Small miracles – Devotion for
One definition of the word miracle is “an extraordinary event, perceived to be the result of the direct, purposeful action of a god or the agent of a god.” (The
“There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like Yours. All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and they shall glorify Your name. For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God.” Psalm 86:8-10
People pleasing – Devotion for
Are you a “people pleaser”? Sometimes we become quite caught up in making everyone else happy, and in doing so, we end up making ourselves unhappy. A people pleaser will try to be what someone else wants them to be, and they are afraid of rocking the boat in certain situations. A people pleaser may find it hard to speak their own mind, finding it easier to just go along with what someone else wants. A people pleaser will just want everyone to get along, and so they also have a hard time saying “no” in situations so that they can just “keep the peace.” It is a natural tendency for us to want to be people pleasers – it begins quite early as children trying to please their parents and teachers. But at some point in our life we have to change our view of who we should attempt to please.
In Luke 12:1-21, I think Jesus is addressing “people pleasing.” He is talking about covering up things, keeping things hidden. We all have something in our lives that we keep (or try to keep) hidden from other people because we are scared what others might think of us if they knew the truth. But Jesus reminds us “there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known” (Luke 12:2). We are reminded by Jesus that he knows everything about us – “indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (I think I just lost #457!). He knows all about us, and he still loves us. Maybe instead of focusing on pleasing others we should focus on pleasing God. A God pleaser will try to be what God wants them to be, and the will rock the boat in certain situations if it pleases God. A God pleaser may find it hard to speak their own mind, because they instead speak from the mind of God. A God please will recognize that to have true “peace,” sometimes they will have to disagree with people and that not everyone will get along. Today, who do you want to please – God or people?
Praying the fog away – Devotion for
This morning in my devotion time, I read about the faith of an evangelist from the 1800s – George Müller. As I read this, I realized that these words would be a great word for anyone to read today. It seems that Mr. Müller was on a voyage aboard a ship that had encountered a very dense fog. Because of the severity of the situation the captain had stayed on the bridge continuously for twenty-four hours. Eventually Mr. Müller came to him and said, “Captain, I have come to tell you that I must be in
The two of them went down to the chart room, and the captain thought to himself, “What lunatic asylum could the man have come from? I never heard of such a thing.” The captain interjected to his determined passenger, “Mr. Müller, do you know how dense this fog is?”
“No,” he replied, “my eye is not on the density of the fog, but on the living God, who controls every circumstance in my life.” Mr. Müller then got down on his knees and prayed a simple prayer, a prayer that the captain though would be suitable for an 8 year old child. When he had finished praying, the captain was beginning to pray, but Müller put his hand on the shoulder of the captain and told him not to pray.
“Firstly, because you do not believe God will, and secondly, I believe that God has, and there is no need whatever for you to prayer about it.” Astonished, the captain just looked at him as Müller continued, “Captain, I have known my Lord for fifty-seven years, and there has never been a single day that I have failed to get an audience with the King. Get up and open the door, and you will find that the fog is gone.”
Indeed, when the two exited the chart room they both saw that the fog was indeed gone, and George Müller was in
Today, let us go to God with that same faith.
This story can be found in greater detail in I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes, by Glenn Clark.
Solving the mystery – Devotion for
Prior to serving Trinity, I had been appointed to serve a wonderful charge located near Spivey’s Corner, NC (Home of the National Hollerin’ Contest). The parsonage that we lived in was more than adequate, and the yard was tremendous (I was told it was just over an acre – whatever that means). When I went out to the storage building to look for the riding lawn mower, I threw open the door only to find a push mower. I quickly assumed that meant that they must have sent out the riding mower to have it serviced for the new preacher, because with a yard that large I was sure they had a riding mower for the preacher to use. It didn’t take too long for me to find out that I was wrong (imagine that), and that the only mower they had was that push mower, and I was told “Frank didn’t have any trouble with it.” Frank, you see, was the pastor who had just retired from the charge I was now appointed to, and there was no way I was going to complain if the previous old preacher didn’t complain.
Days went by and I held off on mowing the grass. Days went by and the grass kept growing. Since we lived on the same road as the church, and since everyone in the church drove past the parsonage at least once a day, eventually a member or two (or three) commented to let me know that it was acceptable for me to mow the yard. Finally a Saturday came, and my family was invited to a birthday party being held at a member’s swimming pool – and this member lived just about a half-mile down the road from us. As we were enjoying the fellowship out in the pool on that hot July Saturday, I knew that if the yard was going to get mowed, I had better get back home and get to it. So I left my family to enjoy the rest of the party and I went back home, changed clothes, and got out there to get started. After several minutes of pulling on the cord trying to get that darn thing started, it finally puffed to life. I went around to get started in the front yard, and I trekked along the front edge of the yard, and I soon learned just how big our yard was. After I had done just a few rows, I was already exhausted from the heat, the humidity, and the fact that the grass was kinda sorta high. Add in the fact that each row that I mowed was about a quarter mile long (or so it seemed). I was barely half way through the front yard and I already felt like I was about to give in. As I turned back to start another row something mysterious in the distance down the road caught my eye. It appeared to be something that looked like it was burning way down the road. I looked at whatever it was until I completed that row, and then I had to turn my back to it as I headed back in the opposite direction. When I turned around again I could see that whatever it was, it was moving closer to me, and now I could discern that it did not appear to be on fire, but instead it seemed to be casting a cloud of dirt. Finally I finished that row and had to head back in the other direction again, but now I was becoming more and more energized as I was extremely curious as to what this mystery was that I was seeing. I turned back and now I could make out just what it was coming down the road – it was a riding lawn mower! I was disgusted, saying to myself, “Here I am out in this hot sun sweating my tail off, and someone has the audacity to be using their riding lawn mower as transportation.” Man, I was ticked. Appalled, I finished that row and turned back around to head the other way, but when I turned back around again I only became more angered – it was a member of my church riding on that lawn mower on the side of the highway in the middle of July on the hottest day of the year! Man, I started thinking of all kinds of sermons I was going to preach to them on the need to better stewardship, stronger giving, and using more wisdom when I realized that the member on the mower was actually turning into my yard. I cut off my mower and approached, and she just waved and headed towards the backyard to begin mowing back there. By this time I actually needed a break from the heat, but there was no way I was going to let a woman finish mowing my yard with me sipping on some lemon-aid, so I kept on mowing (that’s the male ego for you). Soon we were finished, and this kind, gentle, wonderful spirited woman returned to her home about ¾ of mile down the road.
All along I new there was something coming down the road, but I just didn’t understand it. When I did recognize what it was, I became angry and still misunderstood what it truly meant for me. When I finally comprehended what it was that was being done, I was humbled and grateful for receiving such a gift. Sometimes in life we go through mysteries that we don’t yet understand. We know something is there, but we don’t fully comprehend what it means for us. Paul alludes to such in Ephesians 3, where he talks about how the Gentiles and the Jews were equal heirs in the one body of Christ. It was always known to the Jews that the Gentiles would be blessed, for this was predicted several times in the Old Testament. But now God has fully revealed that the Gentiles would be blessed, and not just blessed, but made equal to the Jews in the body of Christ. What had previously been a mystery to so many had now become clear. What had been a struggle for so many had now become a blessing.
We may find ourselves right now in the midst of a struggle, and maybe we know something is coming down the road but we’re just not sure what it is. Before it finally gets there we may have to go through the hardships of the struggle. Before the clarity of the situation finally arrives we may go through the anger. But know this – the mystery will be solved. God is coming to you in a special way. Keep on mowing – He’ll get there soon.
Play smart – Devotion for
Once again this year I am coaching my sons in soccer. Coaching the kids is really something that I enjoy, and I am personally grateful for the opportunity to be able to be involved in the community. One of the things that I try to stress to the kids is an understanding of their position, and if they understand their position and where they are supposed to be when something is happening, they will be excellent soccer players. The problem is that some kids don’t want to play a position – they just want to run all over the field, and some are actually good enough to do that. But the problem with running all over the field trying to do everything is they become worn out, and soon they aren’t able to help the team at all. I try to teach them that a smart soccer player stays at home in their area they are responsible for, and the smart soccer player is usually the better soccer player. They demonstrate how smart they are by not doing the things such as running everywhere, trying to make every play all by themselves.
In the letter of James, at one point in chapter 3 he is talking about true wisdom. “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.”(James 3:13) Like the soccer players, God has given us certainly responsibilities that we are to live up, but many times we try to play by our own rules. When we deviate from the plan that God has established for us, we really just ending up running around in futility, wearing ourselves down and out. Today, consider what is the plan God has laid out for you. Are you living within the confines of his law (Love your neighbor and love God)? Are you living responsibly within the context of the team (the church)? If not, let’s start to play smart.
“How do I do this?” – Devotion for
I know I’m modest, but I have to admit that my two sons are absolutely brilliant. I could brag about how smart they are, but I really don’t need to – after all, what else would you expect from my own offspring? (Just in case you didn’t know, there was just a little bit of sarcasm there.) All of that being said, homework time becomes quite a bit of a stressful time. They come home from school and first they want a snack. Then they want to pet the cats and the dog. Then they want to fight – well, I don’t know if that’s what they want to do – it’s just usually what happens. Finally they get settled down to open up their folders and books to begin working on their assignments. Before long, the boys will begin to seek out the assistance of whoever is home and available at the time – “Mooooommmmm, I need heeelllllp” (in a very whiny little tone). “Daaaa-ad, I don’t get thissssssss.” They bring the problem to us, or beg us to come to them, and as almost every time it really is something they already know how to do. I don’t have to do much other than clarify what is actually being asked and then they realize, “Oh – I know how to do that.” So it seems that we play this game going back and forth, with them asking for help when it really is something that they don’t need help on – they’ve just gotten side-tracked on other things and they have overlooked what is really being asked.
Sometimes that’s the way our lives get. Sometimes we overwhelmed by all the activities and stressors in our life that when we hit a little problem, we think that we are in a crisis. Many times when we turn to God in the midst of those “crises” and we seek His help, God has already provided us with the knowledge of how to handle them. We already know the answers, but we just seem to be having a difficult time sorting them out in the right order. I love that when God asked Solomon, “Ask what you wish me to give you,” that all that Solomon asked for was “an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil.” (1 Kings 3:5, 9) Solomon wanted God’s wisdom to help him sort out all the answers to the problems that would arise. He knew that the answers would already be there – God’s wisdom would help him put them in order. Today, as we face those problems and issues that arise, and as we begin to cry out for help, recognize that God has probably already presented the solution to you. We’ve just got to seek His wisdom to recognize how it is to be done.
Despising wisdom – Devotion for
Sometimes I can’t stand it when someone gives me advice. The reason is sometimes that advice flies completely in the face of what I want to do, but somehow what they are telling me makes sense. Deep down I know what they have told me to do is the right thing to do, but I just don’t want to do it, because I have my heart set on something else . . . plus I still hold out that I’m right. I recall many times going through this sort of thing with my father. Many times he would give me his opinion on something, and that opinion would not agree with my opinion on something. Dad would just say, “Trust me on this, Son. I know what I’m talking about.” However, I just wouldn’t want to listen. And almost every time I later discovered that I should have listened to him. So why is it that sometimes we despise wisdom? Why is it that we still want to hold fast to our ideas even when someone presents a wiser idea?
In Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 we read about wisdom. The passage references a small city that a great king came and surrounded with his men and large siegeworks. Inside the city was a poor but wise man, and this poor wise man delivered the city by his wisdom. Somehow, according to the passage, even though he delivered the city, “wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded” (Ecclesiastes 9:16b). So we have the proverb, “Wisdom is better than strength” from Ecclesiastes 9:16a (sounds kinda like a fortune cookie, doesn’t it?).
I think that a majority of the time when we hear true wisdom we know it, yet we will still resist it. I see it in my sons, who want to argue with me even when I know I am giving them good advice. I see it in myself, when I still get those words of wisdom from my father that I have to learn the hard way that he was right. Today, if you hear those words that you want to despise and defy, recognize that God is the giver of wisdom, and those words we despise and oppose may have come from God.
