Category Archives: Faith

God Sees It Differently

Bible Passages

Read Isaiah 55.

Your eyes saw me when I was still an unborn child. Every day of my life was recorded in your book before one of them had taken place.

Psalm 139:16 (GW)

Devotion

Recently, God filled my heart with a new purpose which would require all my time and energy. He gave me a full-time job. Spread the Love Ministries, this mission, is that new purpose. I have several qualities that make me a good fit for this mission. However, there are also many, many things missing from my resume. God sees it differently. He believes in me, even when I have doubts.

At the time, I had no other job, no income. I saw this as a hindrance. God sees it differently. Bills kept coming in: rent, electricity, my dad’s medical bills, and so much else. I was overwhelmed. I had a hard time not worrying. I had a hard time trusting God would provide me with everything I needed, even though I knew He would – just as He has a million times before. I had to be strong. God sees it differently. He is the source of my strength. He will lend me the strength I need to do His will. All I needed to do is ask.

This was a big ask, though. I didn’t feel worthy. I didn’t feel up to the task. God sees it differently. He has my path mapped out, and will show me, each step of the way, what I need to do. He will take care of the rest. All I have to do is ask.

I prayed hard about it. I prayed unlike any prayer I had ever prayed before. I laid myself at His feet, begging for His help and guidance. I asked.

A few days later, I began to see how God was taking care of my needs. I received unexpected money from family and other sources. I was gifted food. I got an offer to help with my sorely neglected yard. The vision I had been given to help my neighbors began with my neighbors helping me! [I think God has a passion for irony, wry humor, and precision timing.]

I realized then that although I am not the leader I thought I needed to be. God is. I am the follower. I am not strong. God is. I can’t see the path I am walking, but I know how to get to where I’m going. All I need to see is the next stepping stone God has laid for me. I stopped worrying about living up to my idea of God’s expectations and let go of the reins. All I need do is what is required of me, one step at a time.

When I think I am at the end of my rope, God sees it differently. He uses those times as opportunities for my growth as a Christian. He simply gives me a longer, stronger rope! He will provide, exactly as He promised. I just need to make sure to put my trust in Him, and ask for His help, in all things.

Praise God in all things!

Prayer Focus

People who are unemployed.

Prayer

Heavenly Father who made me for a specific purpose, thank you for being there for me every step of the way you have laid out for me. Help me to stay on course, centered on You, and keep me safe as I do Your will in all things, big and small. Amen.

Final Thought

God has a plan for me.

Palm Sunday

Bible Passages

Read Zechariah 9:1-17.

12 On the next day the large crowd that had come to the Passover festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took palm branches and went to meet him. They were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel!”

John 12:12-13 (GW)

Devotion

Holy Week is an emotional roller coaster. Most of Christians know the story well. Jesus was very busy! On Palm Sunday, we celebrate the anniversary of the Messiah’s donkey ride into Jerusalem, when excited people ran out to see the glorious arrival of their Savior. They did not see the warrior prince they were expecting, however, and in the next few days changed their minds about him. They chose to send Him to His death by crucifixion. He overcame death, rose up from the tomb, hung around for a few days, then ascended into heaven, then sent the Holy Spirit to his followers. During Holy Week, we remember and celebrate each step of the process. Today, we celebrate Palm Sunday.

One of my favorite memories of Palm Sunday is making the lapel crosses the youth group made to pass out to members of the congregation as they arrived at the church on Palm Sunday. I think they are very cleverly constructed. I’ve always had an appreciation of clever. They are very simple and easy to make. They are made from two palmetto leaves, and take very little time to assemble. Everyone seemed to enjoy wearing them.

I tried to get my dad to make one on camera and post it online. Unfortunately, he could not remember how, nor could I. Others did remember how, though, and did manage to post some very good step-by-step videos on YouTube. Some are much fancier than the ones we made. Some were very different. It was interesting to see all the different ways to make a cross from a couple of leaves. Below are three such videos. Enjoy!

As we celebrate Christ’s arrival in Jerusalem, let us join in the fun, noise, and excitement that filled the streets on that glorious day. Let’s wave our palm fronds high and shout “Hallelujah, the Messiah has arrived!”

Prayer Focus

People welcoming Jesus into their hearts.

Prayer

My beloved Jesus, who gave Your life to save mine, I thank You. I am a sinner. You are my Savior. I am not worthy of Your love, but You give it to me anyway. I am Yours. Amen.

Final Thought

Hallelujah! The Messiah has arrived!

Video Lagniappe

A Full Day’s Pay

Rejoice

Bible Passages

Read Matthew 20: 1–16


Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew 5:12

In a now-classic television show, Oprah Winfrey had a season of giving. With the help of her many sponsors, she gave gifts to each member of the audience. After a few shows, the audience knew about this, and expected to be given something for attending the show. The exact gift was always kept as a surprise, but it was always something fabulous.

I was part of a television audience a few years back. There was a strict timeline. Everyone had to fill out some paperwork (who are you, why are you here, emergency contact, etc.), shuffle through a security screening gate, and file into an elevator. It was the largest elevator I have ever seen. We then learned the elevator contained the entire audience for that show. Anyone arriving after the elevator started moving would be left behind, unable to be in the audience for that particular episode. We waited a few minutes before being transported up to the floor where filming would take place, as there were a couple of people still being processed. Once they arrived, we were all taken up to the studio at once, together. The late-comers got off first, as they were closest to the doors, and got to choose their seats first.

I am reminded of one of the Parables from the Bible. Jesus told of a man who hired a group of people, very early one morning, to work his vineyard, offering each a fair and full day’s pay. All day long, he hired on anyone else looking for work. At the end of the day, he handed each worker a full day’s pay, beginning with the last ones to arrive. Those who toiled all day were paid last, and also received a full day’s pay. Some of those laborers protested, saying they should be paid more for doing more work than those who came later in the day.

The man reminded them they had agreed to a full day’s pay in return for a full day’s work, so they had received their due pay, and had not been slighted. He also reminded them that the money paid was his to do with as he wanted. Just as in other stories taught by Jesus, and the late-comers to the television audience, those who got a late start were celebrated first by being first to get paid. For us Christians, our full day’s pay is an eternal home in Heaven with our Father, whether we arrive early or late. What matters most to God is we arrive.

Just like Oprah’s audience, once that final trumpet blows to call us Home after our labors are done, we know a special prize is waiting just for us. We can only imagine how great heaven is, but just like on Oprah’s show, we won’t know exactly what it will be until the end of the show. Just like on Oprah’s show, if you show up before the elevator leaves, you still get in, you still get to see the show, and you still get your reward, a one-way trip to heaven. Just like on Oprah’s show, if you miss the elevator, you lose.

Don’t miss the elevator!

Prayer Focus

Those without Christ in their lives.

Prayer

Dear Father Almighty, help me find my way to You and, along the way, to help others find You. Amen.

Final Thought

Don’t let the elevator leave without you.

The Favorite Son

Photo by Xavier Mouton Photographie on Unsplash

Bible Passages

Read Genesis 37-50.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time

1 Peter 5:6 (NASB1995)

Devotion

Before you were born, God set a special path, designed just for you and only you. He created you to be the perfect person for that path. Only you can travel your special path. If you stay on that path, it will be easy and fun (mostly). Along the way, He will hold your hand. He will carry you through the difficult parts, the challenges, the tests.

All you need do is follow where He leads you. He will provide almost everything you need to succeed. There is only one thing missing: you. God gave us free will, the ability to choose for ourselves what we do with our lives. He wants you to give yourself, fully and completely, to Him. When you do this, the results will amaze you!

The Bible is full of examples of people who went through hard times and came out with more blessings than they ever imagined. Joseph, for example, shows us how to follow God’s path. He shows us how to be godly, happy, and blessed. Even when he fell into darkness, God was with him. We remember him because he held tightly to God’s hand through the bad times and the good times.

We remember him and so many others because we love to hear their stories over and over. Their stories put our own troubles into perspective, and give us hope when we’re going through dark times. They remind us that God loves to take us out of our lowest moments, and bring us to our highest moments. Just like the dark nights make us appreciate the sunrise, our dark moments make us appreciate God’s blessings with praise and gratitude.

Joseph was on top of the world as a child. His family was prosperous. He lacked for nothing. His father favored him above all his other children. God blessed him with dreams, showing him that one day he would be in a situation where his brothers would bow to him. Confused and excited, he shared his dreams with his brothers, who already thought he was too big for his breeches. Hearing they would kowtow to him, it was the last straw for his jealous siblings.

Soon after, he was ambushed by his own brothers and sold into slavery, literally thrown away. Joseph was steadfast in his love of God, however, and he continued to be true to himself. He was kind to others. He held to his beliefs and worshiped God. He developed leadership skills. He remained trustworthy and honest, and loved God. God continued to bless Joseph and those around him, bringing them prosperity. God also continued giving him dreams, which he shared with others.

Through a series of events in which Joseph was falsely accused of misdeeds, he found himself in jail. While Joseph was in jail, the pharaoh had a dream. His advisors had no idea how to interpret this dream, but God told Joseph what the dream meant, and provided the opportunity for Joseph to witness to pharaoh. Joseph was immediately released from prison and installed as the second-in-command over Egypt, answering only to the pharaoh. Joseph was still enjoying the blessings of God, and Egypt prospered.

Meanwhile, Joseph’s family fell on hard times. A drought plagued the land, and his brothers were going hungry. Joseph’s father sent his brothers to beg for the mercy of the pharaoh, hoping he would share some food with them. They were presented to Joseph to plead their case. They were bowing and groveling at his feet so much, they didn’t recognize him as their brother. After putting them through a couple of challenges designed to test their characters, Joseph revealed himself to them and granted their request. The story continues, but I will stop here. As predicted in his childhood dream, Joseph was lifted up into the exact position God planned for him.

Joseph endured all the hardships set before him, praising God all the while. Joseph’s faithfulness to God paid off. God’s plan for him was fulfilled. Joseph was set on high, blessed beyond his wildest dreams, and lived a full and happy life. He remains an example of what it means to hold tight to God.

Prayer Focus

People with big dreams.

Prayer

Our Great and Mighty Father on high, thank You for making me. Thank You for loving me. Thank you for your blessings and your trials. Thank you for giving me everything I have. Use me as a vessel of Thy great and everlasting love. Amen.

Final Thought

God pushes us to be better.

Lamb of God

Bible Passages

29 Now it happened at midnight that Yahweh struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle. 30 Then Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead. 31 Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, serve Yahweh, as you have spoken. 32 Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have spoken, and go, and bless me also.”

Exodus 12:29-32 (Legacy Standard Bible)

29 On the next day, he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who has been ahead of me, for He existed before me.’ 31 I did not know Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing with water.” 32And John bore witness saying, “I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He abided on Him. 33 And I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The One upon whom you see the Spirit descending and abiding on Him, this is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I myself have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

John 1:29-34 (Legacy Standard Bible)

Devotion

During Lent, we hear a lot about the Lamb of God, the Last Supper, and the Cross. We know about the Exodus from Egypt, and the speculation that the Last Supper was a Passover Feast. We don’t often delve deeper into the parallels between Passover and the Crucifixion.

We know that the tenth and final plague on Egypt was the original Passover. God told the tribe of Israel, through Moses, to gather up enough lambs to feed the tribe, no more and no less. The lambs had to be pure and without blemish. They were kept separate until the appointed day and time. These lambs were then slaughtered. Their blood was used to mark the houses of those to be saved. The body was used to feed the tribe of Israel, those to be saved. Any leftovers were destroyed.

That night, God took the firstborn male of every Egyptian and their livestock. The Egyptian gods were also defeated. However, the firstborn males of the tribe of Israel were untouched. They were saved. It was the last straw for Pharaoh. When he lost his own firstborn son, he was finally broken and gave in to God’s will, chasing the Jewish people from his lands and even asked for our God to bless him!

The first commandment God gave the Jewish people was to observe Passover by fasting and feasting, in remembrance of Him and what He did for them, which is still practiced today. The Passover feast of Jewish tradition contains many symbolic foods. Bitter herbs represent the suffering of the tribe as slaves, salt water is served for the tears shed during slavery, and a piece of lamb to remember God’s love and protection (after the destruction of the Temple, it was changed to a bone).

Fast forward about 1400 years, to first century Jerusalem.

Jesus was the firstborn Son of God, His only son.

He was pure and without blemish.

He was sacrificed in order to save us.

He died during Passover.

We have new symbols and rituals, which we perform in remembrance of Him and what He did for us. As He told His disciples during their last meal together before the Crucifixion, the wine was a symbol of the blood He would shed for us. The bread was a symbol of His body, which was beaten, sliced open, and then killed, slaughtered, for us.

Our new Passover feast is known as Holy Communion.

Our new fasting is known as Lent, during which we symbolically give up something dear and take up something difficult but worthy and follow Him.

During this season of Passover, as we partake of the Holy Sacrament, let’s reflect on the reason we do these things. Let us bear in our hearts how much love God has for us, his chosen people. Let us remember Jesus and His sacrifice. Let us eat of His body. Let us drink His blood. Let us be renewed in the knowledge that He did these things for us, so we might follow His example of love. Let us rededicate our lives to Christ, so we may glorify Him in all we do. Let us reflect, in our own feeble ways, the life He lived.

According to the Gospels, right before Jesus was arrested by the Romans, He begged God to take the cross from the path He was to walk, knowing it was the only way to teach us His final lessons. He knew how hard the next few days would be. At the end of that prayer, He chose to continue on that path anyway. He chose the hard stuff. He chose the cross, because it was God’s will.

We all face challenges, tests, and hardships. Let us bear our own symbolic crosses with the grace and dignity Jesus showed us when He took up the cross. Let us remember God is with us in everything we do, good and bad. Let us lean on Him. He will see us through anything and everything!

Prayer Focus

Those taking their first Holy Communion.

Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, who gave His only son so we might have a deep, personal relationship with You, we thank You for loving us. We thank You for showing us, in such a meaningful way, how You want us to live. We thank You for Your salvation through the blood of Jesus. Amen.

Final Thought

Jesus gave up everything for us. Let us be willing to give up everything for Him, according to His will.

A Life of Privilege

Princess and castle

Bible Passages

Read Psalm 145:1-6.

4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. – Philipians 4:4-9 (NASB1995)

Devotion

I grew up in a life of privilege. I am proud, looking back, of the childhood I had. At the time, I took it all for granted. As a child, however, I didn’t fully appreciate how rich we were. Many times, I resented our circumstances. I just didn’t understand. I truly believed we were dirt poor.

My father was a country preacher. His assignments were primarily small churches struggling to keep the lights on and the bills paid. Attendance was dwindling. There were times we were given chickens, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and other food items to supplement, and sometimes instead of, pay. My mother often worked, usually as a teacher or an office assistant, to help ends meet. At times, my dad took another job so we could afford to serve God through his ministry. I often received hand-me-downs from relatives, church members, and friends of my parents. I resented the used clothing and toys. I didn’t realize then how blessed we were, and hated having to leave my friends (and once even my dog) behind as we moved on to the next church in need.

I thought we were paupers. Through faith in God, we always had enough money and resources to get by. I didn’t really appreciate it then. Looking back as an adult, I realize what a privileged life I had. I got to see first-hand how God takes care of his flock, and not just my immediate family. I got to witness miracles and blessings on a regular basis. I realize now how full my childhood was.

My father had the gift of faith healing. I took for granted that people were healed by faith. My parents were true believers in God’s miracles, and made believers out of me and my brother. I don’t remember a time we didn’t believe in miracles.

Early in my father’s ministry, a man’s arm was caught in a thrasher and severely mangled. It was so bad, they were planning to remove the arm once he was stable enough for surgery. Through prayer, the man regained full use of that arm, without surgery! Another man, a dear friend of his, was healed of cancer the day before he was scheduled to go for surgery. He visited my dad and they prayed about it. Later that afternoon, he called my dad and told him about the sudden sense of peace he felt. My dad told him to make them do another test for the cancer before they operated. No sign of cancer was found! To my knowledge, that was my dad’s final act of faith healing before he left this earth.

I had a sideline look at so many aspects of the human condition: birth, death, sickness of the body and sickness of the spirit, youth and old age, righteous and those on the wrong side of the law. I don’t know a lot of details, but I know my father and mother both prayed with people over the phone. I also know of the many times these situations were later followed up by a private “Praise God!” session, usually at the parsonage, which often included a cake or pie of gratitude. Now that I could appreciate!

I had regular injections of the teachings in the Bible. My brother reminded me recently that our parents rewarded us for learning the Bible. How many parents do that?

Both parents sang beautifully. We sang often and gladly, mostly hymns, as we traveled. I sang my first church solo sometime around age 2. As a member of the choir, I had built-in voice lessons. Piano and organ lessons would wait until my teen years, provided by the church organist.

While in elementary school, my father was called to further his education. We prayed hard as a family about it many times, then loaded the car with the bare essentials and moved to Colorado, the location of the seminary. This was the first time I witnessed a true and giant leap of faith. As it turns out, my father’s letter of acceptance was sitting on the Registrar’s desk, having just been signed by him mere moments before my dad showed up in his office. The Registrar was shocked and amazed. My dad simply told him God told him when and where to go. As I begin my own leap of faith, I think about their example of great courage, conviction and faith. I hope to live up to their example and to honor them in this way.

Although we never had many earthly riches, we were blessed by God so many times. Every time I hear the song, “Count Your Blessings,” I ask God if He wants me stop what I’m doing to count all my blessings, or does He want me to actually accomplish something today toward building His kingdom on Earth. Counting all my blessings would take up every second of every minute of every day of my life, and beyond. [I think even God is getting tired of that old joke.]

As I look back on my life, I now appreciate all the blessings and privileges He has brought into my life and the lives around me. I had so many extraordinary chances to witness what faith can do. Is it any wonder I am always amazed to meet someone who does not believe in miracles? In blessings? In Holy guidance? In God?

If we Christians truly understand what it means to be privileged, and give thanks and praise and trust to God, we begin to realize what a life of privilege we are all living, AND we will continue to live a life of privilege on this earth, until we move into a magnificent palace in heaven.

Prayer Focus

Families

Prayer

God of heaven, the Earth, and the universe, please be with those who need you most. Let me be an agent of hope and blessings for someone. Help me realize how blessed I am. Thank you for showing me Your love and compassion. Please give me the chance to show Your love and compassion to others. Amen.

Final Thought

Through Christ, we live a life of privilege.