Day of Praise

Fri, 03/01/19, "Day of Praise"

"Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon." - Acts 9:43

At the heart of the whole thing is this reality that Peter stayed in the city with a man named Simon, who was a tanner. With this is also the reality that Jesus had changed Peter's name from Simon to Peter. So people named Simon being changed is important here. 

While Peter was at Simon's house, the whole city experienced miraculous visions (eyes), voices (ears), healing (body), and resurrection (new life). Simon's city was totally transformed by God through Peter because Peter was in Christ and because Peter shared Christ in all that he said and did. 

But there's more. 

If you search the various studies, there's this whole big discussion about the meaning of Simon's name. In sum, the consensus is that Simon's name means "hearer". But the discussion around the name Simon is that the result of his hearing depends on what he does or does not do with what he hears. 

It's significant in today's verse that Simon is a tanner, that is someone who patiently works with a hide to make it useful. The connection is that Simon the tanner patiently hears and works with, i.e. he obeys, the word of Christ that Peter imparts to him.

The name "Peter", you may know, means "rock", as in "a sure foundation". So Simon the tanner's city is transformed by visions, voices, healings, and resurrections because the foundation-giving rock of God's word of Christ is obeyed and lived out with trust in God. 

I know that's a lot to follow in a short time, but it's not only interesting to study further if you have a chance, but there's also two simple encouragements to take with us into the day. 

One, if you really care about someone whose life needs help, then be a "Peter". Be someone who explicitly shares the strong, foundation-giving, life-changing word of God about Jesus. Better yet, get to know Jesus personally and introduce Jesus himself personally to people. 

Second, if you want to see your own life and your "city" (the people around you) changed for the better, then don't just listen to God's word, but patiently hear, learn from, trust, work with, obey, live, and share God's word, and invite others to do all the same! Be a doer of God's word, like Jesus says plainly in Matthew 7 in the parable of the wise builder. 

"Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon." (Acts 9:43) And it changed the lives of many. 

May God's word dwelling in, with, and through us all then change the lives of many others too!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Thur, 02/28/19, "Day of Praise"

"All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel." - Acts 6:15

Hey! You're better lookin' than ya think.

Ya see, that's part of your problem. You think too much. What ya need to do is stop thinkin' about how ya look and start believin' how ya look...

...in God's eyes. 

I mean, c'mon, you look in the mirror, and what do ya think? What ya think is what ya see on the outside. 

But God is looking at something else as He says to Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7, "The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Whatever it is you might be lookin' at in the mirror and whatever you might be thinkin' about what you see in the mirror, here's the truth. You are the apple of God's eye (Psalm 17:8). (In case you're not up on Bible-speak, to be the apple of God's eye means that you are beautiful in His eye. Totally handsome/beautiful.) And you are the apple of His eye because He created you and crafted you in His love, which is a choosing, sacrificial, unconditional love. 

In Deuteronomy 32:10-11, God declares His love of your beauty and handsomeness in this way because you belong to Him. He says that he shields you and cares for you; he guards you "as the apple of his eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft." It's like a 30-year old dad smilin' and pickin' up his 4-year old child and raisin' you high above his head and swingin' you in the air and tellin' you how wonderful you are and how much you mean to him.

You don't think about that as a 4-year old. You just soak it in and enjoy the ride and the words and the love. You don't even think about believin' it. You don't think at all. I'll say it again; you just soak it in and enjoy the ride and the words and the love.

It just is. And there ain't no arguin' about it.

You are beautiful. 

You are handsome. 

It's the beauty and handsomeness and attractiveness and radiance that overflows from a child that is being loved with such a grand and uplifting love that all they can do is laugh and smile and enjoy the breeze in their face as the Strong One lifts them high to the heavens. 

That's what was goin' on with Stephen long ago as spoken of in today's Bible verse, "All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel." (Acts 6:15)

Did ya' catch that? "[Stephen's] face was like the face of an angel." (Acts 6:15)

So what do you think Stephen really looked like?

Eh, eh, eh! Stop! Stop thinkin'!

Stephen was so enjoying the love of God for him in Jesus Christ that he didn't give a second thought to what he looked like. My goodness, he didn't give it the first thought. 

He just enjoyed. 

That he was the apple of God's eye. 

And so are you! You look, well, you look like an angel!

Believe it! Because God says it's true!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Wed, 02/27/19, "Day of Praise"

"When Peter saw this, he said to them: 'Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?'" - Acts 3:12

Today, something will happen, as happens every day, that you will not be able to comprehend. You won't be able to wrap your mind around it. It just won't compute. You will not be able to fix it by your "own power or godliness." (Acts 3:12)

Maybe someone will blatantly run a stop sign as happened to me recently. "How can that be?," you say. "I just don't understand. So let me honk my horn!" As if horn honking really changes anything...except your own blood pressure.

Or maybe, your boss or your neighbor or someone you live with will speak to you with a tone that makes you ask, "What is wrong with people?" And, what? You think asking that question again will suddenly reveal an answer when none of us have yet figured out the answer in all the other days that we've asked it. (Heeey! Pssssst! What's wrong with people is this little thing called sin. Oh, and by the way, it's the same thing that's wrong with you and me too.)

Or maybe, a family member will break some bad news to you. They tell you that a family member has cancer. "I can't wrap my mind around that," you cry. "It pains me to think of them suffering or the thought of them not being around." The mind just can't grasp it, so we grasp a hold of each other in love. And hopefully somebody faiths out a prayer so we can lean into God's grasp on us. 

Yes, today, something will happen, as happens every day, that you will not be able to comprehend, that you will not be able to fix by your "own power or godliness" (Acts 3:12) or strength.

That's what happened to Peter in today's Bible verse. "A man who was lame from birth (Acts 3:2)" asked Peter and John for money. And Peter hadn't a clue what he should do. So he did the only thing he could do when the mind and the biceps and the wallet are impotent. Oh sure, you would think he poured out the problem to Jesus in prayer, though it's not said explicitly that Peter did. 

What he did do, we know, was even better.

Peter poured out Jesus onto the problem. "Peter said, 'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.'" (Acts 3:6)

And just like that, it was taken care of. "And instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God." (Acts 3:7-8)

Now, the people, who knew the lame man and saw him walk and jump, they just couldn't wrap their minds around it and "were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him." (Acts 3:10) So Peter spoke to the befuddled crowd as noted in today's verse. "When Peter saw this, he said to them: 'Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?'" (Acts 3:12) And then Peter said, "By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see." (Acts 3:16)

Friends, did you get that?

Not "by our own power or godliness." (Acts 3:12) 

"It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see." (Acts 3:16)

Today, something will happen, as happens every day, that you will not be able to comprehend. You won't be able to wrap your mind around it. It just won't compute. You will not be able to fix it by your "own power or godliness." (Acts 3:12)

Pour out Jesus on it.

His "name and the faith that comes through him [will] completely [heal it], as you [will] see." (Acts 3:16)

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Tues, 02/26/19, "Day of Praise"

[Peter said,] "These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.'" - Acts 2:15-17

Most of you underestimate yourself. 

God wants to do great things through you. God is working to do great things through you. Since the day that Jesus was raised from the dead, God has been pouring out His Holy Spirit to wash you, to immerse you, to baptize you with His Holy Spirit. 

I heard people just yesterday, as I do everyday, talking about their awakening to the things of God, to the Spirit of God. 

I heard other people worried about, well, other things. 

God wants everyone to awaken more each day to the things of God, to the Spirit of God. Isn't that what God says in today's verses? "I will pour out my Spirit on all people (Acts 2:17)."

If you're a person, you're included in "all people."

Oh sure, I know that some people believe that this stuff that I'm talking about was just in Bible times, that the Spirit was a Bible times thing, that miracles stopped with the Biblical Twelve Apostles. 

Like I said earlier, most of you underestimate yourself.

Years ago, I read the late John Osteen's book, "Becoming a Man of Unwavering Faith". It talks about what every human being experiences on a daily basis, namely, the world is full of people and forces that are trying to talk you out of claiming and living in the blessings and power that God has wanted you to have since His Son, Jesus, died for you and rose from the dead so He could live in you with authority and power by way of God's Holy Spirit.

I know that there are some out there reading this who think I'm crazy. But, since I'm a Christian in the Lutheran tradition, I'll point to the example of Martin Luther, who was not perfect to be sure but who lived outside "Bible times" in the power of the Holy Spirit, standing up to forces of nature, government, ecclesiastical authority, and the Devil himself. Luther had a marvelous sense of humor, a sharp mind, strong morals, a beautiful family, an amazing record of hospitality and almsgiving, and a keen understanding that the present moment is the most precious moment. And he had all this while constantly attacked by guilt, depression, and political and "churchy" opponents. 

Martin Luther had this amazing life, though, not because he was special. But because he came, by God's grace, to learn and believe and then know with deep conviction that God wanted more for him than guilt, depression, and political and "churchy" opponents. 

God wanted Luther to know the blessings and power of the Almighty Living God through His Son, Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, which filled Luther and unleashed a courage, a marvelous sense of humor, a sharp mind, strong morals, a beautiful family, an amazing record of hospitality and almsgiving, and a keen understanding that the present moment is the most precious moment.

And God wants all that for you too! 

Isn't that what God says in today's verses? "I will pour out my Spirit on all people (Acts 2:17)."

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Mon, 02/25/19, "Day of Praise"

"Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid." - Mark 16:8

This is a very interesting ending to the Gospel of Mark.

Trembling, bewildered, fled, said nothing to anyone, afraid.

Those are hardly terms that you'd use to start a church today. They're not happy terms. They're not contemporary music material. They're not terms of material prosperity.

But they're real.

And they're terms which create a crossroads. They force a decision.

You can either reject them altogether or you can say in faith, "Lord, what do you want me to do?"

Just out of curiosity, let me ask you a question, "How many times a day do you think you stop and say, 'Lord, what do you want me to do?'"

As a Christian in the Lutheran tradition, I'm a part of a tradition that holds to what's called a "Theology of the Cross." Very simply, historically, we Lutherans spend time considering the horror and ugliness of the cross of Jesus. As with a few other Christian traditions, we observe Ash Wednesday (this year March 6) and Good Friday (this year April 19), which also are not happy and joyful times.

But they create a crossroads. They force a decision. You can either reject them altogether. Or you can say in faith, "Lord, what do you want me to do?"

That's what things do that are characterized by "Trembling, bewildered, fled, said nothing to anyone, afraid." (Mark 16:8)

They force us to decide if we're going to go it alone. Or are we going to reach for Almighty God, and call on his name, call on God's Son Jesus, call on the Holy Spirit and ask for God's wisdom, his counsel, his help, and his strength?

Real life is filled with a thousand of these moments everyday. A thousand crossroads. 

God wants to be your God, your wisdom, your counsel, your help, and your strength.

Call on Him.

He will answer.

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Sat, 02/23/19, "Day of Praise"

After last week's car horn-honking, laugh-inducing, God praising devotional, it has been requested by a faithful Day of Praise reader that this Monday, February 25, 2019, at 7:45 a.m., be a "Honk if you love Jesus!" minute. Please, of course, I say with a smile, use good discretion if you're directly behind someone in traffic!!!

Now to today's devotional! 

Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

When Jesus died for us on the cross, he took away something, namely, the penalty for our sin that belonged to us. 

But he also gave us something.

He gave us heart. 

His heart. 

"Take heart!" Jesus said in today's verse. 

He gave us his heart because the troubles of this world eat at our heart, erode our heart, and cause us to lose heart. So Jesus died to pour out his heart, to give us his heart, so our hearts would be renewed. 

Friends, God, through Christ, is offering to renew your heart, to make it whole again, so your joy can be restored. 

And we all want joy, don't we?
I mean, what's the alternative? A weary, heartless, joyless existence. 

My wife and our kids and I laugh together everyday. And I mean everyday. Our 20-year old son said one time that his friends like our family because we laugh together, we're fun, we have heart. Our daughters constantly brought their friends to our home from their respective colleges. We'd sit around and talk. We'd laugh. It was a heart-filled time. We'd smile. We'd read the Day of Praise together. We'd take heart...Jesus' heart...because he pours it into our family, our friendships, and our home by the power of his Holy Spirit.

I tell you these things, not because our family is special, but because there is heart to be had. 

Jesus' heart. 

Where people are willing to believe that the troubles of this world are not all that there is in this world. 

And where people are willing to believe that the troubles of this world are far from the greatest power in this world. 

Jesus, the Son of God, has overcome the world!

That's why he says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

Take heart, Dear Friends! Take Jesus' heart! He freely offers it to you!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Fri, 02/22/19, "Day of Praise"

But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here."
On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. -
Luke 23:5-7

Well, this is a simple praise.

In today's verse, Pilate passes the buck and dumps his situation on Herod. Herod will do the same to Pilate. Tragically, because of our sin, we all tend to pass the buck.

Fortunately, God is different. In the cross of Jesus, God says, "The buck stops here." Instead of passing on problems, God in Christ bears our problems, our wounds, and all the ugliness and consequence of our sin. The buck stops here with Jesus Christ. There is no passing it on to the next guy like Pilate and Herod did to each other and like we do to each other in our weakness and sin.

So, when you're frustrated and wondering, "Will this ever end?", then look to Jesus. Because with Jesus, the Son of the Living God, the buck stops here.

Lean on Him. Cast your cares on Him because he loves you and cares for you.

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Thur, 02/21/19, "Day of Praise"

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths." - 

Proverbs 3:5-6.

 

What's in front of you today?

 

Is there anything where you're thinking "I'm worried about that" or wondering "how's that going to unfold"?

 

My day's filled with things that make me think and wonder. I'm guessing yours is too. Praise God!

 

Praise God because God has "made a way" for all these things to work out well. Everything from a way out of temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13) to a way through the meetings and matters of the day (Proverbs 16:9), God has made a way.

 

This is why God encourages us in today's verse to "acknowledge the Lord in all our ways" because in all our ways, God has made a way.

 

Live today believing that, come what may, God will guide the way.

 

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Wed, 02/20/19, "Day of Praise"

"It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love." - John 13:1

The reason today's verse means so much to me is because I know how much it means to many of you. And it means so much to many of you because of what's going on in your lives. 

Hey KS, I'm talkin to you. Hey LF, I'm talkin to you. Hey WS, I'm talkin to you. In fact, if you're reading this, I'm talkin to you. 

It means a lot to us, doesn't it? When somebody knows us and our circumstances and when they make time for us, to love us and encourage us and pray for us, it means a lot, doesn't it?

And yet, as much as our love and encouragement and prayers mean to us as we share with one another, how much more are we loved by our God through His Son, our Savior, Jesus, the Christ? How much does God's love mean to us?

"Having loved his own who were in the world, [Jesus] now showed them the full extent of his love." (John 13:1)

And what exactly did Jesus do in order to show them the full extent of his love at this point of his earthly life?

He washed their feet.

He suffered for their sin, literally down to the bloody bone.

He died for them, took their place on the cross.

And he conquered the power of their sin, which is guilt.

Then he rose from the dead to pour out the promised Holy Spirit so he could live in the hearts of all who would receive him in faith.

And he conquered the power of their death, which is fear. (Fear is paralyzing. It opens the door to spiritual attack.) Jesus conquered our fears. Give your fears to Jesus.

Then he went to heaven and prepared a place for us. He went to His Father's house and prepared a place for you and me.

Then he poured out Holy Spirit so that he could live in us and dine with us. Day after day after everlasting and eternal day.

Some of you, at this point, are in a hurry and need to go. So you're in a hurry for this devotion to be done. I understand. More importantly, God understands.

But for those of you who have another minute or two, I just wanted to tell you again about an old woman, Juanita, in our church who lost her mind a couple years before she died. (I want to tell you this story again because my First Holy Communion teacher, Ms. Lib Alvey died just about a week ago.) Juanita was receiving Holy Communion at her nursing home. Upon being told all that Jesus did in order "to show the full extent of his love" for her, this old and mindless woman was clearly taking time to think about it. After taking it all in, this old and mindless woman smiled and glowed and said, "He did all that for me?"

Friends, if you have a minute later today, maybe you could revisit the above list of things that Jesus did in order "to show the full extent of his love" for you. 

Maybe with that revisiting you could pick up the phone or visit an elderly person who would be blessed to be reminded of all that Jesus did for them. 

Because the answer to the question is, "Yes, He did all that for you." And he did it because he knows you and your circumstances and so he makes time for you, to love you and encourage you and pray for you.

It means a lot, doesn't it?

Pass it on and...

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Tues, 02/19/19, "Day of Praise"

 

Acts 10:22-23 - "The men replied, 'We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.' Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests."

 

Remember Fantasy Island? Mr. Roarke. Tattoo ("de plane, de plane"). An island where tasteful dreams came true.

 

One tasteful dream that I hear is "I wish I lived in Bible times."

 

Truth is...you can. And you don't even need Mr. Roarke.

 

In today's verse, God gives a simple way to live in Bible times...invite people into your home and share a talk about Jesus, just like Cornelius and Peter did.

 

Now inviting people in your home does have a price...a little time and food. But that's a lot cheaper than Fantasy Island.

 

And your experience will be real!

 

So pick up the phone. Invite some folks over. Share some food, fellowship, and faith.

And let the good times, the Bible times, begin again!!!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Mon, 02/18/19, "Day of Praise"

"I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope." - Psalm 130:5

What are you waiting for?

Some wait for weekends. Some wait for holidays. Some wait on somebody else.

In today's verse, God calls us to wait on Him, to wait on the LORD.

In case you don't know, when the LORD wants us to wait on the LORD, it's not the same as a lord wanting us to wait on a lord.

The LORD is The One Who Is Over All Things. A lord is over some little thing.

So when the word of the LORD tells me He's going to make something right, then I'll throw my whole being into waiting however long it takes. Why should I care how long? He's the LORD! He's Over All Things. So I can calm down and wait.

Now I don't have this waiting on the LORD thing perfected. Guess you don't either. But he's teaching us. So we can be patient. By his grace we'll learn to wait and hope in his word.

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Sat, 02/16/19, "Day of Praise"

"Praise God in His sanctuary... with stringed instruments and horns." - Psalm 150:1+

Just when you think you've seen it all. More signs of intelligent life in the universe.

I'm driving through the neighborhood of my church. It's a neighborhood...not an interstate.

So I'm driving the speed limit, and a guy behind me is clearly annoyed. What else could I think? He's practically in my back seat.

But then he gets really annoyed because I come to a STOP sign and...(Drum roll)...stop! What a novel idea.

Not to my bud in my back seat.

He lays on the horn.

Oh wait! My bad. Today's verse says "Praise Him with stringed instruments and horns." That's what my new friend was doing! He was praising God with his horn.

My bad, Buddy. Next time, I'll honk back. :-) After all, I too want to Praise God!

Keep a sense of humor out there, friends. It's a horn-honking-world.

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Fri, 02/15/19, "Day of Praise"

"Praise God according to the abundance of his greatness." - Psalm 150:2

Whenever we have a monthly prayer and healing service or prayer summit, it goes a couple hours, and people still stay and talk afterward. It's as if they're saying that they just can't get enough of God's goodness and healing through Christian fellowship, worship, and prayer.

Made me think about God's abundance.

Ever counted seeds on a strawberry? Abundance!

Seeds in a melon? Abundance!

Stars in the sky? God's abundance is everywhere.

But look again at our verse. "Praise him according to the abundance of his greatness." It's easy to look to God for the abundance of stuff. But God teaches us to look to him and praise him for his greatness! That's where abundant life is, in the pure essence of God, knowing him for who he is. Praising him purely for his greatness.

Try it. Top of each hour, deep breath, eyes closed, look to God in faith, from your inmost being say, "God, I praise you for your abundant greatness!"

God says you'll have an abundantly great day.

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Thur, 02/14/19, "Day of Praise"

"Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection." - Hebrews 11:35

God's not only worthy of our praise, for God is almighty and abounding in faithful love. But God's also given us people who inspire us to stay the course and to trust God no matter what. One of those people for me was Elizabeth Alvey, who was 93 when she passed, having been born December 26, 1923 and having been THE key person who encouraged me to be a pastor from the time I was in ninth grade in Kingsport, TN.

Today's verse speaks of people both who trusted God and saw miracles and also who trusted God and tasted death.

Their inspiration was the "better resurrection" that God promised in Jesus. The "lesser" is what we get when we turn from Jesus so we can have what the world offers. The "better" is what we get when we turn from the world so we can have what God offers.

Hebrews 11 lists how people lived for the "better". They inspire us.

Who lives for the "better" and inspires you? Praise God for them!

And as I did, but I wish I'd done more often, with Elizabeth Alvey, tell them now how they have inspired you to trust the Lord. Tell them now both so they can enjoy you thanking them while they're alive (because Elizabeth Alvey can't hear me now that she's deceased) and also so you can inspire them to keep inspiring others.

How awesome would the world be if we all regularly thanked those who encourage us to trust and praise and share the Lord with others? I think it would surely be a world that is tasting a lot more of the "better" even now until the BEST of heaven is given at the final resurrection to all who trust God's work through Jesus!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Wed, 02/13/19, "Day of Praise"

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." - 

Mark 10:23-27

I have a question for all of you. Really. Why do you think the disciples were amazed at Jesus' words when he said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"?

Now, letting a few people that I heard talking recently represent all of you, I'll answer your question. What does Jesus mean when he says, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God"?

Well, in Jesus' day, cities were built with walls around them in order to better protect them from attack. Obviously, you needed a gate for citizens to get through the wall and into the city. However, the broader the gate was then the weaker the wall was. So they made the gate as narrow as possible. It was like "the eye of a needle."

The problem with a narrow gate (a needle eye), however, was the trouble that it created for the merchants, who brought their goods mostly by camel. The goods weren't piled high on the camel; instead the goods were strapped on the sides of the camel. Thus, the loaded camel was wider than "the eye of the needle." 

In order to bring their goods into the city, the merchant had to go to the time-consuming and very annoying trouble of unloading the camel, walking the camel through the gate, bringing in the goods, and then reloading the camel to get the goods to the right place within the city. 

The whole unloading/loading ordeal at the gate was further complicated by the fact that beggars knew that the gate was the best place to beg. The beggars knew that even the most hard-hearted merchant had a hard time not giving to the beggars when they could plainly see the quantities and values of their goods stacked on the ground right next to fellow human beings who had nothing. The merchant would always lose something during the unloading/loading ordeal--either a portion of their goods by virtue of giving something to the beggars or a portion of their soul by virtue of not giving something to the beggars. You can imagine all sorts of scenarios with that. 

Bottom line: it was easier for that unloaded camel to get through the eye of that needle-narrow gate than it was for the merchant to get through with all his goods. 

The lesson here can be stated in a couple ways. 

One, let go! You just flat-out can't let your heart get attached at all to your stuff because you ain't gonna be carrying a lick of it through the eye of the needle that is the gate to the kingdom of heaven. 

And two, examine your relationships! Do they match God's Word? Here's the Biblical matches in our relationships--trust God; love your neighbor; and manage your stuff. 

Any shift from the Biblical matching is absolutely disastrous, such as, manage God; trust your neighbor; and love your stuff. 

Only the Biblical matches make it possible for any of us to pass through the eye of the needle. We must trust God (not our stuff) to bring us to heaven. We must love our neighbor (not our stuff) to see the value of the people in front of us, begging for a little mercy, affirmation, and conversation. And we must manage our stuff so that God is glorified and people are blessed. 

Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." - 

Mark 10:23-27

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Tue, 02/12/19, "Day of Praise" 

When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. - John 18:6 

In today's verse, the soldiers, and others armed with weapons, came to arrest unarmed Jesus, and they fell to the ground when he spoke because they inherently knew the might that was before them in Jesus. It was almighty might. 

And still is today. 

As believers, we know that, though God in Jesus Christ does indeed have power that is rightly honored and worshiped and revered, God has shown us in Jesus that he chooses to use all His might for you. To overcome our sin. To overcome our fears. To overcome our infirmities. To overcome our doubts. To overcome all that would steal, kill, and destroy our heart (John 10:10). 

Friends, almighty Jesus, Son of God, is here, and he's for you! 

Thus the saying, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). And "No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn." (Isaiah 54:17)

God is for you. And we know this in Jesus Christ! 

So get out there, and have a great day with Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. For he to whom all will bow down, yes, he has shown in his being and his death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead and his desire to live in you by the Holy Spirit he poured and pours out on and into all who receive him, this Jesus, Son of God, is totally for you! 

Honor and praise and trust him, and you'll see!

Praise God!!

Day of Praise

Mon, 02/11/19, "Day of Praise"

"On hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'" - Mark 2:17

When I was a kid, I liked going to the doctor and the dentist. Dr. White and Dr. Montgomery apparently were great at their trades. All I knew was they were nice. They never made me feel bad when something needed healing or fixing, even if it was my fault for its condition. But the bottom line was that they made sure I knew if something was out of whack, and they took care of it.

Jesus does the same thing. Tell your unbelieving friends that there's no need to run from Jesus. Jesus doesn't make us feel bad when something needs healing or fixing, even if it is our fault for its condition. He makes sure we know if something is out of whack, and he takes care of it.

In sum, there's no need to act like we've got it all together, when we don't. God (in Romans 3:10) makes it clear, "There is no one righteous, not even one." We all need a doctor, the Great Physician.

I know from experience, and I hope you do too, that Jesus can make things a whole lot better. So bring him your messes, your wounds, your mistakes, your broken hearts. The Doctor is here for you!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Mon, 02/08/19, "Day of Praise"

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. - John 11:43-44

It has been said that it's a good thing that Jesus said Lazarus's name when he shouted "Come out!" into the tomb or else every single dead person would've been raised up and walked out of that tomb. 

Such is the power of God's Word. God says it, and it's done. 

Friends, when you were baptized, you were called by name out of death into new life. God's word says, "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Romans 6:3-4)

So many Christians live defeated lives, like a 6-ton (12,000 pound) male Asian, circus elephant that is kept in place by a small stake because it's been beaten down in it's training as a youth. It believes it has no power to break free from that stake when, in actuality, the stake is no match for the beast. 

So too, many Christians, not knowing or believing in the power of God's Word that's available to them, are kept in place by the small stake of circumstance because you've been beaten down by the world. You believe you have no power to break free from that stake when, in actuality, the stake is no match against God's Word in your life. 

Friends, Jesus is the Lord of all creation. Through him all things were made (John 1:3). When you were baptized, he called you by name from death into new life. 

So live today victoriously. 

Believe! Believe that Christ has more than a tomb prepared for your life. Come out of the tomb of despair and glumness. Believe that when Christ called your name in Baptism, he called you to share in his joy and victory.

And boldly speak the same to others that they too might have a new life. 

A great big, go-get-em hug to you all! Mmmmm mmm! Jesus is alive. And you are loved with a powerful and everlasting love. 

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Thur, 02/07/19, "Day of Praise"

"And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good." - Romans 7:16

Have you ever done what you "do not want to do"? (Romans 7:16a)

For as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to do better than last time. Whatever it was, I wanted to do better next time. But somehow, I regularly wind up doing again what I "do not want to do."

God knows this about me. God knows this about you. That's why God gave us the law. 

Because I way too often do what I do not want to do, "I agree that the law is good." (Romans 7:16b) Thank you God for giving us the law. 

There's a lot that I could say about the law being good. But let me just tell you a couple things that the law does well. 

First, it shows me what I could've done better, ya know like, love my God, love my wife, love my kids, love my mom, love my in-laws, love my neighbors, love my enemies. The law shows me I could love all of them better. And it shows me in what ways I could love all of them better. So the law is good because it shows me what I could do better and how I can do it better. 

And second, the law shows me how blessed I am. Let's take, say, my in-laws. I mean, we're talking about the law being good so we might as well talk about the in-laws being good. 

So let me tell y'all; I have the best in-laws. Daddy Bruce and Pam. Sister Kat and Will and sweet niece, Marley. Mama Martha. Sister (aunt) Beth. Aunt Sue and her clan. Aunt Becky and her clan. See, they don't really have to love me except that the law tells them that they have to because I married Amanda. So by way of Amanda and me being married, they're in-laws. 

But sometimes, "I do what I do not want to do." (Romans 7:16a) Sometimes I don't show my in-laws the love like I should because, well, I act like me, instead of acting like I should, ya know, I should act like Jesus. But I don't. I act like me. And in return, they, well, they don't act like me. Instead they act like Jesus, loving me for the stinker that I am, not because they have to, but because they love me. In other words, the law sets a standard, and then my in-laws go waaaaaaaaaay past the standard. The law says the in-laws have to love me. But the in-laws don't love me because they have to; they love me because they're awesome. So the law helps me to see how crazy blessed I am because my in-laws love me way more than the law tells them they need to. I'm telling y'all. I have the best in-laws. 

So there ya go! The in-laws are great! And the law is good!

Because a lot of times "I do what I do not want to do." (Romans 7:16a)

Spread the love, Friends! Spread the love!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Wed, 02/06/19, "Day of Praise"

But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. - Matthew 17:7-8

I love life. 

And the older I get, the more I understand why Jesus says the greatest command is to love God with all ya got and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). God and your neighbor. They're what makes life lovable. And they're the only loves that will definitely be in heaven.  There might be baseball, doughnuts, pets, and ice cream, but the Bible says that there will definitely be God and people in heaven. 

For whatever else we might believe or think or hope is in the everlasting heaven, we can be sure that there will be two things: God and, by God's grace, people. 

Yep, God and people. They're what makes life lovable. 

I so so soooooo love my wife and three kids and son-in-law. My parents. My three siblings and their families. My in-laws. My church family. My Day of Praise friendships. My neighborhood friends. The people I meet along life's path. 

So blessed. 

From time to time, I'll stop and check my blood pressure in that little machine they have in pharmacies. Usually my blood pressure's a little higher than I want when I first check it. So then I take a breath, close my eyes, and imagine the faces of a few very specific people. Different people each day. It's amazing how their faces calm me. And my blood pressure. 

But God, through today's Bible verses, invites us to recognize that, as great and calming as all those people can be, God has sent us His only Son, Jesus. And Jesus comes to us and touches us and, if we need it, picks us up and speaks to us, saying, "Don't be afraid." 

And it's so divine and heavenly and spirit-filled that we, like the disciples long ago, are given to look up and see no one except Jesus.

So I close my eyes again, and I picture Jesus, the Good Shepherd. I can see that he's led me and the other sheep to a sloping green pasture with woods far to the right. The green pasture slopes down into a lake of still waters, so still, in fact, that the moon makes a glassy smooth runway of light that only stops at the shoreline at the exact spot from which the Good Shepherd is watching us. He has a strong and yet gentle smile on his face. I can see it, even with his back to the light, because there's an aura around him. Not from the moon behind him. But from the love within him. 

So he glows. 

And my blood pressure drops to what, for me, are ridiculously low (read, "calm") numbers. 

And I know the other sheep are there. And I love the other sheep. They're my sweet, smart and best of all spirit-filled little wifey. 😀 My three kids and son-in-law. My parents. My in-laws. My three siblings and their families. My church family. My Day of Praise friendships. My neighborhood friends. People I meet along life's path. And I even sense some enemies with whom the Shepherd has brought reconciliation. 

But it's like we're all in a trance. A mesmerized bliss. We just can't take our eyes off of Jesus. 

It's like heaven. 

It probably is.

But it's now. Before we die. 

For us all. 

Together. 

Because, in His presence, we all love life. 

And the older we get, the more we understand why Jesus says the greatest command is to love God with all ya got and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). 

God and your neighbor. 

They're what makes life lovable.

And because of Jesus we can see both of them, God and people, in a lot more clear and calming way. 

Close your eyes. And see.

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Tues, 02/05/19, "Day of Praise"

[Jesus said,] "I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." - John 8:12

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is a more than 2,000 year old celebration of the victory of the Jews over Antiochus Epiphanes, a madman who thought he was a god. Jesus, who truly is God, chose the Festival of Lights to reveal that he himself is the Light of the World.

On the festive occasion of Hanukkah, Jesus invited people into a relationship with Him that would free them from sin and from death and for a new life in his wisdom, power, and grace. 

Let's think about it. 

The Hanukkah candles are traditionally lit by a special candle called the shammash. Shammash is Hebrew for "servant." In the shammash candle, there is a symbol of Jesus Christ because Jesus said, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28)

The shammash serves the other candles by bringing light to them, which is why Jesus said, "I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

Just as the shammash gives light to the other candles, Jesus came to give His light to the world. 

Hanukkah includes the celebration of two miracles – the defeat of an enemy army and a day's allotment of temple oil that lasted for eight days. These two miracles show how God keeps His light burning in the hearts of His people, even when they face what seem to be impossible odds or situations. With God, all things are possible. 

In Jesus Christ, we are assured that God's light cannot fail, or go out.

Friends, you regularly reply to me and share how you face what seem to be impossible odds or situations. Today is another real day, so odds are that the day ahead will probably bring what seem to be impossible odds or situations to many of us again. 

But please don't forget, and please remind one another, that God keeps His light burning in the hearts of His people, even when they face what seem to be impossible odds or situations. With God, all things truly are possible. In Jesus Christ, we are assured that God's light cannot fail, or go out.

Jesus is the ultimate shammash candle who, by the power of the light and fire of the Holy Spirit serves the other candles (us) by bringing light to the wick of our soul, which is why Jesus said, "I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

Praise God!