April 22

A House with Others

By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established.

Proverbs 24:3 (NAS)


Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.

Philippians 2:4 (NLT)


Too many times my family gets the short end of the stick. This became evident yesterday when one of my sons came home with more than one note from school. Unlike last year, I hadn’t taken the time to help him with the more challenging subjects taught at a very rigorous private school.

It was too easy to ignore the need. I focused on other things.

The truth sweeps over me now like an unstoppable tide. Once again, I learn the hard way, I need to invest time in my son—in fact, time with all of my sons and my wife too. Yes, I need to invest lots of time—a lot more than I have—and I will.

How about you? Are there people in your sphere of influence needing more of you? Consider how God might best use you in their lives.

Lord, help me understand others’ needs. Make me wise in time management, and help me build this house. Amen.

April 21

Sweet Sacrifice

… sacrifice … like sweet perfume to him.

Ephesians 5:2b (NLT)

The greatest sacrifice of all time occurred when Jesus Christ agreed with God the Father’s plan and willingly went to the cross and died for our sins. While many find this cross repugnant, it became as sweet perfume to Him, not because of the agony or the gore, but because it was the ultimate expression of love.

Sacrifice is a wonderful manifestation of what is truly in the heart, and it strikes a chord with our Father. As His children, we are called to live lives of love and ultimately to offer our own sacrifices for Him, for others.

This weekend, I had the joy of meeting Michael and Coushatta—recent Hurricane Katrina evacuees from New Orleans. They shared their story with our church group, and we heard of the small sacrifices of the people of Bend: someone provided clothing, another, a place to stay, someone else gave a $400 gift card for work clothes and necessities. Someone even called their personal physician and had the doctor tend to a somewhat serious medical need.

These were small sacrifices, and for the most part, easily accomplished, and yet, hearing what people had done for Michael and Coushatta affected us in a powerful way. These were sweet sacrifices—spur of the moment, unheralded, free expressions of His love—the faint remembrances of a greater sacrifice.

Father, teach us to share. Give us the strength to sacrifice, and may You receive the glory. Amen.

April 20

Trusting God ... with White Knuckles

I command you—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

Joshua 1:9 reminds me of my earlier days. In fact, I recall a night over twenty-five years ago when this verse really came alive.... Sunset occurred as I drove through the Hiawatha National Forest’s white-carpet quiet. The feathery snow fell so thickly—I almost missed my exit. I wondered, Will we fly? I loved flying as a new copilot—but tonight? Sure, the U. S. Air Force's KC-135 tanker was a larger airplane, but still…. I continued to ponder the weather as I entered the base when suddenly, a verse came to mind: The Lord your God is with you.

Well, we did fly that night. Later on, we taxied and stopped short of the runway. As I turned the taxi light off, the night turned charcoal gray, but inside, our cocoon glowed warm from the gauges’ light. As we waited, I thought about the harsh, winter weather I was so unused to and the risk we were taking. Then I thought about God’s promise. Lord, thanks for being here!

“Zebco 56, you’re cleared for take-off….”

This one was mine. As planned, the pilot (a senior captain) would land the plane—a wise choice!

Our four engines spooled, and our lights illuminated the plowed banks and trees as we raced into the white swirl. In a minute, we were airborne, with snow streaking—as if we were entering hyperspace!

Two hours later, as we finished air refueling a B-52 and headed for home, things turned dramatic. As we descended, somewhere over Wisconsin, the cockpit went pitch black! Only my back up instruments glowed—like a faint penlight in a large room.

“Copilot, you have the airplane!” Uh oh. I flew as the pilot took a long look at the overhead panel with his flashlight. He flipped switches then got out his manual.

A soft expletive hissed in the dark, and the pilot confirmed my suspicions. “We’ve lost two of our three AC busses and their equipment. Co, you’re going to have to get us home.”

The pilot pressed the mike switch. “Approach Control, Zebco 56. We have electrical problems. Requesting vectors to a full-stop landing.”

“Zebco 56, these will be vectors to final. Descend and maintain 5,000. Is this an emergency?”

“Not yet.”

“Roger, Zebco 56, Approach Control. Be advised, the weather is deteriorating. Sawyer reports a 25-knot gusting crosswind. Can you make it in?” The storm’s icy blast shook the plane as I flew into the thick of it.

“We need to get this airplane on the ground ... we’ll try.” The pilot’s tone betrayed his thoughts.

If successful, we would have scant seconds to locate the flashing strobes through thick clouds, line up with the runway and land—all with a tricky crosswind. So strong and tricky, I had never experienced one quite like it before! What odds did the rest of the crew give me, the new guy?

I gripped the controls. Father, be with me now. I fought the battering winds as the racing wipers beat back the heavy slush.

For the next few minutes the controller’s hollow voice gave course and glide slope corrections. We were slightly right of course, and I eased the throttles forward when he announced, “Approaching decision height.”

“I see the lights!” Quickly, the pilot took the controls. He dipped the wings sharply—left then right. Still, no runway—just the cloud’s glowing throb below.

Suddenly, the runway lunged upward, and I recoiled as the dark surface filled our windows. We bumped hard, but soon slowed and then safely cleared the runway.

“Zebco 56, welcome home! “

It seemed to some of us, we had faced death that night ... and won. That week, my crew repeatedly gave me credit for saving the day, but I continued to thank God for being with me … wherever I went.

Lord, encourage us with Your presence … wherever we go! Amen.

April 19

Oh, My Aching….

My power works best in your weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:8 (NLT)

This morning I woke up with a backache. This wasn’t a minor backache. This one got my attention—I haven’t had one like this for years! So much for my big plans to get out and DO things today.

Instead of jumping up this morning and urgently running around with my To Do list, I carefully rolled out of bed and managed to pour myself a cup of coffee. Here I am now, enjoying time with my Lord … and He’s redirecting my steps. Instead of going out to work my agenda, I’ll be here writing and doing what He lays on my heart.

Like Paul, I am glad for this weakness. Now I can see God’s priorities and His work instead of my own. And I am content because I’m learning—when I am weak then I am strong.

And His strength is all I need.

Lord, show us Your grace and bless us with this knowledge: You are all we need. Amen.

April 18

Come … to the Oasis

Come to Me….

Matthew 11:28a (NKJV)

When we are exhausted, defeated, in need of refreshment, Jesus calls to us. Is this because He knows we are listening, or does He call to us all the time, but only now do we hear? Interesting question, but the thing to grasp is He calls. He loves us; He cares for us; and He reaches out to us, “Come to Me….”

In a sense, this is a very real, very physical, sort of thing. He offers us His yoke—not so much an additional burden, but a chance to hook our baggage to His engine. The yoke, you see, works for two, and His side is larger. In fact, with Him pulling, we can relax as we walk beside Him. As He pulls, we get to talk, listen, learn … and rest.

Life at the oasis is a sweet thing: a friendship, a partnership, a rich family experience and He offers it to all who would hear His voice.

Are you listening?

Lord, open our ears! Call to us! Take these burdens and give us Your rest. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

April 17

Keeping a Clean Slate

Love … it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.

1 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT)

One of my struggles is punctuality. I came under great conviction when someone shared this truth: you can steal or borrow someone’s money and pay them back, but when you take someone’s time, it’s gone forever!

Wow! What a thought. I am more sensitive to this now, but occasionally too sensitive. For when others steal my time by being late or inconsiderate with appointments and schedules, I stew. And then I make a mental note of it and stew some more.

This is not the quality Paul exhorts us to pursue. This is not loving. This is reacting. Instead of stewing, I should express the truth in love, set some clear boundaries and hope and pray the Spirit moves these others in positive ways.

If I share my observations with grace and care, we can move on and put these issues behind us. I can keep a clean slate—in my own heart, with God and with others. This is what the Christian way of life is all about: developing character, expressing the truth in loving ways, forgiving and forgetting. It’s what God does … how about us?

Lord, help me not to stew but to express love in positive, helpful ways. Amen.

April 16

Final Words

Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting up his hands to heaven, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven.

Luke 24:50-51 (NLT)

My Cousin Bob has experienced some hard things in life, but perhaps one of the hardest came the day his 16-year old son died in a car accident. Bob said goodbye that morning not realizing it would be their final conversation. On the way to school, his son Billy lost control of his car on a rain-slicked road and plowed into an oncoming truck. He died instantly.

As Bob looks back on that sad day, he says there is one thing for which he is thankful. His last words to his youngest son that fateful morning—“I love you.”

Final words have special significance, and the lesson I’m learning is to end each conversation in a positive way, to share words of love and care, to leave a blessing.

You never know when your last word to someone will be … your final word.

Father, give me an eternal mindset and an understanding of the power and weight of my words, the value and worth of my blessing. May others be encouraged by what I say, and may You be pleased. Amen.