July 07

Good News at Bad Times


It is better to spend your time at funerals than at festivals. For you are going to die, and you should think about it while there is still time.

Ecclesiastes 7:2 (NLT)


Barbara was 74-years old when she pulled out of her neighborhood. It was the last thing she did. For, in a split-second, an SUV broadsided her late model Cadillac. She died soon after.

From what little I know, most of Barbara's family do not believe in Jesus Christ. But something happened after Barbara died—her family began thinking about God and about eternity.

It came to light when Barbara’s husband Frank confessed to his sisters, “Normally I would be afraid to talk about this subject, but I think it’s time. Tell me about God.”

And so they did—from 10 p.m. to well past 2 in the morning, the questions kept coming. Frank didn’t get all his questions answered in one sitting, but he did set up an appointment with the minister … and so has his daughter.

Barbara’s death seemed like such a tragedy, but what if … what if God uses it to get this family focused on Him? What if this family finally comes to Christ? What if these events become the gateway to their eternal salvation?

Would this be a tragedy or a blessing?

God knows….


Father, thank You for Your great love for all of us. Thank You that this family now seeks Your truth. Reach their hearts with Good News and provide healing at this difficult time. Amen.

July 06

Learning New Things

By humility and fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.

Proverbs 22:4 (NLT)

Be humble….

Philippians 2:3 (NLT)

My friend Danny Martin has been all over the world training missionaries and networking believers to reach unreached people groups. The variety of culture and the great numbers of people involved sometimes boggles the mind.

Quite honestly, what the Lord is doing in this one man’s life blows me away. Danny Martin is being used by God to help do great things. I am in awe … partly of Danny, but really, seriously, I am in awe of what God can do with a life yielded to Him. Danny teaches me yielding takes humility.

I saw this in one of Danny’s emails. His candidness struck me.

“We had 30 missions leaders attend a meeting last week on short-term missions trips. I thought I would know everything that was covered, but the Lord humbled me once again by teaching me many new things during the meeting. It’s really great to keep growing as I get older … intellectually and spiritually….”

God doesn’t need us; we need Him. As we more fully realize this, the greater our understanding of His grace. And we begin to realize just how low He bends, just how far He reaches to lift us up, to patiently use us for His glory. It’s a God thing.

Lord, teach me, use me, lift me up for Your glory. Amen.

July 05

Learning to Hear


I will bring on them … every disaster I pronounced against them, because they have not listened.

Jeremiah 36:31 (NIV)


Listen carefully to Me….

Isaiah 55:2 (NKJV)


Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, for the life of your soul is at stake.

Isaiah 55:3a (NLT)


The other night my friend Al was complimenting the sermon my son had delivered at church on Youth Sunday. Al leaned forward in his chair, “The part that struck me was when he said, 'We pray, and pray, and pray—we’re good at that—but do we stop to listen, to hear what God might be saying to us?' That seemed so mature for an 18-year old to understand—because he’s right!”
Not only is he right, he’s stepping on my toes. How many times do I go through the motions at church, at home and all through my busy day? When I finally do take the time to pray for someone, and many times that someone is me, do I stop to listen?

Before my son Drew preached his sermon, I asked God to speak through him, to touch hearts and lives with his words. Little did I expect the heart and life he would touch … were mine!


Lord, thank You for this truth: I need to listen. I need to stop and listen and learn Your lessons. Help me to hear. Amen.

July 04

The Best Fireworks


The God of gods—it’s God!—speaks out, shouts, “Earth!” welcomes the sun in the east, farewells the disappearing sun in the west. From the dazzling of Zion, God blazes into view. Our God makes his entrance, he’s not shy in his coming. Starbursts of fireworks precede him.

Psalm 50:1-6 (the Message)


Today is the Fourth of July, and we will celebrate with some wonderful fireworks as our experts scale Pilot Butte to send their dazzling displays even higher. Fireworks will thrill us all tonight … they are a treat for young and old alike.

I remember the best fireworks display I’ve ever seen. It occured many years ago at Gator Growl, our homecoming gala at the University of Florida. They didn’t just send up one firecracker, wait a minute and send up another. No. They sent up whole bucket loads of bursting colors and thunderous noise makers—for an hour straight! It was magical.

There is something even more magical than the beauty and splendor of our fireworks celebrations. It is God’s creation. Each day, how many people stop to appreciate a sunset or a sunrise? The quiet, ever-changing beauty captures our attention and stirs our dreams.

These heavenly displays are God’s art. He paints them … He launches them for us. They announce to all creation, our God is a God of love. Celebrate!


Lord God, thank You for Your creation and the beauty You share with me. Amen.

July 03

Yesterday’s Miracles


I don’t want you to forget … what happened in the wilderness long ago … As followers of Moses, they were baptized in the cloud and the sea. And all of them ate the same miraculous food and all of them drank the same miraculous water. … Yet, for all of this, God was not pleased with most of them, and he destroyed them in the wilderness. These events happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did or worship idols as some of them. … All of these things happened … as examples to us … to warn us….

1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 11 (NLT)


… I am focusing all my energies on this: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead….

Philippians 4:13b (NLT)


I read these passages and I wonder, am I too satisfied with the miracles of yesterday and the ease of today? Am I unconcerned that I expect or want so little of God in my life? Am I looking at tomorrow with hope, with confidence, with a God-like desire for good?

These questions point me in a new direction. Maybe you sense it too. Let’s not be satisfied with yesterday’s miracles. God wants us to want more of Him—to keep seeking Him, to keep on finding Him, to keep on loving Him … more and more … better and better….

This type of quest leads to the greatest miracle of all … God … growing in our hearts!


Father, give me satisfaction … in You, in knowing You better, in seeking more of You, more often and in finding You each and every day. Amen.

July 02

Seek and Ye Will Find


Search for the LORD and for his strength, and keep on searching. Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness.

Psalm 105:4, 1 (NLT)


Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You.

Psalm 63:3 (NAS)


On the top shelf of my wooden desk is a list I call my “Hot List.” On my Hot List are a dozen names of friends, relatives, acquaintances and situations all in desperate need of prayer.

Today is a good day indeed, for three of the names have stars by them—my symbol for answered prayer. The LORD responded to prayers for my wife, my son and for a young man lying critically injured in a hospital bed. Some answers seem miraculous, others reassuring that GOD is present and listens, and He answers me.

This morning as I bowed my head over my large wooden desk I shed tears of joy to know that GOD heard me, simple me, and blessed these lives. It is an amazing thing and I am encouraged to search for the LORD and to keep on searching, to praise His glorious name, and to keep on praying … for He is faithful to answer!


LORD, hear my prayer. Amen.