Category: devotional

There was a woodpecker in the house. The back door had been left open and the woodpecker came in. The poor guy was panic-stricken. Madly he flew from room to room banging himself against walls. It was not a pleasant experience. The first impulse was to grab a net and try to catch him. But wisdom took over–just open all the doors to the house and get out of the way. Sure enough. In a few minutes the woodpecker found his way out the front door. For the next hour he chattered all over the yard. He must have been telling the others of his horrible adventure.

Chasing him about the house with a net surely would have injured him. Have you ever wondered if when we are in difficult places God opens doors of opportunity for us and then gets out of the way? Sometimes all we need is a chance. He already has given us the brain and talent to succeed. He knows it is best for us to use them because real success is our success and not something handed to us by another.

This however is not true when it comes to salvation. Because we are sinners we cannot meet the demands of the law. It is essential that Jesus’ success become ours. He gives it. We accept, and we grow. We take His gifts and use His strength, and we find freedom.

Written in 2000

Presidential elections are intense times. After the election one candidate goes on to be a picture on the walls of classrooms in our schools. The other candidates become footnotes in history. One of the candidates will for a time be the most powerful man in the world. The others will sit at home wondering what to do with the rest of their lives.

Do you ever wonder what you should do with the rest of your life? Do you ever think of quitting your job and sitting on a sandy beach for a long, long time? Or perhaps you think of creative ways to be of service in your community. Maybe you think of helping at a food bank or volunteering to teach an adult how to read. Maybe you think of selling your home, putting things in storage and joining the Peace Corps. They do take people of all ages.

Maybe you could become a crossing guard and help children get safely to and from school each day. Maybe you could take a meal to an elderly person each day. Maybe your life is already filled with meaningful purpose. However you plan to spend the rest of your life, you should think of a way to be of service to someone other than yourself. The law of Jesus’ kingdom is the law of service. (Matt. 25:35 ff)

Written in 2000

He craved a piece of chocolate, but to his great despair the house was chocolateless. There was no chocolate syrup in the fridge. There were no leftover spoonfuls of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream in the back of the freezer. Despondent, he searched the bedroom knowing that his wife, not a chocolate lover, often put boxes of chocolates away until they turned white. What a waste!

Next he went to the china closet thinking by chance there might be a forgotten box of after dinner mints there, but to no avail. Next he toyed with the idea of driving to the store, but his town was not a big city and most everything was shut down for the night. Then it came to him. In a drawer with some herb tea bags there just might be a packet of hot chocolate powder. Swooping down he found it. Nestled among the apple orchard, mint medley, fruit and almond, orange and spice was his reward. He had found some chocolate.

There are times when God seems remote and we are in need of His presence. The writer of Psalm 42:1,2 put it so well. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

Jesus once told us if we will seek we shall find. The real quest will be rewarded as we discover it was God who was seeking us.

Written in 2000

A flight attendant came down the aisle with the food cart. When she got to one couple she noticed they were both asleep. Many flight attendants would choose not to disturb the sleepers and just pass them by. However, this flight attendant, quietly as possible, lowered their tray tables and carefully arranged their meals for them. After several minutes passed one of the passengers stirred and joyfully found her meal in front of her.

This is somewhat the way God takes care of us. He prepares a table for us often without our knowing He is doing so. Sometimes we are sleeping or we are very busy with life and do not seem to notice.

In Acts 14 we find the story of Paul and Barnabas healing a crippled man. The people of the city were very excited and proclaimed Paul and Barnabas to be gods. Quickly Paul correct their error and in pointing them to the real God he said, “He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”

Our God knows your needs and provides for you. He will never let you down. Never!

Written in 2000

Psychologists call them transitional objects. They provide safety and comfort for individuals going through a stressful situation. They are those wonderful tattered, worn teddy bears and blankets that accompany small children through a host of stressful transitions as they learn all about the big world around them.

Sometimes parents become concerned that their children are not normal if they have the Linus Syndrome—named for that Peanuts character Linus and his wonderful blanket. But it is very normal and parents should not worry.

Adults manifest the same syndrome but in different ways. During times of stress they use such things as chewing gum, a hot drink, or a favorite food. Whatever we use, it is for the same purpose. It provides us an island of comfort in a storm of life.

Jesus provides the same thing and lots more. If when things get difficult, we turn to Jesus for comfort or safety He is there. He who knows all our needs will do what is best for us. He is a friend that will never get tattered or worn. He will always be there when you need something safe.

Written in 2000

There is a good reason labs are called retrievers. They just cannot resist chasing sticks. The excitement mounts when their masters pick up anything that can be thrown. They bounce up and down with eager anticipation. It is even better if the stick is thrown into a lake. There is such joy in leaping belly first into the water to power one’s way to the floating object. Grasping it firmly, the retriever swims head high to bring it back to the master’s feet.

In Jude 1:24 we read, “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,….” It emphasizes Jesus’ great joy in bringing us to the Father. He could not be more proud than when He is able to bring you before the throne and proclaim you to be redeemed. There is no doubt about it; Jesus is the Great Retriever. He has rescued us from ourselves. He jumped into this cesspool of sin and brought us to safety.

Written in 2000

Robert Burns said it best. “The best laid plans of mice and men aft go awry.” It was two weeks until Christmas. She had carefully put the charge for her husband’s Christmas present on a credit card they seldom used. She ordered the present delivered to the neighbor’s house instead of her own. There was no way he was even going to see a box and guess the contents before Christmas. Then it happened. The husband received a telephone call. The voice on the other end said he was calling from the credit card company to check on possible fraudulent use of the card. Had they made a credit card purchase at Adventures Unlimited on a specific date? He said, “No.” The wife was listening from the other room. She had to tell her husband the charge was legitimate and he filled in the missing details. She was in tears. Her surprise was blown.

Giving nice things and surprising loved ones is such an enjoyable thing. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him….”

There it is—the promise of wonders we cannot imagine. I cannot imagine our Lord’s keen disappointment if we do not allow Him the joy of giving them to us. The process begins by our accepting His forgiveness.

Written in 2000

We enjoy poetry and prose that best resonates with our inner feelings. Such work draws us to reread or even memorize so we can carry it with us to give words to our inner feelings, longings, desires and anxieties. How often do we have a half-formed idea or thought only to read something that brings it instantly to life? Great poets and great writers have the same feelings as the rest of us. What makes them great is their ability to find expression for us.

Paul’s comment in Romans 8:26 is intriguing. “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

How often have you longed to pray the right prayer but did not really know what to say? It was not that you did not know what you wanted or needed. It was an inability to find words. We do not want to bother God with a string of worn out cliches; nor do we want to bother God with repetitious phrases. That is why Romans 8:26 is so important. It reassures us that we do not have to find the “right” words. The greatest author of all finds expression for us

One of the rewards of aging is the ever-increasing inventory of memories. Housed inside our heads is a marvelous archive of people and places. The real joy of having memories is our ability to recall them in vivid color with surround sound. No matter where our body is our mind can instantly transport us to any place we have ever been. And the memories can be filled with incredible ambiance.

The power of the human mind is awesome. It has infinite capacity unlike any computer. Have you ever heard adolescents complain that they are bored? Despite a house full of media devices and a library of videotapes they can’t find anything to do. The problem is they have not lived long enough. They often don’t have enough memories and their choices of thought are limited.

Choice is God’ gift to each of us. At any moment we can choose our thoughts. We can turn off the radio and television and think our own thoughts. We can be creative. We can blend memories of one place with another weaving the tapestry of a good life. If you want your past to be good or if you want it to be horrible, it is your choice. The creation of life is the product of our choice.

Written in 2001

Do you every wonder how it is that evil people and good people are members of the same species? The human mind is by far the most mysterious thing on earth. It sits behind the eyes and holds within its folds the universe. It receives a continuous stream of data and processes it into consciousness and self-awareness. That consciousness transforms into an “I.” “I” then make highly selective choices as to how “I” will respond to all that sensory stimuli.

There are some who believe that what we do with self is already determined and we have no real freedom. There are others who have concluded that we have absolute freedom and power to choose what we will be. Perhaps reality is somewhere in the middle. A Volkswagen brain cannot will itself to become a Mercedes. But it can will itself to be the very best Volkswagen brain ever. We are limited by our physical inheritance. But we can train, we can alter, we can discipline, we can hone our minds as a body builder strengthens and defines his biceps. We can feed our brain quality thoughts and exercise it by contemplating character-building ideas.

Paul says, “Let this mind be in you that was in Jesus Christ.” Philippians 2:5. Paul also says, “I in Christ and Christ in me.” Jesus wants to be our personal trainer. He wants to guide us into a more excellent state of thought and consciousness. He wants us to think heavenly ideas and intellectually soar above the crowd. The freedom to be such is ours to choose.

Written in 2001