Taking or Giving

“Sinners are always wanting what they don't have; the God-loyal are always giving what they do have.” Proverbs 21:26 (The Message)

Giving is not spoken about much these days. Folks are scared, folks are worried. Yet, should our environment dictate our behavior? Or should our God-character dictate our environment?

Consider; in good times or bad… in prosperity or despair… who suffers most? Is it not the poor, the needy, and the weak? Instead of travelling the knee-jerk and easy route of giving a hand-out… I need…, we need…, to give them a hand-up! The first takes little effort and quiets our conscience quickly… the latter represents commitment, hard work, and a relationship.

For many of us it’s not the need that is so pressing… it is the want. Since the 1950’s we’ve been ‘programmed’ to purchase, to consume, and to want, want, want. Stimulating our ‘wants’ is good for business…

A consumer’s mind-set is simply self-centered, selfish, and is based on greed… and not need. I mean how many DVD movies is enough? How televisions, computers, cars, and stuff is sufficient? Mike, you might ask… didn’t I just see you go to Wal-Mart and purchase three DVDs the other day? Yes, you did. God’s Spirit is speaking (preaching) to me just as well.

You know, I wonder sometimes where my heart is… where’s my affections? I wonder why I often lack the inability to maintain a God consciousness continually. Like you and like the Apostle Paul I fight the good fight of faith… that is to keep me under control. (1 Tim. 6:12; 1 Cor. 9:27) What are you fighting?

That is what this little devotional readings are all about. They are a means of sharing, caring, giving, and receiving. I’ve been called to encourage and yet truthfully I’m often at a loss as to how. Especially when I go through much the same highs and lows as everyone else. It is at those moments that someone who is poor in spirit, someone who is needy and hungry for God or someone weak and dependent on God calls me, emails me, or walks up and encourages my heart by their sheer trust in Jesus Christ.

So as you read along you will find me exposing my heart for more of God. To do that is a gift… a gift given this instrument to prayfully assist you to expose your heart to the love and grace of Jesus Christ. And by opening our hearts to Christ we find the greatest encouragement and comfort.

Going Gray

“Youth may be admired for vigor, but gray hair gives prestige to old age.” Proverbs 20:29

Yesterday I took God’s advice and read some good jokes from a friend. They spoke of age. For me that was all the more fun as that morning I did more than shave and comb my hair I actually took a look at myself. Wow, I thought, I’m going gray, where did the time go?

Growing gray or bald or both (my case) is natural and part of life. Yet, more than the appearance is my desire for wisdom and a change of heart. I guess I’m getting old.

Like you I can recall my youth. Even as a guy I spend a lot of time in front of the mirror so that I could look my best. A great part of my life was tied up in my appearance. How times have changed. Now my time is spent looking at God’s mirror and judging my character, to look my best for Him, to honor Christ.

Some days I don’t look at the mirror and I wonder how I must appear to God. How does God view you?

Haste makes Waste

“Ignorant zeal is worthless; haste makes waste.” Proverbs 19:2 (The Message)

From 1678 when John Ray first published his proverb collection to now, “haste makes waste” certainly applies. Thinking before acting, considering before impulsivity and not throwing caution to the wind are all trademarks of wisdom and maturity.

Yet, in our day haste is the speed of business. Lists that grow longer, taskers that marry and have children, timeliness is preached, taught, plastered on billboard… its all rush, rush, rush. It’s no wonder we are stressed, perplexed, and tired all the time.

So what to do? With each day there needs to be a break. A time to relax. A time to laugh. And a time to enjoy. Each day we must find time to share a good lunch, a pleasant conversation, or a time to just be still.

True, the job must get done and done on time. Yet doing so frantically will most often create more rework, pressure, and stress. Planning, even the most mundane of tasks will bring clarity and accomplishment, having a plan is key.

Each day your Heavenly Father has a plan and a purpose for you. The plan is not hastily put together but is lovingly thought out, gently put together, and calmly whispered in scripture or moments of prayer. Take a moment in your day to spend time with your Heavenly Father and through Him find peace, rest, and contentment.

Who is this King of Glory

“We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.” Philippians 3:20-21 (The Message)

Regardless of our circumstances we have the greatest of hope! A hope not seen. A hope promised by the keeper of promises, our Lord and Savior.

Our bodies will fail us, friends may get stupid and betray us, and lets face it… we are human and we all make bumbling mistakes. And in looking at all that and looking at all the financial woes of America and beyond its easy to get down, despondent, and discouraged. Boy, we are a spoiled lot!

Yet, I see in scripture a beautiful story of hope coming of age right now… right before our eyes.

I see a season of change. True on one hand I see humanism, socialism, and the supposed glory of human intellect all coming together to ‘save the earth’. I’m seeing the suppression of noble thought, the quieting of good creative speech, and the subjegegation of anything Godly, Holy, and righteous. I’m looking around and seeing the effects of “the love of many growing cold” (Matt. 24:12).

Ah, but that is the looking at the troubled waters that Peter peeked at… yet, when I gaze at our coming King I see the soon arrival of His Glory! The marching steps of His saint-army, clothed in white, clothed in righteousness… cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ.

I hope for the King of Glory on his throne… dipped in full majesty, honored fully, magnified, and exalted above every name that is named! (Revelation 19)

“Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory” (Psalm 24.10).

This is our hope. A hope of the coming King. A promise that needs reminding, needs saying, and needs repeating all to compete against the present war of thought and words that besets us. And presently we may grow weary, we may grow faint, but we can never truly grow discouraged when we look at the great hope found in God’s beautiful Word.