Pause Before You Post

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

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“Pause Before You Post”

Ephesians 4:29

NIV- Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

NLT- Don’t use foul or abusive language.  Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

 

We have all had numerous times in our lives where we regret saying something to someone.  It’s been heavy on my heart and mind lately how so many people post things on social media without giving it a second thought.  The past month, I’ve actually pulled back from scrolling through posts and just let my mind rest from reading all the opinions people are putting out. 

 

Growing up, I’ve had people repeatedly tell me, in various ways, to be careful about what I say before I say it.  This is especially true when we get heated and worked up about something that we are either passionate about or that really bothers us.  No matter what we might be get worked up about or frustrated about, we should always make it a point to take a pause, thinking about what’s about to come out of our mouths and then either put it to rest or say/post in a very tactful and constructive way. 

 

So many people get emotionally scarred by things that are said each and every day.  Lately, I’ve been thinking so much about how people rant and spew opinions on social media.  Time and time again, I think about how we are called to encourage and lift others up, but unfortunately so much what is said these days is really hurtful and discourages people. 

 

What if each one of us really considers the words that come out of our mouth?  Maybe we should make more of an effort to pause and reflect before talking?  Not only do we need to pause before posting our input online, but in every day conversations with people around us.  Each day, we come into contact with various people.  Are we choosing our words carefully?  Are we thinking about how we can benefit one another and lift each other up?

 

We are told in Scripture to be the body of Christ, lifting each other up and encouraging one another.  We cannot do this effectively if we are bashing each other.  In this day and age, so many resort to posting and they don’t think twice about what is being said.  Is it to encourage each other or critique? 

 

I just want to encourage all of us to think, rethink and really consider what we are saying to others, especially online.  The past month, by pulling back more on my browsing and scrolling, I’ve felt better.  There’s just so much negativity out there and I want my mind and heart filled with positive things.  Why don’t we all strive to share positive words with others and focus on how we can build others up.  Are encouraging or discouraging others? 

Obedience Even When Things Make No Sense

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“Obedience Even When Things Make No Sense”

Joshua 6:2-5 NIV

The Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.  March around the city once with all the armed men.  Do this for six days.  Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark.  On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.  When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”

 

This past Sunday, the sermon at church featured this story about the collapse of the wall of Jericho.  This is one of my most favorite stories in Scripture.  One of the reasons why is having watched Veggie Tales so many years ago and remembering the hilarious animation retelling the story.  The other reason is how amazing this story is because everything they did made absolutely NO logical sense whatsoever! 

 

All the verses leading up to verse 5 give the sense that something will happen in the end like charging the wall and using weapons to tear it down.  It would make total sense to bring a crane with a wrecking ball in to smash through the wall, right??  Of course!  That’s exactly what I would have done!  But this wasn’t God’s plan at all.  He had no plans for anything physical to knock down the wall.  It was absolutely nothing but obedience and faith that God would do…..something. 

 

Verse 5 just gets me.  The wall of the city will collapse from all the shouting and marching around?  God gave them very detailed instructions of marching around and doing various things.  One loud blast and shouting and then……well…..the wall will collapse??  It just doesn’t make one bit of sense at all.  Why would God tell them to do all these things instead of telling the to grab weapons and beat the wall down that way? 

 

God wanted their obedience and faith in Him more than anything.  I’m sure it had to be on their minds why in the world God was giving them weird instructions that had absolutely NOTHING physical to do with breaking down the wall.  God told Joshua and he told the people.  I can just hear Joshua’s thoughts, “God, I sure hope this works!  I’m gonna look like a fool if it doesn’t.” 

 

Can you imagine the feeling and look on everyone’s faces when the wall did collapse?  “Whoa!  Did that just REALLY happen??  All we did was march around and then shout!  How in the world did that happen?”

 

Obedience and faith in God, even when things make absolutely no sense, is what God wants more than anything.  We gotta trust in Him even when things have no logical reason behind it.  That’s often how He works.  His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not ours.  Trust Him!

He Is So UNFAILING

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

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“He Is So UNFAILING”

Psalm 115: 1 NLT

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness”

 

A few weeks back, we sang a song at church called “This We Know” by Vertical Worship.  The last few words of the chorus are “Jesus, You are unfailing”.  As I pondered that day and still ponder days and weeks after, I think of all the things in life that fail us. 

 

We get our hopes up for so many things in life that end up disappointing us and letting us down.  We look forward to things and events that are coming up, but then something goes wrong and we’re left heartbroken.  People make promises and then break them.  We put a lot of hope into electronic gadgets that we buy, hoping they will never break, but they often do or lose connection.  Our vehicles break down and need repair.  People break our hearts.  We lose our jobs.  Moms lose their baby. 

 

The list could go on and on of the terrible heartbreaks that set us back and make us question why God allows so much to happen when we dedicate our lives to serving Him.  But remember that Jesus never promised us an easy life if we follow Him.  He promised just the opposite.  He wants us to put our hope in Him alone.  Everything in life and everyone will, in some way, fail us somehow.  Maybe intentionally or unintentionally, but still will. 

 

We need to be reminded always that God is 100% loving and faithful.  That will never change.  His love and faithfulness will remain forever.  That’s great news when we look around and see so many horrible things going wrong in life today.  We need something constant and that won’t break our heart….again!

 

He will NEVER fail us.  As much as I’ve been hurt by plans failing and by other people, I know that God will never fail me.  I may not understand why He allows things to happen as He does, but I know He’s never going to fail me.  I can count on Him no matter what.

 

He is so UNFAILING!

Waiting

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

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“Waiting”

Genesis 21:1-3 NIV

Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. 

 

As I was waiting at a stop light recently, I was thinking about how much we often wait for things in life.  Through our years of life, we do so much waiting.  Sometimes we wait for a long time, other times we don’t.  Who likes waiting for anything??  None of us!  Waiting usually involves getting ancy and worrying and a number of other various emotions.

 

We wait on so many things.

 

We wait for test scores, whether school or medical.

We wait for someone to get out of surgery.

We wait at a stop light.

We wait at a roundabout.

We wait in a grocery store line.

We wait in a regular retail checkout line.

We want for a company to review our resume.

We wait for an interview.

We wait to hear back from an interview.

We wait for our child to be born.

We wait a slow person in front of us.

We wait for a webpage to load.

We wait for our food in a restaurant.

We wait for medicine to take effect.

We wait for our tax return.

 

The list could literally go on and on and on.  We.  Wait.  For.  So.  Many.  Things. 

No wonder so many of us become impatient so often.  This is something I have struggled with all my life.  I’m a little better, but I’ve got a long way to go!  Sometimes, I feel like I’m getting more patient, while other times I’m failing miserably.

 

Life experiences for all of us include much, much waiting in various ways.  Sometimes, it really good for us to wait.  It’s really good for us when we learn to wait for something.  Often times, we discover the wait is well worth it when we do wait for something.  Recently, I waited 5.5 months to run a 5K that I had trained for.  The waiting was hard, but the race came and went and it was amazing!  I was so glad I had the time to wait and train my body.  Now I look to train for future race somewhere! 

 

Waiting can really build character and perseverance.  Like the old saying goes, “Good things come to those who wait”.  Even though it’s hard, God rewards us so often when we are patient and wait for great things to come!

Absolutely NOTHING Apart From Him

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“Absolutely NOTHING Apart From Him”

John 15:5 NIV

I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

 

This past Sunday at church we sang the song, “Lay Me Down” and as we sang the chorus, I thought of this passage in John 15 where Jesus is talking about being connected to Him and that apart from Him we cannot live a fruitful life. 

 

John 15 has been one of my favorite chapters in the Bible for many years.  I really like the illustration of the vine and the branches.  As we sang the song today, I was reminded how often I try to live life apart from God.  I’m not purposely intending to live my life from what God desires, but the world is so full of influences every sing day that I’m so often tempted to do things on my own through the day.

 

No matter how much we try, no matter how much we are convinced by the world, there is absolutely no purpose in life without God in the center.  So many people today certainly live their lives without God and think they are doing just fine and don’t need Him at all.  There is no eternal purpose when our lives are lived in our own ways.  When we are living for worldly pleasures and focused on our own agendas, there is no eternal purpose or goals in that way of life. 

 

God often has to remind me that I need to be constantly connected to Him and do what He says to do to be successful in life.  However, I’m often like a little child demanding my own way with God.  If God would just do what I want Him to do for me, then all would be good.  When I finally get my focus back on Him, I am reminded that apart from Him, I am NOTHING.  Life has no meaning without Him. 

 

Life has absolutely no meaning at all with God.  I honestly don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have my faith.  Life is already hard enough as it is living a life with faith.  There are many challenges and obstacles that greatly test our faith.  We often wonder where God is and why He is letting us suffer when we do.  No matter what we struggle with, we have to remember that life without Him is no life at all. 

 

When I was a teenager, I had some years where I didn’t want to live a life with God at all and I left church and distanced myself.  Finally, God got a hold of me and put people in my life who cared and slowly brought me back.  I’m so grateful for that and am forever grateful I didn’t turn away for good.  He is my Rock and I absolutely couldn’t imagine my life without Him.

 

We can do nothing apart from God.  There is no fruitful life…..period.

Pressing On Is So Worth It

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“Pressing On Is So Worth It”

Philippians 3:12-14 NIV

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

 

As I’ve mentioned in the recent past, I decided to take up running again and get back into better shape.  Since mid-April, I’ve been focusing my attention on conditioning my body to prepare for the Mankato 5K coming up Oct 18.  As I’ve continued to run and prepare, I’ve been learning so many things and remembering running when I was younger as I did track and cross country. 

 

I’ve remembered how hard it is a lot of times to keep going, even when you feel like giving up at times.  Depending on the weather of certain days or how tired I am, some days I do better running, while other days not so much.  Recently, I increased my distance to better prepare for the 5K.  I’m finding out I’m not as young as I used to be!  It’s hard work!  I do enjoy doing this, but it’s also very hard some days.  Pacing myself, controlling my breathing and just keeping in mind that it will get better as I improve.

 

I think about the words of the Apostle Paul as he talked about pressing on and keeping focused on the prize!  I often have to remind myself of this while I’m running.  I think so much about how it’s hard to do this, but I haven’t run for so many years and just now getting back into it.  It’s going to take time and I need to work through the obstacles I face each time I run.  I often get halfway through and I’m thinking, “Shouldn’t this be getting easier?”  I have to remember that it will and I just have to keep going and keep my focus. 

 

So often in our lives, we must remember that we need to keep our focus on Christ and keep striving and pressing on.  Times get tough, but we get back up and keep going.  I have been getting so focused on my time in running and getting aggravated if I’m not doing better.  My wife reminds me, “Hey, you just started running again.  At least you’re keeping at it and you’re finishing!”  I gotta remember that I’m getting there and I will improve with time.  A couple guys from church have been encouraging me lately with my running as they are runners, too. 

 

I know that pressing on is so worth it!  God wants us to press on and focus on what’s ahead, not on the struggles we’ve had in the past.  We just gotta keep going and keep plugging away!  God is with us every step of the way.  Pressing on can be downright tough at times, but it’s so worth the pain we feel along the way.  When I get done with my daily jogs, my body feels better.  But, during the run, it’s hard and I just gotta keep going.  Keep my pace, keep at it and the improvements will come.  We all need to keep pressing on!

I Am With You

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“I Am With You”

Isaiah 41:10 NLT

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.  Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

 

This passage, along with numerous other passages, came up when I did a search in the YouVersion Bible app for “I am with you”.  It’s so comforting to know that God reminded so many people that He would be with them. 

 

The past couple of weeks at my work have been very stressful and overwhelming.  There have been some days when I felt so overwhelmed that it felt like the challenges were so much bigger than they really were.  When we get handed challenges at work or in life, it’s often easy to think they are bigger and more powerful than they really are.  It can be very overwhelming and feel like they are way bigger than they really are.  We can feel defeated and like we aren’t gonna get through the situations.

 

This past week, I had to constantly remind myself that nothing is greater or bigger than God and He is always with me.  I had to talk to some people regarding how I felt so that I could work through the feelings I had.  I’m continuing to learn each day that God is always with me.  It’s easy to say this, but when certain situations and demands arise, we can feel totally defeated and like we aren’t going to get anywhere.

 

As I worked through some tough challenges and talked to a coworker, I felt a little bit of relief.  Sometimes it’s so easy to get things worked up in our minds and we tend to make those things bigger than they really are.  It’s so easy to do.  We gotta take a step back, get a different perspective, breathe, and regroup.  I had to remind myself a lot these past couple of weeks to breathe.  I was so overwhelmed and felt very stressed.  I kept telling some people that I needed to just breathe and think through what I needed to do.

 

Friends, I want to remind us all that God is with us.  He’s been with us and with others through the many years of time.  He will never leave us.  He is always with us and is guiding us.  This doesn’t mean He will take the situations away and make all things better.  Sometimes we wish He would, right??? 

 

I’m so glad to be reminded each day that He is always with me.  He will never leave me.  When I feel overwhelmed and the challenges look way bigger than life, I need to take a breather and regroup.  When I do, somehow God sees me through and I get a different perspective.

 

Let us remember, through all of our current challenges in life, God is saying “I Am With You”. 

Welcome Home: Your Journey Is Just Beginning

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

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“Welcome Home: Your Journey Is Just Beginning”

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

 

1 week ago Friday, we took my oldest daughter to move into her college dorm and spent the day doing various things.  While in the dining hall for lunch, I noticed a tv on the wall with this saying, “Welcome Home: Your Journey Is Just Beginning”.  This definitely stirred the emotions that were already inside of me as I knew this was now her new home.  I sat there, very excited for her, but very sad that she was now going to be on her own and out of the home.

 

As I thought about this phrase, it gave me a sense of peace knowing that she is in good hands and will be well taken care of at this college.  Her next journey of life and her new home is just beginning.  It makes me think of different journeys we have throughout life. 

 

When we start dating someone, our new journey is just beginning.  When we get married, our new journey is just beginning.  When we have our first child, our journey is just beginning.  When we graduate high school and move to college, our journey is just beginning.  When we start a new job, our journey is just beginning.

 

We start a lot of new journeys in life and they can bring on many mixed feelings.  We’re excited, nervous, terrified, full of anxiety, etc.  We have all been filled with mixed feelings when starting something new.

 

As we walked off campus Friday night and left my daughter there, I kept thinking about her new journey and all the wonderful life experiences she will have in the coming days, weeks, months and years.  I felt very happy for her, but I also felt very emotional leaving as our journey was just beginning coming home with one child gone from home.

 

Sometimes, we don’t want things to change in life and we’re scared of new beginnings for whatever reason.  I was just chatting with a co-worker today that is leaving our company and beginning the same position in a different company.  She mentioned doing it all over again and being nervous about a new place. 

 

None of us are exempt from feeling the mixed emotions of new journeys.  However, we must always remember that, no matter the new journey, God is always with us wherever we go. 

 

There’s such a welcoming feeling reading those words, “Welcome Home: Your Journey is Just Beginning”.  That brings feelings of anticipating really great and new things in life.  We must choose to embrace the unknown at every new journey.  God is with us and will always guide us. 

Filled With Emotions

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

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“Filled With Emotions”

 

The past years, several months and days have been filled with my oldest daughter preparing for graduation and now venturing off to college.  Since Spring, it’s been a whirlwind of preparing for graduation, her grad party and now getting everything ready to send her off to college. 

 

As I write this, tears are filling my eyes.  I’m just filled with emotions.  I’m thinking of the memories I’ve had with my daughter and watching her grow into the beautiful young woman she has become.  The past few years have been quite challenging in many ways as she navigated some difficult times, but learned and persevered through them.  I am so proud of the woman she is now and who God is going to lead her to be in the coming years.

 

As you can imagine, emotions have been all over the place for my wife and I as we navigate this new season of life.  I don’t really know how all to explain the emotions I’m seeing in our home and the emotions I’m personally feeling.  I’m excited for her, but also sad that I’m letting her go into the world by herself. 

 

I’ve been telling my wife that I’ve struggled with the feelings of “Did I teach her enough?  Did I instill enough Godly values in her?  Did I spend enough time showing her I love her?  Did I take enough time doing things with her?”  The questions just keep filling my mind as emotions run through me.  This is a new season of life and I’m not quite sure how to handle the emotions and……I want to be strong for my wife and, my oldest and my youngest.  But, it’s okay to show emotions.

 

Friday, we take her to college and we come home without her for a while.  It’s going to be hard and it will be a transition for us.  What I know most of all is that God’s in complete control and He will guide her and we just have to trust His timing and protection throughout her life.  As she experiences college, as she finds a Godly man when the timing is right and enters marriage and as she one day has a family of her own.

 

Lord, please protect my daughter as she ventures out on her own.  I pray she will take all that we’ve taught her and develop her own faith and become stronger.  Thank you for these 18 years of watching her grow and blossom.  I’m excited to see what You have in store for her life and where You will lead her.  Please help my wife and I adjust to this transition as well as my daughter as she ventures on her own.  We give her to You and trust Your leading in her life.  Amen.

Be Kind To Yourself

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

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“Be Kind To Yourself”

Ephesians 2:10 NLT

For we are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

 

I have a confession to make right off the bat here.  For most of my life, I have had a really bad habit of coming down on myself when I make a mistake or forget to do something.  This is something I have been working on for a while, but I still treat myself pretty bad when I mess anything up.  The enemy feeds me lies every time I mess up or forget to do something.  The enemy tells me I’m worthless, that everyone else would get it right and that I’m just not smart enough.

 

I’ve dealt with a very low self-esteem for so long, but God is helping me work on this.  And, so is my wife and kids.  Daily they hear me say something bad about myself and I get in trouble when I do that.  If I say, “I’m dumb”, “I’m stupid”, “I can’t get things right”, I get in big trouble with them and they tell me to be nice to myself.

 

When I read this passage this week, it reminded me that no matter how sometimes I feel about myself, it’s usually very wrong because the enemy wants me to feel worthless, useless and not valued at all. 

 

Friends, think about the first phrase of this passage, “For we are God’s masterpiece”.  You and I are God’s MASTERPIECE!!!!  How does that make you feel?  When I read that, I am reminded how valued and loved I am by God.  The enemy is so good at feeding me constant lies about myself.  The heartbreak to this behavior of mine is that often I will hear my kids say the same things about themselves.  Of course, I tell them to stop saying that, but that’s exactly how I act and what I say when I mess up.

 

Be kind to yourself!  We are a masterpiece created by the Maker of all things.  There is nothing useless or worthless about that!  If you are reading this and you are finding yourself struggling just like I do daily with self-esteem, remember this passage.  You are created anew in Christ Jesus!  You are loved and valued by the Maker Himself.  He created you and values you more than you’ll ever know.

 

When you find moments where you come down on yourself and say bad things about yourself, take a deep breath and remember this passage and the fact that God values you.  And remember to be kind.  We’re always told to be kind to others, but we also need to be kind to ourselves.

Honesty Goes A Long Way

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/QUDZ3euhJEc?si=R4jHHZIw_jp5_TV_

“Honesty Goes A Long Way”

Isaiah 6:5 NIV

“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

 

As I’ve mentioned many times in the past, I am a fan of police shows.  Watching the reality of what police officers experience is thrilling in many ways, but also touching in some ways as well.  My wife and I will often make comments to each other and our girls how certain officers are really cool in the way they handle things. 

 

One of the things that has stuck out to me lately is when a traffic stop is made and the officer has a hunch there are drugs involved or sees some drug paraphernalia, so then the driver or passengers are immediately asked to step out of the car.  Many officers will then cut right to the chase and say, “Look, honesty goes a long way with here.  If you’re honest with me right now about the drugs you have, we can work something out”.  This doesn’t mean the officer will totally let them off the hook, but with the honesty, the officer will often either destroy it and let them go after delivering a teaching moment. 

 

I’ve had that phrase stuck in my mind for a while now as I watch the shows.  If the people aren’t honest and try to play dumb and the cops find more drugs, then off to jail they go or pay a hefty fine.  The officers value up front honesty and often times, the officers can tell right away if the person is lying.  As I think about this in our lives with God, He values our honesty.  When we come to Him, He wants us to admit the junk in our lives. He wants us to be up front with Him, admit our faults and ask for forgiveness.  We can’t hide anything from God.

 

I would imagine it’s pretty hard to hide things from cops.  They are smart and know how to spot things that aren’t good.  They want people to be honest with them and for it to be a teaching moment.  God also wants to have teaching moments with us and He wants to guide us.  Parents want their kids to be honest with them.  Teachers want students to be honest with them.  Any person in authority desires for another person in a lesser position to be honest.  Honesty goes a long way. 

 

So often, I think we forget this in life.  I have really tried to make this a practice in my life.  Not just to look good to others, but to really have a good conscience and be a faithful servant for God.  I want to be honest in all that I do.  But, there are times I don’t want to be honest and I’d rather hide something because I don’t want to face the music.

 

We can all learn a lot by remembering that honesty goes a long way.  When we’ve messed up, we need to come clean before God and before those we have wronged.

Are We Missing Out?

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/ZVJcJGaVZGc?si=lUzNWw0fwBysIxoT

“Are We Missing Out?”

Revelation 4:8 NIV

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”

 

We have all had experiences in life where we feel like we’ve missed out on something.  Maybe we decided to not go on a trip with others and then we find out all they did and we feel we really missed out.  Maybe as a parent you were not able to attend one of your kid’s events.  For whatever reason, you didn’t go and then something big happened and you didn’t see it in person.  You feel you really missed out.

 

We have all had these experiences in one way or another.  There are times when we wish we could be in two places at once so we don’t miss both opportunities.  However, we can’t clone ourselves, so we have to decide on one or the other.

 

Several weeks ago, we had a prayer and worship night at church during the week.  One of the songs we sang was Chris Tomlin “Holy Forever”.  The chorus really caught my attention:

 

And the angels cry, Holy
All creation cries, Holy
You are lifted high, Holy
Holy forever

 

As I thought of these words, I pictured Revelation where the creatures are bowing before the Throne and saying “Holy” and they never stop!  I thought about how in the past years in ministry life, I have heard off and on people talk about how there’s constant worship going on in Heaven and are we joining that praise?  Or, are we totally missing out because life is just too important here on earth and we are consumed with everything on our agenda?

 

I am one that really hates to miss out on things that are cool to be part of.  There are times that when I miss out on something and I get serious FOMO, it hits me and the emotions are all over the place.  Well, I often wonder how I feel if I am missing out on just giving God praise all day long and joining with the creatures before the Throne. 

 

Friends, if we are so consumed with life, it’s so easy to totally miss out on praising God and getting that focus in our lives.  We miss out on something really BIG when we forget that our lives are to constantly be praising God, every moment of each day.  Let that sink in for a moment.

 

I don’t want to miss out any longer.  I want to constantly be joining the praise that is already going on.  How about you?

There Is No Easy Button

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/n8hflYljIx4?si=uzvckkmLjNgUKo-v

“There Is No Easy Button”

Luke 9:23 NLT

Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me.”

 

Remember many years ago the commercial for Staples store with a button that says, “That was easy”?  We actually have one of those buttons at my work on top of the corner of a cubicle.  One of the IT guys usually walks by and hits it and we laugh.  I remember through the years talking about that commercial and how so often it would be nice if certain things were easy.  Don’t we all feel like that?

 

As a parent, I often hear my kids make comments and complain about how they wish life were just easier.  As much as I lecture them about this, I have to admit I do feel the same way many times.  There are times in life when I just wish things could be easier.  Why can’t raising kids be easier?  Why can’t my job be easier?  Why can’t marriage be easier? Why can’t school be easier?  The list could go on and on. 

 

As I think about how we’ve become so accustomed to comfort in our lives and finding the easiest way to do things, I can’t help but think about how this is the exact opposite of what Jesus taught us about life.  He came and lived anything but an easy life.  Pretty much everything He did was the opposite of easy.  People around Him often complained about how hard things were.  But He taught so often that “hard” is good.  It teaches us and creates character and perseverance in our lives.

 

Jesus was very clear to us about how we need to carry our cross daily.  If we want to follow Him, we cannot expect an easy life.  We cannot live daily wishing that everything was easy.  Even though we would often want this, living easy does not produce growth in our lives.  The challenges I experience in my life are often not wanted or easy, but they definitely help me grow as a person and in my faith. 

 

Friends, we must stop holding on to the “easy button” and wishing so much in life was easier.  We must remember the life that God called us to live should be anything but easy.  God’s call and challenge to us is to grow and be stretched in our faith every day.  Through the pain and trials of carrying our cross daily, we learn what it truly means to live a life that Jesus calls us to. 

 

There is no easy button for our lives in Christ.  We were meant to live a life that is full of challenge and growth.  An easy life will not produce growth and character.

Get Back Up And Go

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/IX3nc34KMuQ?si=cchc6NtP-Mpe-gLU

“Get Back Up And Go”

James 1:2-3 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

 

Last week, I shared how I was moved by the numbers on the scale and I decided to get it in gear and start walking and jogging regularly again.  Well, one of the days I got home from work and went for a jog, I must have stepped into a groove on the sidewalk at just the wrong time.  Next thing I know, my body shot forward and I hit the ground.  I ended up dropping my phone and breaking part of it (I don’t know why I didn’t just have it in my pocket!), skinning my left knee, left thigh, left elbow and right palm.  It hurt bad, but I got up, took a little bit to regain my composure while limping.  After a bit, I thought, “I think I can still do this”, and I started jogging again.

 

I was actually questioning myself in my head why I chose to continue to jog after I just got injured.  I have motivation to keep jogging and getting exercise and I didn’t want the injury to stop me.  I mean, if I had broken something, I probably would have stopped and limped my way home.  But, I was determined to see how it felt to keep going.  I got home, wiped my cuts off and went on with life.  The next day, I was very sore and it hurt a lot to move my left leg.  I was limping a bit for the next day or so, but got better soon.  I’m still sore and healing from the wounds, but I’ve been out almost every day still jogging and walking.  When I come to that place I fell, I go a bit slower and try to be more aware of the sidewalk so I don’t do it again!

 

Friends, we all have had numerous experiences where we fall in life.  Sometimes, it’s just figuratively speaking with a bad decision we’ve made, or it could literally be physical where we experience an injury to our body.  Either way, when we fall, it’s often scary and difficult in some ways to get back up and go again.  We might think, “What if it happens again?”  Well, the only way to know is try again.  We can either be filled with the fear of it happening again or be confident that we’ll do our best to not let it happen again.

 

We all experience trials and hard times.  God uses these times to strengthen us and help us to continue to live life.  We gotta pick ourselves back up and keep going.  Maybe not the same way we chose before, but we keep going again.  I used to tell my girls years ago about how the gymnasts experience setback after setback and mistake after mistake for many years and you never see that.  And, even though they become professionals in many ways, they STILL mess up!  And, so will we! 

 

We will continue to fall down, but how we handle that means everything!  We gotta make the decision to get back up and keep going and let God guide us.  I hope that we can all strive to move forward, regardless of the falls we experience in life.  We will have them, but it’s our choice how we deal with them.  Let our motivation for life keep us going!

Numbers

 You Tube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/hN7-tfMeKwI?si=nN0tIhiUgy59lYhT

“Numbers”

Hebrews 12:11 NIV

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

 

About a week and a half ago, I decided to get on the scale one morning because I hadn’t weighed myself for a long time.  I just stood there and looked at the number and said, “You’ve got to be kidding!”  I was not happy about it.  I thought about all the days that I’ve laid around doing nothing when I should be moving around and then all the times I probably overeat with meals and snacking.

 

As much as I did not like what I saw, it was the reality that really hit me!  The numbers stared me right in the face.  I couldn’t say, “Well, the scale is broken!” or “batteries need changing”.  I knew they were right and I just felt fat.  I was ashamed I had let the numbers get so high.  I hadn’t really been taking care of myself as I ought to.  That has changed since then.  I’m starting to eat less at meals and not snacking so much.  I’m also getting back out to walk and jog again.  That feels great!

 

Numbers have a way of showing us reality.  Scores from a school test.  Numbers from blood lab work.  Numbers when we get a bill we didn’t expect.  So many different ways we are told numbers that leave us in a state of shock.  It’s reality and it has hit us.  There’s no sense in arguing about it or trying to make excuses.  We have to own up to the reality and start making changes or just facing the reality of what we might have to live with if we can’t change the numbers.

 

Numbers can be a powerful way for God to get our attention.  When we aren’t taking care of ourselves, the numbers we see on a test or a scale can slap us upside the head back into reality. Maybe we shouldn’t eat out so much.  Maybe we should have ice cream so often. 

 

I did not like what the scale showed me.  And, you know what?  That number isn’t going down fast.  I have to work at it.  I have to be diligent.  I have to stay consistent with being mindful of what I eat and getting out for exercise.  We have to make a conscious effort to change things when we don’t like what we see.  We cannot keep on living how we’ve lived and expect things to change. 

 

Friends, when we don’t like certain numbers we see, we need to practice discipline.  It’s hard to do.  Numbers often do not lie.  I’m not saying every test is 100% accurate, but the numbers should jolt us into thinking better than we usually do.  We need to be more disciplined in life and take better care of ourselves and be mindful of things before they spiral out of control. 

 

God definitely disciplines us in life and we often need it.  Let’s heed God’s discipline when He’s trying to wake us up to reality.

Stop Running

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/tEF7fZt8tkQ?si=eux4PAq_xqwfHh53

“Stop Running”

Jonah 1:1-3 NIV

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

 

Since I was a young boy, I became fascinated with the show “Cops”.  All through the years at various times, I’ve kept watching it whenever I flipped through channels at home or when we’d be at a hotel.  That show always captured my attention.  In the past several years, there’s been “Cops:Reloaded”, “Live PD” and now “On Patrol Live”.  I have to admit we watch “On Patrol Live” regularly each week.  My youngest daughter, my wife and I mostly watch it and I’ve gotten them addicted as I am. Haha! 

 

There’s something captivating about watching people do the things they do and how people react to police.  We often find ourselves shaking our heads and saying, “What were you thinking?  You actually thought you could outsmart and outrun the cops?”  I’m often amazed and impressed with how cops can easily spot when someone is lying to them and how they can spot different things throughout the stop. 

 

As I think about these people who often run on foot or speed away in the vehicles, it surprises me that they actually think they won’t get caught.  They run or speed away from what they need to face.  When I consider this, I cannot help but think of Jonah and how we so often relate to running away from things we need to face in our lives.  Jonah clearly disobeyed God and ran away.  He said, “NO”.  That wasn’t very smart at all!  But before we shake our fingers at Jonah’s situation and say, “Shame on him, he knew better!”, we so often know better as well. 

 

Friends, just like Jonah and all the people on police shows, we make decisions to run from God in various ways in our lives.  We don’t want to face what He wants us to deal with and we just decide to speed away, thinking we will get away from Him.  We all know we won’t.  God will continue to pursue us and we will get where we need to go one way or another.  But why do we want to experience more pain?  So often the cops will say to the people who run, “You would have just been dealing with a simple ticket, but now you ran and you’re going to jail!”  People don’t think.  Well, often we don’t either.  We run without thinking and somehow think we’re ok.

 

Let’s try to be mindful of our situations when we get the impulse to run away.  It’s probably better to have a heart to heart with God and get things figured out.  We need to stop running and start facing what God leads us to through life. 

20 Years

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/wVQsux16GoI?si=fV5W6DE7z_mSXpOR

“20 Years”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT

Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

 

A little over a month ago, my wife and I celebrated our 20 year anniversary.  We decided to take a trip to Waco, TN to see all things Magnolia.  We had a great time and it nice to get away and just enjoy some time just the two of us. 

 

As we passed that 20 year mark, I’ve been thinking a lot the past few weeks about how 20 years can really change a person’s life.  So much can happen after 20 years. 

 

Just a little over 20 years ago, I moved to MN and met my wife.  I look back and wonder where I would be if I hadn’t met her and ended up with 2 beautiful daughters.  I also wonder what habits would still be with me if I hadn’t met her.  We’ve experienced ups and downs like any married couple does.  We’ve had great times together and very challenging times as well.  When we hit the 20 year mark, I thought often to myself, “How in the world did she put up with me for so long???”  Haha!  Some of you that have known me in the past many years would probably say she had her hands full!

 

20 years of being married to my wife and 20 years living in MN.  MN is not the greatest place to live in the winter and it can get VERY brutal.  But, I’ve put up with it.  I have wonderful in-laws and my wife’s family is a family of faith, which I am so thankful for. 

 

I’ve had just shy of 20 years to watch my girls grow up and it’s been a great learning experience.  It seems just like yesterday they were little and now they are growing up way too fast.  I wish I could slow time down.  I am very proud of both of them and I love them so much. 

 

20 years of many changes while we’ve been married and lots of learning experiences.  I wouldn’t go back and change anything or trade for anything.  I am very blessed and very thankful I have a Godly woman who has challenged me and taught me so much about God’s love and been SO VERY PATIENT!

 

I share all of this with you to simply say that it’s important for us to be grateful for what we have and the precious time we have with people we love.  Don’t take it for granted.  God has indeed blessed me way more than I ever expected and I am grateful for a loving family on my wife’s side and on my side.  They both support and love us and I am grateful. 

 

I want to give thanks for all of this with a grateful heart and I hope that you all will do the same for all the blessings you have in your life!

Be Still: Let God Speak

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/XL3xtWwqd3s?si=CRkq9ueG04om2Zkf

“Be Still: Let God Speak”

Psalm 46:10a NLT

Be still and know that I am God.

 

Last week, for our small Bible group study, we were looking at the idea of asking God to speak to us.  This passage was used and it’s a powerful passage with only a few words. 

 

How often do we carve time out of our day to just be still and do absolutely nothing?  Through our study, we were encouraged and had discussion about taking time to be quiet and do nothing.  We discussed how we so often take so much time each day to surround ourselves with noise.  There’s even times we will come to God and bring Him our requests and petitions.  We pray for others and ourselves.  This is all good, but when was the last time we just came before Him and did……NOTHING?  When was the last time we sat down with God and just…..listened?

 

The other day, I was taking a walk by myself and talking to God.  I kept saying, “God, I want You to speak to me”, but then I kept walking and started talking again.  I kept saying that I was sorry and I wanted to hear from Him.  Yet, I kept thinking of things to talk about.  It was hard to just be quiet and listen.  It seems our minds are not programmed well to stop and just listen. 

 

When was the last time you sat down and just listened to someone and didn’t say a word until after the person stopped talking?  How about a family member or friend that needed to “bend an ear”?  Did you take the time to listen and not say anything to interrupt?  It’s hard, isn’t it?  We’re not at all accustomed to just taking time to listen. 

 

In our small group study, we were studying about 1 Samuel 3 where Samuel was called by God to listen and confront Eli.  Samuel said, “Speak God, for Your servant is listening”.  Can we be like Samuel who seriously asked God to speak to him? 

 

In our small group time, I shared how I’ve kept a consistent daily devotional time during the work week every morning.  However, as much as I enjoy that time each day, I was convicted that I so often just spew words out each day, asking God for this and that, but hardly ever just sit and listen.  It’s hard.  I have so much on my mind to bring to Him.  Again, nothing at all wrong with bringing prayers to God, but we also need to take time to just listen to Him.  He will speak to us in some way, but are we quiet long enough to actually just listen?

 

I want to challenge all of us this week and weeks beyond to carve time out of our day to take time to just listen to God somewhere quiet.  Let’s be challenged to take on this challenge of “Be Still: Let God Speak”.

God Uses ANYTHING And EVERYTHING

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/a0vTGUca0FA?si=J1sfJL2BgEQj5Qyp

“God Uses ANYTHING And EVERYTHING”

Romans 8:28 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

 

On Sunday, our pastor was preaching a sermon regarding having joy in the midst of trials in our lives.  He spoke about how we God uses all things in our lives to bring about His glory, no matter how painful they might be.  People often get mad at God for things He allows to happen in our lives and people often question the goodness of Him and His love since He allows certain things to happen.  It can be very confusing at times and leave us wondering where God is.

 

As I was sitting there listening, a scene came to mind from the 2011 Movie “Soul Surfer”, which tells the true tragic story of Bethany Hamilton of how she lost her left arm in a shark attack in 2003.  When Bethany comes back home from the shark attack, her youth pastor asks her how she is doing.  Bethany responds with a quick, “I’m ok, yeah I’m doing ok”.  Her youth pastor says, “Bethany, you don’t need to be like that with me.  Tell me how you’re really doing”.  Bethany then breaks into tears and shares how her family is trying to be helpful and encourage her, but she’s really struggling to understand why God would allow such a thing to happen.  Her youth pastor then says to her that she doesn’t understand why this happened, but says somehow and in some way, God will use this in a great way. 

 

That scene has stuck in my mind since I saw the movie and it explains well how so many people struggle to find value in what has happened in their lives when terrible things happen.  However, we must realize that God does work in ALL things, good and bad, and He works in ways we’d never imagine and does absolutely incredible things beyond our imagination.  Bethany goes on to touch people’s lives in ways she never dreamed because other girls and surfers look up to her for having the courage to go back out into the water after such a vicious attack.

 

Friends, some of you out there either hurting from an attack in the past or are currently hurting and questioning why God would allow something so horrific to happen.  Whatever you might be hurting from, please do not turn your back on Him.  As painful and frustrating as it may be, God has a plan through that pain and He will never waste it.  He will use it somehow and in some way in the future.  Just don’t give up.  Trust in Him. 

 

I had to learn this many years ago when I experienced a very deep and painful hurt in ministry.  It’s been over 8 years since then and I’ve watched God walk me through a lot of emotional recovery and helping me to understand some things I experienced by sharing with others. 

 

We all need to remember that God always works things out in some way for His glory.