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 

Day of Praise

Fri, 12/20/19, "Day of Praise"

Jesus said, "In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples." - Luke 14:33

Some time ago, I was standing next to the copy machine with my friend, Neal. I stick some papers into the feeder to make copies and push "print". The machine kicks into action, but my papers don't move into the feeder. However, a copy does pop out, but, of course, it's blank. 

I looked at Neal and matter-of-factly said, "Well, there's tomorrow's Day of Praise." Neal looked at me and started laughing. I said, "Hey, that's a great parable for how much of Christ we image to the world when we're not engaged. Nothing."

And it's true. The papers were laying there on the copier feeder but were not touching the "grabber" that the papers needed to touch. And because the papers were not engaged, therefore the image that came out was a blank, so too when our lives are full of religious activity but aren't touching the "grabber" (the Holy Spirit) that our lives need to touch, then the image the world sees is a blank.

That's why, in today's verse, Jesus says, "In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples" (Luke 14:33). When we're not engaged to Jesus and his work of pouring God's word into others and breathing the Holy Spirit into others, it's impossible for us to produce an image of him and his life-giving work.

The reason we care about our lives producing an image of Christ and his life-giving work is that God made us for that very purpose, as God attests in the very first chapter of the Bible, Genesis 1, and in countless places in the Bible after Genesis 1. And since God made us for it, our hearts are starving to live lives that produce an image of Christ and his life-giving work.

So what are we to do?

Start by acknowledging that you know you're not engaged with Christ as you ought to be (because who of us sinners is?). But then, thank God for showing us (by Jesus pouring out every drop of blood on the cross and then by pouring out every ounce of the Holy Spirit after the resurrection) that God is fully engaged with us. And then ask God to do what it's impossible for us (or a copy machine) to do, namely, ask God to produce his image and reflect his glory in and through our lives by pouring us out and filling us with himself. (And repeat, over and over, until Jesus comes again.)

Jesus said, "In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples." - Luke 14:33

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

"But what about you?" [Jesus] asked. "Who do you say I am?" - Matthew 16:15

Curly hair. Sweet little smile. Who doesn't love a little kid?

Have you ever heard a little one sing "Jesus Loves Me"? It is absolutely one of the top treasures in life.

Because it's all about Jesus.

It comforts a child to tell others, to sing to others, who Jesus is to them. 1) Jesus loves me. 2) Jesus makes sure that I know that Jesus loves me. 3) The book about Jesus tells me that Jesus loves me. 4) Jesus has claimed me as his own. 5) Jesus is strong for me because I'm weak.

If Jesus asked a kid, who knows the good song, "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15), then the child would just sing the good song.

Because it's all about Jesus.

So what happened? Why is it that when we leave childhood behind, we also leave our child-likeness behind? If Jesus asked a kid, who knows the good song, "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15), then the child would just sing the good song that's all about Jesus. If Jesus asked an adult, "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15), then the adult would not sing, but they'd tell you, "Well, for one, I believe in Jesus. And I pray to Jesus. And I worship Jesus. And I read books about Jesus. And I give money to help Jesus."

See the difference? The kid's talkin' about Jesus. The adult's talkin' about, well, the adult.

Maybe that's why Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14). Maybe, as much as kids need to be around Jesus, the adults need even more to be around kids who know the good song.

And why might that be true? Because no matter how much I might do in my adult way of doing in order to show that I love Jesus, Jesus loves me even more.

I mean, any kid knows that!

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, 12/18/19, "Day of Praise"

I heard an awesome group of little ones preparing to share the Christmas story at our church's Child Development Center Sunday afternoon, which reminded me of the following devotional I wrote years ago. 

[Jesus said,] "Whoever belongs to God hears what God says." - John 8:47

I hear things.

Based on what I hear, many people hear many of the things that I hear. Especially at night, after my kids have gone to bed, I hear the train that's miles away, the ceiling fan that's whirring on another floor, the refrigerator that's doing whatever refrigerators do to stay cool, and, best of all, my kids adjusting in their beds and breathing. A lot of people hear those things. 

But I hear things that are probably a little strange to hear. Do you? At my church, I can walk in the education building and tell you if a bathroom light and fan is on. I can walk in the preschool building and tell you if a toilet is running on and wasting water because the bowl flap didn't close. I can walk in either worship space and tell you if the sound system wasn't turned off. I know it's a little quirky. But hey, we all, well, we all have our quirks. 

I hear things.

But, quite frankly, it doesn't bother me that I hear things or to tell you that I hear things. It doesn't bother me, as long as I hear the best thing. In today's verse, Jesus said, "Whoever belongs to God hears what God says." (John 8:47)

God wants all of us to hear what God says, but it can be a challenge since God often speaks in a whisper (1 Kings 19:12) and since the devil is often roaring like a lion (1 Peter 5:8) and since we hear things like refrigerators, trains, and ceiling fans, not to mention music, televisions, and screaming sports fans.

But we want to hear God because God's word works life and faith in us (1 Thessalonians 2:13) and brings us hope and good news (Colossians 1:23) and gives us God's Spirit and miracles (Galatians 3:5) and bears fruit and grace through us (Colossians 1:6) and warns us of the anti-christ (1 John 4:3).

So how, in a noisy world, can we hear God's word that we sorely need so we can have abundant life? Well, I bumped into an old friend today, and I asked if he could sit down for a few because he looked like he had the weight of the world on him. I asked how he was doing, and he calmly and quietly told me all the noises that were claiming his attention. I really had to listen because he spoke so softly. Then I asked how he was being fed. And a soft voice turned to silence. But his eyes and therefore his heart were crying out. We made a deal that included quiet time with God, putting time into having and being a spiritual friend, finding a spiritual mentor, and going to church for worship, fellowship, study, and service. 

Only tomorrow will tell if the beggar will show up for his bread. But he looked much stronger at the mere sound of it.

Because his ears were now tuned to the best thing...God's word. 

May your ears be tuned there, too. 

[Jesus said,] "Whoever belongs to God hears what God says." - John 8:47

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Tues, 12/17/19, "Day of Praise"

"Whoever believes in [Jesus] will not be disappointed." - Romans 10:9-11

I love football. It doesn't matter when or where it is. It can be our now 20-year old son, for all those years, with his friends playing in our neighborhood cul de sac. It can be little kids playing flag football. Or it can be High School, Pro, or the best, College football. 

I'm rarely disappointed when I watch or play football. It's not because my team always wins. Instead, I'm rarely disappointed because of what I'm hoping for. When I watch football, what I hope for is that I'll see a bunch of kids or adults who want to win. I hope to see people who try to win. And even after a win is not possible, they keep playing to the end as if a win were still in reach. In other words, the players believe that if there's time on the clock, then there's still time to try. If there's still time on the clock, then there's still time to give your best and have fun doing it. 

That's the way it is with those who really, deep in their hearts, believe in Jesus. Any time to play is a great time to play. Until the very last second runs off the clock, life is worth living, not on cruise control, but trying hard and giving your best and encouraging others to believe the same, that any time to play is a great time to play, that any time left on the clock of life is a great time to live life, trying your hardest and giving your best until the very last second runs off the clock.

That's exactly what I saw recently: a bunch of, let's be honest, old people, whose average age was like the numbers of football linemen, 70's, 80's, 90's. They meet weekly to pray and try to figure out how to get others into the game and how to get others to come together as a team and how to care and give your best until the very last second runs off the clock of life. But remember, they're not meeting about football. They're meeting about people, and life, and the living of life. Right to the end.

And the constant solution is Jesus. Getting people to know more and trust more in Jesus is how to get others into the game and how to get others to come together as a team and how to care and give your best until the very last second runs off the clock of life.

So these people, in their 70's and 80's and 90's keep playing to the end as if a win is still in reach, namely the win that is winning a soul for Jesus Christ. In other words, these guys believe that if there's time on the clock, then there's still time to try. If there's still time on the clock, then there's still time to give your best and have fun doing it.

And they pray for you and try to reach out to you, hoping that you will grow in believing the same!

And maybe even join their team.

After all, "Whoever believes in [Jesus] will not be disappointed." - Romans 10:9-11

Praise God!

Day of Praise

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

"The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!' [Jesus] replied, 'If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea," and it will obey you.'" - Luke 17:5-6

So a new week is starting, and everyone is looking for an extra boost to start the week off right. In today's Bible verses, the apostles believe that such an extra boost will be found in a faith boost. 

They're right.

But notice what that means. 

Notice what it means for God to give and for us to receive a faith boost to start the week off right. Jesus is basically saying that God is eager to answer the request to boost our faith so we can start the week off right. The question is are we ready to receive it. 

Jesus says that receiving the faith that God is eager to give is directly tied to speaking with faith in the power and authority that comes with being a Christ-one, i.e. a Christian. Speaking with faith is tied to receiving the faith because speaking in Christ's power is a faith proposition. I mean, who in the world would talk to a mulberry tree, saying, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea"? Only a fool in the eyes of the world. 

Or a Christian.

Who would be crazy enough to speak God's word when you know it's going to get you flogged (prophet Jeremiah), ridiculed (prophet Ezekiel), burned at the stake (John Hus in 1415), excommunicated and outlawed (Martin Luther in 1521), imprisoned (St. Paul), stoned to death (Stephen in Acts 7:59), or crucified (Jesus Christ)?

Only a fool in the eyes of the world.

Or a person who wants to live out of more than their own strength. A person who wants to live out of the strength of the Living and Almighty God.

No unbeliever is ever going to speak God's word. Why? Because speaking God's word is a faith proposition.

Every believer, though, must speak God's word. Why? (Same reason that an unbeliever won't!) Because speaking God's word is a faith proposition.

Come on, trust Jesus, and you can do this. In fact, it's still a faith proposition if we all do this together. Let's all do together what our son, Caden, and my brother, Ben DeGreen, Jr., and my friend, Bob Kasper do almost every day. Each day they send a combo of things in a text to selected folks with something like a simple greeting, a simple Bible verse, and a prayer. Here's an example:

"I thought you'd enjoy this verse: Exodus 14:14 - The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Let's all ask God for whom we should cut and paste that greeting and verse into a text or email, and send it to them. Sure, they might do what some people have done with me with this daily devotion, namely, reply to you, telling you that they'd kindly like to be off the list. That's what makes it a faith proposition in that somebody might reject not only your text with a Bible verse, but they might also reject you!

But the vast majority of humanity is looking for an extra boost to start the week off right. When you send them a simple text like the suggestion above, then they will get the extra boost they need.

And so will you!

Put your faith in Jesus, send the text, and see!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Fri, 12/13/19, "Day of Praise"

"But what about you?" [Jesus] asked. "Who do you say I am?" - Matthew 16:15

Curly hair. Sweet little smile. Who doesn't love a little kid?

Have you ever heard a little one sing "Jesus Loves Me"? It is absolutely one of the top treasures in life.

Because it's all about Jesus.

It comforts a child to tell others, to sing to others, who Jesus is to them. 1) Jesus loves me. 2) Jesus makes sure that I know that Jesus loves me. 3) The book about Jesus tells me that Jesus loves me. 4) Jesus has claimed me as his own. 5) Jesus is strong for me because I'm weak.

If Jesus asked a kid, who knows the good song, "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15), then the child would just sing the good song.

Because it's all about Jesus.

So what happened? Why is it that when we leave childhood behind, we also leave our child-likeness behind? If Jesus asked a kid, who knows the good song, "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15), then the child would just sing the good song that's all about Jesus. If Jesus asked an adult, "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15), then the adult would not sing, but they'd tell you, "Well, for one, I believe in Jesus. And I pray to Jesus. And I worship Jesus. And I read books about Jesus. And I give money to help Jesus."

See the difference? The kid's talkin' about Jesus. The adult's talkin' about, well, the adult.

Maybe that's why Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14). Maybe, as much as kids need to be around Jesus, the adults need even more to be around kids who know the good song.

And why might that be true? Because no matter how much I might do in my adult way of doing in order to show that I love Jesus, Jesus loves me even more.

I mean, any kid knows that!

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, 12/12/19, "Day of Praise" 

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in him would not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16 

What a funny and interesting world God loves! 

I personally witnessed all but one of the following: 

Exhibit A - A person is talking to me on their cell phone when their land-line rings. They pick up the television remote control and talk into it for 20 seconds or so, thinking that it's a phone. 

Exhibit B - Hymn title seen in a church bulletin: "Gladly, the Cross-Eyed Bear". (Get it? It's supposed to be "Gladly, the cross I'd bear.") 

Exhibit C - Rural Alabama. We pass "Jerry's Processing". The big city person says, "I wonder what companies they do papers for." (Uh no, that would be Venison (deer-meat) processing.) 

Exhibit D - Seen in a church bulletin one summer: "As the Hart Pants for Cooling Systems". (Uh, the hart pants for cooling streams, not air conditioning.) 

Exhibit E - The dear, regally-dressed, senior ladies near Alex City, Alabama clearly had it all under control as they're driving west-bound on 70-mph Hwy 280 East. As casually as taking tickets at the gate of a football game, the little bouffant-haired ladies were driving smack down the middle at fifteen mph, pointing at each of the more than twenty oncoming cars, and directing oncoming traffic as to how to drive around them. (P.S. - I didn't hear one horn honk in frustration.) 

Have a great day! 

And have a sense of humor! 

God sure does! 

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Wed, 12/11/19, "Day of Praise"

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand." - Daniel 3:17

I love the radio advertisement for foster parents that has the message that you don't need to be perfect parents in order to be great parents.

In the same way, you don't need to have a perfect day in order to have a great day.

Consider the three teenage boys in today's Bible verse. It was hardly a perfect day. The king was about to throw them into the blazing furnace. But in what could have been the origin of the oft-quoted saying, "Don't tell God how big your problems are, but instead tell your problems how big your God is," the boys tell their problem (the king) how big their God is. With utmost confidence, the boys say, "The God we serve is able to deliver us from [the blazing furnace]."

Something is going to go wrong with our day today. Our day will not be perfect. But "the God we serve is able to deliver us from" whatever problem stirs up the heat and turmoil in our day.

So if we'll all follow the lead of those boys long ago and tell our problems how big our God is, (he's the God who, in Jesus Christ, overcame death, sin, and the grave), then our day will be as great as our great big God!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Tues, 12/10/19, "Day of Praise"

"For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." - 1 Corinthians 2:2

Life is funny. Just when you think something is a sure thing, then you come to see that maybe you shouldn't have been so sure. 

As a general example, sometimes things that look bad become reasons for someone to step up and do something. And sometimes things that look good become the ruin of the one who got the good thing. Life can be funny. Things aren't always as they seem. 

As a specific example, I remember one time I used a football and dirt example in this devotional. I thought for sure that I'd hear from the mass of guys who receive Day of Praise because guys stereotypically like dirt and football. But life's funny, and every single reply that initially came back about dirt and football was a beautifully-worded response from a woman. Only a little later did a few guys chime in. Life's funny. Things don't always turn out as you initially think. 

Even as I began today to write about life being funny, someone dear to me was just talking about life being funny: "I love seeing God's sense of humor in all the places: life, relationships, scripture, weather, and so on."

In the end, for all the things that we think we know, there is one absolute thing for certain and for sure. And that one thing is this: God loves us. Almighty, sovereign, everlasting God loves us. And we know this with utmost certainty through his Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Specifically, we see God's love for us completely poured out from his heart when Jesus is rejected, suffers, and dies on the cross. 

That's why St. Paul wrote: "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). In essence, St. Paul was saying that life is funny because just when you think something is a sure thing, then you come to see that maybe you shouldn't have been so sure. Therefore, Paul was saying, "I'm going to stick to the one thing that truly is for sure: Jesus Christ and him crucified." For in Jesus and his cross, we have assurance of the one thing we need for sure, namely, that we're loved with the everlasting love. 

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Mon, 12/09/19, "Day of Praise"

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7

Years ago, a friend introduced me to the American adventure writings of Louis L'Amour. My friend told me to note two things in each story. First, he said that L'Amour always has a good guy, a bad guy, and a girl. Second, he said that L'Amour always has the good guy sit with his back to the wall in saloons and taverns because the good guy doesn't want anyone sneaking up on him. 

It's the second concept of "back-to-the-wall" that's connected to today's Bible verse. Basically, God is telling us that he wants to "guard our hearts" both by giving us peace and also by keeping us from anxiety when we tell him in prayer what we see in front of us. 

The reason God wants us to tell him in prayer what we see in front of us is because God is covering everything that's behind us. God has our back! God's literally covering our rear, just as God tells us in Isaiah 52:12, "For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard."
No "haste" and no "flight" equals no anxiety because God is leading us forward and guarding our "rear."

So practically speaking, what does this all look like? 

First, trust God's promise that God has both your back and your past covered. Stop looking over your shoulder, and let go! 

Second, trust and obey God's command, "with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." In other words, thank God for dealing with your stuff even before you ask, and then tell God about everybody and everything that you can see in front of you. 

Finally, experience God's peace, and listen for God to speak to your heart. Doesn't it make sense? If God has your back, and if you've told God about everything in front, then everything is in God's hands! And if it's all in God's hands, then what is there to worry about?!?! Nothing. 

There's only peace, coupled with the voice of God speaking to your heart with words of life. 

Enjoy!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Fri, 12/06/19, "Day of Praise"

[Jesus said,] "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:29-30

It's like an Easter Egg that's staring you in the face in the annual Easter Egg Hunt because it's easily overlooked by so many. But it's clearly right there. Jesus says, "Learn from me" almost at the very start of today's verse.

Learning from Jesus and finding rest in Jesus clearly go hand in hand.

My friend, Tim, is a great example of this. He's done all sorts of projects for us, helping us to finish basements, rooms, and other projects. As Tim works, he not only takes on the yoke and does the heavy lifting, but he also imparts some lofty wisdom. Tim has tasted all sorts of twists and turns in life and always manages to come through with a positive and gracious outlook. So whenever you get to work alongside of him, whenever we're yoked together, he not only leads the way in the project, because he knows what he's doing, but he also imparts wisdom that's priceless for all of life.

This is the way it is with Jesus. To be yoked to Jesus not only takes the load off of us and gives us relief through a hard season that Jesus knows how to guide us through, but while Jesus is guiding us through the specific difficulty, he also imparts wisdom that's priceless for all of life.

Bottom line, whatever pops up today, or any day for that matter, call on the Lord, Jesus. Trust him, and listen for him. He will yoke himself to you, helping you to carry the load, and also speaking words of hope and wisdom that will bless you down the road!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Thur, 12/05/19, "Day of Praise"

"No one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except in the Holy Spirit." - 1 Corinthians 12:3

One of my favorite movies is the Disney flick, "Holes." And in the movie, "Holes," one of my favorite lines is from Sam the Onion Man when, multiple times, he says to Kissin' Kate, "I can fix that." 

Whether it's your auto mechanic or roofer or Geek Squad guy, "I can fix that" is a great thing to hear. But there's, of course, no greater fixer than The Great Fixer himself. Though many of you have recently shared some painful, broken realities in the relationships and finances in your lives, take heart. All sorts of things can get fixed and are possible in Christ by the power of God's Holy Spirit. After all, in Mark 9:23, Jesus said, "All things are possible for one who believes."

Here are some examples: Jesus can make us clean, washing away skin diseases (Luke 5:12), as we witnessed at our church with a woman who came to our monthly healing service. 

Jesus can heal despair, cure loneliness, and untangle confusion, doing things that remind us that God is with us. (John 3:2)

Jesus alone can take an old, tired, broken-down life, (which sadly can often belong to a very young person), and deliver us, like new-born babies, into a new life in the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)

Jesus alone can make it possible for us to be in accord (which is to be in one mind in truth, peace, and harmony) with God the Father. (John 5:19)

Jesus alone can make it possible for us to seek and hear the life-giving will of God the Father. (John 5:30)

By actually being our strength to endure and our courage to press on, in spite of overwhelming physical or financial or mental or emotional obstacles, Jesus alone makes it possible for us to follow a path to new life. (John 13:36)

Jesus alone can lay a sure foundation for our lives so that our lives don't fall apart at the first sign of trouble. (1 Corinthians 3:11)

Jesus alone can pour out the Holy Spirit so we can have insight into complications and mysteries that are otherwise overwhelming and incomprehensible. (Ephesians 3:4)

What's messed up in your life? What needs fixing?

Believe! Jesus, even better than Sam the Onion Man, can fix that!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Wed, 12/04/19, "Day of Praise"

"And [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart." - Luke 18:1

Even as football season is coming around the home stretch, basketball is getting cranked up. One of the most colorful basketball people in my lifetime was Coach Jim Valvano. Coach V, as he was fondly called, died of cancer. However, before he died, one of Valvano's most memorable motivational speeches was delivered February 21, 1993 at Reynolds Coliseum on the basketball court of North Carolina State University during the ten year commemoration of the University's miraculous, 1983 NCAA men's basketball championship. It was during this speech, celebrating the team he coached, that Valvano stressed the importance of hope, love, and persistence, which included his famous quotation "Don't give up, don't ever give up."

Jimmy V's oft-seen-and-quoted speech is universally celebrated as one of the greatest-ever encouragements, even challenges, that people ought to never, never, never give up.

His speech was less about his overachieving, underdog, championship basketball team and more about battling overwhelming illness, as was his cancer. And his speech was a call to live life with joy and hope, even when circumstances are insurmountably difficult. 

But let's be honest.

There is only one way to have the spirit and strength that Valvano referred to, and that's through faith in Jesus Christ. When Jesus told the disciples "a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1), Jesus was calling them not to dig deeper into the extremely shallow and helpless human soul. Instead, Jesus was calling the disciples to believe in the infinitely deep love and grace of God, which is perfectly revealed in the cross and resurrection of Jesus.

Friends, what is overwhelming and seemingly insurmountable in your life? To be sure, like Coach V said, "Don't give up; don't ever give up." But you will find the strength and spirit to do that, not by looking in yourself, but by looking to God and God's Son, Jesus Christ, who will give you God's own strength to hope and endure because God himself will not give up. God will never give up on you!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Tues, 12/03/19, "Day of Praise"

"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." - 1 Corinthians 2:14

We laughed!

And laughed!

And laughed!

One person said, "Is it true that if a jellyfish bites you that you should put tea on it?"

The other person said, "Why would you put tea on the jellyfish?"

The first person said, "On the bite, Silly! On the bite!"

We laughed and laughed and laughed. 

Let's face it. Sometimes we get our wires crossed. And understanding comes not so easily. And you just have to laugh. 

But there is something that's not so good to laugh at. And that would be "the things of the Spirit of God." In today's Bible verse, God says "the natural person" sees the things of God's Spirit as "folly," which is Biblical wording for "foolishness" and "something to be laughed at or mocked." 

God neither wants us laughing in an unbelieving mockery, nor does God want us laughing in a "believing" resignation. A "believing resignation" is when someone says, "Aaaah, I'm not that smart. I just can't understand." 

God wants us all to understand "the things of the Spirit of God." God plainly tells us this in today's Bible verse as God says the issue of understanding the things of God's Spirit is not about the size of your I.Q. or your score on a standard college test like the ACT. 

The key factor in understanding the things of God's Spirit is whether you're a "natural person" or a "spiritual person." And let's get clear on "spiritual person" real quick because we have a country full of people who say they're "spiritual people" who don't worship God and don't read their Bible and don't tell anyone about Jesus and don't have the first twinge of longing for people who don't know Jesus and who, therefore, are in a heap of trouble when Jesus comes again. 

A truly spiritual person cares about other people who don't know Jesus, and a truly spiritual person cares about others who are spiritually dead. The truly spiritual person cares because God cares about people who don't know Jesus and who are spiritually dead, which is why God sent His Son, Jesus, and poured out His Holy Spirit! 

I'd dare say that the books of the Bible are the books of the Bible because all sixty-six of them record God saying what Jesus says to Nicodemus in John, chapter three, which is that we all must be born again to understand the things of God's spirit. What's born of flesh is flesh. What's born of the spirit is spirit. 

The flesh and the natural person says, "I'm so smart that I'm a spiritual person without ever spending time either with God's spiritual things or the Spirit of God."

The person born of the spirit, the truly spiritual person is smart enough to recognize and confess, "I don't stand a chance of understanding anything that matters forever if I never spend time with the God of forever. Teach me, Lord, teach me." 

And God teaches us through His Word through which God gives us His Spirit (Ephesians 6) through which we are able to understand and "spiritually discern" (1 Corinthians 2:14). 

Dear God, please help us so that today and everyday we might be born anew by your Spirit! Make us hungry for your word both to know you more personally and also so we can feed others who are hungry for your Spirit, too! Amen!

Praise God!