October 23

Arriving


I lay down my life that I may have it back again … I lay down my life voluntarily.

John 10:17-18 (NLT)


I am over 50-years old now, and I finally think I am getting closer to what God has in store for me.

I say this because, this morning, I can honestly say the one thing I want is … what He wants. Yes. I want to be doing exactly what He wants me to be doing—whatever, whenever, wherever.

My heart is full for God and to me, it no longer matters what I am doing, or where I am going, or who I am with. If I know it is where God wants, I am elated, excited, energized! It is enough. This is what life is all about. Even at 51!


Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe?”

John 16:31 NLT


Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who despise their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. All of those who want to be my disciples must come and follow me; because my servants must be where I am.

John 12:25-26 NLT


Father, show me Your will. Help me to live it. Amen.

October 22

A Picture of Life


I am the resurrection and the life. … And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

John 11:25a, 44 (NKJV)


He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies.

Romans 8:11b (NKJV)


One of my all-time favorite movies is the 1996 film, Enchanted April. “But,” you may say, “that’s a chick flick. What’s a macho guy like you doing watching stuff like that?”

Good question, but even more puzzling, “Why do I enjoy it so much?” What’s so special about six or seven people traveling to a six-bedroom castle on the Mediterranean for a month to smell flowers and soak up the sun?

The answer is resurrection, and the powerful feeling of life breathed back into one’s soul.

The film's early scenes show us these common British souls, unknowing slaves, grinding their way through life in bondage to someone or something. Life isn’t life and it’s anything but satisfying, but it’s all they know. And so, the adventure begins....

Enchanted April is a story of new, rediscovered and restored relationships. We travel from the dark, dreary, and deceitful to bright, transparent splendor. Sure, it’s a romance. Yes, we see wives basking in their husbands’ rekindled love; and yes, Mr. Briggs eventually does discover Lady Caroline; and old Mrs. Fisher, restored to better health, learns to appreciate new and living friends.

Yes, yes. It’s all quite rosy. But it is also about risk—about one person going out on a limb, doing something good and right and in so doing, making life so much better for so many others. One person and one act can make a difference.

As the story ends, not one but seven vibrant people stroll past fields of white flowers, yet the beauty of the moment is unending as they are changed people, and the fragrance of memory returns with them to their gray English skies.

What I love about this film is this powerful presentation of resurrection. To me, it is a picture of finding real life—new life in Christ, and the story touches me, because it is my story. I have been lifted from the dull and dreary, from the life I felt hardly worth living to an Enchanted April of my own—a love affair with the life He has given.


Lord, bless so many more with Your resurrection life! Amen.

October 21

It’s All About Him


We must obey God rather than human authority…. The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus. And every day in the Temple and in their homes, they continued to teach and preach this message: “The Messiah you are looking for is Jesus.”

Acts 5:29, 41-42 (NLT)

When it comes to ministry, when it comes to life … it’s all about Jesus. The apostles made Jesus the center of everything they said and did—private and public. Even the flogging they received at the hands of the Jewish rulers was seen in light of what Jesus would think of it. For the apostles, it was all about Him.

Hmmm.... I think there's a lesson here for me. To live an effective Christian life, to have a more powerful witness, my life must be about one person: Jesus Christ. When that happens, when He is in my heart and on my lips, it will be less about me and so much more about Him. Unbelievers may not want to hear it, but men of God can’t help but declare it: “What you are looking for … is Jesus!”


Father, Your Son is everything. Keep my focus true—on Christ, His Kingdom and the Good News for us all. Amen.

October 20

Haunting Faces


Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes my Father who sent me.’

Mark 9:36-37 (NLT)


... let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

1 John 3:18 (NKJV)


I am an easy mark. Maybe….

My soft heart catches me by surprise at times. Emotions well up quickly—set off by a simple sight or a moving sound. Today it happened at the Christian bookstore.

Heading for the checkout everything was normal—until I saw them. Sad, colorful children from faraway places. They were World Vision kids—some of the most impoverished children on the planet—and they were staring at me. The four faces, plastered on the agency’s donation envelopes, begged me to stop, pick them up and consider their need.

Instead, I just stared back. I wanted to gather every one of them into my arms and carry them to the register. I really wanted to make a difference in their precious lives. But I didn’t. Too many excuses: “We’ve just started a son in college. We already give. We don’t have the money….” Unsettled, I checked out.

Something wasn't right. In fact, I almost cried leaving that store. But now I'm convinced, somehow, God will show me how I can help, how I can do so much more. So now, I’m begging Him, “Help me find a way—to ditch the excuses … to come back … to make a difference….“


Father, You love all these children just like You love me. Help me find a way to help, to understand the true value of sacrifice, to know the joy of giving and the wonder of being more like Christ. Amen.

October 19

Unforced Rhythms of Grace


We were misled … But then God our Savior showed us his kindness and love. He saved us not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy.

Titus 3:3-5 (NLT)


… that we should become heirs …

Titus 3:7 (NKJV)


Are you tired? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)


Grace, mercy, love: these three are the things that free a person’s soul. When we realize these qualities in God, His light appears through the cracks of our opening hearts and the warming revelation hits each of us: God has a better plan for me than I have for me.

It is a freeing realization: God loves me more than I will ever love me; God frees me more than I could ever free myself; and God gives me more than I could ever get on my own.

God can do so much more … if only I let Him!


Lord God, thank You for these three gifts: grace, mercy and love. Bring these qualities to my life too. Teach me the unforced rhythms of Your grace. Amen.

October 18

When Jesus Smiles


… be ye transformed….

Romans 12:2b (KJV)


Love suffereth long….

1 Corinthians 13:4a (Scofield KJV)


Somewhere along the way, my wife changed. That's right. At some point in our 23-year marriage, she went from being fairly self-oriented to becoming a true servant for Christ. I don’t remember when it happened, but it happened.

Last night at 12:20 a.m., it became most obvious—I had married Cinderella.

At 12:20 a.m., we heard the whimpering sound of Alex, our eight-year old, as he made his way into our dark bedroom, then our bathroom and then proceeded to throw up, not in the toilet but on the closed lid—twice!

Kris sprang out of bed while I laid there and groaned. The crowning moment to a long and busy day, I thought. I looked at the ceiling and listened.

When the gut wrenching stopped and the sobbing began, my wife quickly cleaned the boy up, spoke soft, loving words and then sent him back to bed. By this time, I had pulled myself out of bed and made it as far as the bathroom door. The pungent, sour smell overwhelmed me. I winced, turned my head then my whole body and retreated to our fluffy bed. Backlit, Kris now stood leaning on the doorway, her hand over her mouth. “Oh my goodness,” was all she managed.

I asked what I could do to help. Did she want me to clean it up? Could I get some old towels?

“Paper towels. Lots of paper towels,” she replied.

I gladly went to the kitchen and got the whole roll.

For the next twenty minutes, she labored over the toilet, the floor, and the baseboards—quietly, patiently. I don’t know how she did it. I left the bed once, to comfort our boy, but, as you might imagine, he wanted his mom.

Eventually, she was done. Now, the mess gone, our boy asleep, she made it to bed and rolled over to a soft and sleepy reward.

But I was awake … and in awe.

The girl I married was gone. A wonderful woman now filled her shoes, and I had never been so proud of her.

I stared into the dark, the only sound the steady hum of the bathroom fan. As I lay there, I thought of life, and heaven and God’s reward for kind and faithful people. And then I saw Jesus … and He was smiling. It was the brightest smile I had ever seen.


Lord, what a gift you have given me. Help me to love like her, like Jesus. Amen.

October 17

Differences


God will show his mercy forever and ever to those who worship and serve him.

Luke 1:50 (NCV)


But I have hope when I think of this: The Lord’s love never ends; his mercies never stop.

Lamentations 3:21 (NCV)


Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)


Several months ago, I did something I totally hate. I said one thing and then did another. In less than fifteen minutes, I reversed course and did the opposite of what I said I would do. ARRGGHH! My wife, it turns out, was greatly disappointed by my flip flop—and rightly so!

How thankful I am our God is not like this. He never changes. Like a mighty river, His love continues to flow in abundance and His mercies, His sweet mercies, never cease.

Our greatest blessing, I believe, is our God who is so different from us, who loves us unswervingly—and He never changes.


Father, Your love is like an ocean! Your character is beyond reproach. Help me see this and each day, more and more, become more like You. Amen.