Avoid the Storm

Last year I attended the Sonshine Festival in Willmar, MN. I ended up having to work that day and wasn’t able to get on the road to the event until after I got off at 5pm. This meant that I missed a couple of opening bands but would be able to get up there to see the main acts of the night. I was a little bummed out, but would survive. As I got closer to my destination, the clouds began to roll in and the wind picked up. I pulled into Willmar to the tune of some very severe weather. After I few phone calls I learn that everyone that was already there had to be evacuated into the main buildings on the grounds. I ended up stopping at the local mall and plopped down in the patio furniture section at Kmart to wait the storm out. After the worst had subsided, I drove out to the festival to find everyone back at the site wringing out clothes, sleeping bags, and reassembling tents. My stuff was dry as a bone and I slept great that night (can’t say that about the rest).

This was a situation where I would have loved to have arrived at the festival sooner than I did. Instead, after it all shook out, I was glad to have not been there during the chaos.

The Life of Jesus

In the life of Jesus, this phrase really rings true. He came as a baby. Not a mighty king on a chariot coming from the clouds. Just a tiny baby born in the meekest of places. He used parables often to show and teach us about the things that matter most in this life. Each one shadowing it’s true meaning with relate-able topics of the day that everyone could understand. His death…not a triumphant ascent to a throne in Jerusalem with His disciples at His side…a heart wrenching disguise of what true love is: Sacrificing of one’s self for another.

John 15:13: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Prayer
Father,
I thank you for blessings that are disguised everyday in my life. Your plan for me is much greater and much more amazing than I’ll ever understand. Help me to be a blessing to others at every opportunity I get. I ‘lay down’ my life for your purpose.

Amen.

What are some ‘Blessings in Disguise’ that you’ve been blessed with?

Cola…Soda…Pop…The Sugary Temptress. Everyone has a favorite. Pepper or citrus based, each chocked full of sugar and caffeine.

Daily Temptation

They have a fountain machine where I work (I know, it sounds extra super fantabulous). It’s a perk…or a least meant to keep you ‘perked’ J. I go through phases of trying to boycott the soda machine. It lasts anywhere from a few days to a few months…but somewhere along the line I always end up back in a ‘sticky’ situation. I don’t understand why, it just happens. It’s not like it’s good for me.

Drinking Pop Makes Me…

Cons

- If I drink to much, it makes my stomach do flips

- My teeth hurt after to much soda

- Makes me tense and my jaw clenches up and is sore by the end of the day

- I feel guilty because it’s useless calories and not good for my body

Pros

- It tastes good for the 2 seconds it’s in my mouth

Four cons to one pro. And yet, I end up coming back to it every time. Sin is the same way. It might feel or sound fun for 2 seconds, but it always comes back to bite you. You end up with a guilty conscience, you suffer consequences, you end up injured physically, emotionally, or spiritual (and often all of the above).

Temptation is Unavoidable

James 4:7 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James doesn’t say give yourself to God, and no temptation will befall you. He puts it to you straight. You must resist the temptation of the devil. The good news is that those who are of God and resist can defeat temptation.

More often than not, we put up a meager struggle. Whether it’s being tempted to steal, verbally abuse or make fun of someone, view pornography or other sexual imagery…whatever it is…a meager resistance won’t be enough. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).” A lion won’t be tamed with the thrashing of a shoe string. It takes the crack of a whip; the whip of God’s Word. When temptation finds you, use the strength of the Word to drive it from your presence. Rely on God, and His salvation will save.

Visualization Technique: Next time you are confronted with temptation, imagine yourself in the mouth of the lion’s den. Visualize you’re whip…

Matthew 4:10 – Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve

Proverbs 22:5 – In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them

Psalm 119:11 – I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Reveal it to your adversary with the flick of your tongue, each word driving the lion further back into his den from whence he came. These verses here are just a few of the amazing scriptures to use (add your own in the comments).

Psalm 27:1 – The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Prayer

Lord,

Thank you for the gift of your Word. It is a comfort and strength in my weakness. Draw near to me in times of temptation. Help me to follow the straight and narrow path you’ve set before me. Help me to use your word as my shield and defense.

Amen.

Are you busy?

“Are you busy?” Busyness is something I think that everyone can relate to these days. “Blessed with busyness” our Pastor says. Blessed by being able to use all the talents given to us by a Mighty God. That sounds great in a perfect world. I know many families that are at their busiest during these prime summer months. Between weekend softball tournaments, planning a family vacation, mowing the lawn, getting the kids motivated on week days to do something while you are at work…life can seem awfully busy.

Are you a Mary or a Martha?

Luke 10:38-42 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Martha did what I think most normal people would do when they hear someone important is coming to there home. She cleaned, made dinner, hid any ‘incriminating evidence’, and got out the ‘Good dishes’ so as to accommodate and, most likely, try to impress Jesus her guest.

Upon Jesus’ arrival, Martha busies herself with accommodating Jesus, while Mary busies herself listening to Jesus. When Martha addresses this issue with the equivalent of “How come I have to do all the work and Mary just gets to sit there?”, Jesus responds. “Martha , I can see that you are busy, and doing a wonderful job at what you are doing I might add. I know Mary would love to help you, but she is busy right now too. Busy listening to me. This is the best thing that she can be doing right now.”

So are you a Mary or a Martha? Do you busy yourself with things of this world in place of time in prayer and meditation? I myself have been guilty of Martha syndrome. Busyness has distracted me in my spiritual journey. Being busy isn’t a sin. But when it interferes with our spiritual growth and our relationship with a loving God, it’s time to sit down and go through our priorities. Take the time…literally block it out…to spend in prayer and reflection on God’s Word and His presence in your life.

Prayer

Father,

Thank you for the gifts you have given me and for the opportunities I’m given to utilize them and be ‘blessed with busyness’. Give me the wisdom and ability to manage my time effectively so that I may be about the tasks you have given to me, but so that my relationship with you doesn’t slide to the bottom of the list.

In Jesus Name,

Amen.

For my first devotional, I wanted to start with when my faith really caught fire and became ‘real’ to me.

The Early Years

I grew up on a farm. Went to a tiny parochial school. Tiny. Thirty kids in 1st-8th grade. The school was built by the church ‘back in the day’ (1917). This 3 room school house educated many a local farm kid.

I grew up understanding and viewing God as an Old Testament kind of God. He hated sin and anything associated with it…but he sent His Son to die so that I could go to heaven. Only requirement was that I believed this truth. In what I heard at church I understood God to be ‘Up there’ and us to be ‘Down here’. Separated.

Higher Education

I attended a Lutheran high school. God was presented no differently. Still more of a concept and ideal than a living being.

Once in college, my faith took a backseat to socializing, making new friends, partying, along with class and homework. It was a public college. No ‘Bible classes’ here. Just math and science. Occasional a ‘Bible-banger’ would show up in the school courtyard and just begin preaching…only to be avoided and ridiculed.

Light Bulb (click!)

But God had a plan to reveal himself to me. A simple plan that started with waking up early on a Sunday morning. The only time I’d been attending church was when I made it home on the weekends (more to socialize than to hear God’s Word), but this Sunday I thought I should take my Aunt up on an invitation to her church in the town I went to college in. I ended up getting there in the middle of one service, so I just hung around and attended the next. I had been involved in some musical performances before at this church. I had met some of the people in the band and choir.

I won’t claim to remember the sermon that day. It wasn’t the sermon that grabbed me. It was the youth director, Darren. As I walked toward an exit he politely said,” Hey…You’re Pam’s nephew aren’t you.” I said that I was. He new that I sang from seeing me at the other events and invited me to come to ROCK worship (Rejoice as One in Christ the King). I accepted and showed up the following Tuesday for practice. In hind sight…that was one of those defining moments. The type that changes the course of history.

Being involved in ROCK worship was a lot of fun. It was a youth worship service on Sunday nights. It added joy and friends that I had been lacking for so long.

The Lord was continually working on me throughout this time. After a few months, I was invited to chaperon a youth event called Acquire the Fire (ATF). This was my first exposure to the concept of having a relationship with Christ. I came away from that event with a burning desire to express this love, as well as my appreciation and thankfulness for it. I was no longer separated from this God that had always been ‘up there’.

Romans 8:38-39: For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

These verses came to life to me that weekend. Somewhere in the music, motivational speakers, and worship…Christ revealed Himself in my heart. Since then, I’ve had up’s and down’s, but I’m always aware that my Savior is here with me to pick me when I fall, to rejoice with me in my triumphs, and to simply love me through all of it.

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the revelations and the journey that has brought me into Your arms. I rejoice that nothing in this life can separate me from You. Each day is a new day with new opportunities to journey with You in Your love. Strengthen me in the battles waged against the sins and struggles that try to separate me from You.

Blessed is Your holy name

Amen.