Posted in Prayer Starters

Replacing Complaints With Praise

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When my girls were little, we sang a Scripture song by *Steve Green called “Do Everything Without Complaining.1” It was from Philippians 2:14 and was a great teaching tool for those times when they complained about something or someone. In all honesty, it was a teaching tool for me as well, and the verse has stuck with me/us all these years. Now, the Spirit is quick to use it to convict when complaints start flowing. The idea Paul was seeking to convey to the Philippians was that when we are complaining and arguing, we are opening ourselves (the body of Christ) up to criticism. He encouraged them to live clean and innocent lives as children of God so that they would shine as bright lights in a crooked and perverse world. 

The words were simple and repetitive*, but when it came time to put away toys, do homework, or clean their room, it was an effectively catchy measure of warding off the complaining and arguing that would sometimes ensue.  

*Do everything without complaining.

Do everything without arguing

so that you may become blameless

and pure children of God. (repeat)

As adults, our complaining may not always hinge on having to take out the trash or do the dishes; it’s more likely to revolve around life’s daily frustrations. While the girls and I no longer sing the song, we have learned to look for God’s fingerprints and blessings throughout the day. We name them and share them and strive to focus on them, particularly when the hurts and disappointments or inconveniences of life arise. Naming the blessings sets our minds on God, His goodness, His mercy, His grace, and His love, and the list goes on and on. When this happens, our complaining tongues are replaced with praises, and peace and contentment soon triumph over the frustrations and disappointments. 

Today, let’s echo the prayer of Crisswell Freeman* – “Lord, I can either count my blessings or complain about my disappointments. Today, help me to focus my thoughts upon my blessings, my gifts, and my opportunities. Amen2” 

Posted in From the Insideout

You Should Love One Another

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To love wasn’t new. Certainly, throughout the Old Testament we ar, taught to love God. Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” If that sounds familiar, it should – because in the Gospel of Mark, when Jesus was asked “what is the most important commandment?” He replied,

“The most important commandment is: ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love[a] the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’[b] 31 The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c] There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Ok, so to “Love one another” must be the new part – right? No, even this was taught to the people of God long before Christ said it to His disciples. God told Moses to use the same words to teach His people about love in Leviticus 19:18:

You must not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you must love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

So, if “Loving one another” isn’t new why did Jesus say this was a “new commandment”? Because here in John 13:34, Jesus clarifies the command with these words:

Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.

The “new commandment” was and is, “Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another” This means I have to know how He loved. What did He do? What didn’t He do? Why and how and all of the other explorative questions we can think of must be examined. It is only in knowing these answers that we will be able to fulfill this commandment, a command that Jesus references in His response to what the greatest commandment is.

One final note, in case, for even a moment of time, we think this applies to only the people that are good and nice to us – in case we want to justify not loving those who have mistreated us, spoke evil of us, or worse – we must remember that when we were the enemies of God, Christ came and died for us. It is to that end that we must live and love like Jesus.

For a good synopsis of how Jesus loved, check-out 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 , John 13:14-15, and Philippians 2:5-8.

Posted in Quiet Time

John 13:31-35

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Today’s Scripture: John 13:31-35 (S.O.A.P. John 13:34-35)

Question of the Day: How can we love one another like Christ loved us?

31 When[a] Judas[b] had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him,[c] God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him right away.[d] 33 Children, I am still with you for a little while. You will look for me,[e] and just as I said to the Jewish religious leaders,[f] ‘Where I am going you cannot come,’[g] now I tell you the same.[h]

34 “I give you a new commandment—to love[i] one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.[j] 35 Everyone[k] will know by this that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another.”

After Thought
Posted in Quiet Time

John 13:1-17

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Video starter

Today’s Scripture: John 13:1-17 (S.O.A.P. John 13:14-15)

Question of the Day: Why do you think Jesus chose to wash the feet of His disciples?

Washing the Disciples’ Feet – Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that his time[a] had come to depart[b] from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now loved them to the very end.[c] 2 The evening meal[d] was in progress, and the devil had already put into the heart[e] of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray[f] Jesus.[g] 3 Because Jesus[h] knew that the Father had handed all things over to him,[i] and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 he got up from the meal, removed[j] his outer clothes,[k] took a towel and tied it around himself.[l] 5 He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel he had wrapped around himself.[m]

Then he came to Simon Peter. Peter[n] said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash[o] my feet?” 7 Jesus replied,[p] “You do not understand[q] what I am doing now, but you will understand[r] after these things.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!”[s] Jesus replied,[t] “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”[u] 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, wash[v] not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus replied,[w] “The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet,[x] but is completely[y] clean.[z] And you disciples[aa] are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 (For Jesus[ab] knew the one who was going to betray him. For this reason he said, “Not every one of you is[ac] clean.”)[ad]

 So when Jesus[ae] had washed their feet and put his outer clothing back on, he took his place at the table[af] again and said to them, “Do you understand[ag] what I have done for you? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and do so correctly,[ah] for that is what I am.[ai] 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example[aj]—you should do just as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the solemn truth,[ak] the slave[al] is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger[am] greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you understand[an] these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

After Thoughts
Posted in From the Insideout

Loved – to the Very End

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If I am to imitate Jesus – to be a good reflection of who He is – I must know Him well. I must know how He talked, the habits He had – the company He kept, and the way He spent and prioritized His time. I must know how and even why Jesus loved and lived. I must know and understand His character and what made Him who and how He was.

I can only truly find these details in God’s Word, the depth of which is not meant to be examined here today but the crux of which is this – He was from God. God, who had loved the world so much that He gave Jesus, His only begotten Son, to suffer and die so that all who believed in Him might live. Everything He did and said, the way He lived and loved, how He responded, and the things He thought all hinged on Him being from God. Yes, He was Himself God, but He took on human form, making Himself also a man*, and it is that reference that I found myself examining in the passage I read today from John 13:1-17.

Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that his time had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now loved them to the very end 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray Jesus. 3 Because Jesus knew that the Father had handed all things over to him, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 he got up from the meal, removed his outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around himself. 5 He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel he had wrapped around himself.

6 Then he came to Simon Peter. Peter[n] said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not understand what I am doing now, but you will understand after these things.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus replied, “The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 (For Jesus knew the one who was going to betray him. For this reason he said, “Not every one of you is clean.”)

12 So when Jesus had washed their feet and put his outer clothing back on, he took his place at the table again and said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and do so correctly, for that is what I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example—you should do just as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the solemn truth, the slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

His habits were Holy and Righteous – why? Because He was from God. He was found most often in the company of His disciples – but also – in the home and the company of sinners. Many questioned this, but we know it was simply and profoundly – because He was from God, sent to seek and save the lost. Because He was from God – He spent His time feeding the hungry, healing the sick, teaching the masses about the Kingdom of God, and communicating with the Father. He came to give life to the full – why – because He wanted us to be one with the Father just as He is. This oneness can only be experienced when we know God, which is precisely what Christ desired for all people – because He was from God.

Jesus wasn’t just their Lord and teacher. He was God Himself, yet, here we find Him, just before His imminent suffering and death, to have gotten up from the table and removing all hindrances prepared Himself outwardly to perform a ‘servant-like’ expression of His love. As Matthew Henry said, “He taught them the value of spiritual washing and the cleansing of the soul from the pollutions of sin,” and He did this through the lowly act of washing their feet. In preparation for His departure, it seems He wanted them to not only witness an act of selfless love but to be the recipients. So, Jesus gave them a very humble and passionately moving example of serving others from an attitude of love and humility instead of from a position or status. He did this throughout His ministry as an example of how we are to live and love and serve. He loved beyond who and what He was and knew He was entitled to*. Jesus lived and taught a love that served not self but others and spilled out in actions that proved His love was not only genuine but one that endures to the very end.

*Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy, 2 complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose. 3 Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. 4 Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. 5 You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, 6who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. 8 He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death —even death on a cross! Philippians 2:1-8

Posted in Prayer Starters

“Just Keep Praying”

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How many decisions do you make in a given day? How do you make them? Which ones do you pray about and which ones do you simply make? These were some questions that came to mind after reading my prayer starter verse this morning.

This morning’s prayer starter is from James 1:5-6

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6

In the Disney movie “Finding Nemo”, there’s an adorable blue fish whose name is Dory. Dory is a bubbly, happy, but very forgetful fish who delivers perhaps the most memorable and often repeated line of the movie: “Just keep swimming”. I mention her because I borrow the line frequently when facing situations that are difficult as a reminder to keep going. I have also revised it many times to say “Just keep praying”. Someone’s sick … pray. Someone is hurting … pray. Someone is in need … pray. The lost need Jesus … pray. You lack strength … pray. Wisdom is needed … as suggested in our verse this morning … pray. Just keep praying.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul said it like this – “Pray continually”. This can be a daunting statement until we understand the meaning behind it, that it is God’s invitation and desire for us to walk and talk with Him throughout the day. Time with God isn’t relegated to a church pew or your ‘closet’, nor is it limited to before meals or bedtime. Prayers do not have to be limited to the “BIG things of life” either – actually, in 1 Peter 5:7, Peter said that we should “cast all our cares on God because He cares for us”. The idea isn’t that we walk around with our heads bowed or stay on our knees all day – the idea is that we have an open line of communication with God throughout every day.

So, my encouragement is this: Pray big prayers, pray long or short prayers, pray whispered prayers or journaled prayers. Pray believing, expecting, and knowing that God hears and cares and answers the prayers of His children. Just keep praying.

Posted in From the Insideout

After Thoughts: John 3:9-21

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Today’s Reading

I’ve recently started using the NET (New English Translation) Bible and was fascinated with the rendering of verse 16. “For this is the way God loved the world:” This is a demonstrative statement that demonstrates God’s expressed love. A love so deep and wide that He held nothing back. We were all sinners (Romans 3:23) condemned (Romans 6:23) unclean but God’s love triumphed over sin and death and brought not just life but eternal life to all who would believe (Acts 16:31). The action of “giving His one and only Son” for the salvation of all who would believe showed an unimaginable love not just for the collective world but for each individual, no matter their race or station in life – Jew or Gentile, uncivilized, slave or free. The demonstration wasn’t just for show or done without thought – He planned and carried out each detail. So, He didn’t just give His Son, He gave Him with the knowledge that He would be crucified on a cross of shame for the sins of the world, more pointedly for your sins and mine. Simply stated, belief would equal salvation and salvation would equal eternal life and not because of anything we had done or could do – but simply and yet profoundly because HE SO LOVED THE WORLD! 💜

My encouragement for today – Let this knowledge move you to worship Father and Son for their deep and matchless love. Let it move you to live and love like Jesus. Finally, let it move you to share this message with at least one other person (friend, family member, neighbor…) today. Who knows, maybe they will share it with their friends and on and on until the whole world knows of God’s amazing love.

Posted in Quiet Time

John 3:9-21

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Today’s Scripture: John 3:9-21 (S.O.A.P. John 3:16-17)

Question of the Day: How did God love the world? Why did He do this?

 Nicodemus replied,[a] “How can these things be?”[b] 10 Jesus answered,[c] “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these things?[d] 11 I tell you the solemn truth,[e] we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but[f] you people[g] do not accept our testimony.[h] 12 If I have told you people[i] about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?[j] 13 No one[k] has ascended[l] into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.[m] 14 Just as[n] Moses lifted up the serpent[o] in the wilderness,[p] so must the Son of Man be lifted up,[q] 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”[r]

 For this is the way[s] God loved the world: He gave his one and only[t] Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish[u] but have eternal life.[v] 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,[w] but that the world should be saved through him. 18 The one who believes in him is not condemned.[x] The one who does not believe has been condemned[y] already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only[z] Son of God. 19 Now this is the basis for judging:[aa] that the light has come into the world and people[ab] loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil deeds hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed. 21 But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be plainly evident that his deeds have been done in God.[ac]

After Thoughts
Posted in From the Insideout

Intently

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Today’s Reading

Jesus, knowing Nicodemus was both a Jew and a Pharisee, wanted him to know the most important truth – that knowing and/or acknowledging He was from God would not gain Him the kingdom of God. Christ wanted Nicodemus to know that his position in life nor anything he could do, nor any knowledge he attested to could gain him access to the Kingdom of God. He made it clear that only by God giving him life through His Spirit – would he be allowed to enjoy such a privilege. The words Nicodemus spoke were true -Jesus was from God. However, Christ knew his heart and didn’t settle for the “right words” neither did He ignore the words, but instead addressed them by delivering the truly life-changing message of the Gospel.

There is, I believe, a secondary lesson here for believers as well – James’ words that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17) seems fittingly applied – perhaps, even more rightly applied – to knowledge. We cannot just know what God’s Word says and affect change. We must live according to what His Word says, and can only hope to truly do this by the power of His Spirit in us. Think of the disciples – the Gospels teach us that they walked with Jesus, studied under Him, and served with Him for three years – however, the real, lasting, and distinctive change came only after they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8 and 2:1 and following). Christ, Himself, said it was better for Him to go away so that they could receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7). He is Christ’s power in us. It is only through His presence that we are able to be the light and salt and spread the hope of eternal life to those who may know the right words but not the true and living God.

So, here’s my encouragement for today – Let’s live and love like Jesus, who listened intently and spoke boldly. Let’s not be satisfied with merely knowing God but let’s seek a relationship with Him and walk according to the Spirit. When we do this, people will see that we, as Nicodemus said about Jesus, are from God. Then, we – like Jesus – will have the opportunity to give an answer for the hope that is within us.

Posted in Quiet Time
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Today’s Scripture: John 3:1-8 (S.O.A.P. John 3:3)

Question of the Day: What did Jesus say had to happen before we can see the Kingdom of God? How is this possible?

Now a certain man, a Pharisee[a] named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council,[b] 2 came to Jesus[c] at night[d] and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs[e] that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus replied,[f] “I tell you the solemn truth,[g] unless a person is born from above,[h] he cannot see the kingdom of God.”[i] 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb and be born a second time, can he?”[j]

Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth,[k] unless a person is born of water and spirit,[l] he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh,[m] and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all[n] be born from above.’[o] 8 The wind[p] blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”[q]

After Thoughts