Are you building a reserve of MERCY?

“Lock’em up! Throw away the key!”  Ever heard that or said it?
How about this – “Well, he made his bed so let him lie in it!”
Or, this – “He’s just too stupid to matter.”

In a nation that talks about opportunity and freedom there is a fact that begs us to think about our policies. The U.S. has one of the world's highest incarceration rates, holding nearly 2 million people in jails and prisons, with rates around 540-600 per 100,000. For all the rhetoric about turning criminals loose on the streets, we sure to lock up a lot of people. Might we need to think about the roots of the problem?

Then, too, our political system is completely broken – without any desire to try to understand or converse. The ‘win’ is valued above all.  Christians are some of the worst offenders in this ‘game,’ quick to judge, captive of slogans and memes.

The wisdom of the Perfect Man asks those of us who are His followers to be radically different. We are to be known for quality love and filled with compassionate mercy.  Jesus says – “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5)

What is mercy?

It shows another compassion or forgiveness when we have the upper hand, when we enjoy the power to punish!

Mercy goes beyond withholding judgment out of politeness as in thinking ‘what an idiot’ but not saying it aloud.
Mercy causes a person to consider the needs of the other, to actively pursue the best interest of one that may well justly deserve anger or rejection. 

Mercy is not to be confused with being naïve or incapable of facing reality like a grandmother who just cannot face up to the truth about her beloved grandson who constantly rebels and for whom she makes all kinds of excuses.

You might object to what I have said responding - “But, Jerry, I love justice! I want the score settled, bad guys put in their place.”  Funny thing about justice. WE all want it for other guys, but when we’re jammed up, we want mercy.

Mercy asks us to consider the possibility of redemption or change. We get angry when someone is unkind, or selfish, or hurtful and we want them to pay … except that our God calls us to be different.  The ancient preacher was inspired by the Spirit to teach us the way to please God.  Listen to his words. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly^[a] with your God.” (Micah 6)

The mercy to which God calls us is modeled after His own.
He knows us inside out, seeing our core motives, knowing even our ‘secret’ sins and He holds out hope and renewal.
"Where is another God like you, who pardons the sins of the survivors among his people? You cannot stay angry with your people forever, because You delight in showing mercy. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!" (Micah 7:18-19, NLT)

When we keep a careful record of every slight, every hurt, and press for ‘justice’ (think revenge) and refuse to be merciful – we become captives of anger, and we become sour and cynical. No wonder Jesus tells us mercy is a choice that leads to ‘blessedness.’

I am captured by the full impact of Jesus’ words that remind us that WHEN we show mercy, we are banking a reserve of mercy for that inevitable moment when we will desire it.

Listen to your words, inventory your thoughts.
Are they harsh?
Are you a critic?
Do you blame and judge frequently?

Our word from the Word calls us, in the Spirit, to a new way.
"Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.

Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, “I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,” says the Lord.

Instead, do what the Scriptures say: “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you.” Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good." (Romans 12:17-21, NLT)   

Father, help us! It’s hard to let You judge, to release those who hurt us from our condemnation. Teach us to be merciful. In Jesus’ name. Amen

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Offer Admiration!

When someone catches you doing something right or good and expresses their appreciation or admiration, how do you feel?  Great, right?  Being valued enriches life. So, let me ask you – are you mostly a critic or an admirer?  Don’t read me wrong today. I am not suggesting that we set aside the pursuit of excellence. I am not advocating insincere flattery or mere positivity! I am encouraging genuine love for others that learns to value them for who they are, that takes note of effort and passion as well as accomplishments.

In a recent essay, Elizabeth Corey wrote – “When we admire, we are freed from thoughts of ourselves. The better we are at admiring, the less our egos intrude. And the more we know about the world, the more we find to admire. We can then look with pleasure not only on natural and human beauty, but also on more complex things, such as painting, poetry, philosophy, even moral ­conduct. The excellence of particular human beings is often the most affecting beauty of all.”

Pride is a terrible hindrance to the expression of admiration. When a person believes himself to be so much better at what he does than another, from that lofty place of selfishness, he will criticize the other. His first thought will be comparison, not appreciation.

Right alongside pride is real giftedness or great skill. Being ‘the best’ can keep us from expressing admiration for the effort of those less able. Their simple errors will be noted and their work likely overlooked at best or worse, spoken of negatively.

Christians are called to humility!  Inspired by the Spirit, Paul tells us “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”  (Philippians 2) Real humility will turn us into encouragers who learn to admire. The net effect will be to call an even better effort from others as we let them know we care for them.

Constant criticism sucks life out of us, doesn’t it?  Honest appreciation builds up.

Christians are called to love!  Nothing new there but is our love connected to the ordinary situations of life? It is loving to tell another – “I admire the way you do what you do.”  A well-known passage from Proverbs 31 includes the words of admiration from a loving husband for his faithful wife - “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”

Christians are called to worship!  At the heart of a life that admires and appreciates is worship for the One who is worthy of our praise.   Worship turns our hearts toward God’s character and works.  We speak of our praise. “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.” (Psalm 145:3) We choose to enter His Presence “…to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4)

A person who stops demanding things of God, who sets aside the need for reasons and answers, who sees the Lord in His true beauty – learns to worship in Spirit and truth. From that worship of God, we gain the ability to admire the beauty around us in the world and in those with whom we live.

The Word teaches us to
“Give to the Lord the glory He deserves!
Bring your offering and come into His courts.
Worship the Lord in all His holy splendor.”  (Psalm 96)

Yes, let’s teach ourselves to admire, to take note of the little ‘beauties’ that are all around us.  Yesterday’s snow here in NJ was a great inconvenience to many, but throughout the day I could not help but notice the wonder that filled my world, the snow-covered branches that gleamed in bright sunshine. That admiration lifted my heart to joy!

The author previously quoted says – “In America we’re told that independence, self-sufficiency, and dogged hard work are among the greatest virtues. I would much prefer to throw in my lot with the admirers. Openness to the beauty of the world, and to the people around me, means that I can be receptive to the unmerited grace that may sometimes, surprisingly, appear. When it does, it is a great blessing—something not to be missed.” How true!

Here is a word from the Word. Begin with worshipping the Lord and then go find the admirable in your world.
“One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.”  (Psalm 27)

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Is Yours a BIG Heart?

The CBS News program airs a segment every Friday called “On The Road.”  Steve Hartman tells stories that move us with their reminder of our shared humanity. Last week’s story was about Mo Riles from South Bend, IN who drove a badly damaged pickup truck around town, the butt of jokes and memes on social media until one man changed the story!   

Colin Crowel contacted Riles and found out it was the only transportation the man had and he couldn’t afford anything else, so this compassionate man started a crowd-funding effort that ultimately raised $22,000 from Riles town to buy him a better car! (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/his-mangled-truck-became-a-local-spectacle-then-a-stranger-changed-everything/)

Christian, is your heart a BIG one, full to over-flowing with God’s love so that you spill caring and love onto others wherever you go?

In spite of stories like the one that started this CoffeeBreak there is a HUGE compassion deficit in the world today. We can disappear behind the walls of our homes and forget about those who are in need. We can depersonalize those who are ‘different’ from us in one way or another and blame them for society’s ills. But that is not God’s way.

Bible includes a little personal letter that Paul wrote on behalf of a runaway slave, Onesimus, to his former owner, Philemon. Philemon had become a Christian as result of Paul’s ministry in Colossae.  The apostle had moved on and was a prisoner in Rome when somehow the runaway slave found him and became a convert, too!

It was time to make things right, so Onesimus is going to go back to Philemon’s household. The choice is not an easy one. Punishment for runaways was generally severe. So, Paul intercedes, asking for mercy.

“I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people. That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do. But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me—Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus. I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.”  (Philemon)

History does not give us any hint of how things turned out, but I believe that the very fact that Paul’s personal letter is part of our Bible is that the appeal to mercy over justice was heeded and became a model for relationships within the Church of Jesus.

Do you find yourself a critic of others?
Are you quick to condemn that one who has failed in some way?
Do you judge (perhaps secretly) those who struggle with life as weak or inferior in some way?

The Way of Jesus is to be radically different.

John asks us plainly – “If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?”  (1 John 4) 

This love to which we are called is not easy nor natural. It requires sacrifice of us for it modeled on the love of Jesus who ‘demonstrates His love for us in this – that He for us while we were still sinners.’  (Romans 5) Even when we were going our own way, serving our own desires, He loved us and gave Himself to restore us to our Creator Father.

This love to which we are called is supernatural, Spirit-fed and flows from the inside out.  John says “We love each other because he loved us first.”  (1 John 4) In faith, contemplate the Cross of Christ. Face your own failures and broken places without excuse and then let the whisper of the Spirit remind you that you are forgiven, loved, and a ‘becomer’ who is being made over into the beauty of Christ Jesus.

Religion alone will not cause us to love radically.
Mere human compassion is not sufficient to overcome our pride and prejudice.

But God’s love for us can; yes, it will- make us into those who love deeply, give generously of ourselves, as we become known as ‘children of God.’

One of the great truths that transforms is this – “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”  (1 John 3) That love, when truly experienced, will make us great-hearted people of compassion.

The word from the Word is a challenge to us who live in a very polarized, hate-filled environment. May the Spirit make these living Words for us today.

“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3)

Let God love you to life, then let Him use YOU to love others in the same way.

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Fix Your Attitude!

I drove past a local home this week and noted the angry hand-painted signs that decorated the yard declaring the resident’s displeasure with various public policies, ethnic groups, and – of course – taxes!  I thought “Wow, whoever lives there must be one angry person.”  I wondered if that home has much joy in it?

People who are offended and angry are everywhere in America in 2026. Competing political views drive so many conversations into angry rhetoric and are the fertile soil for offense. It does not have to be that way! We can choose to be charitable, to lower our defenses, and to engage in discussion without getting mad.

But we seem to like the rush of adrenaline that comes with rising anger, the sense of power we find in noisy declarations of our positions about most everything that surrounds us. Here’s a great quote - "People who wish to be offended will always find some occasion for taking offense." (John Wesley)

Christian, we cannot afford to live an ‘offended’ life, nor is that the will of the Lord for those who walk with Him.  We need to get serious about fixing our attitudes!

Among the ‘works of the sinful nature’ listed in Galatians 5, we find these- jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions.   Wisdom words of Proverbs 19:11 teach us that “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”  

Jesus says (Matthew 6:15) “if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Instructions to the church include this - “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”  (Ephesians 4:31)   Go back and re-read those lines.

Our heart’s desire is like that of God, our Father, who addresses our sins against Him not with destruction, but with redemption. We, too, should pursue restoration and meet repentance with forgiveness.  

God’s people will NOT hold onto offense or pretend that they can perfect themselves by making pariahs of those with whom they disagree or whose positions they consider flawed or mistaken.

We do better if we recognize the result, learn how to do better, offer forgiveness, and seek a new future together.  And, we need a healthy dose of humility, too.

Just about everyone of us can remember a time when someone failed us, disappointed us, and sinned against us. IF we are honest, we can recall moments when we were that one who failed another, too.

For each of us personally, Jesus taught a better way. “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the fault. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If that person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. If the church decides you are right, but the other person won’t accept it, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector." (Matthew 18:15-17, NLT)

-Before you go to Facebook, go to the person.
-Before you decide to tell 4 friends, speak to the individual.

The exception to this is when the one who has offended has power over you, such as an abuser. Then, you should bring in an advocate who can protect you. But the principle remains – face to face, one to one, first! 

Woven into Jesus’ words is the desire for reconciliation, not retribution.  We go to the one who has hurt us, or misused us, or spoken untruthfully about us with a desire to make things right and win back relationship.  Why? Because as Christians, love is the highest value, a love like God’s love for us.

In our personal offenses, many issues can be dealt with, one to one, if we are courageous, prayerful, and honest. In offense lots of time we are none of those things – rather we are angry, offended, and want to exact some kind of revenge. We may not actually say it, but simmering in our anger, we just want to ‘make him pay!’  Our idea of justice triumphs over God’s way of reconciliation and restoration.

Jesus counsels us that if our offense is too great to resolve one to one, we should find trusted, wise friends who will go with us. No, we don’t line up allies who join us in attack! We find people who are godly and desirous of healing, who are impartial, able to ‘speak the truth in love.’  That may mean that we, the offended, will get challenged about our understanding of the situation.

Ultimately, if we hang onto hurt, we lock ourselves into a cycle of anger. That is why Jesus tells us to forgive, which does not mean we say, “Oh, forget it. It’s not a big deal.”  Dealing with offense should be modeled on God’s forgiveness of us. The Scripture tells us that "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, NIV) It seeks the offender! Moreover, true forgiveness bears the cost.

Yes, it is costly to let go of our pain, especially when we have been terribly misused by another.  The heart of Christian forgiveness is understanding that justice is found in God and He is perfectly just. When we place the offense and offender in His hands, giving the debt owed us to Him, we are set free to live.

The word from the Word is lengthy, a story Jesus told about forgiving. May it shape us, heart and mind, to be like Him.

"Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No!” Jesus replied, “seventy times seven!

“For this reason, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn’t pay, so the king ordered that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt. But the man fell down before the king and begged him, ‘Oh, sir, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ Then the king was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.

“But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and jailed until the debt could be paid in full. “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him what had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison until he had paid every penny. 

“That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters in your heart.” (Matthew 18:21-35, NLT)

So, how about it? Are you going to be offended or will you gain joy by fixing your attitude?

__________________

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New Beauty for a New Year

As I thought about the dawning of 2026, one of my mediations included prayers for heart transformation – that God, the Holy Spirit, would make me a person that reflects His goodness and light into my world. The world we live in desperately needs light, hope, and peace, right?

All my good intentions will not just happen. As the hymn says I am ‘prone to wander, prone to leave the God I love!”  Have you, like me, ever walked away from a conversation and wondered, “Why did I say that? Why did I let myself go there?”  A morsel of gossip gets shared, or a critical comment slips in, or a demeaning statement is left unchallenged.

BUT, there is change available to us who follow Jesus. We CAN become different. How?

Peter’s first letter to the Christian church includes this direction for you and me - Because of the redemption of Christ, "rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:1-5, NIV) 

When we crown Jesus our King, when the Spirit is invited to live in us, there is a genuine change of heart!

One thing that is evidence of His Presence is the words that flow out of our mouth. Peter says - No more malicious words, no more hypocritical words, no more slanderous talk that tears at others.

For a time we may succeed in concealing our real thoughts but eventually what we really think will leak out! Jesus said that “out of the heart the mouth speaks.”
If our heart is dark with hate, resentment, or bitterness – it will show up.
If the Spirit lives in us and makes us loving and joyful, the overflow in our daily conversation will be life-giving, like refreshing water!

Do you know that the life of Spirit requires nourishment? Just like a living organism needs food, our spirit needs to be fed, and so Peter tells to “Crave pure spiritual milk.” An infant received complete nourishment in mother’s milk and grows. When we come prayerfully to Jesus, when we read His Word, when we worship – both with others and in our daily times of devotion – we are fed and thrive.

 

Peter switches metaphor in his further development of the mature Christian experience. He urges us to be ‘built into a spiritual house.’  A beautiful Christian life is not a project of self-improvement, nor does it grow in the soil of radical individualism. God’s plan is that we become part of His Body- the Church.

Self-centeredness, the natural tendency to take care of ME first, self-interest, is replaced in the Spirit-filled person with a desire to be linked with others in the faith, fitted together like stones in a magnificent Temple!

“Living stones,” he calls us. Think about that. The ‘together’ aspect of our Christian faith is further explained by reminding us that we called into a ‘holy priesthood.’  Peter is not, at all, emphasizing a position of power or control. A true priest serves – God, first, then others on God’s behalf.

We, in our spiritual maturity and holy service become a pleasing offering to God, similar to the sacrifices offered on the Temple’s altars.

Oh, what an amazing passage. It starts with the ugly things of natural humanity and moves to the beauty of those called by God into a NEW life.

As you move through life today, listen to the overflow of your words.
Do they reveal Christ at home in your heart? Don’t aim at perfection! You will become discouraged. Rather aim at humility, renewal, and growth.

Our word from the Word is another translation of Peter’s words. May the Spirit cause them to be like mother’s milk to us, causing us to grow, to mature, and to become holy people in the service of the Lord.

“So, get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.” (1 Peter 2:1-5, NLT)

Oh Lord, make us persons in whom is seen the Beauty of Jesus. Amen.

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1.8 BILLION Dollars!

This week someone in Arkansas hit the jackpot in the second largest lottery in US history. To receive the astronomical sum of $1.8 billion, they would have to take payments over 30 years. A one-time cash payment would amount to about $500 million after taxes are paid. I confess that those numbers captured my attention for a while as I dreamt about the possibilities that kind of wealth would create in my life. But …

It was not long before my sanity returned and I also realized that even that kind of money would never make my life more meaningful or make a pathway to eternal life.

All of us, especially those of us nearer life’s sunset, think about who we really are and why we exist on this planet. Some desperately try to outrun or ignore the nagging question – “does my life count for anything meaningful?” – by traveling, partying, or working long hours chasing only God knows what.

The wisdom of Jesus guides me. He counsels that “life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”  (Luke 12) In other words we are much more than our titles, our stuff, our home, or the car we drive! In another sermon He told us to “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”  (Matthew 6) “Set your focus,” He says, “on God’s rule of life, which is about loving Him and others above all else.”

We don’t have to be rich to love extravagantly! We can know genuine joy and contentment in our daily lives IF we will let go of our need to control everything and become humble people who serve God and others eagerly and without need for thanks or recognition.

Let me speak very personally by way of illustration of the importance of letting Him lead and choosing faith.

In early 2013 my late wife developed ovarian cancer, and we knew that apart from a miracle her days on this earth were numbered. The news was devastating and instantly turned everything upside down for both of us. She reeled under the double blows of emotional stress and physical suffering. As I faced a future that would take my love and my partner of 41 years from me, I was broken, truly crushed.

But we chose the way of faith while we coped with the unexplainable.

Those 20 months that we travelled that hard road with her proved to be some of the richest in terms of spiritual life and relationship. We wept and trusting our Father. We loved each other deeply, forgetting petty differences over which we once bickered.

Perhaps that sounds stupid or unreasonable to you, but I assure you it is the complete truth. Am I glad Bev developed terminal cancer? Of course not! However, I am glad that in the awful we found a way to live lovingly and, in that love, found some serenity.

When she died on December 29, I was once again faced with a choice – to walk by faith or rage at the seeming unfairness of life. By the grace of God, I chose Him – and a decade later I can say that I am whole and hopeful. Once again, I am not denying the reality of grief or those days when loneliness is crushing, but there are peace, hope, and joy.

Here at the end of 2025 if you are thinking about life and meaning, let me offer simple words of direction –Don’t fantasize about $1.8 Billion!

LOVE GOD.
LOVE OTHERS.
SERVE FAITHFULLY.
LIVE FULLY EACH DAY.

Life’s mysteries will never find full explanation this side of Heaven.
Your every longing will never find complete satisfaction in this world.
There will be people who fail you in ways you could not even imagine until it happens.
Disappointment will find you.

God loves you in all of that. He offers serenity and hope. He gives the gift of joy to those willing to receive it without precondition.

So, let’s head into 2026 with the desire to find life to the full in Christ Jesus. Can I get an Amen?

Here is a word from the Word.
“Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.

Then you will find favor with both God and people,
and you will earn a good reputation.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones.

 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce.
Then he will fill your barns with grain,
and your vats will overflow with good wine.”
(Proverbs 3)

Lord let it so. Amen.

Happy New Year!

__________________

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Morning Prayer 50

 

Abba, in the still of the morning I’m waiting … on You.  Quiet my mind and heart by the Presence of the Spirit. Speak “peace” to the thoughts that blow through the corridors of my mind making me anxious about so many things.

How I praise You that I am called a ‘child of God.’  

 This is my confession - Galatians 4:5-7 “God sent (Jesus) to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.”  Oh, what joy!

In these days when we remember Jesus’ birth and Isaiah’s declaration that He is the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace” – I pray to know You anew in these ways.

Let my soul be filled with the supernatural serenity that comes from the Spirit’s Presence, the security that flows from faith, and the wisdom only known in Your counsel. And, let me be a source of peace, hope, and wisdom in the world in which I live today, I pray.

Let Light overcome darkness – in me and through me in my world.

In the Holy Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

The BEST of Christmas

Christmas is JOY! The lights, the familiar songs, the decorations everywhere, the excitement of kids, gatherings of friends and family … it can all add up to a great close to the year -- except that it doesn’t for some. There are some choices to be made that will shape the holiday; that will certainly influence the way that you feel on 12/26!

How do we lay a foundation for joy?

First of all, deal with your expectations of Christmas!
It's just a day. No, I'm not Ebenezer Scrooge. I am as excited as I can be about seeing friends and family, heading to the beautiful Christmas Eve service, swapping old stories, and doing the “holiday stuff” however I must remember that when the party's over, life will resume. Christmas will not magically turn all the wrong into right, fix everything that is broken or disappointing.

If we put unrealistic expectations on Christmas day, the 26th will dawn with disappointment. Better to simply enjoy life as it unfolds and thank God for the serendipitous moments that find you. If you overload the day with lofty expectations, even one disappointment can obscure a hundred blessings.

Second, keep the focus where it belongs.
This is Jesus' birthday party. If we get trapped by a misplaced emphasis on the external stuff of Christmas and, in the process of getting our various 'to-do' lists checked off, we will live right through the holiday and miss the meaning.

It's a 'Holy day' primarily. Yep, Americans made it into a festival of consumption... too much food, too much fun, too much spending. The fat guy in a red suit, as fun as he can be, has sadly hidden the real message about the Babe in the manger for millions of people. Don't get me wrong! I like Santa Claus. The jolly old man is a myth that captivates me even now.

Who doesn't yearn for somebody to magically bring happiness, if even for a day, to all the kids of the world? But, even more, there is Wonder in the story of God giving the Gift of Himself to a broken world, changing sinners to saints, bringing alienated sons and daughters of God back home!

Third, be wise - financially, emotionally, spiritually.
Holidays always create stress.
Old family issues can bubble up to the surface as we rub shoulders with people that we do not see the rest of the year.
Obligations at home, work, and church pile up in over-crowded schedules creating exhaustion.
Most of us will feel some need to try to settle old debts or to balance the scales, especially the emotional ones.

There is a heart that beats in each of us that longs for love, and we'll try almost anything to feel the magic. Parties can set us up for mistakes. So, we will need insight, gentleness, and courage to navigate our way through these challenges successfully. If we don't, we may well wake up on the 26th missing the joy, with an aching head and a maxxed out credit card.

Finally, keep LOVE in focus.
Put people first. That is, after all, the meaning of Christmas! "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it." (John 3:16-17, NLT)

The Spirit of God is here, near, right now. Pray to be in a place where He can touch your life with Light. Set times of prayer and contemplation at regular intervals, moments when your soul can breathe in the Breath of God.

... And you will surely know more joy on the 26th!

Merry Christmas and thank you for letting me share thoughts with you throughout this year.  

__________________

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Come on home!

The run-up to Christmas stirs up the mental sediment for many of us. Memories float up into consciousness of seasons past, loves lost, joys once known for many of us. The sentimental songs of the Season create dreams that are not really grounded in reality. And, for millions, the feeling of being unloved creeps up. And, too, our mistakes, misses, and sins can take hold of us, accompanied by a sense of worthlessness!

While I was thinking about people I know who are struggling with loss this year, an old Gospel song came to me –
“That God should love a sinner such as I,
should yearn to change my sorrow into bliss,
nor rest till He had planned to bring me nigh—
how wonderful is love like this!

Such love, such wondrous love,
That God should love a sinner such as I,
How wonderful is love like this.”

And now He takes me to His heart – a son;
He asks me not to fill a servant's place.
The far-off country wand'rings all are done;
wide open are His arms of grace!”  - (C. Bishop)

Those lines are based on a parable Jesus told which I love to re-tell and have done so hundreds of times. It comes from Luke's Gospel, 15, and is often called the story of the Prodigal Son, though I prefer to the title – “The Waiting Father.”

The young man lost his sense, lost his way, lost his fortune, and lost his love for family! He was in terrible shape, to all appearance beyond hope. His life had hit the bottom. Here he was, a good Jewish boy taking care of pigs, broke and alone. There in his desperation the memory of the Father's house pulled at his heart. He decided-"I will go home to my father!"  

Jesus tells us that this man thought he was unloved but hoped to make a deal just to be near the old home place. “Dad, I’ve been a real fool, unworthy. Can I just work for you?”  He expected what he deserved. He received what he did not dream was possible. 
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him." (Luke 15:20, NLT)  There it is – the story of every person.

When I repeat that story my voice often fills with emotion because those words are an expression of a love so rich and frequently ignored.

We took the life God invested in us, went off to do our own thing, then hoped that we could make a deal with God to regain His favor. But, He will not play that game. Instead, “immense in mercy” He reaches out to us, fully forgiving, loving, and brings us back into His family.  The Enemy of God whispers the Lie to lost ones - "God does not care for you.  He's abandoned the search.   You're abandoned, alone - and you're so lost, you can never go home!"  Don't believe it!  The Waiting Father and the Searching Spirit are looking for the lost.   The love of heaven beckons us to turn toward home and guides us back to the Way. 

John overflows with amazement when he explains-  “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”  (1 John 4:9-10)

Christian, have you wandered? Are you wondering if love is possible? Does your heart ache to know real care? Start with the restorative, healing, hopeful love of God shown in Christ Jesus. "Go home today!"  Pray a simple of prayer asking God to help you to know His love, to forgive you for wandering away, and then let HIS EMBRACE OF GRACE hold your heart.

Here's a word from the Word - Read it prayerfully, carefully. Rejoice in the wonder of the amazing grace that found you!   “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)”  (Ephesians 2:1-5)

The Father’s love is deep and wide. Live in it and I pray the JOY of Jesus will fill your life.

__________________

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Morning Prayer 49

Abba, a blanket of snow and chill winds are evidence of the wintry season, a time when death descends on this part of the world. Wintry cold is offset by the promise of Springtime, that there will be renewal of the earth, warming by the Sun’s rays.

My heart feels a kind of chill as I see the struggle with sin and death that is all around. Men crazed by hatred kill. Politicians drunk with power and puffed up with pride threaten the poor and the weak and send armies that lay waste to cities and people’s livelihoods. Mighty angels of Heaven do battle with the demons of Hell. Spirit of God, turn their hearts to life.

And yes, Abba, I confess that I, too, am tempted by my own weaknesses to abandon the warmth of Your great care to chase my own whims. I trust the seal of the Spirit that keeps me close to Your heart.

Father, I pray the words of Ezekiel, asking that our love for You will be renewed by the winds of the Spirit blowing over us. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” (36:25)

This Advent renews our hope in the Savior Who came to bring life and in the King who will come to reign in peace. Oh, the wonder of it all.

In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.