September 16

To Do or Not to Do


My heart may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

Psalm 73:26 (NLT)


I am at a crossroads, and yet, no matter what happens I have this truth: He is mine forever. Forever!

As the busy fall season begins again, I have to think carefully of what I will do and not do. I will pray; I will seek His will; I will trust in Him and act in faith.

In spite of the aches and pains, the hustle and bustle, the demands and requests, I know that if I am walking in His will things will work out just as they should—in spite of me. The trick is being so close to Him I hear His whisper, that still small voice that says, This is the way, walk in it.

My answer to busy schedules, to the ringing phone and overflow of emails is to be still, to listen and, in His time, to do.


Lord, guard my heart; guide my steps; grant peace in my life. May that peace bless others and bring you glory. Amen.

September 15

Building Up Ryan


For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to build you up. Not to tear you down.

2 Corinthians 13:10 (NLT)


I don’t know where he gets it—maybe from his grandfathers—but he's got a lot more of it than I. My son has guts. That's right; he ventures onto territory I would fear to tread. Yesterday is a case in point.

After a full week as a new freshman in high school, he told me he had asked the Senior Class President to go to Homecoming with him. Unfortunately, she had made other plans.

Part of me wanted to shout, “What?! What were you thinking?” but that would have been wrong.

Ryan’s outgoing, sanguine personality is his strong suit, and the Lord has given him some thick skin to go with it. Still, he has a tender heart, and the no he received set him back, but what would have really hurt, perhaps even crushed his spirit, would have been for me to judge the fact he listened to his heart and acted boldly.

No, I think what Ryan needs is encouragement to be himself. It’s what a good coach would do—build him up and not tear him down. Still, he might want to work on his timing....


Lord God, thank You for allowing me to be Ryan’s dad. Help me to encourage him in life and in faith. Amen.

September 14

A Final Display


Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He now showed the disciples the full extent of his love. It was time for supper, and the Devil had already enticed Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to carry out his plan to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him.

John 13:1-5 (NLT)


After three years with His disciples it came down to this: a final display where Jesus showed His disciples just how much He loved them. All of them.

I read this passage and some things just jump off the page:

- Love doesn’t react; it responds in thoughtful kindness and helpful acts of service.
- Jesus, as a loving leader, did what the others refused to do—He washed their feet.
- Jesus didn’t hold a grudge. He washed Judas the Betrayer’s feet along with everyone else’s.

This is how God wants me to love: humbly, to all.

Father, give me the strength and presence of mind to love like You. Amen.

September 13

Sara’s Heart


Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4 (NKJV)


This is perhaps my favorite verse in the Bible, and yesterday, I quoted it for the first time in a long while.

It came to mind as I wrote a letter to Sara, a young girl whose family is less fortunate than many. Her family lives high in the Andes, and they work hard farming what land they can.

Sara says she enjoys my letters very much, but I'm sure her simple words touched me more than my rambling thoughts will ever impact her. Sara's translated words, in fact, went right to my heart when she said her family prays for my family every night. Is that not beautiful? I picture this small family high in the mountains, eating a basic meal together, talking, sharing their days events, and in that dark and quiet hour, in a warm but humble home, they pray. They pray for me and for my family, and now I finally realize how little I have if I don't have prayer ... how much more I can give if I offer my prayers too. She stirred my soul in such a good way; and now, I want to pray doubly hard for them, and I want to share other things as well—like encouragement from God’s word. This verse in particular.

By the world's standards Sara is poor, but I sense she has so much more ... like a growing love for God. And she has desires; she wants to be a doctor. It's a good dream; and God loves dreams, especially when they are from Him!

My advise to Sara, to anyone, is this: Get so close to God that He speaks to your heart ... then … follow your heart and watch His dreams come alive in you!


Father, draw us close and whisper in our ears. Amen.

September 12

My Mountaintop Experience


… He went up on a mountain….

Matthew 5:1 (NKJV)


On a recent Saturday I looked out my window; the Oregon Cascades—beautiful snow-capped mountains—drew me like a moth to a bright porch light in July. My family and I decided it was time to visit one of our favorites—Mount Bachelor.

After a thirty-minute drive and a fifteen-minute lift ride to the top of the world, we stepped off to a breathtaking view of earth below. We were entranced. From this height, we could see so many other mountains—including mountains in California (Shasta) and Washington State (Ranier). My family and I ooed and awed, took a ton of pictures and made some lasting memories that day.

Mountains are just special. No doubt about it! Many times in Scripture, we read about mountains drawing so many for refuge or retreat. Jesus Himself was drawn to mountains; He prayed here, taught here, worked miracles here.

These exhilarating heights work on us. My own experience reminded me: I am so small and my God so big. The mountains He created for us to gaze at from afar, to climb and to ponder, He will one day remove and replace with something even greater. It reminded me, the life I now live is so much bigger, so much better, when I place it in His hands.

Father, thank You for mountains and mountaintop experiences and for the quiet reminder … You are an awesome God. Amen.

September 11

Servants of All


And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

Mark 10:44 (KJV)


When Mark Schultz performed his stirring song Letters from War this weekend, it drew thunderous applause. Over 1,400 men at the CB Northwest Men’s Roundup were on their feet pounding their palms in a great swell of emotion.

These men were raising the rafters not just because of Mark or his great tune but because of the images of privates returning from Iraq and Afghanistan to hugs and kisses and heroes’ happy reunions.

All of us were clapping because these young soldiers had served ... all of us

In the aftermath of 9/11, they were serving a grateful nation, and a sustained standing ovation was nothing close to the recognition these brave service members deserved. We continued to applaud, because it was all we could give at that moment. We continued to stand because so many others before stood tall for us … all of us.

As I clapped with the others, it lifted me to another level of appreciation, and suspended in the moment, the truth came to me.

The greatest people aren’t the biggest personalities, or the loudest voices, or the flashiest performers. The greatest people … are those who serve.


Lord God, make me a worthy servant—a servant of all. Amen.

September 10

Honesty


Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Your word is enough.

Matthew 5:37 (NLT)


The things I have struggles with my son struggles with too. This became evident as we headed home from Mount Bachelor and my son asked, “Dad, could I have some of your ice cream cone?”

He had just finished his popsicle and wanted more, so I handed him the cone. “Sure," I said, "but save some for me.”

“Okay,” he replied, and as he attacked the cone with relish, I focused my attention on the winding, downhill road. Ten minutes later, I asked for my cone.

“Sorry, Dad. I ate your part for you!”

Well, I wasn’t upset about missing out on all those calories, but I was concerned with what had just happened. My boy had agreed to do something … and then didn’t. In my mind, a promise had been broken.

This has been an issue in my own life. I remembered the time I backed out of a business deal. Legally I could, because the law gave me three days to change my mind, but morally I was on soft ground as I danced around why I had changed my mind. The mental turmoil of saying one thing and doing another, of making a commitment and then backing out of it was a lesson I never forgot. For me, it crystallized Jesus’ teaching, “Your word is enough.”

Later that night, my son and I reviewed these valuable lessons. First, we say what we mean, and we mean what we say. Second, a man’s word is his bond. It’s what Jesus taught, and it’s the way we should live.


Lord, help us live truthfully for You. Amen.