Month: November 2020

4 minute read

“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” (Proverbs 27:12 NIV)

Whether you are prudent or simple is defined by your reaction to danger.

Since we live on the east coast, we experience hurricanes. Intense storms that move slowly get a lot of press.  Typically a week out from landfall, the news coverage begins.  Opinions based on scientific models trying to predict the storm’s course are rampant.  People start boarding up their homes and evacuating to safer areas.  But some people decide to stay behind.  Various reasons cause people not to evacuate.  Even knowing staying may mean death, they choose to stay. A majority of people would call not leaving simple, but not all.  Deciding to ride out a hurricane isn’t typically a prudent decision.

Calculate the cost.

When facing danger, calculate the cost.  Hurricanes mean you can quickly lose everything, including your life.  Material things are replaceable; human life is not.  Each person must determine the price they are willing to pay.  For Christ-followers, death is but the next phase of life.  Jesus’s resurrection gives us eternal life.  What appears as a danger to some is not to others.   Paul tells us to die is gain:

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 NIV)

Whatever danger you face, Christ is with you.  He is always with you; He will never leave nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5 NIV).  Following Him closely means He’ll let you know when to take cover.  He’ll also let you know when to stay.  If unsure of what you should do, just ask Him.  A simple prayer I pray: “God open the doors you want me to go through, close the ones you don’t.” 

God’s direction keeps you out of danger.

Danger for me lately is keeping up.  I feel overwhelmed with the amount of work I have to do.  New project ideas are rampant in my head; I’m trying to finish my last class before I graduate and, of course, working.  But then God intervenes.  As a tennis teacher, rainy days mean unexpected days off.  This past week, God gave me two unanticipated free nights because of the weather.  Then, our weekend plans went awry, canceling as well.  I went from trying to find time to get it all done to God, giving me exactly the time I need to do what I need to do.  God protects us from trouble:

“You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble;” (Psalm 32:7 NIV)

Walking with God mean’s safety from the storm.  Hurricane’s will still rage, but in Him, we find strength.  Whether we evacuate or stay, we are secure in Him.

When in danger, seek God.

Question of the Day:

What danger has God saved you from lately?

Further Reading: Ezekiel 21:1-22:31NIV, Hebrews 10:1-17 NIV, Psalm 108 NIV, Proverbs 27:12 NIV

4 minute read

“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” (Hebrews 9:15 NIV)

Jesus mediates our eternal inheritance.

Raised in church, I did not truly understand why Jesus died on the cross until I was an adult.  The more I learn about Jewish culture, the more I understand the need for Jesus.  Jewish law contains 613 commandments.  No human on earth could keep all of them; each has consequences.  All of the Old Testament’s animal sacrifices are to atone for the sins that result from breaking the laws.  Jesus, who is Jewish, is the only one who has and ever will fulfill all of the rules.  His innocence covers our guilt.  He took the penalty for what we deserve.  You need Jesus because He’s the only one who can save you.

Jesus’s salvation gives eternal life.

The eternal life Jesus offers is freedom from our sins.  He allows us to reset our lives, let go of our sins, and start fresh.  When our computers start acting up, we all know what to do; turn it off and back on—disconnecting the electricity from the laptop forces it to reset itself.  When we turn the device back on, whatever problem we were having is gone.  Life resumes with a fresh start.  Each morning is our reboot with God:

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV)

Problems don’t disappear overnight; that’s not what I’m saying.  However, our attitude towards them can and does change as we seek Jesus.

Shining Jesus light into our lives illuminates the dark areas of our hearts.  He reveals the places where jealousy, anger, hatred, and other negative emotions live.  When our sin is exposed, Jesus covers it with love.  His actions on the cross takes our sin away.  He replaces the negative with the positive:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)

As we begin our day with Him, He refreshes our soul.  The mistakes of yesterday become today’s opportunity to share Christ.  Instead of looking at life through our limited view, we look through the eyes of Jesus.  When we do, we see the hurt in people’s lives.  We begin to understand, everyone is struggling, in need of Jesus’s unconditional love.  However, we can’t force people to accept the gift, but hope and pray they one day will.

Question of the Day:

Did you reboot with Jesus today?

Further Reading:Ezekiel 20 NIV, Hebrews 9:11-28 NIV, Psalm 107 NIV, Proverbs 27:11 NIV

4 minute read

“He caused all who held them captive to show them mercy.” (Psalm 106:46 NIV)

Mercy starts with God.

Captivity to sin is a daily struggle.  Our battles look different from the Israelites, but they still exist.  Worldly captives include unhealthy relationships, monetary debt, uncontrolled lifestyles which lead to physical ailments. Tendrils of sin weave in and out of our lives, ensnaring us in their trap.  Only through God’s promises can we find freedom, praise leads the way.

Worship willfully.

Each morning, start with worship.  When we begin our conversation with God using praise, we’re acknowledging our limitations.  Thanking Him for getting you out of bed recognizes He is the one who gives life, and takes it away.  Even Job, in his darkest hour after losing everything, understood God’s sovereignty:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;  may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:21 NIV)

Understanding God’s ways is something no human can do.  The quest to try and accomplish this feat is never ending by people.  Their efforts are futile.  No one knows why God does what He does:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,  neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV)

The grace God extends to me always humbles.  As I think of the mercy people have shown me in my life, I’m in awe.  My mother when she paid off my car in college.  Four brother’s, who have helped me countless times in my life get back on track.  Friends who have forgiven me when I have wronged them some way.  All are gifts from God worthy of praise.  All are merciful moments that He orchestrated.  

God gives mercy through people.  His grace becomes reality when others forgive us.  Learning to accept this gift is challenging.  Each of us knows our dark secrets.  If we were to have an honest conversation, we could tell the reasons we don’t think we deserve God’s grace.  But here’s the truth, God knows everything about you and loves you.  Every mistake you made He knows.  You’re not hiding anything from Him, don’t waste time trying.  Instead, praise Him for the gift.  Then share what He has done for you with others. 

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—” (Ephesians 2:8 NIV)

Start with praise.  Lay your sins at the His feet.  Receive His mercy. Then share His gift with others.

Question of the Day:

Who can you give the gift of mercy to today?

Further Reading: Ezekiel 18:1-19:14 NIV, Hebrews 9:1-10 NIV, Psalm 106:32-48 NIV, Proverbs 27:10 NIV

4 minute read

“But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold.” (Psalm 106:13 NIV)

We forget God’s works too quickly.

We wouldn’t worry if we had a better memory.  Every time a crisis arises, instead of panicking, we would have faith.  Recalling what God did in the past gives us hope for the future.  Instead of trying to handle the situation in our power, we’d wait for God’s plan.  Remembering is essential in the life of a Christ-Follower.

“Remember His covenant forever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations.” (Psalm 105:8 NIV)

Not only do we forget what God did for us, we forget what He did for others.  We forget He parted the Red Sea for Moses (Exodus 14:21-31 NIV).  Or that the walls of Jericho tumbled for Joshua (Joshua 6:1-27 NIV).  God’s provision for Ruth through Boaz, Esther’s position that saved the Jews, all forgotten quickly (Ruth 1-4 NIV, Esther 4:14 NIV).  Even having written accounts of God’s goodness penned by different authors over centuries, doesn’t help us recollect all He has done.

Daily discipline helps remember.

Each morning when you open God’s word, it’s a reminder of His power.  Through the pages of the Bible, story after story affirms God’s sovereignty.  His love is apparent as He patiently forgives time, and again the Israelites follies.  Jesus’s entrance into the world ushered in a revolutionary way of life none can deny.  Resurrection gives way to eternal life for all who believe in its power.  But if we don’t open the book, we forget the power found in it.

When Joshua and the Israelites passed through the Jordan river, God told them to set up 12 stones to remember the event (Joshua 4 NIV).  Joshua told the Israelites when people ask them what the stones mean, tell them how God stopped the flow of the Jordan river for the Ark of the Covenant to pass.  The visual reminder not only helped the Israelites remember but also was an opportunity to share God’s goodness with others. Making memory markers for your life helps you not only remember but also talk about God.

“Looking for Lovely” by Annie F. Downs is a Bible study I did years ago.  The premise of the book is to save momentos from God moments in your life.  When I did the study, I created a “Looking for Lovely” mason jar, pictured here.  Inside the wide-mouthed jar are a variety of things that remind me of moments with God.  One is a score card from a special round of golf.  A napkin from a momentous wedding, and party favor from a wonderful birthday celebration.  All reminders of ways God moves in my life.  Whenever I need reminding of God’s goodness, I look in the jar.

Find a way to remember what God does for you. Grow closer to Him as you recall His glorious ways.

Question of the Day:

How are you remembering what God has done for you in your life?

Further Reading:Ezekiel 16:42-17:24 NIV, Hebrews 8:1-13 NIV, Psalm 106:13-31 NIV, Proverbs 27:7-9 NIV

4 minute read

“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.” (Proverbs 27:5 NIV)

What you don’t say, people don’t know.

When people see you going down the wrong path, those that love you will try to stop you.  Just like a mother protects her toddler from toppling, real friends do the same for us.  Last year, when I was mad at my husband, I said things I shouldn’t.  My sister-in-law, who heard me say them, corrected my behavior.  In no uncertain terms, she told me no matter how mad I get at my husband; I cannot talk to him the way I had that night.  She was right; she’s a true friend.  Open rebuke is better “than approval that’s never expressed” (Proverbs 27:5 MSG).

People have blind spots.  Every single one of us does things we are unaware we do.  To become aware of our poor behavior, we need someone to tell us.  Marriage quickly identifies blind spots in a person’s life.  For instance, I tend to over-schedule myself and have a hard time relaxing.  My husband helps me learn to relax because he made me aware of my issue.  In love, he points out the areas I need to refine.  Because of his insight, I’m a better person.  Feedback is critical to growth.

Consider the Source.

Not all feedback is positive.  When someone is “rebuking” you for something in your life, consider the source.  Many things motivate someone to offer an opinion.  Hatred, jealousy, and meanness can guide someone’s words; don’t listen to them.  Instead, look for the love behind the words.  

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.   Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV)

When someone rebukes you with love, you know it.  Their kind eyes, gentle touch,  selfless speech tell love’s story.   Correcting someone you deeply care for isn’t easy.  Helping the person understand you’re only telling them to help them is a challenge.  But love never fails; when the hearts motive is right, you’ll know.

After my nephew died, I was struggling.  However, I was unaware of how I was affecting the people around me.  My husband gave me an open rebuke.  He recognized how deeply I was hurting; he knew I needed time to heal.  What I couldn’t see in myself, he saw in me.  We need people who will tell us what we don’t know.

In love, speak the truth.

Question of the Day:

Who can you trust to tell you the truth?

Further Reading:Ezekiel 14:12-16:41 NIV, Hebrews 7:18-28 NIV, Psalm 106:1-12 NIV, Proverbs 27:4-6 NIV

4 minute read

“He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert.” (Psalm 105:41 NIV)

God makes the impossible possible.

When in crisis, panic can take control.  We can lose focus in the face of the mountain before us.  But nothing panics God.  He’s not taken off guard when the accident happens or the virus spreads.  No matter what the situation, God is in control. His sovereignty knows the answer to the dilemma before it ever occurs.  No matter what impossible situation you’re facing, God creates a way.  How do you know?  He brought water from a rock. 

I recently had the opportunity to see the production of Esther at the Sights and Sound Theater in Lancaster.  If God ever opens a door for you to see a show at this venue, go.   Esther is the story of a young Jewish girl who becomes Queen.  God strategically places her in a position where she can save her people.  However, when she first arrives at the palace, she didn’t know what God had in store for her.  Her uncle Mordecai is trying to find a way to get her a message.  He finds a scribe who works for the king and asks him to deliver a note to her.  The scribe, trying to describe how impossible this task is, replied.  “Getting a note to her is like parting the Red Sea.”  Without blinking, Mordecai responded, “So it is possible.”

Believe in the unbelievable.

For God to make the impossible possible, you have to believe.  When Moses parted the Red Sea, he first had faith:

“And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:13-14 NKJV)

In the face of the impossible, Moses didn’t doubt God’s ability.  He did not know what God would do, but He knew God would do something.  In his humanness, he didn’t think of parting the sea.  In God’s holiness, the sea parted.

“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.” (Exodus 14:21 NKJV)

Moses believed God had an answer for the Israelites situation.  When God told him to lift his staff, he raised his staff.  God did the rest.  Can you imagine how weird God’s instruction was to Moses?  But he didn’t doubt, he trusted.

Believe God has an answer for your situation.  Do what He prompts you to do.  Watch Him part the Red Sea for you.

Question of the Day:

What sea do you need God to part in your life?

Further Reading: Ezekiel 12:1-14:11 NIV, Hebrews 7:1-17 NIV, Psalm 105:37-45 NIV, Proverbs 27:3 NIV

4 minute read

“Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.” (Proverbs 27:2 NIV)

Unsolicited praise from someone is the best praise.

Last week, my husband came home from his weekly tennis match with the guys.  This particular week was the 10th anniversary of the day I met my husband.  As I do, on our page, I wrote an adoring post or two about my man.  One of the guys, teasing him, said, “She’s a good writer, but she loves her some, Ron.”  When my husband told me this, my response was, “He said I was a good writer?”  My husband was astonished, “That’s what you got out of that story?”  Of course, I focused on the praise; who wouldn’t?  Unintentional complements carry weight.

Praise people regularly.

When someone does something good, acknowledge it.  Don’t hold back; use your words to lift them.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV)

Encouraging words start with a name.  As a coach, I meet people every day.  Remembering names is my biggest challenge and my highest priority.  Nothing praises a person more than remembering their name.  If you’ve ever had someone forget your name, you know what I mean.  An instant hurt occurs. Forgetting your name implies you aren’t significant enough to remember.  God taught me this lesson in a unique way.

While at a coach’s training in Greensborough, NC, I had the privilege to learn from Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) CEO, Dan Santorum.  When I walked into check-in, he was at the table.  I showed him my I.D. as requested.  Our conversation was brief and to the point, highly forgettable.  A few minutes later, when the training started, he began with his introductory speech.  As he spoke, he would mention someone’s name, mine included, outlining our day.  At the end of his talk, he said these words:

“While I was talking, I used your names.  What most of you don’t know,  one person’s name I did not use.  Who was it?”

I’ll never forget this group of 30-some coach’s looking around to see whose name he didn’t use.  From the back, a hand raised, Dan identified him as John.  Dan made his point.  When you forget someone’s name, they know it.  Make remembering names a priority in your coaching career.  Not knowing their name implies they don’t have value.  Everyone is important.  Because of Dan, when you listen to me on the courts, you hear names, not just instruction.

Start with a name.  Then look for ways to give unsolicited praise to the people God brings in your life.  Lift them.  Encourage them.  Let them know; they matter too.

Question of the Day:

Who can you praise today by remembering their name?

Further Reading: Ezekiel 10-11 NIV, Hebrews 6:1-20 NIV, Psalm 105:16-36 NIV, Proverbs 27:1-2 NIV

4 minute read

“Anyone who lives on milk…is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:12-14 NIV)

No matter how much you’ve grown, you still have more to learn.

When babies are born, they are incapable of feeding themselves.  The newborn bodies depend entirely on the mother’s milk.  As they begin to grow, they start to eat solid foods.  From pureed peas to steak, the food keeps getting better the older you get.  Every child progresses at their own pace.  Some babies move to solid food faster than others, but they all get there eventually.  Whether fast or slow, both are growing.  

Pace is personal.

In ways, we are all still transitioning from milk to solid food.  Living life to the fullest means allowing God to teach you how to live.  Without a teachable spirit, growth doesn’t happen.  Everyone learns at a different pace.  And no one ever arrives, no matter what some people might think.  Just like babies don’t start eating steak, Christ-followers don’t start out knowing much about Jesus.  Most new believers only know He forgives sin and gives eternal life.  Salvation is the most important thing for people to know about Jesus, but it’s not the only thing people should know.  

Transitioning from milk to solid food means helping others know Jesus.  Once you’ve accepted His love and mercy, share it with others.  Spend time reading the scriptures.  Get to know who Jesus was and how He handled life’s situations.  As you do, you will share your new knowledge with others without even realizing it.  Don’t worry about the pace; just keep going.

Accepting isn’t giving up.  When we face the reality of a situation, it tells us where to start.  If a child can’t catch a ball, work on catching.  If a new Christ-follower has a question, answer it.   Answering questions deepen faith.  Thoughts you never had lead you to discoveries you’d never find.  Don’t let fear of the unknown keep you from talking and growing together as you search for answers.

God designed us to live in community.  All of us are on a journey of self-exploration, whether we realize it or not.  We all have questions only God can answer.  Accepting our limitations allows us to explore God’s infinity.  Discovering His divine power happens one revelation at a time:

“He reveals mysteries from the darkness and brings the deep darkness into the light.” (Job 12:22 NIV)

Move from milk to solid food as God reveals the mysteries in your life.  Trust His ways, find His answers.  Get to know Jesus better.  Share what you learn with others.

Question of the Day:

What mystery do you want God to reveal to you?

Further Reading:Ezekiel 7:1-9:11 NIV, Hebrews 5:1-14 NIV, Psalm 105:1-15 NIV, Proverbs 26:28 NIV

4 minute read

“Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.” (Proverbs 26:27 NIV)

When you dig a pit, you fall into it.

Credit card debt is a pit, I know because I fell into it.  Like many others, my first credit card came when I was a freshman in college with no job.  Today, using plastic to pay for things is a way of life.  When I was in college, people used cash more than credit cards for purchases. Not having any money because I was a broke college student, I used credit to buy groceries.  I will never forget one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.  In line at the store, I handed the cashier my credit card.  The lady behind me was astonished.  She says, “Don’t you feel guilty eating food you haven’t paid for yet?”  She humiliated me.  I have never forgotten the moment.  Those were the first few shovels of the debt pit I dug for myself.

Pits take time to develop.

Pits don’t happen overnight.  Digging holes happen one shovel at a time.  My credit card debt accumulated over several years.  I didn’t max out the limit the first month; it took me time to get that to that point.  Maxed out credit was my rock bottom; I couldn’t get anymore.  None of that happened quickly, which is why you don’t know you’re digging a pit.  The slow pace doesn’t allow us to see the depth.

I dug that pit on my own, without Jesus.  During the time I was shoveling up loans, I wasn’t following Jesus.  My life centered on me, no one else, certainly not God.  To say I’m still recovering from the things I did to myself then is an understatement.  My most immense heartache is the people I hurt during that time, no one more than myself.  But thank God I hit rock bottom because the only place I had to look was up.

We may fall into the pits we dig for ourselves, but God pulls us out.  The moment we focus our eyes on Him, He starts lifting.  In my situation, He used my little brother.  Single at the time; I needed accountability.  Asking my brother for help was humbling for me, very hard to do.   He went through my finances, set up automatic payments, and devised a plan to get me out of debt.  His plan worked, along with Dave Ramsey’s financial course, I learned how to manage money.

Humility is the first step out of the pit.  Humbling ourselves before God, admitting our failures, is the first rung of the ladder.  With daily submission to God, He’ll lift us out of our pits.

Question of the Day:

What pit have you dug for yourself?

Further Reading: Ezekiel 3:16-6:14 NIV, Hebrews 4:1-16 NIV, Psalm 104:24-35 NIV, Proverbs 26:27 NIV

4 minute read

“For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.” (Hebrews 3:4 NIV)

God has a master plan for your life.  When we submit to Him, we discover what He has in store for us.  But when we try to do life on our own, we’re building a house He never intended us to create.

As I’ve aged, I’ve learned a new appreciation for the saying, “She (or he) is her (his) own worst enemy.”   I can see my mom saying the phrase about different people in our lives, but I didn’t understand what she meant.  Now I have a better idea.  Some people can’t help themselves; every decision they make is a bad one.  I have discovered that people who make bad decisions don’t stop and think, nor do they ask for advice.  Instead, they assume they know everything and act as if they do, in the end, hurting themselves more than anyone else.

Build your house out of brick.

My brother’s are brick mason’s and contractors.  They have spent their lives building beautiful homes for people.  As a bricklayer, the going is slow because you lay one brick at a time.  After years of practice, the pace quickens, but the process doesn’t change.  Plans made, lines laid, mortar mixed, bricks placed precisely, one at a time.  Eventually, over time, the house takes shape, creating a fortress that is hard to destroy.  Each day is a brick, the decisions we make, building our home.

Just like bricklayers have a process they use to build a sturdy house, we can develop a decision-making process.  Solomon tells us how:

“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.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)

First, acknowledge God in all things.  Admit you don’t know everything; instead, turn to the One who does.  Then submit your will to His will, even if you don’t understand what He is doing.  Choose to trust Him, then watch as He makes your paths straight.  Let the Master Bricklayer help you build a fortress no one can penetrate.

As houses get taller, bricklayers use scaffolding.  The metal bars connect, creating a platform for my brothers to stand on as they work.  Without the support of the connected ladders, they couldn’t finish their work.  We’re the same; when life gets too complicated, we need help.  As we reach higher and higher, God lifts us.   Through Him, we can do things we couldn’t do alone.

Don’t cause yourself harm with the decisions you make.  Instead, admit you don’t know everything.  Turn to the One who does, submit to God.  Let the builder of everything build your life.

Question of the Day:

Are you your own worst enemy?

Further Reading:Ezekiel 1:1-3:15 NIV, Hebrews 3 NIV, Psalm 104:1-23 NIV, Proverbs 26:24-26 NIV