Our Great Fortress December 31, 2015

Read Psalm 62:1-8

Psalm 62:1-2      Truly my soul finds rest in God;
    my salvation comes from him.  Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Psalm 33:20    We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.

Psalm 37:39     The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

Psalm 62:5     Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

Psalm 130:5     I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

Psalm 131:2     But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.

The children’s hospital was quiet in the early morning hours, except for the murmurs from the nurses’ station down the hall and the consistent beeping of machines all throughout the ward. Fervently, I prayed the words of the psalmist quoted above as chemotherapy did its work within my body.

This was a time of profound pain, confusion, and fear for me. But from this scripture I called out to God and, quicker than a breath, the Great Comforter filled me with a sense of peace.

Though the seas grow strong, though the winds grow violent, and though our footing may falter, we can always find refuge in God’s arms. Regardless of our circumstances, our suffering and pain, one truth remains: God is our fortress; we will never be shaken!

The Lodgepole Pine December 30, 2015

Read John 12:24-26

Isaiah 43:19      See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

2 Corinthians 5:17     Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Isaiah 35:1     The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus,

Isaiah 35:6     Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

Isaiah 41:18     I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.

On a recent trip to South Dakota and Wyoming I learned about the lodgepole pine, a tree native to the area. One of its unusual characteristics is its serotinous cone, which means that it releases its seeds when exposed to extreme heat. This results in the propagation of new trees after a forest fire. When told about this, I marveled at the intricacy of God’s creation, which has a plan designed to sustain life in the midst of destruction.

We sometimes experience “forest fires” of tragedy and suffering in our lives, resulting from forces outside ourselves and sometimes from our own sin. In the midst of these events in our lives, it can be difficult to see how God will bring good from the situation. The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “Surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope” (Jer. 29:11). I know from personal experience that we often feel God’s love and healing most powerfully in difficult situations. In all circumstances, God can bring transformation and new life.

Well Equipped December 29, 2015

Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17

2 Timothy 3:16-17       All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Romans 4:23     The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone,

Romans 15:4     For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

2 Peter 1:20     Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things.

2 Peter 1:21     For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

An ancient proverb states, “An unbalanced load will not reach its destination.” My two oldest children and I learned this truth the hard way while on a camping trip in Tajikistan. We had hastily loaded our gear on the backs of several donkeys, a common mode of travel in this part of the world. The unbalanced load caused one of our donkeys to stumble, endangering the animal and spilling our gear all over the steep mountain trail. We struggled on our journey because we had failed to prepare well.

As I reflected on the proverb and my experience in the mountains that day, I was reminded that good preparation is essential in my spiritual journey as well. When we carefully study God’s word, we are properly equipped for the journeys of our days. Consistently immersing ourselves in scripture and prayer is time well spent.

Gratitude Stone December 28, 2015

Read Ephesians 5:15-21

1 Thessalonians 5:18      give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Ephesians 5:20      Giving thanks always for all things to God and the Father in the …

Philippians 4:6      Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication …

Colossians 3:17      And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord …

Job 1:21      And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I …

Psalm 34:1     I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Hebrews 13:15      By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, …

Every day I put a stone in my pocket or wallet. It was given to me by my spiritual mentor and serves as a reminder not to let a day pass by without thanking God.

One hot afternoon, the church driver and I were distributing letters. We were on our way to our final destination when traffic trapped us for almost half an hour. I became impatient and complained about how long it was taking. But the driver smiled at me and said, “Taking public transportation would take us longer than riding in the van.” His words woke me up, and I remembered the stone in my pocket.

Most of the time, we see what’s missing in our lives rather than what we have. We complain more than we give thanks. First Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to “give thanks in every situation,” even when the circumstances do not favor us.

Instead of fuming about the traffic, I should have said, “Thank you, God.” We can find a symbol or recall a verse of scripture to remind us to give thanks to God in every situation. Such a practice can help us turn complaints into words of gratitude.

Time Well Spent December 27, 2015

Read Ruth 1:11-17

Psalm 71:9      Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.

Psalm 92:14     They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,

Psalm 119:8     I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.

Psalm 138:8     The LORD will vindicate me; your love, LORD, endures forever-- do not abandon the works of your hands.

Isaiah 46:4     Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Job 26:2     "How you have helped the powerless! How you have saved the arm that is feeble!

Recently, I attended church services with two of my friends who are older adults. Afterwards, when they invited me to lunch with their seniors’ Sunday school class, I politely accepted, although it wasn’t my idea of fun. After lunch, I was invited to help conduct an afternoon worship service at a retirement community. This was not how I had envisioned spending the last few hours of my weekend. I wanted to entertain myself with a movie, a trip to the mall, or a cup of coffee with a friend. But I felt obligated to go to the retirement community. However, once I arrived, my attitude quickly changed. I engaged in interesting conversations, shared hugs, and watched the eyes of those older saints light up with joy, like those of young children on Christmas morning.

My Sunday afternoon at the retirement home reminded me of Ruth and the way her commitment to her mother-in-law, Naomi, has always inspired me to be a better person. Then I realized for the first time that on one level, Ruth’s story is about cherishing our elders.

When we honor older people by spending quality time with them, we show them that they are valuable, and in the process we honor God. And whenever we honor God, we walk through a doorway of unexpected riches — just like Ruth and I did.

Merry Christmas December 25, 2015

Merry Christmas to all

It’s been almost 1 year since I’ve started these messages and postings. I hoped to have more subscribers based on you sharing the message so I’m going to ask that you start spreading the word to help me sign up more readers.

I will be changing the format in the new year…I will no longer be providing detailed messages but I will be posting quotes / phrases and posing questions that require thought, conversation and introspection.

Enjoy your time with family, friends and loved ones and look forward to blessings and opportunities on a larger scale for 2016.

Ever Grateful and Ever Praising

KB

Thirsty Hands December 24, 2015

Read John 4:7-14

Psalm 143:6      I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.

Psalm 42:2     My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

Psalm 63:1     A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah. You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.

Psalm 63:4     I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Psalm 88:9     my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you.

Isaiah 55:1     "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.

As fall transitioned into winter, I had noticed that my hands were feeling tighter. My cuticles were cracking, and the areas between my fingers were dry. Throughout the day I found myself frequently applying lotion and other moisturizers. One morning it finally dawned on me. This was not an external problem but an internal problem. My skin was displaying the results of a lack of water intake.

During different seasons, our internal spiritual lives can also show external signs of thirst. When the cares of life increase, our reading and studying of God’s word may decrease. A once-fervent prayer life can experience drought. The joy of our salvation can be diminished by stress and frustration. In times like these, our spirit cries out in thirst “like a parched land.”

As Jesus promised in today’s reading, spiritual thirst is quenched when we soothe our dry, cracked, irritated souls in the living water that only God can give. As we draw closer and deepen our relationship with God, living water flows in us so that we shall never thirst again.

A Forgotten Prayer Request December 23, 2015

Read James 5:13-16

James 5:13      Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.

Psalm 50:15     and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."

Psalm 95:2     Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

Isaiah 65:14     My servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts, but you will cry out from anguish of heart and wail in brokenness of spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:15     So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.

Colossians 3:16     Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

James 5:10     Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

“Please pray for me and my family,” said Laxmi, her eyes filled with tears. “I belong to a non-Christian family and praying to your God is forbidden in my house. My husband is critically ill.” I assured her that I would indeed pray for her family. She mentioned the names of other family members and her belief that Christ can do miracles. But I forgot to pray for Laxmi. As a busy physician, I loaded my prayers with petitions for my own family and my patients, and Laxmi was just a face in the crowd, easily forgotten.

A couple of months later, Laxmi came to thank me for praying for her family and said that her husband was on the road to recovery. I was embarrassed to receive her thanks when I had actually forgotten to pray for her. At that moment I asked Laxmi to sit with me, and we prayed together for her husband and her family.

We often tend to forget our neighbors and those in trouble — even those who seek us out and request our prayers. It takes effort to live as a Christian — especially in India where we are only about two percent of the population. But it’s worth it because we can make a difference in the lives of those around us as we pray for those in need.

Grandmother’s Favorite December 22, 2015

Read Matthew 5:43-48

Matthew 5:45, 48      that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

2 Corinthians 7:1     Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

Ephesians 5:1     Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children

Luke 6:35     But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Acts 14:17     Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy."

My sister has three grandsons, all nearly grown now. When the boys were young and for years afterward, she told each one that he was her favorite. Because she always did this within earshot of the others, the three boys grew up knowing that their grandmother loved them equally.

God loves us similarly. But we sometimes fall into believing that only we are blessed, and we too readily look down on other people. Or, we wonder why others’ prayers are being answered immediately when ours are delayed. And when we do so, we miss the mark, forgetting God’s abundant and equal love.

For me, it is as simple as recalling the lyrics, “Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so.” Yes, God loves me. And at the same time, God loves everyone else. We can do well when we accept God’s love as my sister’s grandsons accepted her love, knowing that all of us are loved equally.

Be Bold! December 21, 2015

Read 1 Peter 3:13-17

Matthew 5:16      In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 9:8     When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.

John 15:8    This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

1 Peter 2:12     Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Fall is a gorgeous season in Tennessee. Many days the temperature is just right. My lunch hour gives me a great opportunity to head outdoors and enjoy a respite from the office.

Many times I settle at a table on a broad plaza or retreat to a shady spot near bubbling fountains to enjoy my personal time. I often carry along a small Bible or devotional and take in not only physical nourishment but food for my spirit as well.

After a particularly challenging morning at work, I settled wearily onto a sunny spot on a ledge, being careful to hide my Bible. I didn’t want passersby to think I was a religious fanatic. I began to feel my spirits lift as I let God’s peace and presence wash away my stress. Then I noticed a young man across the way reading a big, thick book — the Bible. A few minutes later, a young woman sat down at another table and opened her Bible. They made no effort to hide what they were reading, as I had done. What a wonderful example they were for me to follow — to openly show others my commitment to growing in my faith.