We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  Ephesians 2:10

When I was young, my dad had a wool coat that I liked to wear. It was a little scratchy and way too big for me; but when I put it on, it was like being wrapped in his arms. Dad died years ago, and now the coat is mine. It’s much softer now; it also fits me better! Best of all, I still feel as if my dad’s arms wrap around me when I wear it.  That coat is a lot like my Christian walk. Along the way I have been asked to do things that didn’t seem to be the “right fit” but I did them anyway. Some were straightforward, simple tasks, such as learning to read the Bible. Others were more challenging, such as taking a mission trip or heading up a new ministry at church. Each such task seemed daunting when I was first asked to do it.  But God uses us in the way God needs us. I find that the more I journey into the tasks God has for me, the more comfortable I become with trying on new roles in serving the Lord.  When God speaks to us about doing some good work, we can go ahead and put on that sweater. It may be the perfect fit. And even if it is not, we may grow into it over time.

Lord, help us to answer your call to bring your light into the world in the ways you choose for us. Amen.

My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding.  Psalm 49:3

Communication, like many other things we learn in life, becomes something that we just do. And sometimes, we do it without much thought.  So often we can let words slip through our mouths that have yet to go through the filter of our minds. This is especially true if the words are emotionally charged. When we allow that to happen, words of wisdom are generally not what’s on the tip of our tongue. 

However, when you take time to consider your words before speaking, you’ll be surprised by how God can change the way you communicate. What once was a haphazard attempt to convey a point becomes an articulate message that is better received.

Dear Lord, There are times when I want so badly to be heard and understood that I forget to think about what I’m communicating first. During those times, I pray that you give me the patience to consider my words, and to speak with wisdom. And I pray that through my words you will be glorified in every situation. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge.” Psalm 14:6

When I read this verse, I thought about the people who contributed to the financial mess within our country this past year. These people lined their own pockets without concern for the ramifications of their choices. They knowingly deceived those who trusted them. They covered themselves, while leaving others exposed in the process. They were like the evildoers who frustrated the plans of the poor. Sadly, a lot of us were left feeling poor – financially and spiritually – as our plans were frustrated.

Thankfully, this is not where the verse ends. Yes, bad things happen. Yes, we have all seen our private finances affected by this public crisis. But this verse reminds us that the Lord is our refuge. I started thinking about what the word refuge means, and found this definition in Webster’s Dictionary: “That which shelters or protects from danger, distress or calamity; a stronghold which protects by its strength, or a sanctuary which secures safety by its sacredness; any place inaccessible to an enemy.” Then I cross-referenced the word “refuge” in the Bible. I found many other scriptures that remind us that God is our refuge. Second Samuel 22:2-4 and Psalm 18:2-3 are the same verses repeated by King David while facing troubled times:  “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior – from violent men you save me. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of my praise, and I am saved from my enemies.”

I love how both the definition and the verse talk about a refuge being a place where your enemies can’t get to you! Do you need that reminder today? I know sometimes I need to remember that He offers me that safe place I can run to … a place where my enemies can’t touch me!  We can claim the promise that is found in Psalm 17:14: “O Lord, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world, whose reward is in this life. You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.”  People who make money their god receive their reward in this life. But they will spend eternity in longing. That doesn’t sound like a good trade to me!  God promises those who place their trust in Him He will keep from going hungry. He will make sure our children have plenty, and He will give us wealth to store up for our children. That doesn’t mean wealth like our world defines it. Jesus said that He doesn’t give as the world gives. In God’s economy, wealth exists in hope, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self control. Unlike money, these are the things that last, and bring about eternal blessings.
Do you need to take refuge in God instead of letting bad news rule your heart and mind? Do you need to spend time today searching His Word for promises and assurances that will comfort your hurting heart and settle your anxious mind? Maybe you need to journal your feelings, pouring out your heart to God and seeking His answers. Maybe you need to pray without ceasing, allowing His presence to give you rest from worry. Whatever troubles you, seek refuge in God.  He is right there waiting for you to find shelter and safety in Him.

Dear Lord, I need You to be my refuge. Thank You that Your Word promises You will be a refuge for me in times of trouble. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death.  James 1:15

Temptation is deceptively disguised. Just like the bait used by fishermen to entice their catch, temptation looks good—at first.  When we’re lured in by sin, we don’t think about the sting of the hook. So often, we just take the bait because we don’t see where that temptation is leading us. Yet, in this verse, we are clearly cautioned about where this dangerous path leads. 

Sin has its kicks. But it also has some serious kickbacks. Don’t allow yourself to fall for the evil one’s trick and think that you’ve gotten away with something. Time always reveals the truth and brings sin and its consequences to light.  God wants you to avoid those consequences. But to do that, you need help in recognizing the bait Satan uses to try and lure you away from God’s plan. God is ready to help you identify the areas where sinful desires have started so you can eliminate them before they become full grown.

Dear God, when I face times of temptation it is easy to be short-sighted and not see the long-term results. Help me to recognize temptation as well as the full grown sin in my life, so that I can turn from it and follow you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”   Genesis 2:15-17

Rules, by nature, are restrictive. But that can be a good thing in the right circumstances. Restrictions are the pathway to freedom. It may sound paradoxical, but if we look in the context of Scripture, we will see that it makes perfect sense.  God set Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and told them they were free, but they could not eat from one particular tree. God’s rules are designed to protect and empower us, and in that, we find our freedom to choose the best that God has for us. 

The New Testament describes God’s rules as “the perfect law that gives freedom” (James 1:25). And in Adam and Eve’s case, the rule forbidding them to eat from the tree gave them freedom to choose a relationship with God. 

God gives us the power to choose. We can either choose to enjoy the freedom of a relationship with him, or we can choose a life bound to the destructive ways of this world. The choice is yours—are you truly free?

Lord, thank you for giving us your Word to protect us from falling prey to the evil one. There is no true freedom outside of your perfect law. Help me to commit to your law so I can enjoy the true freedom that only you can give. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  Matthew 7:24, 26

Do you remember the story of the three little pigs? The first pig built a house of straw. The second pig built a house of sticks. But the wolf came and easily blew those houses down. The third pig, though, built a house of bricks. And no matter how hard the wolf tried, he wasn’t strong enough to prevail against the brick house. That children’s story is similar to the parable told by Jesus in Matthew 7. Every time you hear principles from God’s Word you have the choice of building your life on sand or rock. When you chose to ignore God’s principles, you are building on your own personal foundation that is destined to crumble. But when you choose to follow God’s principles, you are building a life that cannot be destroyed.  

How secure is your foundation? If you have been building on the wrong foundation, it is not too late to start a new building project. You can leave the sand and start a new construction site

Lord, the foundation of my life is so important to the quality of my life. I ask that you give me the wisdom I need to build my life on your Word so that I can stand against anything that may try to destroy me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.  Matthew 22:18-22 

Everyone wants to be innovative these days—from being the first company to introduce a new technology to being the first person with the latest and greatest cell phone. But the truth is that we didn’t invent innovation.  Jesus’ entire ministry was built on innovation, which intimidated the Pharisees. So, they devised what they thought would be a flawless attack on Jesus. The Pharisees asked Jesus a question about earthly authority versus heavenly authority, hoping to force Jesus into contradicting his earlier teachings. But as always, Jesus knew their intent, and turned their foiled plan into a creative lesson for everyone. 

Jesus’ ministry was intentionally innovative, and he was passionate about bringing the deep truths of God’s Word to the shallow waters of people’s hearts. We should be equally innovative in spreading God’s Word to the people we come in contact with each day. God has woven a thread of creativity through each of us, and he wants us to use it to draw people to him.

Lord, you have blessed me with many gifts and talents that I can use to draw people close to you. Help me to come up with innovative ways to share my faith with my friends as well as other people you have placed in my path. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”  Luke 4:18-19 

Imagine you are the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, and you were invited to a world-class financial seminar. As the seminar host introduces the guest speaker, you realize they have the credentials of a small village farmer. You may appreciate what the speaker has accomplished in his village. And the speaker’s message may be valuable—it’s just not valuable to you. Because without identification, there is little value.   Jesus realized the connection between identification and value in his teachings. When Jesus taught, he identified with the needs of the crowd. He captivated the interests of the audience because they could identify with what he taught. His focus was to give real answers that would meet the real needs of people.  

Before Jesus went back to heaven, he put us in charge of his earthly ministry. He challenged us to share his life-changing love with others and the biblical principles that apply to people’s immediate needs. That doesn’t mean we have to bog people down with a bunch of Christian-ese and historical Bible facts. We just have to take our cue from Christ’s example and provide simple answers for the needs of those around us.   

Lord, thank you for the person who clearly communicated your life-changing message with me. It is because of them that I have the opportunity to share my faith with people in my life. Help me to follow Christ’s example and give people real answers that can meet the real needs of their lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.” Matthew 13:43

Some years back, my then five-year-old son and I were waiting for his Mom to get her hair cut. As we sat in the waiting area, we had no choice but to listen to the radio that played in the background. The forecast came on and the announcer said that it was going to be partly cloudy. My son, who was playing with LEGOs on the floor, stopped playing and looked up with an indignant look on his face. “Dad,” he said, “That man said it’s partly cloudy but it’s not. It’s partly sunny.” Then he went back to playing.
Oh, to see the world the way my son did in that moment. He taught me a huge lesson on perspective that day and I have been mulling it over since.  Do I see my days as partly sunny or partly cloudy? Do I marvel at the wonders or get caught up in the mess? Do I consciously choose to alter my “glass half empty” mentality and choose to see it as half full? Do I rejoice in what I have or focus on what’s missing?
Just for today, let’s focus on the good things that happen, so they don’t get lost in the shuffle of life. I hope that you will join me in seeking to see our days as partly sunny. Sure, a few clouds may enter our horizon, but that doesn’t mean our outlook has to be altered.  Partly cloudy or partly sunny? My son taught me it’s all in how I look at it.                                                

Dear Lord, when life starts looking cloudy, help me to remember that the sun is still shining. Help me to take my negative, defeating thoughts captive and shift my perspective. Most of all, help me to remember that as one of Your children, I will someday shine like the sun in Your kingdom. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The king will answer [the righteous], “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40

THE man stood on a street corner at the edge of the city. He sold newspapers to drivers stopped at the light, hobbling from car to car, a crutch under one arm and newspapers under the other. He had only one leg, and some of his front teeth were missing.

At first I shrank in my seat as the man approached each driver to try to sell a paper. Ashamed of my fear, I decided to pray for him. And I began to buy a paper from him every Thursday on my way to visit my elderly friend.  After a few months, I missed three straight Thursdays. Overdue projects at work, a family crisis, and hacking bronchitis kept me from my visits. Finally back to my regular schedule, I reached his corner, where the light stopped me as usual. I gave the newspaper seller my dollar and told him of my recent woes. His face softened. He stuffed his papers under one arm and laid his hand on my arm. Then he said, “I pray you’ll be better soon.” I took in a big breath. I, who have enough teeth to eat a good meal and two whole legs to take me anywhere, received the gift of comfort in his prayer, simply offered before the light changed. Christ had a new face, and I rejoiced to see him on the roadside.

Dear God, open our eyes to your presence in places we least expect to see you. Amen.