Day of Praise

Fri, 01/31/20, "Day of Praise"

1 Peter 2:21 - "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps." 

So why, pray tell, would anyone trust Jesus Christ so much as to follow his sacrificial and suffering example? Reason #3,524: eternal significance. Every human being, because we're made in the image of God, longs to live a life where we touch other lives in a way that makes a substantial and lasting difference. 

The contrast, along with the choice, is simple: a) BASE - Be A Superior Example, or b) BANE - Be A Negative Example. 

A) BASE - Be A Superior Example - Imitating the most superior example, sacrificing and suffering for others like Jesus, touches other lives in a substantial and lasting way. When one person knows they have even just one other quality person in their lives, it imparts a confidence and a foundation (a BASE) on which another quality life can be built. That's why, in addition to parents, a good school teacher or coach or scout leader or music instructor or children's minister or Big Sister/Brother or Sunday School teacher is such an important asset in a child's life. Bosses, civic leaders, Bible Study group leaders, and the like are equally important assets to another adult. And we're all called to be good neighbors. 

2) BANE - Be A Negative Example - "Bane" literally means "death, destruction, source of harm, source of ruin." Need I say more? Uuuuuuh, no! 

Follow Jesus's example. Suffer and sacrifice for others to the Glory of God in the strength of the Holy Spirit. That's what a BASE does to live an eternally significant life, which touches other lives in substantial and lasting ways. 

God, in Christ, is our BASE. Pass it on. 

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Thur, 01/30/20, "Day of Praise"

Deuteronomy 4:31 - "For the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them."

We were going through past pictures recently! Son Caden's January 2017 high school senior football championship banquet pictures reminded me of the time I took his football workout clothes out of the dryer, and apparently I forgot to put in a fabric softener sheet. Ya know, they didn't have the fabric softener feel or smell.

And then I smelled the smell. It wasn't just the absence of a dryer sheet. It was the presence of the pre-wash smell. And then, it dawned on me: I never put the laundry detergent in the washing machine. I forgot the soap!

Now, c'mon; admit it. You know you've done it, too. But who knows? How do you remember what you forgot?

Well, praise the Lord that God never forgets! God never forgets his people, his covenant, and he certainly never forgets the soap. Ya know, the soap? It's the love of God and the blood of Jesus that washes the stink of our sin away.

So have a great day! And don't forget! God always remembers you!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Wed, 01/29/20, "Day of Praise"

Proverbs 24:17-18 - "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him."

Ouch! Leaving my old house some years ago for early Sunday worship, I noticed that the whole world was walking their dog(s). I'd lived in that neighborhood a long time, and I'd never seen so many dogs being walked. It was like it became a dog park overnight.

And then it became something else altogether. The dogs started chasing after each other, pulling their "masters" along. One woman with two really big dogs took a horrible tumble and was clearly hurt. Everyone came to help her. Even the dogs calmed down, as if to say, "Oops, we crossed a line."

Friends, somebody's going to suffer some sort of fall today, and you're going to see it. In today's verse, God says that, when the fall or stumble we witness is that of an enemy, in other words, someone we don't like so much, it's easy for us to "rejoice" in their fall or stumble. But if even dogs in my neighborhood can sense when they should calm down, then it's reasonable that God would expect the same of us towards our fellow human beings.

God knows our hurts, from our falls, to our being dragged down by circumstances out of our control, to being broken by someone who's hurt us. Give the situation to God and a kind word or helping hand to the one who's hurting.

God will help us all.

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Tues, 01/28/20, "Day of Praise"

Proverbs 3:6 - "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Have you ever had car issues? Fortunately, at the moment, one of our family's car issues has not been the need for an alignment. Ya know, an alignment? When your car wants to keep pulling right or left at the same time that you're trying to make it go straight, then you need to get your car to a place that does alignments. In essence, an alignment "will make straight your [car's] paths," like in today's Bible verse.

It's no big deal to need an alignment for your car. It happens when you use your car; potholes, bumpy roads, curbs, and stuff like that knocks out the alignment. If you don't take care of it, it starts affecting other parts of your car, like the tires, and then it can ripple from there.

Today, like everyday, I'm going to spend time in God's word; many days I spend time in God's word with others at church or at someone's home in groups or visits.

Why so much time in God's word? Because I'm a pastor? Naaaa, I have lots of people in my life who aren't pastors who spend time everyday in God's word. So, why?

Our souls need an alignment.

My soul needs an alignment.

Your soul needs an alignment.

Ya know, an alignment? When your soul wants to keep pulling right or left at the same time that you're trying to make it go straight, then you need to get your soul to a place that does alignments. In essence, an alignment "will make straight your [soul's] paths," like in today's Bible verse.

It's no big deal to need an alignment for your soul. It happens when you use your life; potholes, bumpy roads, curbs, and stuff like that knocks out the alignment. If you don't take care of it, it starts affecting other parts of your life, like your relationships, and then it can ripple from there.

And the best thing is that God and God's Word do even better alignments for the soul than any tire place ever did for a car.
Spread the word; worship the Lord; share the Lord; "and he will make straight your paths."

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Mon, 01/27/20, "Day of Praise"

Proverbs 4:25 - "Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you."

Looking "directly forward" can be a dangerous proposition. Things and people could blindside you at any moment. Don't you need "your head on a swivel"? Shouldn't we be constantly watching out for the "other guy" so that he doesn't take advantage of us or bring ruin to us?

I have a dear friend who is a Renaissance Man; he's good at everything. One of his many talents is coaching basketball, which he also played well in high school, college, and beyond.

He made some warm-up shirts for his basketball players. The shirt had the player's number on the top. Then underneath the number it said, "Next Play." Then beneath "Next Play" it said, "Proverbs 4:25." My friend coached his players to play well on the next play by focusing on the next play in front of them instead of playing poorly on the next play by dwelling on the past. And whenever he gets the chance, he'll still tell any friend or player or coworker or student, who should wisely listen, something like this, "After learning from a mistake, put it in God's hands, and focus on the NEXT PLAY!"

That's good advice from God's Word for all of life for us all: "Next Play!"

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Sat, 01/25/20, "Day of Praise"

John 11:44 - "The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, and let him go.'"

Psalm 44:3 - "...for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them."

In the first verse, Lazarus (who represents all people who need God's help, which is all of us) has his hands and face wrapped. In the second verse, the Psalmist celebrates how God has helped us with God's right hand and the light of God's face.

Hands and face.

When my now 20 year old son was six years old, he made a place mat that said, "I like to play ball with my dad." The picture he drew on it had two stick people: one was small with nothing but two tiny hands and a small face; the other was large with nothing but two huge hands and a huge face. It's as if God made every child to know the need for their little hands and face to be shared and played with and helped by a bigger set of hands and face.

And so it is when Jesus stretches out his hands and turns his face towards the Father, saying, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Friends, may your day be blessed as you live assured that the hands of God are reaching out to help you and that the face of God is looking on you in love. And may our hands and face know the joy of passing it on!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Sat, 01/25/20, "Day of Praise"

John 11:44 - "The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, and let him go.'"

Psalm 44:3 - "...for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them."

In the first verse, Lazarus (who represents all people who need God's help, which is all of us) has his hands and face wrapped. In the second verse, the Psalmist celebrates how God has helped us with God's right hand and the light of God's face.

Hands and face.

When my now 20 year old son was six years old, he made a place mat that said, "I like to play ball with my dad." The picture he drew on it had two stick people: one was small with nothing but two tiny hands and a small face; the other was large with nothing but two huge hands and a huge face. It's as if God made every child to know the need for their little hands and face to be shared and played with and helped by a bigger set of hands and face.

And so it is when Jesus stretches out his hands and turns his face towards the Father, saying, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Friends, may your day be blessed as you live assured that the hands of God are reaching out to help you and that the face of God is looking on you in love. And may our hands and face know the joy of passing it on!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Fri, 01/24/20, "Day of Praise"

Galatians 6:1 - "If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted."

This is a hard verse about being in mission for Christ. In sum, God's saying that we have a ministry that we "should" do; we cannot do nothing. And what we do should be done in "gentleness." And on top of how we're supposed to do it there is this warning which basically is a warning against becoming full of ourselves and thinking we're better than others. It's a hard charge.

To illustrate, I was with our daughter, Cassidy, one time, getting lunch. A very well-dressed guy went to the soda machine three times to fill his drink; each time he over-filled his cup, turned around, watched his cup overflow onto the ground right next to our table, and looked around to see if anyone noticed his mistake. He was clearly embarrassed. (He never did notice the drink splash onto my pants and feet.)

According to today's Bible verse, what should I have done? Should I have a sense of humor and comfort the guy, saying that I do that all the time too, (which I do)? Should I be silent and smile at him? Should I look the other way as if I don't see what's happened repeatedly? Each of these responses has the potential to be right. Each has the potential to be wrong.

Ultimately, there's only one thing to do, based on today's Bible verse. Do something with faith that God will do what God promises to do, namely, God promises to work through all things together for good.

In sum, boy oh boy, do we all need God's help, or what? May God help us all!

And God surely does.

We know this in Jesus Christ.

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Thur, 01/23/20, "Day of Praise"

Acts 15:39-40 - "Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord."

Some time ago, our younger daughter, Cassidy, was telling me how she was driving to another house very early one morning to let the dog out to run and eat breakfast. Shortly after she left our house, she pulled up to a stop sign with a pedestrian crossing for the students in the nearby Middle School, and her headlights shone on the most adorable sight. In line and in order, from biggest to smallest, were five armadillos, crossing the street in the darkness right down the middle of the ped crossing.

It's a simple concept that's clear from a line of armadillos and in today's Bible verse. Yes, it's important that we mature and become the wonderful individual that God made us to be, but God made us to work together and stick together. Two or more working together has been God's plan in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 and all through God's Word in scripture. Through companionship and teamwork, God works eternal blessings in and through our lives.

May God bless you to seek, find, invest in, and share the blessings of relationships that are in mission together for sharing the good news of God's unfailing presence and love through Jesus Christ just as God in Christ keeps doing with us.

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Wed, 01/22/20, "Day of Praise"

John 1:14 - "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

The weather's gotten colder, so I saw and read this article about energy saving tips. The author said that we should turn our water heaters down to 120 degrees but no lower because, at 119, harmful bacteria will start to grow in the water heater. I just laughed. It's as if the author was saying that we should save energy by putting in as little as possible and just barely staying away from danger.

It's a good thing that God's not like that.

God is a God of super-abundance, like we hear in today's Bible verse. God did not send Jesus with just enough grace to get by, leaving us just on the edge of danger. Instead, God sent Jesus "full of grace," which is more than enough for all of us to be covered in God's love and to have enough to pass a lot to everyone else.

Yay! We are loved abundantly! So enjoy! And pass it on!

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, 01/21/20, "Day of Praise" 

"And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." - Genesis 1:3 

After Sunday evening worship, it's usually my job to check all the lights, doors, and thermostats. Usually, I knock on the bathroom doors, barely open them, and call out "Hey, anybody in there?" 

Once in a while, everybody seems gone, so I just open the bathroom doors and turn off the lights. However, one time, from one restroom came a "Hey, I'm in here!" So immediately, I turned the light back on. 

Friends, somebody's going to turn your light off today and leave you in the dark. But God is a God of light, and Jesus is the light of the world. So, I know from lots of experience besides the silliness of a Sunday with the church bathrooms along with the grave seriousness one time with a church member's deliverance through smoky, pitch darkness as their home burned down around them at 2 a.m., and I hope you do too, that if you'll just call out to God, God will either shine light onto your path or give you a peace beyond understanding in your dark. 

Call on the Lord! He will not fail 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

Mon, 01/20/20, "Day of Praise" 

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" - Galatians 4:4-6 

Our oldest, now 27 year old and married daughter, Calley, wrote this once in her blog, and it's worth repeating: 

Some people have said I have a "Save the World" mentality because I'm still young and things can be black and white. Actually I have a "The World is Saved" mentality, because that's what it is. The things I do aren't done to redeem anything; they're done because everything has been done, because redemption is here, because we can be sons! 

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" - Galatians 4:4-6 

So have a great day, y'all, as God's children!!!

Praise God! 

Day of Praise

Sat, 01/18/20, "Day of Praise"

"Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance." - Hebrews 12:1

Hooray! It's Saturday! And from the time I was a teen, I dream of Saturday as Donut Day. I dream of getting a dozen Krispy Kreme chocolate-covered, creme-filled donuts and eating all twelve of them all by myself. I've actually done it twice in my fifty-five years. 

But I've gotten to the age where I realize that when I eat just one donut, not twelve, just one, that I might as well get some duct tape and tape that donut right to my body on one side of my love handles because that's where it's going to wind up. And ya know, that isn't very helpful at all. I wanna live life with a bounce in my step, and here I've got these donuts taped to my side. 

God gives me a simple solution. God says, "Well, just don't eat the donut, Chris." God says, "Let's lay aside every weight, and donut which clings so closely." Okay, well, that's a slight adjustment on what God says. 

But that donut is a parable. It weighs me down. Just like sin. Neither the donut, physically, nor the sin, spiritually, help me to run with endurance. When you run and you start getting tired, do they still call it "sucking wind"? Spiritually, "wind" is "the Holy Spirit." In Hebrew (the word "ruah") and in Greek (the word "pneuma"), both words mean "breath, wind, spirit." 

So, if I want to run the race of life that is set before me with endurance, then I should probably stay away from the donut. And sin too. Don't ya think? 

God's word actually tells me not just to stay away from sin, but to "flee" from it (1 Corinthians 6:18). It's like God wants us to get in shape for the race by sprinting away from things that will keep us from getting in shape. 

So as one dear young man in a group home that I visited said, "Bye, bye, sin." And bye, bye, donuts. 

Ah, I feel better already. In fact, good enough, to go for a run!

"Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance." - Hebrews 12:1

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Fri, 01/17/20, "Day of Praise"

Jeremiah 29:13 - "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

When our daughter Cassidy was in college, it always made me chuckle when people would ask where our younger daughter went to college. I was glad to tell them; it's just that when I said, "Mississippi University for Women in Columbus," then people often said, "Now, what state is that in?"

If we don't listen, look, and seek, then we usually don't find the answer to our questions.

A friend of mine was telling me that he used to wonder how all his friends kept having all these great conversations about eternity come their way from random people. He said he asked them, and they said, "We look for them."

Friends, it's just that simple. God is with us. But God ordained that the way to see him is to look for him. The way to find him is to seek him. Seek him, not halfheartedly, but with all your heart!

Happy Seeing-God-Day today (and everyday) as you look for Him with all your heart!

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, 01/16/20, "Day of Praise"

"Jesus said to her, 'Mary.'" - John 20:16

My wife and children have this supernatural power over me, like with our 20-year old son, Caden, who has a gift. He only needs to calmly say my name, "Dad," and I know exactly what he means.

Like when we used to drive to school in the morning, and the first of many people used the side of the road-that's-not-the-road in order to pass all of us who are waiting in line on the road. I'd let out my annoyed driver siiiiiiiiigh. And Caden would calmly say, "Dad."

What Caden meant was, "Dad, don't start getting all excited. You know that doesn't help anything. People drive like this everyday. And your getting upset with them hasn't, to this day, miraculously turned them into good drivers. So calm down."

Caden says all that with a calm, "Dad."

That's what Jesus did in today's verse when he said, "Mary." Mary was all excited about nothing as she was frantically weeping about Jesus's body being taken. And Jesus calmly says, "Mary. Calm down. I'm right here with you. Your getting all excited doesn't make anything better. It actually makes things worse because you don't even see me standing right here. And I've got everything under control."

Jesus says all that with, "Mary."

So today, when something happens and you start to get upset, stop, for just a moment. And listen. Jesus is calmly calling your name, maybe through someone, like my wife and children do for me. And with one word, he's saying, "Take a breath. Calm down. I've got it all under control. Just trust me."

Blessed are those who do.

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, 01/15/20, "Day of Praise"

John 1:17 - "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

One way for us to apply the contrast in today's Bible verse is by asking ourselves if we deal with people in a heavy-handed, condemning way or a gracious, give-them-the-benefit-of-the-doubt way.

When my son, Caden, was in second grade, he played in a city, recreational, basketball league. Yes, everybody's trying to win, but it's ultimately a rec league. Nobody's career or salary is at stake. But maybe somebody's reputation is at stake. Are they heavy-handed, taking this stuff way too seriously? Or are they gracious, giving the benefit of the doubt?

This one game was nearing halftime. A boy threw Caden the ball at half-court. Caden turned and shot it, just as the halftime horn sounded. It went in! Everybody cheered like crazy! A second grader made a half-court shot in a game!

But wait!

The referee said it didn't count because his x-ray vision ascertained that the ball was still on Caden's fingertips as the halftime horn sounded.

Seriously? Second-graders? Rec league? C'mon ref, do you really need to be right and have your pickiness be more important than a thrill of a lifetime for a second grader? How about a little grace?

Can y'all imagine a world full of stuff like that?

God couldn't either.

That's why God sent Jesus!

John 1:17 - "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

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, 01/14/20, "Day of Praise"

Isaiah 41:6, 8a, 10b - "Everyone helps his neighbor and says to his brother, 'Be strong!'...But you, Israel, my servant...I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

And there we have it.

God tells us plainly that it's fine for us to encourage one another, saying, "You can do it! Be strong!" But if we really want to encourage someone, then it's a much greater blessing for us to claim God's promise, saying, "You can do it! God will be your strength!"

Indeed, God will be our strength as we encourage others with the same!

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

Mon, 01/13/20, "Day of Praise"

2 Chronicles 34:33 - "Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors."

Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites so that all who were present in Israel could serve the Lord their God. Wow! That was nice of him. 

What needs to be removed from your life?

There's a television commercial for some product (which I think is a truck) that shows some kids playing ball on a very nice baseball field. Then the advertisers kick the video in reverse and show everything that went into making the ball field, including "removing all the detestable boulders." I hope those kids thanked the person and the machine that did all the heavy lifting so they could have a ball field, even if it was just a commercial. 

That's what Josiah did for Israel. He did all the heavy lifting. He removed stuff that got in the way, not of people having a good time playing ball, but he removed the stuff that got in the way of having a good time serving the Lord. 

Let me ask you a personal question? 

Do you enjoy serving the Lord? I don't mean the idea of serving the Lord; I mean everyone likes the idea 💡 or the thought of serving the Lord. It's a nice idea. Instead of the idea of serving the Lord, what I mean when I ask "Do you enjoy serving the Lord?" is do you enjoy serving the Lord God as the Lord God describes serving the Lord God in the Bible? Ya know, humbling yourself, stooping down, getting your hands dirty in service to people whose life doesn't look like your life and they need somebody to encourage them with real hope. (Maybe read Matthew 25:31-46 for some ideas about serving the Lord!) So after thinking about it, do you enjoy serving the Lord?

If you answered "no, I do not enjoy serving the Lord," then today's Bible verse is just one of many where God tells us that there's something in your life that needs to be removed (maybe something detestable) because it's claiming your eagerness, anticipation, and hope for what is to come more than the Lord is receiving your eagerness, anticipation, and hope for what is to come. Quite frankly, God's Word basically says that God is constantly amazed at how nonchalant we are about our relationship with the Lord. We'll swap time with God through His Word for time with the world and its pleasures in a heartbeat. All we need to do to have proof that God is right about this is look at our calendar and checkbook.

The major problem with letting the world dictate our calendars and checkbooks, which is a way the world creates spiritual boulders in our lives, is that Jesus says that we are nothing apart from the Lord, have nothing apart from the Lord, and can do nothing apart from the Lord. And spiritual boulders tragically make sure that we're apart from the Lord. 

So let's get to the point. You know where the Lord is on your priority list. If God isn't first on the list and the center of everything else on the list, then you (like all of us) have some detestable boulders that need to be removed so that you can have a good time serving the Lord. Now the question is, "So who's going to remove these things from our lives, especially if ironically they're so big we can't see them?"

Yep, you got it! God, through Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, is the only one who can remove the spiritual boulders. After all, he overcame the sin of the whole world, overcame death, and overcame the grave. And Jesus mightily removed some big ol' literal honker of a boulder from his own grave. So I'm sure he can remove some relatively little ol' boulders from our little ol' lives. 

Keep it simple. Just ask Him! And he will!

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

Fri, 01/10/20, "Day of Praise"

Isaiah 25:9 - It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

One of the things that God actually saves us from is ourselves. Praise God for that because everyday is filled with potential frustrations.

But in the face of such potential frustrations, like I've tasted before, where, in the span of one hour, a cashier made a time-consuming mistake with me, a driver dangerously pulled on the road in front of me with no car lights on, and another cashier didn't give me all that I paid for, God says, "Lighten up! 'Be glad and rejoice!'"

And that's a good thing because in the next hour, as it turned out, I pulled on the road with no car lights on and didn't get honked at, and a different cashier gave me a $5 gift card just because they liked my smile. Funny how things work out, isn't it?

So, let's hear it for joy and gladness instead of harumphing and frustration.

Expect God both to do great things for you and also to do great things through you that draw others closer to him who loves us with an abundant and everlasting love! And TELL God that you expect it!!!!

And thank you, God, for always working things out so that joy and gladness can reign for us with you today and everyday!!!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Thur, 01/09/20, "Day of Praise"

Psalm 73:1-2 - "Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped."

Have you ever had a bad time in your life? A hard time? Have you ever "almost stumbled" and "nearly slipped"?

I remember two times I went to camp with my daughters and the special time we had for parent-child conversation. As a remembrance of that parent-child time, the camp gives each parent and each child a simple, string bracelet with beads that spell "G-O-D". I wore mine until they literally rotted off. 

However, one day before the one bracelet had rotted, the black string broke as I was getting ready for bed. The beads bounced around, including one that bounced into the bathtub and was headed straight for the drain. I quickly prayed, "Please, Lord." And right at the lip of the drain, it stopped. 

Did my prayer make a difference? I believe so. Even moreso, did God stop the bead that carries a special meaning for me? I believe so even more. 

In the same way, in your bad time in your life, in your hard time, when you "almost stumbled" and "nearly slipped" right down the drain, who kept you from going right down the tubes like a tiny bead on its way to its end? And if necessary, who would've kept going with you, even if you'd come to your end?

In Jesus the Christ, we have One who is God with us, holding us close, keeping us together, like a special bracelet on God's own wrist. But Jesus, the very Son of God, has also shown us plainly, on his cross and in his death, that when our lives are headed for the drain, he's pleading for us, advocating for us, to keep us from going straight down the tubes. 

In essence, he keeps us from stumbling and holds us upright. He's certainly held me up, by his Spirit and through his people, in the worst times of my life and in every other season too. And even if I'd fallen, he would've gone with me, all the way, because in the depths he meets us and from the depths he raises us up. 

Give thanks, dear friends, for Mighty God who is with us. And pray for your friends who are struggling, not only that God would keep them from falling and heading straight down the tubes, but also that your friend would know who is with them, even in the depths of despair. 

And even better than prayer for them, reach out and personally tell them! God promises to speak to them through your faith in Him with a powerful and life-changing encouragement that will give them strength in the Lord, if they'll but receive your testimony and trust God to hold them up and keep them from going down the drain!

For He who is with us when we stumble is the One who also raises us up!

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, 01/08/20, "Day of Praise"

"But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold." - Psalm 73:2

Have you ever had a close call? Ya know, an "Oh, I can't believe what almost happened" moment?

One time, I'd parked in the short driveway of a young family next to the large van that's a work vehicle for him. After our visit, I was backing out very slowly but couldn't see because of the work van. I'd barely pulled back toward the sidewalk when, in my right rear view mirror, I saw two very small children flash past on the sidewalk merely inches from the back of my car. "Oh, I can't believe what almost happened!" My heart almost stopped as the near-tragedy flashed through my mind. God alone could be thanked that the horror didn't happen.

In today's verse, the psalmist is inspired to tell of their "Oh, I can't believe what almost happened" moment. In their case, the horrors were constantly happening, namely, those who did wrong were prospering while those who did right were scraping by. And then, the psalmist got so wrapped up in how unfair life often is that he almost tasted a worse tragedy, namely, he almost gave up faith in the power and goodness of the living and almighty God. "Oh, I can't believe what almost happened," says the psalmist, "But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold" (Psalm 73:2).

The psalmist continues saying that all the unfairness of life "troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood" (Psalm 73:16-17). In other words, when the psalmist surrendered to the nudge of the spirit (instead of quenching the spirit) and he went to God's house, the sanctuary, to worship God, then the near-tragedy of renouncing the faith and giving up on God was averted. 

The real, but lesser, tragedies of unfairness in a fallen, sinful world had still happened, but the greater tragedy of giving up on God was prevented and warded off. 

So, what would have happened if the near miss had happened that day to me? What would have happened if I'd accidentally hit and brought injury or worse to those three and four year old kids who innocently zoomed past on the sidewalk? Would I have kept faith? Would their parents have any faith to draw on? Or would the wrongs and pains of a broken world break us down? We'll never know in that one case. 

But near misses sadly hit everyday. People are hurt or worse everyday. 

How do you deal with it? How do you endure? How do you keep from becoming bitter? How do you walk with a friend who already has?

God says, "Come to my sanctuary and worship me! Run to me and my word! Call on my name, believing! Speak my word of hope to another!"

Through God and his word alone is the ultimate near-miss averted. 

Run to him, friends. Pursue him. Worship him. Listen to his word. Encourage another to keep trusting and searching for the Lord. And find the strength and hope in him to press on. 

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Tues, 01/07/20, "Day of Praise"

"His arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob." - Genesis 49:23-24

When Jacob blessed Joseph in today's Bible verse, he spoke of agility coming Joseph's way.

Maybe we should ask for some agility for each other.

One morning not too long ago, I needed a little physical agility to go dumpster-diving. In my typical helpfully unhelpful fashion, I thought I'd help after our church's annual Thanksgiving Feast by taking four big garbage bags out to the dumpster. Turns out that one of the garbage bags had $400 worth of linens that were borrowed from a member of the church.

Dumpster, here I come.

"In all humility, Lord," I prayed, "help me. I need some agility."

Pertaining to us all, I'd guess many of us are in the same position, namely, work needs to get done today and in the balance of the week ahead. A little mental agility would probably be helpful to us all.

So let's pray for one another for the Almighty One of Jacob to dwell in us and give us some mental agility to get it all done. And while we're at it, it probably isn't a bad idea either to pray for one another for a little physical agility so we can all get in a little physical exercise as the new year gets started.

Happy Agility Tuesday!

May God grant it to all of us today as it was granted to Joseph in days of old!

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

Thanks for all of you checking in! I never plan these breaks. I try to both Sabbath from writing and also then get back at it at the Spirit's lead. Huuuuuuuggg to y'all! Here's today's devotion:

Sat, 01/06/20, The Epiphany of Our Lord, "Day of Praise" 

Matthew 2:10-11 - "When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh." 

Today is January 6, which is Epiphany, which celebrates the Magi booking a camel in Babylon for unlimited miles, which they'd need as they traveled as long as two years to see and worship Jesus. 

The Magi went a long way to see and worship Jesus because they knew he'd come a long way for us. In the words of an ancient Creed, "for us and our salvation, he came down from heaven." That's a long way for the Magi and a longer way for Jesus. 

How far would you go to see the one who's gone farther to see you? One family in our church drives 160 miles round-trip to worship. 

Hey, y'all, there's a lot of us reading this devotion today, we're all flesh and blood. Mornings are hard for almost everyone. But Jesus's cross was harder. Much harder. He went all the way for us. It's worth it for us to go a ways for him. Ya know, to say, "Thank you." 

So how about in 2020, starting today, we all find a church and get there, no matter how far away it might be, and worship God and God's Savior Son, Jesus, and then don't stop there; don't stop at worshiping God, but go even farther by following Jesus, who came so far from Heaven to meet us here on earth, so that, going farther by following Him, we could follow him from earth to Heaven! (As Catherine of Siena said, "All the way to Heaven is Jesus because Jesus is The Way.")

PS - Thank you all for almost 8 and 1/2 years together in sharing this Day of Praise devotion. By God's grace, we've journeyed a long way together in Christ. And by God's grace 2020's going to be a great year too! 

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