First Response

 Jesus was impressed that a Roman soldier felt unworthy to be in His presence or ask Him to go to his servant to heal him. Instead, by faith believed Jesus could heal his servant just by speaking the words. Jesus said He had not seen such great faith in all of Israel (Matthew 8:10). When His disciples were afraid in the face of a life-threatening situation, Jesus asked: “. . .Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26). They lacked faith in the Miracle Worker’s ability to help them when a sudden storm erupted in their lives. Jesus’ penetrating words must have stung the disciples, being firsthand witnesses of miracles He performed.

Sometimes the unexpected happens—minor situations and major ones. What you do when faced with life’s uncertainties signifies what you believe about God. Do you seek Him first for answers, help, safety, guidance? God will not make you trust Him. You develop this trust from the repetition of turning to God in times of need, loving Him, and depending on Him for everything in life. You’ve experienced His miracle-working power in your life; you can learn to trust God through every life storm that comes your way.

So Many Whys

Amid our world in crisis, our homeland in chaos—each putting Christians’ (and unbelievers') lives and freedoms at risk—questions surface. If God is in control, then why? Why does He allow wars and unrest, health issues, deaths of loved ones, repeated weather catastrophes, financial dilemmas? Creator God has authority over all He made, but He didn’t create the crisis and chaotic happenings; that’s on humanity.

Some of the calamities and turmoil we face are demonic distractions with the intent of keeping people in states of busyness, confusion, panic, fear, or all four. And since God created us with free will, selfishness and corruption often tempt world leaders to make wrong, self-serving decisions disastrous for their people—we sometimes make poor choices regarding our health and personal or family needs. Such actions lead to costly consequences. Other times, our Maker sees us as worthy instruments to carry out His plans and purposes through challenging circumstances. It’s okay to ask God questions but not challenge Him; He always has His best in mind for His children.

As believers, we know how the story of this world ends, and a better, perfect one awaits. But until that day, we are victorious overcomers over life’s challenges: “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). Praise God that Jesus’ death and resurrection gave us victory over sin, Satan, death, the grave, and hell. Along with the whys, be steadfast and faithful in God’s work.

Remind Me

The Israelites’ sins were apparent—but God asked the people to remind Him of their transgressions and offered them the opportunity to prove He had unjustly judged them. “Put Me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified” (Isaiah 43:26)—God needed no reminding, naming their sins before they uttered a word. The prominent rulers, religious leaders, to the least of the people, all guilty.

Life situations (and our sins) can muddle our thinking, even shake us to the core of our being. Those are opportune moments for us to put God in remembrance of His written Word—not that He ever forgets anything He says. But as we audibly or silently remind Him of promises we lean on and cling to, sometimes praying them back to Him, we are reaffirmed of the truths as we speak. God is always faithful, impartial, and deals rightly with all people. We are sometimes boggled by what He allows, but God knows what He's doing even when we don’t understand His strategy.

God's Providence

After their husbands’ deaths, despite Naomi’s plea for her daughters-in-law to stay in Moab, their homeland, Ruth left everything familiar to follow Naomi back to her hometown, Bethlehem (Ruth 1:16). Destitute, Ruth humbly worked in the field of Boaz gleaning after the harvesters; their survival depended on what she gathered. Boaz took notice of Ruth’s diligence: “The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust” (Ruth 2:12). God honored her efforts. She came to know, love, and serve Naomi’s God—Ruth was the great-grandmother of King David and one of the few women named in the genealogy of Jesus.

How diligent are we to glean from God’s Word, even tiny morsels, for the nourishment of our daily walk as Christians? Our spiritual well-being depends on what we gather. The only bending needed is to bend our will, a willingness to humble ourselves before God as needy to hear from Him. His truths are not few and scattered but lay in abundance before us in the Bible, ready for gathering and sustaining our hungry souls.

It Was You!

Oh, how you wanted to raise your pointing finger; your mouth wanted to blurt accusatory words, but you refrained. Yet, later, you felt ashamed for letting the all-too-familiar impulses arise. Then God’s sweet Spirit reminded you that not too long ago, you would have charged ahead in the heat of the moment, speaking hurtful words that you could not retract had you not implored Him with a request like David’s to guard your mouth: “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, keep the door of my lips” Psalm 141:3.

You’ve learned through past mistakes. This time, by God’s grace, you didn’t fall into the lure; you passed the test. God promises to make a way of escape from life’s temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13), but we must follow His leading to avoid the consequences of succumbing to the will of our old nature.

Tight-lipped

God has secrets, secrets that belong to Him: “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29). But because our God is gracious, He kept nothing secret for us to know Him and how to live, revelations belonging to our children and us. For His forever promise to be ours, we must listen when He speaks and receive the message, taking possession of what God says belongs to us. It is vital we read His Word, receive its truths, apply those truths to our lives, live them out, and teach them to our children.

We’ve all had secrets. Some you share with a trustworthy person, others you hold for yourself alone. But you don’t keep special events secret (unless they are intended surprises), planning and spreading the word, inviting others to be participants. So why is life’s most important message sometimes well kept, not sharing it with family, friends, and others? Lack of knowledge, know-how, or confidence? Fear of rejection? No event in history compares to Jesus dying on the cross in our place; His death and resurrection make it possible for us to know and belong to God, to live with Him forever. God’s resources—boldness, wisdom—are available to share the Good News of Jesus; begin with how He changed your life. If you can plan and carry out short-term events, you can share the best-kept secret that governs where one spends eternity. Let the secret out: Jesus saves (John 3:16)! 

Sleep Well

Dreams sometimes disrupt our rest. King Solomon tells us they come from the busyness of a day and the cares of life that concern us: “For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words” (Ecclesiastes 5:3). There is a remedy. Free your heart and mind of lingering thoughts before falling asleep—talk with the Father and deal with those issues that have cluttered your thoughts.

Solomon said people are foolish thinking their many words impress God and others. Our approach to God in prayer and worship should be in humility and with reverence. Our words should be few and well-chosen, not for the correctness or pleasant sounding, but ones you’ll stand by. Think before making promises; He expects you to keep your pledge.

God is not impressed with flowery language or many words, even though we should “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). God cares about one’s attitude towards prayer, that prayers come from a sincere heart, words directed by the Holy Spirit. We need not fear dreams or fools’ words, but one should reverently fear God. Worship Him with awe-filled respect because of who He is—Almighty, Holy God. 

Sing or Whine

After severely beating them, the Romans threw God’s missionaries into a secured, filthy dungeon and bound their feet in stocks. Their response to such treatment? “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God. . .” (Acts 16:25).

How could Paul and Silas, falsely accused, imprisoned, bound, suffering unbearable pain from the beatings, worship God? They were grateful for the souls added to God’s kingdom and felt blessed because God counted them worthy to carry out His work. An added blessing was to introduce the jailor and his family to the saving knowledge of Jesus.

When life seems unfair, bleak, and painful, trust God as they did. Pray and praise Him despite your circumstances—He is always at work in your life and others. Pray, be grateful for God’s goodness, sing praises—worship God, He is worthy. If miracles can take place in a dark and nasty dungeon, they can happen in your life too. 

The Tiniest Wrong

 Suppose a believer keeps all God’s commands except failing in only one offense, like favoring some people over others. That person sinned against God’s authority and is guilty of breaking all: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). Disobeying God’s Word or twisting it to fit your circumstance, no matter how slight the wrongdoing, you are guilty.

If you’ve convinced yourself that God overlooked or excused your particular situation, He did not. If you think He ignored your transgression, He did not. God doesn’t allow rewrites or twisted versions of His holy, error-free, and complete Word to oblige disobedience. He holds His children accountable.

In and Out

 A river is a natural body of water that flows and empties into another more significant body of water. It gains more water from rainfall and other springs, rivers, and streams as it moves along. The river takes no thought of what it touches along the way; its purpose is to make its way to empty into another one.

As born-again believers filled with God’s Spirit, we are sometimes concerned about the “flow” that proceeds from our lives, thinking: Is my life an influence? The moment you stop to consider how you’ve influenced others or what impact you made here or there, you hinder the flow. Your duty is not to inspect your life’s results but to continue flowing and emptying under the Holy Spirit’s leadership: “He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). 

People who influence you most are often those unaware they do so, not those who assume themselves a blessing. The same is true of you and me in the lives of others.

No Crooked Lines

The Lord spoke to His prophet Amos using imagery as the “straightness” by which He would judge Israel’s sin and unrepentance: “. . . the Lord stood upon a wall, made by a plumb line with a plumb line in His hand” (Amos 7:7). The plumb line in His hand would mark the straight line used when He stood amid His people, judging with a just yet strict judgment, with no mercy (v. 8).

A plumb line is a weight suspended by a string and used as a vertical reference line. Lowering the weight causes the line to pull taut for a straight-line reference. Praise God we live on this side of grace: Jesus bore our sins on the cross, paying the price for the death we deserved. Though He visits us with mercy as believers, we are accountable for our actions and unconfessed sins. Jesus is the perfect standard by which God measures our “straightness.”

Does your life’s line lean or hang straight? If God laid a level across your life, where would the bubble settle? Would it drift right because of your way, to the left to please others, or would it be centered on God’s standard for right-living? Surrendering one’s life to Him is crucial; God takes no measurements after death. Our relationship with Jesus decides where the weight falls or where the bubble rests—we spend eternity with God our Father or Satan and his followers. 

No Place to Hide

God asked, “Where art thou?” (Genesis 3:9) but knew exactly where Adam and Eve were. They were hiding, and He knew where. He gave them only one command concerning food in the garden: Eat freely of every tree except one (2:15–17). But they disobeyed and hid. When God confronted them, they each blamed someone else for their sin, which implied their failure was His fault.

Offering reasons to validate wrong actions and poor choices is an ancient practice. Excuses and blame will continue until God makes all things new. Making excuses and blaming others for our life choices implies that the outcome would have been more favorable had God acted differently on our behalf. No, it would not. God created humankind with the ability to choose right over wrong, but we choose wrongly sometimes. Our disobedience is not His fault.

Where are you? If you convinced yourself that your excuses are valid, they are not, and you can’t hide from God; He knows where you are. King David grievously sinned and tried to cover his actions. When Nathan confronted him, rather than offer excuses or blame others for his behavior, he confessed his sin was against God and asked Him for forgiveness (2 Samuel 12:13; Psalm 51). God forgave him. When we take responsibility for our failures, the same opportunity for cleansing is ours. (1 John 1:8–10). 

Spend or Don't Spend

 Financial investing is sometimes nerve-rattling; the stock market rises and falls in seconds. But it’s an investment you make, trusting it will pay off in the future.

Paul learned the joy of wise investing when he invited a young man to walk alongside him in ministry. From a child, Timothy was taught the Scriptures by his mother and grandmother and, although young, other Christians highly respected him. God’s apostle further instructed Timothy in the knowledge and faith of Christ, teaching him to share the Gospel, and Timothy often stayed behind to minister in places where they planted new churches. Paul developed a father’s love for Timothy and called him his son.

Believers in Christ, someone is looking to you as the mother, father, sister, or brother they never had. New and not-so-new believers long to know what step to take next, hungry to learn and grow as a believer but don’t know where to begin. Paul saw an opportunity to help someone develop as a Christian and willingly invested his life. Mentoring, investing yourself in others to help them personally takes time, resources, dedication, and sometimes sacrifice. Paul had a servant’s heart for the cause of Christ: “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you. . .” (2 Corinthians 12:15a). He made a wise investment in Timothy, and the “payoff” was clear from the fruit produced. Are you willing to be such a servant?

Army of One

Moses encouraged God’s people before they entered Canaan, reminding them of their divine deliverance from Egypt: “When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them, for the Lord thy God is with thee. . .”  (Deuteronomy 20:1) These encouraging words are God’s truths for us today.

Challenges, struggles will happen: not if, but When you go to battle. Be prepared because the time and place of conflicts often take us by surprise. Your opponent is someone or some “thing,” sometimes appearing powerful and overwhelming, outnumbering you. But, Be not afraid of them. Don't fear when you see the enemy before you, behind you, and all around you. You can stand confidently and courageously not because of who you are, not because of who you know, not because of a multitude standing with you. There is only one way to face the enemy without fear: For the Lord, thy God is with thee. Whatever enemy you face, God outnumbers them and fights for you. He will never abandon you during or after the battle. He goes before you, stands behind you and all around you—He holds and covers you. God is with you and for you.

Whom or what do you trust? “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7). When you remember the name of the Lord your God, what do you recollect? Start with the day He saved your soul.

Ageless

 The old relic seemed to have met its demise many times, yet after some tweaking, it kept going. But that day, with pieces all about, I thought its end had come. Everything appeared okay, but the battery that showed signs of life was the culprit. It was faulty. Once replaced with a new one and the parts were put back where they belonged, the tractor was on the move again, performing as it should.

Life’s circumstances may have taken their toll on you. Much like that of the tractor, parts of your life lay around you; you feel aged and weary from use but still have a desire for usefulness. You show signs of life, but you feel broken. Psalm 51 records King David’s confession of failure; he knew that only by God’s cleansing power and healing touch could he function as the man God called him to be. He needed his feelings and affections made right: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). Your loving Father will do the same for you when you cry out to Him. Only by God’s divine power can your heart be made new, your feelings and affections made right before Him so you can fulfill your life’s purpose.

Stinky Blessings

 If you read about our dog’s escapade yesterday, you may think my gratitude for his “skunking” and drooling on the family room rug odd. That week began with a plan to bathe the dog and vacuum and shampoo the area rug on Friday. The tasks aren’t big chores but dreaded—they are my knees' enemies. But an unexpected family need put my plan on hold. I do not believe in coincidences: Had I bathed Scout and cleaned the rug when planned, I would have (without choice) had to repeat the tasks the next day. God’s timing; another of His unusual life lessons to share. And as a bonus, I discovered an antidote for skunk spray.

I don’t thank God for skunks, snakes, spiders, mosquitoes, lice, or other of God’s creatures with unfavorable characteristics, most likely consequences of humanity’s fall in the garden of Eden. But I am grateful when He uses such nuisances to remind me He’s always watching, knows what He’s doing (even when I don’t understand), and nothing happens without His permission. That day, God’s timing blessed me by caring for little things that made a big difference in my well-being. Most High knows everything from before the beginning to the end and what hasn’t yet happened. His Word stands, and He carries out His purposes: “Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure” (Isaiah 46:10). Thank You, Father, for Your loving care and lessons learned.

What Did I Do to Deserve This?

 Doing nothing wrong, our happy-go-lucky, friendly little dog wanted to introduce himself to someone new in the neighborhood, and the skunk sprayed him for his efforts. Scout ran inside stinking, seeking help, and drooling on the only rug in the house. Bad things happen to good people (even animals), and often we don’t understand why God allows such things.

As God’s children, we are to resemble our Father at all times: “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). In His teaching, Jesus said to do good towards those who wrongfully treat us—love them, pray for them. We are to trust our Father when life’s challenges and heartaches run into our lives. Without distinction, God allows sunny days and rainy ones to fall on those who are good and evil, the just and unjust. He knows the heart of every person and pardons whom He will. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:7–9); His strategy and purposes are beyond our understanding. God said vengeance belongs to Him, not us. He holds all things in His hands, and we must trust He honors His Word, or we will be most miserable. Oddly, I thanked God for allowing Scout’s stink. Why? Join me tomorrow for the answer.

Back to the Bottle

 God supplies food for our physical survival and His Word for spiritual growth and stability. Inspired by God and penned by men, this Word teaches us what is true and false, right, and wrong. It shows us how to correct what is wrong in our lives and teaches us how to live right. His Word is our “road map” as we travel this life and an avenue by which we hear from Him, filling it with nutritious essentials needed to thrive in our Christian walk. Whether preached, taught, hummed, sung, whistled, thought, or written, God’s message and values stand strong, unchanging, and without error. But unless you “Taste and see that the Lord is good,” you will not profit from the blessings the Father holds for those who put their faith and trust in Him (Psalm 34:8). God’s Word must be “ingested”—taken in to receive the full healthful benefits.

Believers should long for the Word of God as desperately as a baby cries out for milk: “As newborn babies desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). Nourished by a steady diet of the pure and unchanging truth of God’s Word, believers grow and mature as they claim and live out its promises. By lessons learned from our experiences of God’s goodness and faithfulness, we can encourage others to “taste and see” for themselves.

Super Glued

Jesus performed miracles, caring for the physical needs of the masses who followed Him, and they were awe-struck: “. . . the multitude wondered when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel” Matthew 15:31. While they looked for physical healing, He also wanted spiritual healing for their total well-being. Though Jesus healed them physically, many stayed spiritually broken.

Today, we too marvel when The Great Physician heals physically, yet sometimes forget He wants wholeness within as well. Life strikes unexpected blows, and something breaks—again. As you pick up the pieces and put them back where they belong, the repairs of brokenness are now evident. The “fixed” areas are more fragile, and you were unaware of a missing piece—until you noticed the empty spot. As you search diligently for the part, you realize you have been mending yourself, and your “glue” doesn’t hold.

Our efforts can’t heal life’s brokenness; pieces will fall again. In the busyness of self-repair, we sometimes miss our Father’s nearness when He whispers, “Child, I am here, trust Me.” In the moment of your submission, He mends your brokenness. As you surrender to the Father’s care, inviting Jesus to fill your life, you experience true healing—you can live in wholeness. Praise God today that Jesus is the missing piece of broken lives, and God’s “glue” holds. 

Bullies

With several feeders kept filled with a wide variety of seeds, birds enjoy the bounty on our property. There is plenty for all, but the proud blue jays think they have preeminence and don’t share except with their kind. They always force other birds away until they’ve had their fill, that is until a woodpecker arrives. He doesn’t make the jay leave, only calls his bluff. But the proud jay flees every time while the woodpecker lets other birds feast with him.

In the pecking order, the bigger and more aggressive bully their way to the top by "pecking" others into submission. This pecking order exists with animals, fowl, God’s other creatures, and sadly, with people. But God holds us accountable for our actions; those who puff themselves up thinking their skills, abilities, intellect makes them supreme over others are not. Yet, they bully their way through life as though they are. Paul admonishes us not to do anything out of selfish ambition or conceit. Instead, serve with humility like Jesus: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves” (Philippians 2:3). One day there will be an accounting; not one of us is more important than another. God created us equal, and we should treat each other as such—with love and respect. 

Harnessed

The enticing words and tone were familiar, yet you blindly walked into the snare, unprepared for what followed. You opened your mouth and blurted out a response, a conversation that ended with words you wished you had kept to yourself. And the enemy in your midst felt quite smug with your cooperation—again.

The New Testament describes the tongue as a small part of the body, a fire, a world of wickedness that corrupts the whole body. Uncontrolled speech can set life on fire, flames from hell (James 3:6). Words and the tone in our voice can entice, agitate, inflame another person to act wrongly; one spark can start a blazing inferno. Proverbs 15:1 says a gentle response can disarm grievous words that stir anger.  

How can we avoid entrapping words? Recognize familiar signs, be on guard around certain people, and like David in this Psalm, put your mouth under lock and key: “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, keep the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3). He knew the enemy had snares laid in wait for him (v. 9). He told himself that he would be mindful of his actions and not sin in his speech. David said he would bridle his tongue when tempted to say something wrong lest He offends God (39:1). Better for us to bridle ours, pinch it with a bit of discomfort rather than say regretful words and set a conversation on fire. Like David, ask the Lord to stand guard over your mouth and keep the door to your lips. He will. 

Confined

 God did what was needed for the Israelites to fill the land of Canaan, and He wants to establish you for productiveness: “Thou preparest room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land” (Psalm 80:9). 

If you replant a root-bound plant, its roots stay within the tight circular boundaries, unable to reach the surrounding soil—stunted. To help such a plant, gently loosen the roots before planting. If they are too entangled, make slits in the sides of the root ball and slice a deep x in the bottom before planting. Only then will the roots find their way into the surrounding soil.

You’re stuck, not moving backward, yet not moving forward. Every way you turn, you face a barrier. Like the pot plant, you may be root-bound. Maybe you’ve stopped reading and listening to God’s Word, and your negligence has your bound “roots” in need of nutrients. Ask God to loosen the matted mess that is choking your life spiritually; if precision cuts are needed, the discomfort is worth the outcome. As each root untangles, ask God for forgiveness (if needful) and wisdom as you delve into His Word for counsel and nourishment to grow. Once you are tangle-free and reach deep into the rich, fertile soil God has prepared, you will flourish and produce fruit for His glory.

No Loopholes

Scripture is clear about our relationship with God and others: “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God” (Micah 6:8). “How shall we come before the Lord?” was the question God’s people asked the prophet, Micah, in verse six. He replied that God had already shown them not only “how to come” but what God required and how to accomplish it. Did they think or hope God changed His mind of what He required? If they did, they were wrong.

Before entering the Land of Promise, Moses told the people that God required them to fear Him, live rightly, love and serve Him with all their heart and soul, and obey His commandments—for their good (Deuteronomy 10:11–13).

Jesus said we fulfill the law when we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, strength, and others as ourselves (Matthew 22:37–40). We are God’s chosen people; He has shown us what is good—that which is profitable for us and pleasing to Him. God’s directive still hasn’t changed: Do what is right; embrace and extend mercy; and do everything covered in love for God and one another. But you cannot satisfy His requirements, commandments until you first confess your sins and turn away from them, ask God to forgive you, and invite Jesus into your life, submitting to His authority. Only then can you walk humbly with God.

Now or Later

 A male mockingbird will sing, flutter, and jump up and down to draw female birds' attention when searching for a mate; God created them to function this way. People sometimes act like that mockingbird, drawing attention to themselves, but for selfish reasons. They do whatever it takes for someone, anyone, to notice their noble, sacrificial deeds, striving for the spotlight. Life is all about them. But Jesus taught His disciples and us, "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 6:1). 

Jesus continued this lesson (for us too) by saying, when you give offerings, help others, do good deeds, fast, pray, or whatever you do, if you do it for recognition, your reward will be here on earth only. But our Father, who sees everything in secret, rewards us openly (vs. 4, 6, 18) when we serve Him with a right heart. Which would you prefer? Applause from entertaining an audience here or God's blessings and a "Well done, good and faithful servant" when you reach your heavenly home?

Ouch!

 Pruning is a needful process that encourages a plant's growth. It is necessary to remove that which hinders growth and promotes healthy plants to be more fruitful. However, plants cannot self-prune; they are dependent upon their caretakers.

God planted us on this earth for fellowship with Him and to bring glory to His great name. As we go about doing our Father's work, we sometimes grow weary and neglect to care for our "plant." Wrong attitudes and actions develop faded and spent results along the way. Unlike a plant, people can self-prune, but we often do so sparingly to avoid the agony of severing a piece we long to keep. When God prunes, He knows exactly where and how much to cut back for healthy growth to sprout. His cuts encourage fruitfulness: ". . . And every branch that bringeth forth good fruit He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit" (John 15:2).

Although the pruning process seems hurtful, it promotes a healthy, fruitful plant that is pleasant to the eye. God not only wants you to bear fruit for His kingdom but much fruit.

Locked Up

Deceit, lies, misunderstandings, and harsh words are just a few things that can separate family and friends. Offenses cause hurt feelings, and bars go up: "A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and their contentions are like the bars of a castle" (Proverbs 18:19).

Jacob tricked his twin brother Esau into selling him his birthright for a meal when he was hungry. Esau's poor decision kindled a fire that ruled his life, imprisoning himself with bars of anger and unforgiveness toward his sibling. Rebekah's deceptive plan to deceive Isaac and Esau was successful but not without a tremendous cost; she would die without seeing her beloved Jacob again. Estrangement separated the brothers for many years until Jacob took the first step towards reconciliation. Esau unlocked his self-made captivity, opened his barred life, and embraced his brother; their families reunited. But years were wasted—lost.

Your life behind bars may not be due to deceit, lies, or harsh words but feelings of unworthiness to receive forgiveness for a past discrepancy. Or to finally let that "thing" go that has gnawed away at your insides. Child of God, look down at your hands; you hold the key to your prison's door. Today is a new day—by God's grace, and with His help, it can be your day of release. Surrender to the Keeper of your soul. God wants to set you free so that you can live in freedom.

When Life Gets Wrinkled

 Every day we face problems of some sort. Tiny crimps and big ones, some are hardly noticeable, yet both are bothersome. So, what should God's child do when faced with life's wrinkles? The key to overcoming daily obstacles is to be joyful, pray continually (v. 16, 17), and be thankful: "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). You can pray without ceasing because prayer can happen anywhere at any time. But to always be joyful and grateful? If for no other reason, rejoice because Jesus died in your place. Gratitude from that standpoint leads to further joy because of what He has done and will do in your life.

God is always at work in the lives of His children. When we see wrinkles, He's working “all things together for good to those who love Him” (Romans 8:28), even if it doesn't make sense at the time. What our Father is working out in your life may not be intended for you, but someone else. He uses life's disappointments, delays, struggles—all situations we experience for the greater good. Trust His wisdom and decisions. Rejoice, pray, and give thanks—this is God's will for us all.

The Great Plight

"That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10–11)

Just because a person says, "I don't believe God exists," does not negate the fact that God does indeed exist. He always has and always will exist regardless of what His prized creation speaks or thinks. Some people know there is a God who created all that is yet choose not to accept the gift of Jesus as their Savoir and Lord. By not choosing Jesus, who died in their place, they reject the God they know exists. What a dilemma, but one easily rectified—that is, unless that person waits too long. God promises no one another second of life on this earth; each one is a gift.

One day regardless of who you are and what you speak or think, every knee will bow to Jesus—angels, humankind, fallen angels—and every tongue will confess to God (Romans 14:11). God the Father is the One and Only Living God, and Jesus is Lord whether one believes those truths. 

Usable Pieces

Frequenting Lynn's Fabric Shop owned by my mother-in-law and her mother, I learned helping and shopping that an average bolt of fabric held fifty yards of cloth. Once the yardage on a bolt was low, the material was removed, folded, and placed on the remnant table. The remnant table also held fabrics with slight defects and pieces that the clerks miscut, usable material, but separated.

The expression "cut from the same cloth" means two or more people are similar in characteristics, attitudes, or behavior. Our Triune God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, created man in His image, male and female (v. 27): "And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness . . ." (Genesis 1:26a). Because He made us in His likeness, we are, if you would, "cut from His cloth" and called His child. But one day, we knew something was wrong yet did it anyway. At that moment, we sinned our first sin, and that sin separated us from God. We were, if you would, "cut from the bolt." Severance from "the bolt" didn't happen because the yardage was low, or because of any defect, nor poor measuring. People are on the remnant table, separated from God, by choice.

But there is hope. God, who is rich in mercy, didn't create you to be on the remnant table: He "passes by the transgressions of the remnant of His heritage" (Micah 7:18). He pardons the guilt of sin through the blood of His Son, Jesus. Once you confess your sins, ask for forgiveness, turning from your way, and invite Jesus into your life, He takes up residence within you; you are His remnant. God washes away your sins and restores you to "the Bolt" from which you came. 

Nature's Lessons

We replaced the well-used, worn-out bluebird box, and oddly, after a year, there were only curious observers but no occupants. For unknown reasons, their instincts warned them not to venture inside. Finally, two years later, the birds felt safe and raised many families in their new home.

God's children have instincts too, but something far more significant. When we face uncertain situations, head towards danger, or go the wrong direction, the Holy Spirit speaks, warning us, "not to  enter." Yet, He never leaves us dangling: "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it. . ." (Isaiah 30:21a). He will instruct us what to do, which way to go. But unlike the cautious bluebirds, we often disregard God's voice, forge ahead, and suffer consequences that affect us, those within our circle of life, and those our lives would influence.

Jesus used differing teaching techniques; parables were among them. Using birds, grass, flowers, seed, and soil, He taught life lessons. What we do with that knowledge governs the path we take. Listen to God's voice; He always leads the right way. Listen and obey. 

Former Things

"Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?" (Isaiah 43:19a). Isaiah spoke this message from the Lord for His chosen people of Israel, assuring them of future rescue from Babylon's captivity. But some people repel the "new thing" God wants to do because it requires something with them or within them must change. So, they set up roadblocks of words, actions, and emotions to deter that shift, roadblocks hidden away in families, workplaces, churches, and friendships. Roadblocks that squelch God's "new thing."

Change sometimes happens slowly, while at other times, springing forth quickly. We can look forward to it with anticipation or dread. Life modifications can be challenging at times, but when God is the "Changer," His new work in your life will pale with that done in the past (v. 18).  His timing is always right, and He supplies everything we need in the process. Will you trust God with your life changes already planned and on the way? Remove the barricades and experience His best.