September 01

Caught Off Guard


Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up.

1 Peter 5:8 (the Message)


The Hawaiian Air National Guard fighters streaked away from our lumbering Boeing KC-135 tanker to run intercepts. High over the blue Pacific, our air-refueling mission complete, I turned the jet and headed for Honolulu. Our work done, my crew seemed exceptionally light-hearted. Our short-term rotation away from home was sweet duty indeed. And now, we were ready to play.

After a quick post-flight inspection, we loaded the car and headed off base. Within thirty minutes, we were watching crystal hued waves break onto rich, almond-colored sand. And I must admit, the bright island colors and calming sounds of birds and waves did not disappoint. The ocean’s steady growl increased as we walked barefoot over lush, green grass. As we neared the park's edge, we noticed not just the people roaming the serpentine coastline but a few brave souls bobbing far from shore. The ocean's temptation was too much though, and my three crewmates raced, then plunged, headlong into the surf. I, on the other hand, unloaded under a tall, skinny palm and soaked in the pleasure of a warm sun. What a life! Eventually, the heat drove me to peel off my shirt and join my friends.

I met them halfway as they came roaring up the sandy strip.

“The water’s great and the waves aren’t bad. You’re going to love it!”

“Yeah, give it a try.”

So I did. I turned and waved an exaggerated farewell as they grabbed their towels and flashed broad smiles.

The cold water hit my legs, then rose up above my knees. Before I knew it, I was waist deep and felt the strong pull of a wet vacuum. Strange! In the next moment, a wave rose up out of nowhere, lifted me off my feet and threw me under driving my head hard into the gritty-sand bottom.

The heavy weight pummeled me. I felt pinned then tumbled. Somehow, I escaped that cold, firm grasp and popped out of the shallows spitting and gasping for air—my hair full of wet sand. Over the noise of the pounding waves, I heard laughter—my friends were on their backs howling with delight and pointing at my misfortune.

I had been set up—caught unaware.

Now, I don’t want to compare my friends to the Devil, but he uses similar tactics. And frankly, we’re just too content basking in our little pleasure worlds. He lulls us into this complacency anyway he can, and we nonchalantly stick our toes into the water of flirting with the secretary, or maneuvering business or investment figures to favor our pockets, or stretching the truth or half-truth to make us look good. We yawn and stretch so happy with this napping state only to learn the truth of the old saying: You snooze, you loose.

Remember: playful deceptions are one thing; spiritual warfare ... that's for keeps!


Father, open our eyes to the dangers. Keep us close, safe from disaster. Amen.

August 31

The Day I Slept In … but Shouldn’t Have!


The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is made fat.

Proverbs 13:4 (NAS)


See also: Proverbs 6:9-11; Ephesians 5:15-16


I believed the lie, and all day long I paid for it. My soul was craving something, and I knew what it was.

Time with God. Time in His word.

You see, I’d chosen to sleep in—sometimes that’s okay, but not that day. My schedule wouldn’t allow me to sleep in and still have that special early time with Him. Time I’d come to treasure. And so, I missed the refreshment, the joy of that still, quiet hour.

That's right. I missed His joy, and now, I went through the day with this cloud of regret … and no energy … this feeling everything was being done in my weakness, not in His strength.

What a contrast to the day before.

That day was so different. That early morning hour sent my spirit soaring through the day. My soul was fat. Amazing isn’t it, how a simple act of selfishness becomes a stumbling block? I’ve learned this lesson too often. From now on, I’m taking a friends advise: “Sleep in on the front side of your night—not the backside.” Good advise for redeeming the time … and fattening the soul!


Lord, give me wisdom to manage my time, our time, and make the most of every opportunity. Amen.

August 30

Making Allowances?


Since God chose you to be holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. You must make allowances for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you.

Colossians 3:12-12 (NLT)


These verses, this morning, zing me. Paul talks about Scripture’s correcting and reproving process in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, and that’s what these verses do to me. Yesterday, I didn’t clothe myself with tenderhearted mercy or kindness or humility or gentleness, and I certainly wasn't very patient.

Yesterday, I failed. Yesterday, it was all about me. I failed to make allowances for others' shortcomings … and I failed to forgive.

And I am so sorry.

The Lord chose you and me, and now He asks us to make a choice—every day, every minute—to actively put on these characteristics: tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. These are Christ’s characteristics and they need to be ours.

This choice He asks us to make leads us to forgive … and forget. Just like He does.


Father, thank You for Your gentle reminder to be more like Christ. Help me to make better choices. Amen.

August 29

Are You a Foot Deep?


The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them on ahead in pairs to all the towns and villages he planned to visit.

Luke 10:1 (NLT)


Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life….

Matthew 28:19a (the Message)


Service is not an option. As Christians, we are all servants, all ambassadors. We just don’t understand that truth and the results speak for themselves.

As church or ministry leaders, we are sometimes too quick to load up a few faithful servants and dismiss others as uninterested, unfaithful or incapable. So, here’s the problem: we let too many people off the hook and burn out the few who want to do all they can … and then some.

The interesting thing about our Lord: He could have done it all, but He didn’t. He shared the load. He showed others how. He wasn’t a solo act. He built community and He trained others to do the work. The Twelve, to be sure, but many more besides.

Our job is not to find a couple people and load them up a mile deep in ministry. No, with a few we pour ourselves in a mile deep in relationship and we grow together. But ministry, service—these are for everyone. We all need to be a foot deep here ... at least.

His design then is this: everyone serves someone else, somewhere else, somehow … as He directs.


Father, bring us opportunities. Teach us how to serve, and help us serve together. Amen.

August 28

Reality Check


Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.

Matthew 6:21 (NLT)


Last night we heard a metallic slam, some crying and then voices in front of our home. As I rushed outside, it didn’t look good. A young neighborhood boy lay stretched out on our sidewalk. Two adults huddled over him, talking with him. And there, behind him in the street, lay his crushed bicycle—still under the heavy weight of a Toyota Tundra pickup.

Within a minute the boys mother raced to his side and was soon pumping him for information. It was an interesting contrast. As the boy lay there moaning and whimpering, she expressed her concern with the other adults in a series of short questions and comments.

“Sam, where does it hurt? Can you hear me? Can you bend this leg? Sam? Talk to me, Sam!”

“The bike. Is it ruined?”

“Sam, listen. You’re going to be okay!”

Fortunately, some ER nurses were there, and Sam was safely loaded into a car and taken to the hospital—but what a contrast between Sam and the adults around him. It was a picture too of us and our Heavenly Father.

As less than mature Christians, don't we focus on the less important, the temporary, the material things while God’s heart is consumed with care for us? Amazing—even when the world hits us head on and throws us to the ground....

As we think on Him, may our hearts and thoughts be more like His—fixed on the important, the eternal, the things that last!


Lord, make us more like You—wise, understanding and full of compassion. Amen.

August 27

John the Baptist


… he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will help many … return to the Lord their God. He will go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah. He will make peace between parents and their children and will bring back those who are not obeying God, back to the right way of thinking, to make a people ready for the coming of the Lord.

Luke 1:15b-17 (NCV)


I want to be like John the Baptist, don’t you? Sure, he lived a wild life—living in the desert, eating honey and locusts. Certainly, his wardrobe left something to be desired. John was different, no doubt about it, but he had something so good and so pure. He had a passion for God’s kingdom. And Jesus took note of him, “of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist.” Wow. That says a lot. Greater than Daniel, David, Joseph … even Moses?

Why was John the Baptist so great? Spiritual healing. Healing that was so good, so complete it transformed whole families. He helped restore the most basic of relationships. He got people’s attention, and he restored masses of them to a right relationship with God.

Maybe you and I won’t reach the masses the way John did, but we can enjoy walking with God as he did. We can be filled with God’s Holy Spirit. To start down this desert path means taking to heart what John said—repent! Repentance like he preached means returning to God. For some of us, it means doing a 180-degree turn and setting our heart in a whole new direction. It means obedience. It means going His way … and not our own.

To be like John the Baptist means ... giving up ... on me!


Father, thank You for the example of John the Baptist, for his powerful words of truth and his reminder of what is MOST important—coming back to You! Amen.

August 26

The Bumper Sticker


It’s like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.

1 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT)


I saw the most interesting bumper sticker the other day. I’d never seen it before. It said something like, I’m not having any kids. I married one.

I suppose that could be read a couple of ways, but my initial thought was, That poor fellow! Did he have that coming or what?

Well, I'll probably never figure that one out, but I do know the way things should be. In this great, great chapter on love, the Apostle Paul lays it on the line. “Look people,” he seems to say, “I put away childishness. I’m pursuing love!” Yes, that's it! It’s all about loving others—not self.

That's a challenging thought. Most of us guys relish our hobbies and sports, being outdoors and doing things. We love being active. It’s the way we were wired. Recreation is a big part of what we need, but we get into trouble when we place these things higher on the totem pole than they deserve. When our attitude reflects too much self interest, when we focus on our desires more than the needs of others, we develop problems. And as we fixate on ourselves, our immaturity becomes most obvious.

And, you guessed it ... this is when embarrassing bumper stickers show up!


Lord, help us find the balance. Help us to love, to be willing to give more than we get. Amen.

August 25

The Worry-Free Life


And don’t worry about food—what to eat and drink. Don’t worry whether God will provide it for you. These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs. He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the kingdom of God your primary concern.

Luke 12:29-32 (NLT)


Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and constantly loves those who love and obey his commands.

Deuteronomy 7:9 (NLT)


“It absolutely blows my mind how God answers prayer.” My friend Bill Ham was on the other end of the line. He had gotten a letter from the hospital stating they were forgiving the massive debt incurred for his son’s emergency surgeries.

“There must have been over $100,000 on that bill,” he went on. “Our God is awesome!”

He is awesome, and I’m not surprised. You see, God takes care of His own, and Bill has sold out to Jesus Christ. Lock, stock and barrel, Bill is pursuing God’s kingdom.

Who’s kingdom are you pursuing?

Do you crave worry-free living? Most of us do.

So then, let me suggest this: love the Lord your God with all your heart … and, over time, watch what happens!


Lord, take my heart and make it thine. Take my silver and my gold—not a mite would I withhold. Take my life and let it be … consecrated, Lord, to thee. Amen.

August 24

Parting Words


My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s teaching. Keep their words always in your heart. Tie them around your neck. Wherever you walk, their counsel can lead you. When you sleep, they will protect you. When you wake up in the morning, they will advise you. For these commands and this teaching are a lamp to light the way ahead of you.

Proverbs 6:20-23 (NLT)


Final words are so important. I am sitting at my desk penning a final note to hand my son as we drop him off at college, and I can't help but wonder, what should I write?

It’s one of those difficult transition points, and I’m afraid my counsel may sound hollow, too little too late, or worse—just more of the same.

No, I think words of love are best. Kind words with gentle reminders of his strengths and the positive things—the fact he is loved and prayed for every day, that he’ll always have a place in our hearts and in our home.

And this, “Come home for Thanksgiving. Please … come home for Thanksgiving.” At this point, it’s as close as I can come to a command.

And Thanksgiving is so appropriate. We have good reason to thank God—especially for him!


Lord, let these words encourage, motivate and bless. In Christ’s name, Amen.

August 23

Looking Forward, Looking Back


The burning desert will have pools of water, and the dry ground will have springs…. A road will be there; this highway will be called “The Road to Being Holy.” … That road will be for the people God saves; the people the Lord has freed will return there. … their happiness will last forever. Their gladness and joy will fill them completely, and sorrow and sadness will go far away.

Isaiah 35:7-10 (NCV)


Sometimes, by looking forward, we appreciate the past and draw strength for today. Take this passage. When I meditate on Isaiah 35, this great look ahead to the millennial reign of Christ, I appreciate even more the price He paid to give us such a great gift. He has shown no greater gift, no greater love than rescuing you and me from our own destructive and barren ways, placing us in a fruitful land and on a road to peace. Filled with His joy, celebrating His presence, His deliverance, His magnificence and basking in the reality that we are included, we are loved, and we have been set free to enjoy the wonders of His holiness.

This future picture puts a smile on my face now, but it is also the reality of Christ in me—right now—my hope of glory!


Father, thank You for the look ahead and the understanding You give me. You have rescued me! And together, we will enjoy perfect, joyful peace for all eternity! Thanks and praise to You! Amen.