "Day of Praise"

"Then Job replied: 'Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be righteous before God?
Though one wished to dispute with him, he could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?'" - Job 9:1-4

A dear, older friend of mine once summed up things like this, "God good; sin bad." Job used only slightly different words in today's verse, saying, "Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be righteous before God?"

Answer: We can't. 

We can no more be righteous, in and of ourselves, before God than I can reach out my screened window and grab these beautiful stars that I'm looking at this very moment. 

Yes, yes, I remember what we've said in this devotion, we noted from Job 1:1 how God speaks of Job as being "blameless." Surely Job could be righteous, in and of himself, before God, couldn't he? But, biblically speaking, "blameless" merely means a person who is confronted by their sin and doesn't have to be dragged into a legal courtroom to get them to admit that they messed up. 

So Job was blameless, but he was not sinless. 

No one is sinless, except Jesus, which means that no one's heart is so in tune with the will of God the Father that they constantly act in accord with God's will. Only Jesus.

Which throws us back to Job's original question in Job 9:1, "How can a mortal be righteous before God?"

Only through faith in Jesus, which means that we trust Jesus to make all things right, including us. 

To be sure, sometimes in surrendering to Jesus, he sends us to do something like pray for an enemy or pay retribution to someone we hurt.

But there is no way to pay back God. All we can do is thank Him.

So, "How can a mortal be righteous before God?"

Answer: 1) Don't wait to be dragged to court to admit a wrong. 2) Put your faith in God's Son, Jesus, who makes all things right. 3) Thank God. 4) Serve people...with a joy that springs from thanks to God.

That should make for a Happy Day and a Happy World. Let's go!

Praise God!

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Day of Praise

Fri, 12/02/16, "Day of Praise"

"And [God] said to man, 'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'" - Job 28:28

Throughout Job 28, Job has been repeatedly "asking" where one can find wisdom and understanding.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Job's conclusion is twofold: 1) wisdom and understanding do not belong to humanity and can't even be "found" by humanity and 2) wisdom and understanding belong to God and must be revealed by God to humanity, which is why "The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding." (Job 28:28)

The "fear of the Lord" can be summed as "a recognition that God is God, and we're not." And because God is God, God can do whatever God wants to do, including annihilate us for our sin, if God wanted to.

Such fear of the Lord, such recognition that God can do whatever God wants to do, including annihilate us for our sin, is God's ordained way to open the eyes of our heart then to the magnitude of God's grace.

As the famous song goes, it (grace) is amazing, simply amazing, unfathomable, inspiring beyond compare.

God's grace then compels us to "shun evil" and find that, just as God has ordained the fear of the Lord as wisdom, so too has God ordained that to shun evil is understanding (Job 28:28). It just works because God has ordained it that our brains just work better and see things they wouldn't otherwise see when we pursue God and flee/shun evil. It's amazing, God's saying, how many "Oh, I get it!" moments we have when running to God and running from evil.

After all, God is God, God is the Creator of how things work, and we're not.

"And [God] said to man, 'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'" - Job 28:28

Praaaaaaaaise God!