March 08


So Small


He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.

Psalm 103:14 (NAS)


I am going to feel it again; I just know it. I’m going to feel small. This weekend, my son and I will camp out with the men from CB Northwest. We’ll arrive at camp and bivouac out under the tall trees of the Oregon Cascades. We’ll quickly settle in and enjoy the roaring fire and so many other comforting camp sounds. You’ve heard them before—the hooting owls, the crackle of the smoky blaze, echoes from across the lake, and the happy sounds and laughter across the meadow. We’ll enjoy it. I know we will.

We’ll be back to nature, drinking it all in—a healing elixir going down, satisfying like a huge, yellow moon settling behind the pines. We’ll burrow deep into our warm sleeping bags, listen to the sounds and drift away….

In the morning, we’ll accept the small aches and pains from sleeping on the ground. We’ll gladly stretch and greet the first light of a new day. And we’ll be reminded.

We’ll be reminded—we’re part of all this. We are His creation too. Designed for His pleasure, designed for such good things as this. We’ll enjoy it, and we’ll come together.

We’ll come together as He designed us to—to laugh, to sing, to glorify Him. Late that night, we’ll gather with 2,000 other men and raise a hearty chorus to the heavens. And as our song floats to the stars, we’ll gaze at the dark-night grandeur of our galaxy, just one of a billion, and testify: we are but dust.

I will feel it again and accept the wondrous truth: I am small, but my God … is so BIG!


Lord, meet with us. Help us to come together. Together may we glorify Your great name. Amen.

March 07


Taking a Seat


… when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high …

Hebrews 1:3b (NKJV)


… let us lay aside every weight … looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1b,2 (NKJV)


After this, Jesus knowing that all things were accomplished … said, ‘It is finished!’

John 19:28,30 (NKJV)


Isn’t it interesting that in the Holy of Holies there was no seat for the priest to sit down on. The rationale, the Jewish thought on this was simple: there was no seat because the work was never done. People kept on sinning, and so, there was a constant need for atonement. The High Priest and all of the priesthood had to continue to work to seek God’s forgiveness. But not now!

Look at what Christ did! And listen to His proclamation. On the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished!” He endured the terror of the crucifixion as every sin (past, present and future) was poured out on Him and judged. He paid for it all, for all of us, and after His death, burial and resurrection HE SAT DOWN. Our High Priest took a seat. There was no more work to do to earn God’s forgiveness. Finally, the work was done—once for all! Our call is to simply accept for ourselves what God has done for each of us. God has forgiven us because of His Son’s incredible sacrifice. All He asks is for us to believe (John 3:16, Hebrews 11:6), for us to accept His gift (John 1:12, 3:16; Ephesians 2:8,9). It’s free. It’s paid for.

Have a seat. Rest easy … it’s done!


Heavenly Father, thank You so much for Your free gift—help me understand the depths of this sacrifice, this love for me. Amen.

March 06


Giving: A Little or a Lot?


Remember this: the person who plants a little will have a small harvest, but the person who plants a lot will have a big harvest. … God loves the person who gives happily.

II Corinthians 9:6,7 (NCV)


Whoever gives to the poor will have everything he needs….

Proverbs 28:27a (NCV)


… good people give without holding back.

Proverbs 21:26b (NCV)


I know people who struggle with this whole idea of giving sacrificially. Maybe it’s the desire for more things, but usually it’s the need to feel secure and they wrongly assume money will guarantee security. But money can’t. Security—that’s God’s business.

The Apostles and the early church followed Jesus’s example and made giving to the poor a priority. If we are true Christ-followers, doesn’t it make sense to follow His example too?

Ronald Sider points out, “Only by God’s grace and with great effort can we escape the shower of luxuries which has almost suffocated our Christian compassion.” He then says he once bought an extra suit for $50 (at a 75% discount) but later grappled with the fact that $50 would feed a starving child in India for an entire year!

He goes on, “In all honesty, we have to ask ourselves: Dare we care at all about current fashions if that means reducing our ability to help hungry neighbors? Dare we care more about obtaining a secure economic future for our family than for living an uncompromising Christian lifestyle? … Sharing with others is the way to real joy.”

I am being stretched. And yes … I do believe this is the way to real joy. Do you?


Father, I do a little, help me do more. By faith in You and in Your power take my little and make it much. Amen.

March 05


Sara’s Heart


Happy is the person who thinks about the poor.

Psalm 41:1 (NCV)


Show respect for all people: Love the brothers and sisters of God's family….

I Peter 2:17a (NCV)


I look at Sara’s picture on my desk. She comes from a poor Ecuadoran family and it is our joy to sponsor her at a Compassion International project. In the picture, she is standing on her school playground in her pink dress and white tights. I have the feeling these are her very best clothes. She focuses on the camera with a subtle pride and she poses with purpose. She has a no nonsense look on her face and has subconsciously placed her hands on her hips. Somehow, she reminds me of General Douglas MacArthur.

This girl is a leader I tell myself and very smart. I take my eyes off her charming hispanic face to reread her letters. Her sweet spirit comes out in every one of them. She is a proud little girl with a heart of great love and a desire for so much more.

Consistently, she says, “I love you so much,” or “I say goodbye with so much love,” or "I love to hear from you,” or “God bless you,” or "I pray for you every night,” or just “with love.”

Lately, she’s written much more than I have and, in her last letter, I heard a subtle plea. What got my attention was the fact it wasn't Sara communicating the point to me but her teacher. Her tutor took up her cause and wrote on her behalf, “She loves you so much. She wants you to please write back to her more often.”

I can’t help but think to myself, I’ve let you down. I’m sorry. Yes, you are right. I need to write. I love you too—so much. I love you in Christ. And today, I will tell you in a letter and I hope it makes you smile! May God bless you too!


Lord, You have allowed my words to touch others’ hearts. May you bless this letter today and may it help Sara’s love grow, not just for me, but for You. Amen.

March 04


The Best Question


Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV)

He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered.

Proverbs 28:26 (NAS)


Andy Stanley, Pastor of North Point Community Church near Atlanta, Georgia, has written a book that says he knows the question that trumps any other question. This one question beats them all, and you can ask it about anything in your life—any situation you face, any decision you need to make.

Andy just about guarantees The Best Question will bring you clarity and fresh insight. But sometimes, he says, we don’t want to ask the question, because we already know the answer. We know it, and we don’t like it. So we ask other questions. Questions like, How far can I go? What’s the limit? What can I say and do and still be morally, spiritually, or physically okay? What can I get away with and not get hurt? How much can I get away with and not suffer the consequences? Just how close to the line can I get without causing damage?

But these are the wrong questions. They are probably the ones we’ve asked before … and later regretted because of the bad answers we took from them. And years later, we may find ourselves saying, How could I have been so blind?

These verses in Ephesians reveal the right question to ask, the best question. With this one question, any one of us can address any life situation and get a right answer—like it or not.

It’s simply the best question ever and it is this: “What’s the wise thing for me to do in this situation?” What’s the wise thing for me to do?

We can talk ourselves into almost anything, but this question has a way of exposing our deception. It can foolproof our decisions regarding marriage, finances, relationships and every decision we make. Especially when viewed in light of three things:

My past experience—what happened the last time I did something like this?
My present reality—for example, maybe as a wife and mother of three kids, I shouldn’t seek a second job to earn more money ... right now.
My future hopes and dreams—for my marriage? For my finances? For my children? Quite simply, wrong decisions rob us of our future hopes and dreams.

When we don’t ask this question, when we listen to our hearts alone, we are saying, I know what’s best. I feel this is the right thing. And we get in trouble.

But if asking this question causes discomfort—listen! God may be talking to you. And if you listen … and if you do as God directs … God will become your Heavenly father like you have never know Him before. It will be that good! It will be the best!


Father, lead us to Your best. Give us the guts to ask this question…. Amen.

March 03


On Top


The LORD spoke to you face to face at the mountain from the midst of the fire.

Deuteronomy 5:4 (NAS)


“Boys, look between Broken Top and the North Sister. Do you see it?” Kris pointed north as she spoke. We were on top of the world, standing near the summit of Mount Bachelor, the Northwest’s most popular ski area. We stood there amid piles of lava rocks, twisted, wind-blown junipers, and patches of icy, leftover snow.

“I see it.” Now Alex was pointing too.

“That’s one huge fire!” Ryan shielded his eyes as he focused on the thick plumes of smoke and rising ash some twenty miles away.

Thirty mile-an-hour winds had turned the G.W. fire near Black Butte Resort into a 1,200-acre inferno. Now the wind was blowing ash and smoke below us and over much of our beloved Central Oregon—at least up north. The rest of the world was a beautiful emerald green and desert beige.

Well, I thought to myself, it's been a wonderful time on top of the mountain. Now it's time to go. But Kris said something that stopped me after only a couple of steps down the rocky, windswept slope.

“Guys, lets pray for those firefighters—right now. They’ve got a tough job on their hands and they need God’s protection!”

Hmm. Good idea. I nodded my head. “Yes, let’s do that.”

So, at 9,000' elevation, Kris, Ryan, Alex and I formed a small circle on top of the huge mountain, bowed our heads and prayed for the men and women battling the blaze. Then it came back to me, and I remembered the firefighters, police officers, sheriffs, and U.S. Forest Service personnel who had saved our neighborhood less than two weeks earlier. The lump in my throat grew so big, I could barely swallow.

Up there, on Labor Day weekend, I became doubly-thankful for the hard work of others—for those who rescue and protect and for those who remember to pray for these valiant heroes.

It was indeed a beautiful day as we loaded onto the ski lift and made our way off the mountain. My mountaintop experience more meaningful than I ever imagined.


Father, thank You so much for the good work of others and especially for those who go into harm's way for us.

March 02


Flying the Banner High


You led me to your banquet room and showered me with love.

Song of Solomon 3:4 (NKJV)


I think I am in trouble. This is a plea for help, because I am not sure what to do. Really. You see, next year is our 25th wedding anniversary. This is a biggie. I can’t mess this one up. Kris deserves a real “showering of love.”

I am not a great planner. Hate to admit it, but it is true. Fortunately, June 17th is a ways away, but I could use some help.

The thing that concerns me the most is this: she deserves the best! When I think how she has listened to me and responded to me and helped me … and the boys (all those diapers, all those surgeries and hospital visits and school activities and of course a million tons of laundry) … well … she is impressive! In spite of all my faults, and especially my inability to do handiwork like her dad, she has remained faithful and true, helpful and encouraging.

So … any ideas? How can I “shower her with love”? How can I show her appreciation for the respect she has shown as a steadfast wife and a caring mom?

I would love to surprise her and I know she would enjoy that—she absolutely loves being served and treated like a princess. So … any thoughts about the perfect celebration spot? Well ... think on that, would you? If anything comes to mind give me a call. If I get this one right, there’s a good chance we'll make it to our 50th too! :-)

For now, I’m looking forward to next year when I hope to hear her tell someone, “Our anniversary? It was sooooo good. Craig showered me with love!”


Lord, thanks for waking me with this thought. The time is now to plan ahead, to celebrate our love.