Thursday, Mar 2

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Hebrews 12:15 (NLT)

She got into my car rather timidly. We chatted about the weather and a recent trip she'd taken. The conversation stayed on the surface and the ride was short so I didn't expect the conversation to go anywhere. As I was shifting the gear into park, she said "I took my trip to have a sex change operation." WOW! I didn't see that coming. My mind raced as I tried to find an appropriate response. Today's text popped into my mind. I asked her some questions and as she was getting out of the car, I told her was glad she was back and was doing OK. She smiled and made a comment about me being nice.

I really think what she was looking for was some form of kindness. I love the way the AMPC version puts Hebrews 12:15....Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another].... We are called to share God's grace so that no one fails to receive it. What is God's grace? It is God giving us the very best of himself when we deserve the least. Translate that into your daily actions. Sharing God's grace would be us planning ahead and looking out for folks (no matter what that looks like) who may need a touch of God's love. It is making sure we share the unconditional love we are so freely given.

How are you going to be on the lookout for someone who needs to see God today? How are you going to share God's grace? 

Wednesday, Mar 1

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)

Did you know that one of the reasons lions roar is to protect their territory and to announce ownership of their pride? Did you also know that lions will be quiet when they sense or know a more dominant lion is around? That is excellent news! Sure, the devil is prowling around like a lion but he does not own this territory, Jesus does. The Lion of Judah has conquered and overcome. His roar and his bite are stronger and more powerful than the devil. So face today and every day knowing that you are safe in Jesus' territory. He has already fought for you and won.

And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Revelation 5:5 (ESV)

Tuesday, Feb 28

No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepeared
for those who love him.
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)

Last week I had the opportunity to share a conversation with someone about God. I was driving him somewhere and found out he was visiting from another country. I got to spend a few minutes with him chatting and the conversation turned to God and prayer (I love it when that happens). I want to share part of it.

Me; Yes, I have been praying about that (what we were talking about)
Him: When we ask God for something he either says "Yes, Wait, or I have something better for you."
Me: Hmmmm, I always say that God says "Yes, Wait or No."
Him: Isn't it the same thing? God says "No" because he has something better in mind for us.

He got out of the care and i sat there taking it in. I've always been OK with God's no because I trust him but this added a complexity that I hadn't processed fully. God loves us. He wants what's best for us. He doesn't just arbitrarily say 'No' in a dictator sort of fashion. He says 'No' because he knows there is a better plan, a better path, and a better way. Oh that we would see the closed doors as they are intended - acts of love, not acts of denial.

Father God, Thank you for sending this man from a far-away place to reveal more of you to me. Amen.

Monday, Feb 27

He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5 (NLT)

You know why I like this verse? I like it because it says Jesus saved us not because of anything good we’ve done but because of his mercy. Mercy here is defined as “kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them.” I love that definition because some days we feel like we are miserable and afflicted. Some days (or weeks or months or years) it takes a lot of courage and energy to pick yourself up and keep moving. And some days we need a lot of help. It’s on those days that this promise is one to hold on to. You see, no matter what’s happening here, we always have ‘when we get there’ to look forward to. The promise of “it’s already done” gives us hope for tomorrow.   

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19 (NIV)

Friday, Feb 24

Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see.
For the glory of the LORD rises to shine on you.
Isaiah 60:1 (NLT)

The Bible says we are supposed to be a light in our world. What does that mean exactly? It means that in everything we do, in all situations we are to flash the love of Jesus from our inner selves – from our hearts. As I was imagining this, I pictured everyone who loved Jesus walking around in their neighborhood, work, homes, streets of their cities with flashes of light beaming from them as they loved each other. Imagine it. You are gazing down a crowded city street and you see these bright, intense flashes of light popping up everywhere. And then you see them coming out of windows of homes and high rises. Beams of light penetrating through car windows and from smoke stacks and fireplaces. Arms of light reaching around the globe as we interact and care for each other. Can you see it?

Today, whether you are a corporate executive in an office building, a teacher in a school, a janitor in a condominium, a stay at home mom or a taxi driver, be a Flasher. Flash Jesus where ever you go. How are you going to Flash someone today? Be a Flasher!

Thursday, Feb 23

When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)

Imagine you are standing on a riverbed of rocks. Suddenly, out of nowhere a rush of water plows into your ankles and is quickly rising putting incredible force on your body. You can’t move because the rocks have become treacherous and the path out is uncertain. Fear begins to consume you and you let out a cry to God for help. As you look down again, you see a wall surrounding you so the water is diverted around your body. This is what God is trying to share with us in this verse. No matter how impossible our situation looks, God is standing there like a wall around us. He is protecting us even as we stand in the middle of the storm. We WILL walk through deep waters, rivers of difficulty and fires of oppression. But we WILL NOT do it alone.

Tuesday, Feb 21

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV)

Did you ever play hide and seek when you were little?  If you were ‘it’ you would search for all the players who were hiding. You had to look everywhere. You opened doors, looked under things, behind things, moved aside any obstacles (like clothing in a closet) to find your playmates.  A lot of times you had to be very creative to find folks with really good hiding places. And sometimes, you had to go places you really didn’t want to look (I am reminded of my Aunt’s basement where my cousins and I played). Seeking God is a little like this. Not that he’s hiding from us but in the seeking part. It does require participation on our part. We should be looking for him everywhere. We should open doors, look under things, behind things and move any obstacles that will keep us from this relationship. And sometimes, we have to find him in place we don’t really want to go. Those are the places that he shows up the most. So go ahead. Put your heart into it. Seek him.  I guarantee you will find him.

Monday, February 20

Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” Luke 7:41-43 (NLT)

If you were equating your sins to this story, would you be the person who was forgiven the debt of 500 pieces of silver or 50? I bet the answers would be all over the place with a lot of us picking the middle ground. According to the Bible, even our smallest sins max out above 500. We are all chief sinners. No one can point out the sins of another because we are all equal in this department. The good news is because of Jesus’ death, our debt has been reduced to 0. We are all forgiven. We are all debt free. Personally, I tag my debt at way above 500. And when I look at that, I know I too should fall at Jesus’ feet and worship. Jesus said to the woman in this story “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (v 50) He’s saying that to each and every one of us. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.