What God the Father considers to be pure and genuine religion is this: to take care of orphans and widows in their suffering and to keep oneself from being corrupted by the world.   James 1:27

A story given me…

While I was in foster care, in the home of a minister, my friends taunted me, saying that my mom would never return to get me. But they were wrong. She came for me after proving she could be a responsible adult by holding down a job and securing living quarters for her children.  As I was getting ready to leave his home, the minister spoke to my mom in private. I later found out that he had saved all the money he had received for my foster care. He gave it to my mom to help her get a fresh start. My foster dad was living out the truth of the scripture verse above.

But that verse from James goes much deeper in its meaning. An orphan is someone who has no living biological parents, but in a sense we are all spiritual orphans until we recognize God as our father. If we are to live “pure and genuine religion,” we must care for spiritual orphans by guiding them to relationship with our Father in heaven. My foster dad surely did, and my mom and I are living proof of the power of God to redeem broken lives through those who obey God’s word in scripture.

Thank you, Father, that you make provision through your people to care for the orphans and widows of the world. Amen.

Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.  Deuteronomy 15:10

To be blessed by God is to be on the receiving end of the tangible and intangible favor of God. The intangible favor of God refers to things such as peace, joy and healthy relationships. The tangible favor of God deals with financial, material and other blessings that you can actually hold in your hands.  God wants to bless you, but you must choose to accept God’s blessing. You must choose to step into his will for your life. This is where God’s blessings will flow to and through you.

But to choose God’s best, you may have to leave something behind. You might have to turn away from a bad attitude, an unhealthy relationship, reckless spending habits or some of your social activities and friends. God’s plan requires abandoning anything that will stand between you and the blessings he has planned for you. Are you ready to choose God’s best?

Dear God, Please provide opportunities for me to willingly help others with my time and resources. I choose your best, your will for my life. Help me to walk away from whatever is standing in the way of your blessings. In your Son’s name I pray, Amen.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?   Matthew 6:26

Shortly after moving in, our new neighbors put several bird feeders on a tree at the edge of their yard. I can see the tree clearly from my bedroom window.  At dawn each day, birds of all sizes and colors flock to the feeders. They frantically flap their wings, each one seeking a perch that allows it to reach the food. Although our neighbors supply abundant food, the birds vigorously push each other out of the way to get to the bounty.  As I lie in bed and observe this daily ritual, the words of Jesus come to mind. “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” At the same time, I remember that God’s hand also provides our food. I am grateful to live in a country with an abundance of food, but others live where food is scarce.

God is indeed the great provider and has given us food sufficient for all. The birds follow their instincts and push one another aside, but we who follow Jesus Christ can choose to share what God has given us.

Giver of all good gifts, give us compassion and generosity toward the hungry and homeless in our world. Amen.

While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6

Years back we took our young son to a nearby farm looking for a Christmas tree. The huge farm was unkempt, having been neglected over many years. The trees were overgrown and had been picked over for years, so only the less desirable ones were left.  Walking over the farm, we saw trees that were crooked, washed-out, and full of dead limbs. Others were poorly shaped, infected with insects, and had trunks too large for the tree holder. As we continued to search for a suitable tree, I overheard a young woman tell her husband, “I have never seen so many trees with something wrong with them!”

This statement reminded me of a contrast. While families desire a near-perfect tree at Christmas, Christ accepts us as we are, warts and all. Christ is not particular. He welcomes the poor and the wealthy, the disabled and the robust, the downtrodden and the acclaimed. He embraces thieves, abusers, and sinners of all descriptions. He embraces you and me. It’s impossible not to qualify for Christ’s love. His grace and forgiveness is available to all — if we only ask.

Strengthen our faith, loving God, as we rely on your grace. Amen.

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’   Acts 20:35

There’s a philosophy in our culture that breeds mediocrity. Most people do only what is necessary to get by.  If there’s a job to be done, it’s done adequately. We tolerate people we work with, instead of actually taking an interest in them. And when it comes to really important matters, like our relationship with God, our spouse, our family and friends—some offer indifference instead of creativity and an eagerness to engage.  Our God is not a lack-luster God. Our God is overflowing with power and a desire to know you, to bless you, and to offer you his peace and hope for the future. But to receive that, you have to be willing to share what you have now with others. God’s design is that in order to get more, you have to give more. And once we understand that, our lives will be blessed and go above and beyond anything we’ve ever dreamed.

Dear God, It’s so easy to become complacent and only do the bare minimum. Help me to live life with excitement and joy. Help me to put forth effort in helping others, building relationships, in being generous with my time and resources and in going the extra mile in everything that I do. In your Son’s name I pray, Amen.

Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go.  Psalm 143:8

Sometimes we try to act as if we are God. We begin to believe we can control our world and what goes on in it. By that I mean we let our vanity and ego take over our thoughts and actions. Sometimes it takes a major change in our lives for us to realize we are not in control. A death in the family, a divorce, or a serious illness shakes us loose from our delusion of power.  For me it was that I had given myself credit for my accomplishments: being able to graduate from college, obtaining a good job, buying a home. But I learned during my illness that I am not in control and that only by letting go and accepting God’s guidance would I truly be a disciple of Christ. I made the decision to live that way, and I now give God praise and credit for my accomplishments.  Life has new meaning for me. I still fall back into my old ways, but I don’t stay there long. My daily reading and time in prayer, giving thanks and seeking God’s will, allow me to “let go” again. I don’t have to try to control the world any longer. I leave that to God.

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  Ephesians 5:1-2

Have you ever heard someone say, “There has to be more to life than this”? That statement is generally spawned from those who are struggling to climb the corporate ladder or trying to keep up with the Joneses. Yet, that statement fails to encompass the reality that there is much more to life.  Even if your life is going great, God has a better, more beautiful life out there for you. And it begins when you realize that life is elevated through giving, not getting.  Nothing you accumulate can ever take the place of the excitement and joy that is derived from giving. It is exhilarating and energizing.  When you give generously, you are imitating the very nature of God. You are being conformed into the image of Christ. And you are embracing a quality that has the power and potential to change the world.

Dear Father, I know that there’s more to life than what I have. Please help me to not be concerned about my material wealth or social status. Instead, I want to focus on imitating you, utilizing this life-changing power of generosity, so that I can help others as you have demonstrated to me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

A male and female of each kind of living being went into the boat with Noah, as God had commanded. Then the Lord shut the door behind Noah.  Genesis 7:1516

Who closed the ark’s door before the torrential rains began? My daughter, Katie, noticed that it was God who shut the door. Her comments shed light on the scripture. Then she also reminded me that I follow a bedtime ritual: I go downstairs and make sure all the doors of our home are shut and locked. I check to make sure all the lights are out. As Katie drifts off to sleep, she feels safe and secure because she knows her daddy is watching, making sure that the doors are locked and that she is safe. “God wanted Noah to feel safe before the awful storm,” she remarked, “so God did a check and locked the door for Noah.”  I had heard the story of Noah many times and had never given this little verse much thought. Was God trying to make Noah feel safe? Katie thinks so.

One thing is certain: God closed the door out of love for Noah. As we approach storms in our lives, God loves us with the same great capacity and looks out for us with the same sensitive care.

God, remind us that you constantly watch out for us in love. Amen.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

Think of John Wayne, Martha Stewart and Hillary Clinton. Isn’t it interesting how a name can conjure up certain associations in our mind? Whether or not these associations are accurate will depend on our actual knowledge of that person. The more we know, the more accurate we   When we think of God, we can come up with all kinds of traits that make up his character. But to be accurate, we really need to see God as he is, and then mimic those traits in our lives. One characteristic that is commonly overlooked is God’s generosity. 

God’s giving nature is evident throughout the Bible. He illustrates his generosity with the ultimate act of giving, which was expressed through the generous gift of his Son for the forgiveness of mankind. And we need to mirror God’s generosity in our life so that by example, others can be brought closer to Jesus Christ.  

Dear God, You are a generous God and you gave me the ultimate gift of all—salvation through your son Jesus Christ. Please help me to be more generous in my life, so that I can be a better example to others as I reflect your generosity. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

…because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!  James 2:13 

One of the statements or criticisms made by people who don’t follow Christ is that Christianity is a crutch for the weak. But this verse shows that the Christian life is not for the timid. It takes incredible strength to stand up for mercy and to treat others the way God has commanded.  When we clock out of this life, every one of us will stand before God. And it’s then that he is going to judge us; he’s going to make us give an account of every word, thought and action we ever said, thought or did while we were here on earth. And he is going to show us the same kind of mercy that we showed to others.  That is actually a difficult reality to face. When we get cut off in traffic or someone jams us or talks about us behind our back, our instinct is to lash out and get them back, to hold a grudge or wish them harm. But that’s exactly when we need to remember this verse. 

God is going to hold you to the same standard you use with others. So don’t judge, and don’t lash out or hold grudges. Instead, release that situation into God’s hands. Exhibit the strength of mercy, which triumphs over all.

Dear God, There are times in life that I want to judge others for their actions towards me. Help me to exhibit strength and reflect mercy rather than judgment during those difficult encounters. In Christ’s name I pray, Amen.