Jan. 24, 2006
Thought For Today
Suffering colors life, but we can choose the color.
Resolution of Possession
Then Joshua asked them, “How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has given to you?”
Joshua 18:3 (NLT)
Faith in the promises of the Lord, even in the face of tremendous obstacles, can sometimes wane. We often take our faith for granted. Worse, yet, we take God for granted and expect him to do all the work. We are not told why the seven tribes were hesitant about taking possession of their inheritance. But they needed a little challenge.
For people with deep-rooted faith in the God who has promised, every challenge holds great expectations, every encounter with him holds deep insight, each worship event offers a personal message. But these challenges, encounters, and messages have to be recognized and possessed. The gifts of God must be accepted, received, and possessed by the one to whom they are given.
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy to each of us. Empower us to go forth and possess the land which you have given us as our inheritance in your kingdom. Grant to us your constant presence. Enable us to gain strength from knowing that you are with us and sustain us. In Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN
Let us praise God for his promises and go forth in the power of his might,
Pastor Smith
Jan. 25, 2006
Thought For Today
Take care of the soul. Your faith will help you buffer many a crisis.
Resolution of Gratitude
“The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:9-10 (NRS)
Under an overcast sky, a winter wind played around the office windows, not strong enough to rattle the panes, just loud enough that an occasional whistle sounded like a low moan.
Alone inside, the weary student concentrated on the laptop screen, furiously adding a few final comments to a response paper on a boring book about how one is affected by one’s past experiences. Semester finals were next week and this Pastoral Counseling response paper was inevitable. He leaned back in his squeaky chair and groaned deeply, rubbing his eyes. Pastoral counseling. Aarrgh.
For the next two hours, he continued to slave over his assignments. Finally, his lovely wife appeared, hot tea and cookies in hand, and suggested they go for a walk afterwards. Instantly, his persona changed. As soon as his cup was empty, he jumped up and got their coats, scarves, and earmuffs from the closet. He laughed as he pulled on his boots. He was laughing about pastoral counseling – well, laughing is better than crying.
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for being our stronghold and not forsaking us in our times of need. Empower us to be positive, joyful, and grateful people even when circumstances tempt us to be otherwise. Enable us to daily remember your wonders and with gladness exult in your presence. In Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN
Let us praise God for his justice and maintain our trust in him,
Pastor Smith
Jan. 26, 2006
Thought For Today
Ask yourself not if this or that is expedient, but if it is right.
– Alan Paton
Resolution of Response
“Remember thou that my life is wind; mine eye shall no more see good. The eye of him that hath seen me shall behold me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not. The cloud consumeth and vanisheth away; so he that goeth down to Sheol shall not come up. He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him again. Therefore I will not restrain my mouth: I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.” Job 7:7-11 (DBY)
A youth pastor became discouraged because everything he did for the youth fell apart or was rejected by them. He couldn’t see any good in the youth ministry. He was about ready to throw in the towel and resign. He approached the senior pastor with the problem and asked his advice: “Why is it that each time I plan an event or lead a worship service I am rejected?”
The senior pastor considered the question carefully before answering. “I don’t understand your problem. I’ve been cursed, called some interesting names, barred from the pulpit, and thrown out the door, but I’ve never been rejected.”
Isn’t it interesting that our darkest hours seem to be just before dawn? Perhaps we should look with eyes of faith and not give up so easily. Perhaps restraint on the tongue, then telling our bitterness and anguish to the Lord in private, might be the best response we can make. Because what happens to us is not as important as how we respond to it.
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy to each of us. Grant to us the grace to interpret what is happening to us in a mature and holistic manner. Empower us to restrain self. Enable us to find a quiet place of solitude where we can commit our anguish and bitterness to you. Deliver us O Lord, from self-centered attitudes. Give us the heart of servants. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his loving concern and commit everything to him,
Pastor Smith
Jan. 27, 2006
Thought For Today
Don’t put a small value on yourself when God has paid the ultimate price for you.
Resolution of Direction
In the year that the commander in chief, who was sent by Sargon the king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and fought against it and captured it- at that time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your sandals from your feet,” and he did so, walking naked and barefoot. Then the LORD said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush,1 so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptian captives and the Cushite exiles, both the young and the old, naked and barefoot, with buttocks uncovered, the nakedness of Egypt. Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast. And the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, ‘Behold, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?'” Isaiah 20 (ESV)
NASA space probe, Mariner II completed its journey of 36,000,000 miles to Venus. Most Americans didn’t know there had been a Mariner I. It was as perfect as Mariner II but it went off course and missed Venus by tens of thousands of miles. Why did it fail?
When Mariner I was launched, a technician left out a hyphen in its instructions. Following the wrong instructions, Mariner I went astray and $18, 000,000 dollars were wasted.
Prophet Isaiah graphically demonstrates, to Judah, the fallacy of trusting in the wrong instructions. This prophecy becomes even clearer when Prophet Jeremiah explains that Judah should submit to Babylon rather than depending on alliances (i.e. the wrong instructions) with Egypt and Ethiopia. Because Judah ignored both prophets, she missed her objective and was dragged off to Babylonia, “naked and barefoot, with buttocks uncovered.”
As 21st century believers, let us guard against unholy alliances and wrong instructions. The greatest obstacle to our success is our misguided sense of self-righteousness. The correct course is in our instruction book. The only thing that will put us on the accurate course, and keep us there, is the Calvary sacrifice. When Mariner I missed Venus, only dollars was wasted. When we miss Heaven, our eternal soul is wasted. If the Cross of Christ is the missing hyphen in our flight plan, we will spin off into hell, lost forever.
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for our salvation through your work on the Cross. Forgive us our faults, failures, and sin. Empower us with determination to go in the right direction. Grant to us the humility to follow your instruction and not miss our destination. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his instructions and live in obedience to them,
Pastor Smith
Jan. 28, 2006
Thought For Today
We could never learn to be brave or patient, if there were only joy in the world.- Helen Keller
Resolution of Humility
And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. Matthew 8:5-13 (KJV)
Bill strode in to the youth meeting five minutes after start time, slammed his skateboard on the floor, fell onto a chair and hung his head. Matt, the youth leader, immediately began to reprimand him for the disruption. “Leave me alone!” Bill yelled.
Matt stopped the meeting and asked Bill to accompany him to the Pastor’s office. When he returned to the youth meeting, he spent the next twenty minutes explaining how he expected cooperation and would not allow disrespect or disobedience from the youth.
Later that evening when everyone had gone home, the Pastor asked, “Have you got a minute? I want to tell you a story.”
In his office, he began this story. “Once there was a student florist who couldn’t seem to grasp how to arrange flowers. So she went to the master flower arranger and asked for help. The Master offered to come look at her arrangements but she said, “Oh, no. They are not worthy of your time. Just tell me how to do it and let me practice more first.” So the Master explained that first, one decides on the shape she wants. Second, she uses an uneven number of flowers. And finally, she begins with the tallest flower as the center of her arrangement. So the student did that and proudly brought her arrangement for inspection. “It is nice, but too crowded,” said the Master. “Remember, empty spaces also are a part of an arrangement.”
The pastor paused and looked at Matt. “In other words, a humble perspective is important. What we don’t see may be more important than what we do.”
The next day, Matt went by the Pastor’s office. “I called Bill last night. He said that problems at home were unbearable. He feels like his world is crumbling. He just doesn’t know what to do. He came to the youth meeting overwhelmed.” Matt’s voice became husky. “I apologized to him for my lack of sensitivity. He’s coming by after school today.” Then Matt grinned, “My perspective of God’s power and God’s flowers has improved. Thanks.”
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Open our eyes of faith to see more than the surface issues. Empower us to be humble and look at God’s power from a broader understanding. Enable us to submit to coaching. In Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his unlimited power and live to obey his commands,
Pastor Smith
Jan. 29, 2006
Thought For Today
We do not belong to the church because we are perfect, but because we are loved.- R. Maurice Boyd
Jan. 30, 2006
Thought For Today
Every day has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.- Henry Ward Beecher [adapted]
Jan. 31, 2006
Thought For Today
Don’t allow the tyranny of the urgent to blind you to the value of the important.- Charles Swindoll
Feb. 1, 2006
Thought For Today
I want to know God, not my idea of God;I want to know my neighbor, not my idea of my neighbor; I want to know myself, not my idea of myself.-C.S. Lewis
Satisfying Restoration
“Oh, that athe salvation of Israel 1would come out of Zion! When the LORD 2brestores His captive people, Jacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad.” Psalm 14:7 (NAU)
Jane walked out into the morning air and looked wistfully around. A groan from deep within almost burst from her lips. Her anguish of desire was nearly unbearable. After a few troubling sermons, from the pastor, and at least one sleepless night, Jan had finally identified the phenomena that was stirring her soul. She was spiritually dry. Her spirit was weak. Her former passion for Christ was barely alive. She experienced almost no joy and discontent ruled the day. All the important areas of her life, church, family, and career failed to satisfy Jane anymore. Even vacations did not refresh her like they once did. She was spiritually ill but had not even known when the virus had attacked. Her misery, though, could not be denied.
If only she could experience the spiritual power the old saints had enjoyed. If only God would rush to her aid. What a difference that would make in her life. What freedom she would enjoy. What joy her family would experience. What happiness it would bring to her church and community. Ah, Lord, dreaming and wishing won’t bring it to reality. If only her freedom and joy would be restored.
The remedy for one’s spiritual desert is in the words of Jesus. He said, “Blessed are athose who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew 5:6 (NAU) The individual’s hunger drives his or her search for a satisfying meal. There is nothing more frustrating than going to the table, eating a meal, and leaving the table unsatisfied. The food may have been good and filling but it did not satisfy the hunger.
C. S. Lewis wrote, “I want to know God, not my idea of God; I want to know my neighbor, not my idea of my neighbor; I want to know myself, not my idea of myself.” Intense hunger and thirst refuses to accept anything less than total satisfaction. The hungry, thirsty believer demands nothing less than God’s righteousness. And only God’s righteousness can satisfy him or her.
An old hymn contemplates, “I wonder if He is satisfied with me?” Perhaps that is the wrong question. Is it possible that we are not satisfied with God? Have we become so familiar with him that his majesty and glory no longer excites us? God promises that joy and gladness will result when he restores the hungry soul.
Dear Father and our God, thank you for your grace and mercy. Forgives us, Holy Father, for our failure to allow you to spiritually satisfy us. Forgive us for looking for other satisfactions. Develop in us the gnawing hunger for food that only you supply. Create in us that thirst, which only you can satisfy. Give us the commitment to come daily to your table and your fountain. This I pray in the name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord. AMEN
Let us praise God for the communion of his table and live in joy and gladness,
Pastor Smith
Feb. 2, 2006
Thought For Today
I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year’s fashions.- Lillian Hellman
Confronting God
“He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.”
Job 9:32-35 (NIV)
All the diamond cutter’s employees gathered around to watch him cut this new diamond. It was a huge rock, which was a gift to the King of England and sent here, by him, to be cut and set in his crown.
This lapidary was the world’s foremost expert in diamond cutting. For weeks, with the utmost care to detail, he had studied drawings outlining the quality, the defects, and the lines of cleavage in this stone. Finally, he was ready to make the cut. As his employees looked on with bated breath, he placed the priceless stone on his table and cut a notch in it. Then he picked up his instrument and struck the notch with a firm blow. The brilliant stone split into two pieces. The group gasped. Had the expert been careless? Was he wasteful? Had he arrogantly been reckless? The answer on all points is absolutely not. Instead, he used all of his knowledge and skill to bring out the perfection and splendor of the transformed gem. With the insight of a skilled artisan, he saw magnificent gems hidden in the rough stone.
Job didn’t have a perfect understanding of his suffering but he wisely realized that he did not have sufficient knowledge or skill to challenge God. Similar to Job, we may receive stinging blows. Our soul may scream in agony. To us, the test may be an appalling, unfair mistake, but remember that he is the potter and we are the clay. “It is he that [is making] us” and not the other way around. He is the most expert diamond cutter in the universe. He sees the priceless gem inside our rough forms. Now unlike Job, “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1Jn. 2:1), who arbitrates our case before him. Our advocate pleads our case on the basis of God’s will for those who love him and are called for his purpose. In addition, he knows we are being conformed into the image of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
Dear Father, we are so grateful that you give us grace and mercy. Our hearts overflow with humble thanksgiving. Forgive us our trespasses and enable us to humbly forgive others. Empower us to realize that you are transforming us into the image of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. May we always boast in the Cross of Calvary for its liberating power. For we are in your kingdom, submitted to your power and authority, and giving you glory. In Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his work and live for his glory,
Pastor Smith
Feb. 3, 2006
Thought For Today
It is pleasing to God whenever you rejoice or laugh from the bottom of your heart. – Martin Luther
Hearing God
“Listen to me; listen as I plead! Does a farmer always plow and never sow? Is he forever cultivating the soil and never planting it? Does he not finally plant his seeds for dill, cumin, wheat, barley, and spelt, each in its own section of his land? The farmer knows just what to do, for God has given him understanding. He doesn’t thresh all his crops the same way. A heavy sledge is never used on dill; rather, it is beaten with a light stick. A threshing wheel is never rolled on cumin; instead, it is beaten softly with a flail. Bread grain is easily crushed, so he doesn’t keep on pounding it. He threshes it under the wheels of a cart, but he doesn’t pulverize it. The LORD Almighty is a wonderful teacher, and he gives the farmer great wisdom.” Isaiah 28:23-29 (NLT)
Is it possible to not clearly hear God’s voice? What is the problem with our hearing? The donkey owner, in Mt. 21:1-5, didn’t seem to have any problem understanding what to do after hearing “the Lord has need of it.” I wonder how he knew “the Lord” was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Most believers desire to hear the Lord’s voice, but seem to have problems understanding what to do. Why is that? Is it because we act like we don’t know he is speaking? Isaiah instructs us, Tell your ears to listen up. Attune them to God’s voice. Perhaps that is the key, raising our antennae to receive his signal and tuning our receiver to recognize his voice. If we do not hear his voice and listen to him, we miss an opportunity to fellowship with our Savior. We miss an opportunity to receive nurture from our Shepherd. We miss an opportunity to learn from our Mentor. We miss an opportunity to serve our Lord.
You and I have something in us the Lord wants to use to influence others for his glory. It won’t be used unless we hear his voice and obey what he says to us. It may be that, like the donkey of Matthew 21, he needs us to carry him into another heart, home, or neighborhood. Are we listening to Him? Remember, the counsel, which comes from him, is wonderful and produces excellent results. He doesn’t only teach us, he also instills wisdom. His wisdom is the “how-to” of applying what he teaches.
Dear Father, thank you for speaking to us by your Word and your Spirit. Thank you for a transformed conscience. Forgive us for our hearing loss. Forgive us for having turned our receiver down low or off. Transform us into spiritual receivers attuned to your voice. Empower us to hear and understand your speech. Help us obey as doers of your Word. Use us to carry your message as per your instructions. Enable us to rely on your wisdom. In Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN
Let us praise God for his voice and listen when he speaks,
Pastor Smith
Feb. 4, 2006
Thought For Today
Go as far as you can see, and when you get there, you will see farther.
The Depth of God’s Wisdom and Knowledge
“O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:33-36 (NRS)
Once many years ago in a small, European town, a renowned clock maker was commissioned to make a clock, which would be displayed in the town square. A majestic clock was designed and made. At the top of each hour, it played beautiful music , while dancing figures kept time.
After years of perfect time, the clock developed trouble and finally stopped. The citizens didn’t know how to repair this clock. Soon the whole town became depressed. The Town Council convened and it was decided that maybe the clockmaker could be found.
When they found him, he had been retired for twenty years, but agreed to return and repair the clock. The elderly clockmaker entered the back of the clock as the citizenry held its collective breath. After what seemed like an eternity, the clock began ticking and the chimes peeled forth over the countryside. In the streets, the people danced with the figures on the clock.
Just like that clock, we sometimes rundown spiritually. Like the townspeople, we must be concerned enough to find the designer/maker and ask for his help. There is absolutely no one else who has the depth of wisdom or knowledge, which is required to repair us. “O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”
Dear Father, thank you for your wisdom and knowledge of us. Forgive us for failing to come to you before our clock stopped. Empower us, by your wisdom and knowledge, to begin ticking and chiming again for your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN
Let us praise God for his unlimited riches and live for his glory,
Pastor Smith
Feb. 5, 2006
Thought For Today
Throw your heart over the fence and the rest will follow. – Norman Vincent Peale
Abraham’s Test
“And it came to pass after these things, that God tried Abraham, and said to him, Abraham! and he said, Here am I. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah, and there offer him up for a burnt-offering on one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. And Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he clave the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up and went to the place that God had told him of.” Genesis 22:1-3 (DBY)
Abraham awoke as on other mornings. He arose and walked out into the sunlight of a new day, never giving thought to the possibility that today was going to change his life. All day, it was business as usual, checking his accounts, supervising his servants, talking with his shepherds and those looking after his cattle, eating and family fellowship. Then, about dusk, he went to his favorite place, the altar of God. And God spoke to him there.
When we read of this incredible test, one undeniable truth surfaces. God is the one giving the test. It was God who selected the sacrifice, designated the worship site, and gave the instructions to Abraham.
And God is not a passive observer. Instead, he is the instigator, the antagonist who challenges Abraham to prove his fear of God. Abraham would have to prove that nothing was more precious to him than his God. ‘Take your son.’ ‘Go to Moriah mountain.’ ‘Offer your son as a burnt sacrifice to me.’
Often we think of Old Testament narratives as mythological metaphors. But this was a real test for Abraham. Why did he respond so quickly to God’s test? Did he tell Sarah that he and Isaac were going to worship God at Moriah? If so, he must have left out the part about a sacrifice. Scholars tell us Beersheba was a three day journey from Moriah. Abraham must have had a tremendous struggle during that journey. Why did he leave his two young male servants behind, when he saw Moriah in the distance? Why did he place the firewood on Isaac but keep the knife and fire in his possession? What did Isaac think when his father began binding him to the altar?
Abraham completed the test when he raised his knife to kill the very son, whom God had said would fulfill the promise. In Genesis 12:4, he had submitted his past to God. In 17:1, he had surrendered his will to God. Now, in 22:10, he surrendered God’s promise back to God. And God was not surprised that Abraham successfully passed this test. He had simply offered Abraham an opportunity to exhibit his faith and trust in God.
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for father Abraham’s example. If he could trust you with the future of his descendants, I can certainly trust you with the future of my family. Empower us to trust you even when we don’t understand. Enable us to surrender our most precious possessions to you in faith. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his challenge to us and firmly live by faith,
Pastor Smith
Feb. 6, 2006
Thought For Today
Others won’t care how much we know, until they know how much we care.
– Charles Swindoll