Day of Praise

Merry Christmas!

Also can you please come to our Christmas Eve Feast and/or worship?

Christ the King Lutheran Church
611 Riverchase Parkway West
Hoover, AL 35244

Monday, December 24, Christmas Eve schedule —
Feast is at 5:30 pm.
Candlelight and Communion Worship Services are at 4:30 pm, 7 pm, and 10 pm (with special music starting 30 minutes before each one).

Tuesday, December 25, Christmas Day schedule —
Worship is at 9 am and you're welcome to wear your pajamas as many of all ages do!

Please come!

Day of Praise

Fri, 12/21/18, "Day of Praise"

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

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. His life brought joy to him and all who knew him, not because his life was without pain but because pain and all things in his life were viewed through the lens of heaven and of God stooped down from heaven to us in the humble and life-giving love of Jesus Christ!

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, not because your life is without pain but because pain and all things in your life are viewed through the lens of heaven and of God stooped down from heaven to us in the humble and life-giving love of Jesus Christ!

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

Day of Praise

Thur, 12/20/18, "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

Day of Praise

Wed, 12/19/18, "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!

Day of Praise

Tues, 12/18/18, "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

Mon, 12/17/18, "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 sincerely only met one person who responded to considerate happiness with something a little less happy. And I sincerely think they were trying to be silly. (Hey, morning happiness includes giving people the benefit of the doubt, especially in the morning! 😀)

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!

Day of Praise!

Sat, 12/15/18, "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!

Day of Praise

Fri, 12/14/18, "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

Day of Praise

Thur, 12/13/18, "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!

Day of Praise

Wed, 12/12/18, "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

Day of Praise

Tues, 12/11/18, "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 and wildfire-ravaged 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!

Day of Praise

Mon, 12/10/18, "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!

Day of Praise

Sat, 12/08/18, "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!

Day of Praise

Fri, 12/07/18, "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!

Day of Praise

Thur, 12/06/18, "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!

Day of Praise

Wed, 12/05/18, "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!

Day of Praise

Tues, 12/04/18, "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!

Day of Praise

Mon, 12/03/18, "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 then to open the eyes of our heart 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!

Day of Praise

Sat, 12/01/18, "Day of Praise"

"Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting" - Daniel 5:5-6, 27

One of the all-time favorite activities is doodling. Ya know, while you're supposedly listening to someone else, you're drawing stuff on paper. Doodling. 

I knew this guy in college who was constantly doodling crosses. All kinds of crosses. One cross looked like a scales; ya know, scales--the ancient way of weighing things, where you put something like a piece of silver on one side and a supposedly honest measure on the other to see how much the silver weighs. The key words being "supposedly honest" because the merchants used to cheat people all the time.

Like King Belshazzar of today's Bible verse. He apparently cheated his people all the time. So God sized him up and, through Daniel, told King Belshazzar, "you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting" (Daniel 5:27).

The "writing was on the wall" (Daniel 5:5-6), which is where we get that old expression from. We get it from the Bible. It's as if God is doodling crosses that look like scales and, like King Belshazzar, "the writing is on the wall" for all of us. And "we have been weighed in the balances and found wanting."

Uh oh. Unless, something happens to change things, we'd all be doomed. 

And fortunately, God makes something happen. God sends his Son, Jesus Christ, to take on a very plain cross, with nothing fancy about it. It's a wooden post down into the ground and a wooden post going cross ways. 

The writing was on the wall. We were going to perish because we'd been weighed by a fancy cross, a scales, and we'd been found wanting, lacking, falling short, not measuring up to the righteousness required for fellowship with God forever. The writing was on the wall, and we were on our way to hell. 

But praise God that "God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son," that whosoever believes in His forgiving work, on that plain old cross, would not perish, but have eternal life. 

So now, for all who believe in Jesus, there's a new writing on the wall. Life forever with God. 

So if we get bored at all today, maybe we could doodle that! And may God be praised as we do! 

Praise God!