March 05

Childlike Praise

Have you never read, out of the mouths of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise?

Matthew 21:16 (NKJV)

I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

Psalm 9:1-2 (NKJV)

The thing that attracts me to children is their authenticity. They are genuine—what you see is what you get. They speak what they know and, sometimes, with great volume!

Childlike faith expressed boldly, simply, is a powerful thing. It’s what my Father wants to hear from me—my genuineness, my wholeheartedness. David knew this. He, a man after God’s own heart, expressed the praise God deserved in many ways. He recounted God’s works; He rejoiced; He sang; He praised God’s name. He showed us the genuineness God wants in the broadest way, and in the simplest way, he poured out his heart.

I am resolved. I, also, will praise God with childlike faith and with all my being. Will you praise Him too?

Father, You are worthy of all praise. I recognize Your goodness, glory and grace. Open my eyes that I may see more of Your wonder. Open my mouth that I may share Your praise. Amen.

March 04

99% is Not Bad

I will give thanks to You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Psalm 139:14 (NAS)

This verse has special significance to me because my son was born with a congenital defect known as Apert’s Syndrome. Quite honestly, Ryan's birth shocked us. He had severely fused digits and craniofacial anomalies, and it has taken years and dozens of surgeries to improve his appearance and his ability to function. Physically, he is about 99% perfect. Interestingly, while Ryan doesn’t make perfect grades in school, he is an A in my book, because God made him, and God doesn’t make mistakes.

All of us are wonderful creations—with or without handicaps! We need to remind one another and thank God, too. Even when we don’t look, feel, or function like we think we should, we need to remember, we are here for His pleasure. He is God, and His design is awesome.

Tonight, I’ll share this verse with my son, and I’ll remind myself, in God’s design book, I’m an A too … and so are you!

Lord, thank You for handcrafting each of us to Your exact specifications! And thank You for making me perfect for Your plan. Amen.

March 03

Finding God’s Way

Be glad … be patient … be prayerful.”

Romans 12:12 (NLT)

Today was like many days. There were those moments when I wasn’t glad, I wasn’t patient, and I certainly wasn’t prayerful. Instead, I dragged myself through the day, impatient with others and depending on myself to solve all those hefty problems the world had loaded on my shoulders. My attitude was in the toilet. Can I say that? Maybe you have experienced similar moments with self.

Sometimes I recognize this self-centeredness quickly. I ask His forgiveness and, as I take His hand, God willingly lifts me out of this slimy bog. In His grace, He rescues me from self, He cleans me up, and He reminds me how to walk with Him.

Over time, He draws me closer—into greater gladness, purer patience, and richer prayer. Once again, I understand His faithfulness. He lightens my heart, teaches me to wait, and answers my prayers … His way.

Lord, I am Yours. I am sorry for the way I carry on inside my head. Teach me Your ways and lift me high. Amen.

March 02

To Be Like Jesus

So the Word became flesh and lived here on earth with us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.

John 1:14 (NLT)

Two characteristics, highlighted here, reveal a good heart to the world: unfailing love and faithfulness. People look back at the life of someone like Mother Teresa and easily agree, she had great love and she was faithful to her calling. How much more our Lord Jesus Christ who loved the whole world—even those of us not here yet—and died for our sins.

I have seen others with these qualities and I hold them in high regard—parents, teachers, and others have had a quiet, but powerful witness. They encourage me. I want their kind of commitment and more. I want to be like Jesus whose love and faithfulness were absolute. He cared for others deeply; He served the will of God passionately. And so must I.

Lord, thank You for these words of truth and encouragement. Thanks for the reminder of others’ faithfulness and my own calling to be like Jesus. Help me, Lord. Help me to love like Jesus and to be faithful to the end! Amen.

March 01
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The Miracle in Us
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… the power of the Most High will overshadow you …
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Luke 1:35 (NLT)
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It amazes me what God can and will do through simple people of faith. Mary, the mother of Jesus was such a one.
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Though she seemed totally insignificant to those around her, God above saw something special in Mary. And, in her, He displayed one of His greatest works ever … in the life of a non-descript, extremely humble and very young girl from the nothing-town of Nazareth. Read Luke 1 and see for yourself: Mary displayed great faith when she understood she would give birth to the Savior of the world ... as a virgin! She responded by telling the angel, “I am the Lord’s servant and I am willing to accept whatever He wants” (Luke 1:38 NLT). No more questions. No complaints. Just compliance … and faith.
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This is when we will see the power of the Most High overshadow our lives: when with a servant’s heart we willingly accept whatever He wants. This is faith that works. This is what miracles grow on, and this brings the greatest miracle of all—the peace of God in our hearts, the power of God … over us.
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Lord, help us to have faith like this. Increase our faith and use us in some wonderful way—just as You desire! Amen.

February 28
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Seeking First ... or Second?
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Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness….
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Matthew 6:33a (NKJV)
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Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects….
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Colossians 1:10 (NAS)
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… and wait patiently for Him.
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Psalm 37:7 (NAS)
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My life verse says, Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). It is very much like our dear pastor’s life verse (Matthew 6:33) which, tells us to make God’s kingdom our priority. This is a wonderful verse and, at the same time, a terrific challenge!
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Even when I am serious for God and think I am pursuing His interests; suddenly, I am putting my slant on priorities. Somehow, I end up seeking my kingdom or somehow trying to make His kingdom look more like what I have in mind. I seem to jump for the end of these promises—He will give you the desires of your heart and all these things shall be added unto you—without fully appropriating the beginning. Seek first the kingdom slips to the wayside; and delight yourself in the Lord becomes give God a nod and move on to what you want to do.
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Instead of being number one, He becomes number one-and-a-half. Close, but not really. My need is to confess my selfishness, my wrong priorities, and begin again—to renew my mind and wait patiently for Him.
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Lord, walk beside me. Teach me Your ways. Show me Your kingdom and not my own. Amen.

February 27
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Meeting Others' Needs
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Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
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Philippians 2:3,4 (NKJV)
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Florence Littauer, the author of Personality Plus, shares how it wasn’t until the last days of her mother’s life that she understood her mother’s emotional need for respect. For years, Florence had focused on herself and tried, in vain, to win her mother’s approval. And all the while never realizing her mother’s basic emotional need for respect.
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Again, when visiting her at her new rest home, Florence told her mom all the good things she was doing, but with little effect. It was only when she asked her mother what she thought about her new care facility that Florence began to understand her mom's real need. Suddenly, the elder woman came to life and shared what a wonderful place it was and how nice they treated her the first day she was there. Why they even put me at the head of the dinner table and gave me the only chair with arms! It stunned Florence to realize after all these years what her mother needed most from her was respect—not a lot of talk about Florence’s accomplishments.
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Soon after that visit, Florence returned and took her mother home for dinner, sat her at the head of the table in the only chair with arms. Soon after, her mother died. Fortunately, Florence eyes were opened, and she acted before it was too late.
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How long will it take us to look for, see and then actually meet the needs of others so close to us?
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Lord, give me a discerning heart. Help me to show others Your love, to meet their needs just as You desire. Amen.