A Word of Hope when you feel Washed Up

I read about a little parakeet that had a particularly hard day. 

"Chippie the Parakeet never saw it coming. One minute he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up and blown over. The problems began when Chippie’s owner decided to clean Chippie’s cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in the cage. The phone rang, and she turned to pick it up. She’d barely said ‘hello’ when ‘sssopp!’ Chippie got sucked in. The bird owner gasped, put down the phone, turned off the vacuum, and opened the bag. There was Chippie—still alive, but stunned. Since the bird was covered with dust and soot, she grabbed him and raced to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and held Chippie under the running water. Then, realizing that Chippie was soaked and shivering, she did what any compassionate bird owner would do . . . she reached for the hair dryer and blasted the pet with hot air. Poor Chippie never knew what hit him. A few days after the trauma, the reporter who’d initially written about the event contacted Chippie’s owner to see how the bird was recovering. ’Well,’ she replied, ’Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore—he just sits and stares.’ It’s hard not to see why. Sucked in, washed up, and blown over . . . that’s enough to steal the song from the stoutest heart."

Do you ever feel like Chippie?  I'm sure you do, if we are honest, all of us feel like that poor bird from time to time.  Life has a way of catching us off guard, sucking us in, washing us up and blowing us out.  In the sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus spoke to a mass crowd, many of them feeling like poor O'Chippie.  They were poor, stressed, oppressed by the Roman Government, despised and rejected.  With hungry hearts they listened as the Lord Jesus spoke words of hope and life.

Jesus said, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6: 33-34).

Consider the wisdom in the Lord's words.

First of all, Jesus says to Set your Gaze upon God and His Purposes.

What happens when you set your eyes on your problems, the problems in the world and the uncertainties of life? You quickly become discouraged.  The joy of life can be chocked out by the issues of life. The Apostle Paul encouraged us to "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:2).  I've heard it said, "You can become so earthly minded that you will be no heavenly good.  Yet, if you are heavenly minded, you might just do the world some good."  I like that.

Second, the Lord says to Trust Him. 

Jesus says that God knows what we need.  If it is encouragement, He is the encourager.  Need guidance?  He promises to guide our steps.  Forgiveness?  He promises to forgive us and cast our sins as far as the east is from the west when we repent.  It all comes down to a matter of trust.  Jesus says, "seek first His kingdom...and all these things will be given to you..."

Third, Jesus says to Hold On to Hope. 

There is not one of us who knows what the day will bring each morning as we pull ourselves out of bed.   Each step of the day is a step of faith.  God doesn't promise a smooth ride, but He does promise to go with us.  Meditate on this wonderful promise, “Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5).

The Message Creation Proclaims

When a magician stands before a crowded room of children and just before his next trick asks, “Kids, what’s the magic words?”   What’s the answer? Come on, I know you are thinking the word so go ahead and say it out loud.  Ready….Abracadabra!!!!

Abracadabra is an Aramaic word and means, “to create something from nothing. ‘I will create as I speak.’”  It is also a companion to a word we find in the first verse of the Bible.  Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God BARA (created)…” Bara is defined as “Created from Nothing.”

In Physics we learn of the Law of Conservation of Energy.  It states that energy cannot be created nor destroyed.  The Universe could not have created itself without some outside infinite power source.  .  Science is based on observation and can only study that which already exists. Since energy cannot be created, a source of unimaginable power from outside of nature was required for life to begin…that power is GOD.

8 Times in Genesis chapter 1 it states, “God said…” and something was created.

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You can have a Living Hope

A song writer once wrote that each of us have a God-shaped hole in our heart and nothing can fill that void accept a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Bill Fay would agree with that.  He was born to an upper middle class family.  His father was the president of General Foods and introduced a frozen food line called “Bird’s eye.”  There’s a good chance you have purchased some of their product at your local grocery store.

Bill admits he grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth.  He never did without whatever he wanted.  Sadly, his father’s spending habits caused him to die penny-less in a veteran’s hospital.  Bill decided that he would not die that way.  He would live life to the fullest, thinking of no one else but himself.

At age 16, he got a girl pregnant and married her.  He went off to college after High School.  In college he met a man who taught him to be a professional gambler.  Bill put himself through college by playing card games.  After graduation he divorced his wife and walked away from his daughter so he could advance his career.  Bill met and married another woman and at age 22 he was hired by an Atlanta corporation and quickly became their number 1 salesman. 

Shortly afterwards, he was invited to Las Vegas where he was enamored by the power, money and women.  He said; “If I can just get connected into all this, my life will be fine.”  On that trip that he met a man at a card table who lost $200,000 in just 20 minutes and acted as if it was nothing.  Bill was impressed.  The man invited him to play a game and in just fifteen minutes, Bill won over $250,000.

Despite the money and power he was gaining, he was still miserable.  One day, Bill was talking to a woman on the telephone.  He asked her, “What do you want out of life?”  She replied; “Money and power.”  This captivated Bill and he left his second wife of 12 years and married this other woman.  The new couple moved to Denver and he became the CEO of a multimillion-dollar Corporation.  One afternoon he stood in his office, looked over his mahogany desk, had his chauffeur-driven limousine outside, had an unlimited expense account, diamond rings, Rolexes, gold jewelry and he thought; “What’s next?  I have both legal and illegal money.  I have power, both corporately and illegally, yet something is missing.”

It wasn’t long until his third wife left and Bill met and married his fourth wife. He decided he would help men with their loneliness and opened Fantasy Island in Lakewood, Colorado, one of the largest houses of prostitution in the Unites States.  Sounds like a movie doesn’t it?  But it isn’t, it is the life of Bill Fay.

There are many people living like Bill Fay.  They may not have the power or money, but they are searching for love, searching for hope, and searching for what is missing in their heart.  They are asking; “Is this all there is?  I Want More!”

In 1 Peter chapter 1, the Apostle Peter is writing to Christians who were the opposite of men like Bill Fay.  These early Christ-followers had been driven from their home in Jerusalem through persecution.  They had no power, no money, and no homeland.  Yet they have what Bill Fay and many people today are longing for, they had a Hope that was Alive in their Soul.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”   1 Peter 1:3

Look at how Peter expresses himself in reference to the living hope we receive in Christ Jesus.  He writes, “Praise be to God….he has given us new birth...a living hope…”  Understand this, when the Peter states that those who surrender to Christ receive a living hope, he is not referring to hope the way many of us do. 

We consider hope as something we want to happen but are not sure if it will.  That is not what the word hope means in this verse.  Hope here means, “a certain expectation.”  Here is the good news about this living hope, when we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, we receive the promise that we have peace with God and are as assured of heaven as if we were already there! 

If you have surrendered your life to Christ, you have this living hope in your NOW.

You also have this living hope for your TOMORROWS.  Look at what Peter writes next.

“and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you…” 1 Peter 1:4

One day Albert Einstein boarded a train from Princeton. The conductor came by asking to punch the tickets.  Einstein was brilliant man, but a little absent minded.  Einstein could not find his ticket; he looked in his pockets, through his luggage, and could not find his ticket.  The conductor said; “It’s alright Mr. Einstein, I know who you are.”  Then the conductor turned and walked away.  He looked back and saw Einstein looking under his seat.  The conductor came back and said; “Mr. Einstein, I don’t need your ticket, I know who you are.”  Einstein said; “I know who I am too, but I need to know where I’m going.”

Do you know where you’re going when your time on this Earth is done?  Peter says we can have a Living Hope in Christ and know beyond any doubt that we have Eternal Life in Heaven.  Look at how Peter describes it. Our inheritance in Christ will never perish, never spoil and never fade away!

Now let me finish the story of Bill Fay.  Bill loved racquetball.  One day while coming into the gym he met a guy named Paul. Bill began to ridicule him because he was a Christian.  Shortly after that, Bill and his fourth wife took a trip to Las Vegas.  While there, his attorney called and told him the prostitution house had been raided and there was a warrant for his arrest.  Soon the media caught the news and Bill was devastated.  The only person who ever called and checked on him was Paul.  One day Bill was sitting at his kitchen table crying uncontrollably.  His non-believing wife suggested they go see the man who had married them.  Bill did not want to go see him, but the Holy Spirit would not stop working on Bill’s heart.  He called the pastor and said that he wanted inner peace in his life.   The next day, he drove 85 miles to a little country church.  At 10:00 a.m. on March 4, 1981, Bill Fay met Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and He received the Living Hope that he had always longed for.

What about you?

Will you…

• Believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, His death, burial and resurrection?
• Trust Him to take away your sins and forgive you?
• Invite Him to be Your Lord and receive a Living Hope?

3 lessons learned in the woods and their spiritual implications

You will get a kick out of this if you are an outdoorsman.  If you’re not, the spiritual implications arevaluable, trust me.   I recently spent a few days bowhunting in adense forest in central Missouri.  On thesecond morning of the hunt, I awoke 30 minutes before the alarm went off.  I slept great!  I was rested and ready to go.  Getting up extra early, I was able to readthe Bible, pray and enjoy some good coffee before we left the cabin.  I had only been in this set of woods oncebefore and yet walked directly to the tree I wanted to hunt from.  Awesome! The morning was goingperfectly.  I climbed the tree and gotsettled in my stand.  I knew this wasgoing to be a great day.

About 7:30 a.m. I saw movement on my right side.  Here he came. A nice buck emerges from the brush about 20 yards away.  I had only a small lane to shoot through andknew I couldn’t waste much time.  That’swhen it happened; a series of mistakes that would turn my “perfect” morninginto a long, wet, disappointing day.  Letme explain.

As I drew my bow, my peep sight turned.  Aargh! That’s when I realized my firstmistake of the morning; I didn’t give my equipment a thorough check.  Then, I made my second mistake, I didn’tregroup.  I thought about it.  I really did. But instead, I took a blind shot. The result was a poor shot and hours of tracking in the rain! 

Tired and frustrated, I settled into a different spot in theevening.  I just knew that the deer wouldcome from one direction so I set my climbing stand to face it.  I had good, clear shooting lanes, my peepsight was in

place and I was ready.  Thenit happened. The deer did not come from the direction I was facing. Nope, itcame from behind me.  When I realized it,I got impatient.  Instead of waiting forthe right moment to turn my body into position, I hastily turned around to geta shot.  By the time I got back to where Ineeded to be, I was busted.  I watched asthe deer galloped away from about 25 yards. I neglected to follow the basicrules of hunting.

Needless to say, as I lay in the bed that night my emotionswere much different than how they had begun earlier that morning.  My anticipation of a great day had turned toa restless night of disappointment and a list of “should haves.”

As I pondered on the mishaps it struck me.  The mistakes I made in the woods are often madein our faith journey with the Lord.  Wego from unspeakable joy and great anticipation to regret and disappointment

4 Focus Points to Greater Kingdom Impact

I’m sure you have heard it said just like I have; “If there are so many Christians, then why aren’t we seeing a greater impact on our society and world?”  Personally, I don’t believe it is from a lack of concern.  Every Christ-follower that I have had discussion with has a genuine concern over the moral and spiritual decline we are witnessing in society.   Now, I may be wrong, but I also don’t believe I have ever met a true believer who wasn’t deeply burdened for those who are without a personal relationship with Christ.  Yet, that still doesn’t answer the question, “Why aren’t Christians making a greater impact?”

As I mentioned, I don’t think it is from a lack of concern.  I believe for many of us, the enemy is using a different tool from his evil collection; he has got us distracted.  Christians are not exempt from the everyday pressures of life.  Like everyone else, Christ-followers have families to raise, jobs to go to, lawns to mow, dishes to wash, bills to pay, PTA meetings to attend and the list goes on and on. Satan knows that he doesn’t have to harden our heart, he can simply distract our focus.

I love the story about former New York Yankee catcher, Yogi Berra.  He was known for his

How to Make Decisions with More Confidence

Decisions, decisions, decisions…much of life is simply making decisions.  If you are like me, you wish someone would develop a fool-proof system for making the right decision every single time. You might even pay $19.99 plus shipping and handling for it, right?

Let’s be honest, that will never happen.  We can’t eliminate all the guess-work out of decision-making, but we can make decisions with more confidence.  In Genesis, the first book in the Bible, we read about a critical point of decision for Abraham and his nephew, Lot.  Bickering had begun between the farmhands of the two herders. Abraham approached Lot with a proposition.

He told Lot he would divide up his land between the two. The decisions made that day would define the legacy of both men.  Abraham’s name would become synonymous with integrity and faith, while Lot would become known as a disgrace.

Is it possible to have more confidence in our decision-making process?  I believe so.  Here are 5 solid steps to follow.

1. Understand that our decisions reveal our priorities.

Abram said to Lot, “If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right…Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt.  So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east” (Genesis 13: 9-11).

By all rights, Abraham could have made the first choice, but he gave the privilege to his nephew. What does that say about the heart of Abraham? Lot on the other hand was a different character. He must have been salivating as he looked over the land and quickly chose what appeared to be the best.  His decision was based on one thing…himself.   It appears Lot chose what he believed would give him the most return on his investment without much thought of anyone else.

2. Pray for guidance.

Lot’s decision would have grave consequences.  His poor decision-making would lead his family to compromise their convictions and live in wicked Sodom.  He would continue down the slippery slope until he lost his joy, his reputation and his children.  The Apostle Peter wrote that Lot’s soul was tormented day by day by the unrighteous deeds he saw and heard in Sodom (2 Peter 2:8).

Abraham’s decisions, however, were bathed in prayer.  The Scripture says, “There Abram called on the name of the LORD” (Gen. 13: 4).  He made a practice of having an altar before any major decision.  Abraham understood an important truth, our lives are not all about us; we are to live for God.  When we make decisions apart from prayer and seeking God’s will, we put ourselves on the throne.  We become our own idol.

Abram prayed and God answered.  He will do the same for us. The Psalmist declared, “Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live” (Psalm 116:2).

3. Look ahead to where the decision will lead.

Lot made the mistake of looking at the “now” and not at the “hear after.”  Someone once said, “Never judge a decision by where it is…but by where it is going.”  This past summer, my family and I vacationed in central Florida and spent a few days at Disney World.  The most fascinating part of the Disney experience for me is the light and firework shows they put on every night before the parks close.  I have read that when Epcot opened, a man standing beside Walt Disney’s widow remarked, “If only Walt could have seen this.”  “He did see it.” Mrs. Disney replied, “That’s why it is here.”  

4. Seek wise counsel.

Proverbs 11:4 says, “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”

My parents taught me a valuable lesson as a child; “When in the presence of your elders, listen more than you talk.”  No one knows everything about everything, but everybody knows something.

The Bible teaches us to seek wise counsel from…

• Other People
Proverbs 1:5, “A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,”

Proverbs 12: 15, “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.”

Proverbs 15:22, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”

• God’s Word
Psalm 119: 105, “Your word is a lamp for my feet,  a light on my path.”

Proverbs 3: 5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

5. Gather the facts.

On my desk I have this quote, “Most decision-making is simply gathering facts.”  How true that is.  I have a confession.  There have been many nights that I have lost sleep, fretted, worried, sweated, tossed and turned about a decision I needed to make only to find out it wasn’t nearly as stressful after I learned all the facts.

Decision-making can be stressful.  Yet, if follow the principles taught in Scripture; we can have more confidence in making them.

Faith that Works

Recently, in the Bible study group that my wife and I enjoy each week, our discussion on authentic Christianity turned to the topics of grace and works.  If you want to get a theological firestorm started, just get a debate going on the role grace and works play in one’s eternal salvation.  Personally, I am very thankful that the gift of Salvation is just that, a gift.  Forgiveness of sin, being made righteous before a holy God, and having the confidence of eternal life is nothing short of the undeserved favor (grace) that God pours upon the soul of a sinner who finally realizes his or her utter spiritual depravity and calls out to Jesus.  He alone can bring peace between sinful mankind and Holy God.

As the song writer penned, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.”

The Scriptures declare, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1: 13-14, NIV).

I know you will join me in giving praise to the Lord for His grace.  Yet, in our thanksgiving for God’s indescribable gift, we cannot forget that following grace must be a transformed life that declares through our actions that we have indeed received grace. In reading 1 Thessalonians, we get a glimpse of the power of the Gospel as it is displayed with both grace and works in the life of a believer.

“We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1: 3, NIV)

The writer, Paul, was moved by the genuineness of the faith in these Thessalonian believers.  They had received the message of redemption through Christ and that knowledge had traveled 18 inches south from their ears to their heart.  They did not simply hear the Gospel, it transformed them.  Paul remarks, “We remember your WORK, your LABOR, and your ENDURANCE.” 

A few verses later, Paul states that he did not even have to write about their works of faith because the whole community was talking about them.  He said, “For they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” (1 Thessalonians 1: 9-10, NIV)

The Apostle James writes, “as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2: 26, NIV).

Even Jesus taught, “…a tree is recognized by its fruit.” (Matthew 12:33, NIV).

Life Application:

Are you a follower of Jesus?  If so, have you stopped to give thanks to God today for the incredible grace He offers you through Jesus?  As you give Him praise, ask Him to empower you to live out your faith so that others will believe your testimony by your actions.  Show others through your life that change Jesus makes.

Give Yourself Permission to Smile

It is stated that the wisest man in history was the great King Solomon of Israel.  To this day, his wise proverbs inspire us, challenge us, help guide us down a road of self-improvement and draw us closer to God.  In addition to the book of Proverbs recorded in the Bible, the book of Ecclesiastes is also attributed to him.  Written toward the end of his life, Ecclesiastes has a different feel than his Proverbs, but is no less beneficial to our  life and faith.

When you begin reading Ecclesiastes, you are struck with the author's dark, depressive tone.  Though a man given wisdom from above, like all of us, Solomon did not always yield to heavenly wisdom and made many mistakes.  In Ecclesiastes, he writes from a reflective point of view as if he is looking back over his life and asking the questions "Why did I do that?" "Was that important?" "Where did my focus get off track?"  Over and over again he repeats the words, "Everything is meaningless!" and "Chasing after the wind."

hen reading Ecclesiastes, It's tempting to close the book and open to a different section of the Bible. We are more comfortable with lighter, more uplifting texts of Scripture.  Truth is, some of

GPS - God Positions your Steps

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way.” – Psalm 37: 23

Like most men, my friend has a one–track mind when it comes to travel.  He likes to go from point A to point B, no detours, no alternate routes, minimal stops, just get in the car, put it into drive and get there.  One year, he and his wife were planning a trip to the Great Smokey Mountains of East Tennessee.  They had been there several times before and had their route memorized.  This particular year they decided to invite another couple to join them.  Shortly after leaving their home

Monday Morning Devotional

The Molding Hand of Correction

“…so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”

                                                                                Exodus 20:20

“I’m going to take you to the woodshed!”  If that statement was ever directed towards you, it wasn’t a happy time.  I can say that I never doubted the love my parents have for me.  I’ve always had  peace knowing that they love me, that they would care for me, that they would feed me (which has never been a small task), and even when I objected when they said “no” as we walked through the Toy section of the department store, down deep I knew my needs would always be met.

I have always known that they love me, however, I have also always known that correction awaited me when I was disobedient or defiant.   One night after a “moment of correction”, my mother sat beside me and said, “If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t correct you.”  That was a little hard to swallow at the moment, but as time passed I came to understand.

My behavior has been molded by both..a hand of love…and a hand of correction.  The writer of Hebrews states, “…the Lord disciplines those He loves”…(ch. 12:6). Like a loving parent, God is molding us into the people He created us to be.   He molds us with both a hand of love and a hand of correction.

The author writes, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, ⁶ because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son” (Hebrews 12: 5-6).

Ultimately, God is shaping you to be like the Lord Jesus.

The Voice Behind You...

Could anything be better than spending your days walking alongside the creator of the Universe?  Think about the questions you could ask.  Imagine looking into eyes of the one who flung the stars into place and gave life to all creation.  If someone came up to you with a problem, you simply look over to Jesus and say, “He can handle this one.”  How incredible!

Surprisingly though, just hours before His betrayal and crucifixion, Jesus says to His disciples, “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7, NASB).

Can you imagine the look on their faces?  “To our advantage?  How can anything be better than having you here with us?”  But it really is to our advantage.  You see, when Jesus walked this earth,