August 7, 2025

Exodus 14: 5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!” (NIV)

Making an impact on one soul for Jesus’ sake is still what it’s all about.*

When a member of my staff came to me with his resignation, I was sad to lose him – but I found someone to fill the position right away. No one is irreplaceable. We would all like to think that the world would at least come to a gentle slow-down if we weren’t there fulfilling our function – and maybe it would. Briefly.

The Israelites were doing the jobs that the Egyptians didn’t want to do themselves so they were going to be missed. God’s people should leave a void in their absence – but for more than just taking up space. What would happen in your community if your church members all fled? Would anyone notice that you were gone? What about you personally? Are you making a difference in anyone’s life?

In the movie, While You Were Sleeping, Lucy and Peter are talking about acts of heroism. Lucy tells Peter that she has seen him give up his seat on the train to an old lady. Peter shrugs it off, saying that giving up your seat is hardly heroic. Lucy says, “It is to the one who sits in it.”

If you think that your small acts of service don’t amount to much, consider the repercussions if you failed to perform them. The vacancy we fill may not be a big one but everything we do for the Lord matters.

When I feel inadequate and ordinary, I love to remind myself that Christ is extraordinary, Christ is self-sufficient, and he can use my service to impact others.*

August 6, 2025

Revelation 19: 7 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” (NIV)

Christians should be the kindest, most considerate and courteous people in the world.*

My favorite part of a wedding is seeing the look on the groom’s face as he watches his beautiful bride coming down the aisle toward him. Of course she is not flawless and chances are he knows that about her but at that moment he only sees his perfect bride. If only that moment could last a lifetime!

Now picture the wedding of the Lamb. His bride is not perfect either, but he loves her anyway. He loves her so much that he died to make it possible for her to come to him flawless. Unlike the bride in her gown and veil, the church’s imperfections aren’t just camouflaged – they are washed clean.

Unfortunately, the world doesn’t see the church through the loving eyes of the groom. This verse refers to the bride’s preparations - and it’s as if these preparations are all that the world sees. They see her before the dress is altered to fit; before the trip to the hairdresser; during her Bridezilla moments. They see our messiness, our hypocrisy, our lack of compassion, and our judgmental attitudes. They don’t understand that preparing for the wedding is a process.

It is our job, as the church – the bride – to introduce the world to our groom and his unconditional love by the way we demonstrate our love for them. We are living proof that we don’t have to be perfect to be loved. 

The way to change the world is to give it a better story.*

August 5, 2025

I John 4: 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. (NIV)

We cannot put our trust in a God we do not know.*

Years ago, my friend and her husband were volunteers in the children’s ministry at church – only they were usually late and frequently absent without notice. She confided in me that she thought the ministry leaders were mad at her. I said, “Of course they are. They can’t count on you to be there when they need you.” People can be unreliable, even if their intentions are good.

We know that we can count on God to keep his promises, but do we understand what it means to be able to rely on his love? Human love is fickle. Losing the love of a parent or a child may be fairly rare, but who hasn’t experienced the break-up of a relationship because “I just don’t love you anymore”? God’s love means never having to ask yourself, “What did I do wrong?” God’s love will never leave you feeling devastated. You can’t do anything to make God love you more – and you don’t have to because you can’t do anything to make him love you less, either.

When you are feeling unworthy of love, be reminded of this verse. Know God’s love and rely on it. He has gone to a lot of trouble to prove it!

He cannot not love us.*

August 4, 2025

Luke 1: 30-33 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” (NIV)

In order to have peace in the present, we must have confidence in the future.*

This angel could have begun his monologue with, “I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news. Which do you want first?” So, for the bad news, Mary: “You are going to be an unwed mother.” Under normal circumstances, he might as well have said, “Your life is ruined.” But these were not normal circumstances – and that was the good news. This baby – unplanned and hard to explain – was going to make it up to her by saving the world.

My pregnancy was not announced to me by an angel, and I was married, but it still was not the best news I had ever received. I was never very good with kids and my marriage was dysfunctional. Then I found out I was having twins . . . The months of my pregnancy and the first year of my boys’ lives were full of some very dark days and nights, but God never left me to face them alone. Not once did I doubt his presence. Never did I wonder if it was going to be worth it because being chosen to be Jake and Will’s mom was the best thing that has ever happened to me.

My bad news/good news scenario, like Mary’s, was typical of how God works in our lives. In order to reap the blessings in the future, we must endure the trials of the present. Are you in the midst of a crisis? Is your life ruined? Hang on to God’s promises; cling to his presence as his will for your life unfolds. It will be worth it – for eternity. Just ask Mary!

May we see Him in our circumstances. Then others will see Him in our lives.*

August 3, 2025

Malachi 3: 10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse . . .” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” (NIV)

How can God say no to something He has promised?*

On the game show, “Let’s Make a Deal,” the contestants choose Door #1, Door #2, or Door #3, in hopes of winning a big prize – a new car, a luxury vacation, lots of cash. Pick the wrong door and they win something of lesser – or no – value. Tithing is like a modified version of the show. Instead of three doors, there’s only one. Instead of prizes of little value, you are guaranteed to win something of great worth. The only risk is that you don’t know exactly what that prize will be.

Are we so afraid of the unknown that we aren’t willing to choose the one and only door behind which the prize is hidden? If God has promised to “throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you won’t have room enough for it,” why would anyone not get out their checkbook and start tithing? There’s room for a little mystery when it comes to God’s blessings. Pick Door #Only and be prepared for a big surprise.

Christians who tithe demonstrate their trust in God to provide for their needs . . ., believing that 90 percent of their income with God’s blessing is greater than 100 percent without it.*

August 2, 2025

Matthew 11: 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (NIV)

Strange paradox! that a man already weary and overloaded must take a new weight upon him, in order to be eased and find rest!*

Jesus’ words often require us to abandon our common sense and learn to look at things in an uncommon way. Here he begins by lulling us with his talk of rest for the weary – but in his very next breath, he says, “Take my yoke upon you . . .” (verse 29) That doesn’t sound restful! Perhaps we don’t quite understand what Jesus means by “rest.” As Oswald Chambers wrote: “He is not saying, ‘I will put you to bed, hold your hand, and sing you to sleep.’”*

As we continue to read in verses 29 and 30, we see that Jesus defines his rest a little more precisely – “you will find rest for your souls,” he says. He’s not talking about a 15-minute break every morning and afternoon. The rest that Jesus promises is something we can experience even as we continue our work. We might look at the pleasures the world has to offer and think that it’s a better deal, but when we put on his yoke – when he becomes our master – we learn that his yoke – his job requirements – are easy, and his burden is light. Because he shares our load and carries our cross.

It may not be a power nap, but Jesus’ rest is refreshing and invigorating – from the inside out.

Resting in the Lord does not depend on external circumstances . . . but on your relationship to God.*

August 1, 2025

I Chronicles 28: 9 “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.” (NIV)

It is possible for us to do the right action from a wrong motive, but this does not please God.*

I do it. So do you. We do the right thing but with a stinking attitude. Maybe we’re sly enough that no one would guess that our heart is not in the task. My words of wisdom: Doing the right thing is always the right thing to do.

But now, listen to David’s words to his son Solomon – who went on to become world-famous for his wisdom. David provides his son - and us - with the how and the why of engaging our heart and mind in our service to the Lord. You want to serve with wholehearted devotion and a willing mind? Acknowledge God. Remind yourself that he is the reason you want to make the right choices. It is our love for him that compels us to serve others, go the extra mile, do the boring stuff.

Acknowledge God because . . . the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. He knows how you struggle to do the right thing with the right attitude. Acknowledge him as Lord of your heart. Confess your bad attitude and surrender it to him.

As I said before, doing the right thing is always the right thing to do – but how much better it is to take David’s advice. Serving God with wholehearted devotion and a willing mind is not duty. It is joy.

If service is done with any degree of reticence or halfheartedness, it will be a chore instead of a joy.*