“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”  Colossians 3:17 NIV

At a little country church I used to attend, the pastor put an empty wooden chair up in the front facing himself and the congregation. He then went on to tell us that it was the Jesus chair and to picture Him sitting right there in our midst. He was trying to make a connection for us that Jesus is with us all the time in a manner that we could all relate and it was very effective.

I come back to that simple image on occasion when I need to be reminded who is in the room. It helps me to put things into perspective when I feel weak or incapable. It’s not like I keep an empty chair in my house as the Jesus chair that would be weird and a bit idolatrous. But, what I do keep in mind is that in every empty chair, Jesus is in the room; next to me in the car, at the dinner table, and in the lazy boy in the living room.

Just by that simple reminder, we can give the Father the gift of honor, bringing glory to His name through His son, Jesus Christ by our actions and words. And I can’t think of a better way to show our love for El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One, than by honoring Him through His Son in that manner.

Father, Thank You for Jesus and thank you for being our All-Sufficient One. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen.

The family was enjoying our pie after a large Thanksgiving feast. I asked my mom how her side of the family was doing because we don’t really know them very well and they are spread out all over the opposite side of the country.   She is one of 12 siblings so the family is quite large.  She proceeded to tell me that I had a cousin that at a very young age had a heart attack, another cousin has stomach cancer, and another attempted suicide.  Only these tragic events were recalled.   When she finished, I paused, and said, “Well then, we have a lot to be thankful for”.

Sometimes we want to focus on what is wrong as if it carries more weight than what is good and right. The death rather than the birth, the sickness rather than the answered prayer for healing.  It might have something to do with what we are exposed to day to day in society.  The breaking news in the morning  is usually story after story of bad and sometimes shocking headlines all intended to grab our attention.   Are we conditioned to only react to the bad things, the tragic things, the things that make you stop and shake your head?   If this is so, how can we change it?

Paul gave instructions to the church of Philippi and called them to make a shift in how and with what they were busying their minds in Philippians 4:8 (NIV) which says “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”  I know this scripture goes deeply into the goodness of God but the words are relevant to teaching us about how to use our minds to focus on what is good.

Paul also says in Romans 12:2 (NIV) “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  This scripture clearly states that we need to replace the world’s way of thinking with a Godly manner of thinking which is achievable through reading His Word and getting to know Him.  For only He is good, pure, noble, and true.

Father, Thank You for the tools to train our minds to see Your goodness and not be so focused on the drama of this world. Help us to discern and celebrate Your good and perfect way.  In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

He sat next to me on a short flight, the middle-seat guy.  He took out the seat-back magazine and started working on an origami piece.  He read the instructions step-by-step and studied the example picture closely.  As he worked, he would compare his piece to the picture and either move on to the next step or take a step back to make a correction.  I watched him through the reflection in the window for about a half hour.  He just kept at it and I never really sensed any frustration when his hand-held masterpiece didn’t look like the magazine.  I was enthralled with this whole scene of determination.

When things like this cross my path, I often ask the Lord, “What do you want to teach me in this moment? “  At that point, I was reminded that our instructions are clearly written for us to follow step-by-step and the pictures that the words paint are more beautiful than a camera can catch.  Conviction nibbled at me.   Do I go back and compare my life to the picture the Lord painted in His Word?  Does my life look like the picture or do I need to go back and make corrections?   Do I have the determination to make these adjustments or am I content to stay stuck with a picture that looks nothing like the original?

Father, Thank You for Your instruction book and the beautiful picture it paints for our lives.  Help us to have the determination it takes to compare our lives to Your Words and make any necessary corrections.  Not in our strength, but in Yours.  In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

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

The ocean crashed in front of me against the rocky shore.  There was so much power behind the waves that the ocean spray covered me with a fine mist.  It was unfriendly to human invasion and I knew I was just a spectator to this grand display of the raw awesome power of our Lord.    I was face to face with Scripture.

The boundary set for the sea by our Lord brought to mind the boundaries that He sets for us.  Why are we drawn to step out of our safe haven into the unfriendly and turbulent sea where we are tossed around without regard?  Ending up broken and bloody, dropped back onto the shoreline worse for the wear.

The Lord has provided our safe haven, our boundaries, just as He did for the sea.  “This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt …”   Are you listening to the boundaries He has set for you or are you enduring a turbulent sea?

I challenge you to get in His Word to discover or reinforce where He has set your boundaries and after prayerful consideration, make a list of three areas you want to work through with Him.

Father, Your love is shown through Your Word.  Let us be open and receptive to where you direct us today.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray.                                                                                                                                                  

“Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, “This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt?”   Job 38:8-11 NIV

“Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”  John 20:29

This is a profound moment between “Doubting” Thomas and the Risen Lord Jesus.  However, it is also a hook to draw us into a glimpse of the miraculous signs that Jesus did while here on earth.   Jesus knew that those who were not with Him to experience the events first hand would also have doubts.  Therefore, He left us a true and inerrant record of just some of the many miracles that He performed in hopes that we would believe.   It even says in verse 30 of the same chapter of John, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.”  Then John goes on to say in verse 31, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”  He had you in mind when standing there before Thomas.

I was enjoying a quiet moment and was pondering verse 29.  You might call it an epiphany but I was overcome with joy by this thought; how much more blessed am I that gets to see Jesus show up miraculously day after day?  I have a panoramic view of Him working in our day.  As I get to know Him through His Word, I am able to recognize His works.  I recognize His character, His love, His grace.   I see Him.

Do you know Him well enough to recognize Him or will He bring you to a moment of truth as He did Thomas and proclaim, “…Stop doubting and believe.”  John 20:27

A river is a powerful force leaving us to question where it came from and where it’s going.  A river is deep in some parts while shallow in others.  A river has obstructions like rocks or trees.  A river falls or rises depending on the terrain.  It pools and splits.  Sometimes a river is crystal clear and you can see the depth and sometimes it’s so murky, you can’t see past the surface.  The force that drives the river can’t be seen, but the affect of that drive can be felt.

Our lives are like rivers.  We have the unknown between birth and death.  We have moments of depth and moments of shallowness.  We encounter obstructions that can either clutter our lives and make us adjust around them or redirect us in another path.  We will rise or fall to the occasion.  We will have moments of stability and moments of uncertainty.  We can sometimes see a clear path while other times we can only see our next step.  But like the river, we all have the force that drives our lives that cannot be seen but can be felt.

“The wind blows wherever it pleases.  You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.  So it is with everyone born of the Spirit”.  John 3:8 NIV

Just wanted to share the Lord with all those who will listen ….