Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

A cartoon character says, “A lot of people don’t have principles, but I do. I am a highly principled person. I have one principle and I live according to that one principle and I never deviate from it.” When asked, “What is your principle?” he replied, “Look out for number one!”

Self-centeredness seems to be increasingly taking over the mentality of today’s society. The prevailing attitude seems to be, “If I don’t take care of me, no one will.” “Put yourself first. That’s what counts.”

There is power in this concept, power to use others, power to demean others, and power to hurt others in the process of the “self” quest. But God asks us to give up that power, just as Jesus gave up all power to submit to his own death in the quest to save souls.

Forgiveness is far more than smiles and sweet, patronizing talk. It means that we become sensitive within ourselves to the needs of others, particularly the need for forgiveness they have inside themselves. Sometimes a forgiving spirit has no affect on the other party, but it does have an impact on our own insides and feelings. We are richer for our willingness to let go of the past hurts and injustices.

Teach us, O God, not only to be forgiving, but to do so in a kind and gentle way. Help us to see that forgiveness from a cold heart is not really forgiveness at all.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” (John 20:19)

Two friends were on a hunting trip in a mountainous region in Africa. As they inched through the jungle foliage, baboons in the nearby trees began to nervously pace and howl as they stared into the bushes near the hunters. Suddenly, without warning, a large leopard leaped toward them and stopped, growling low and swishing its tail back and forth.

The hunters stopped cold paralyzed with fear. They knew that they had ventured too close to a den where there could be cubs. The leopard was protecting its turf and stared intently at the two hunters. The hunters had become the hunted.

John wrote about the apostles who had locked themselves in an upper room in fear for their lives. Ten brave men who had walked at Jesus’ side throughout His ministry now shuddered in fear of something unknown; an anger in the local people that had cost the life of their dearest friend. Their sanctuary had become their prison. “Go out and save the world” was now “stay inside and save your skin!”

Has fear in your own life created a barrier against doing something? Does it keep you from experiencing joy? Does it inhibit your service to God? Then hear Jesus’ words to his friends in a locked room: “Peace be with you!”

That same invitation to find peace in the midst of turmoil that was extended to the apostles long ago is also an invitation to each one of us to find peace in Jesus and not let the world frighten us into inactivity and nothingness. That same peace is for each of us if we will only reach out and take it.

God of peace and love, remind us that fear is not a thing that comes from You. Peace is the gift You offer!

Mary Magdelene went and said to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her. (John 20: 18)

Christ had died and had been buried, a passing that happens to all mortals. His life appeared to have come to an end in total defeat. But then something happened that would prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was exactly who He claimed to be, the Son of God. The cross could not defeat Him and the grave would not hold Him. He had risen from the dead and Mary was the first to see Him.

Mary had gone to visit the tomb and discovered it empty. She could not explain it nor did she try. As far as doctrines, beliefs and spiritual happenings, the Pharisees could have danced circles around her. She only knew that the person she had come to love and serve was no longer in the tomb where He had been laid. And her discovery of Jesus walking in the garden and speaking to her brought unspeakable joy, not the joy of being able to say, “See, I told you,” or of, “I knew He’d come back!” It was the simple presence of the Lord Himself that overwhelmed her.

We need to approach the Risen Jesus in the same way, with the joy of knowing that Christ is alive and present in our daily lives. We need to rejoice in the knowledge that, although we cannot physically see Jesus or touch him in a material way, His presence is still very real. May we not be “doubting Thomases” but rather “rejoicing Marys” in the reality of Jesus walk through this material world at our sides.

God of love and mercy, may we constantly be aware that we have nothing to fear in this world. Your Son is alive and walking beside us!

Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

One of the people most admired by Charles Swindoll is Dawson Trotman, who died after helping to rescue two drowning girls. Says Swindoll:

“When Dawson Trotman passed away he probably left a legacy of discipleship on this earth that will never be matched except perhaps in the life of Jesus Christ Himself. I’ve become a real student of Dawson Trotman and believe wholeheartedly in the methods of discipleship that he taught and emulated throughout his days. He died in Schroon Lake, New York. He died of all things in the midst of an area that he was expert in–he drowned. He was an expert swimmer. The last few moments he had in the water he lifted one girl out of the water. He went down and got the other girl and lifted her out of the water and then submerged and was not found again until the dragnet found him a few hours later...Time ran an article on Trotman’s life the next week, and they put a caption beneath his name which read, Always holding someone up! In one sentence, that was Trotman’s life–investing in people...holding them up!”

Discipleship is not having others follow you as much as it is lifting others up to see God and then serving them so they can follow wholeheartedly.

God or love and mercy, may we be willing to lift those around us so that they might see Your power, might and love!

He who finds his life shall lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake shall find it. (Matthew 10:39)

Justice happens when a criminal is found guilty and condemned for his actions or when one is found innocent who has done nothing wrong. Our society today places a high value on finding the truth of a situation and holding accountable the appropriate person and freeing the innocent one. In our culture and courts, judges, juries, lawyers and verdicts that attempt in the most scrutinizing way, to administer justice fairly.

Pontius Pilate said blatantly to the mob before him, “I find no fault in this man!” There would have been reason to conclude from this that the mob lacked sufficient evidence to prove that Jesus had done anything wrong or punishable and that the case was closed. But Pilate began to fear the mob and their demands. Therefore he relented and turned Jesus over to feel the administration of “justice” at the hands of those who hated and feared him. The mob condemned an innocent man and no power of persuasion within Pilate could deter them from the destruction they wanted to impart.

Our faith and trust in God is a positive judgment we make based on evidence around us. The affirmed Christian is one who has chosen to recognize Jesus Christ as the Messiah and the Son of the Living God. On the basis of evidence and the administration of justice, the believer makes a commitment to follow Christ. It is not a judgment to condemn, but a judgment to live with and for Jesus Christ.

God of Justice, may the judgment of our hearts, in view of the evidence presented, lead us to our personal relationship with Christ!

For if you forgive those who trespass against you, your heavenly Parent will also forgive you. (Matthew 6:14)

One Sunday afternoon, Doris Louise Seger opened the door of her church office with the intent of practicing a violin solo she was to play that night, only to find that her violin had been smashed to pieces, scattered across the floor. Doris was crushed. She had received the violin fifty years earlier as a high school graduation present from her parents. She thought, “Who? Why? How can I forgive that person?”

A week later, police found the vandal and Doris went to his home. When she saw the skinny, blond 11-year old sitting next to his father, she understood that the real ugly tragedy was not her shattered violin, but a young life that seemed headed for a very troubled future. She explained to the family what the violin had meant to her life and then she found herself saying, “I forgive you, and God will, too, if you ask God!”

A few days later, the boy came to the Pastor’s office, asking hesitantly, “Is there any work that I can do at the church to pay for the violin?” At the sign of his repentant heart, the pastor shared the Gospel with him and the boy received Jesus as his Savior that day.

Doris purchased a new violin, but she later wrote, “It would never compare with this ‘new creature’ in Christ Jesus. I learned anew that God’s grace is sufficient to give me a forgiving heart.”

Blessed God of Love, remind us that there is nothing in this world so valuable as our relationship with You, and that in forgiving, we find new birth!

The maid who kept the door said to Peter, “Are not you also one of this man’s disciples.” He said, “I am not.” (John 18: 17)

When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter took a sword and, in an attempt to defend his friend, cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. Jesus stopped the violence and calmly submitted to the arrest at hand and the soldiers led him away. Peter’s intentions were noble, but the act of defense was violent in nature and Jesus stopped it.

Such loyalty, even amongst ourselves with our friends, is often laced with contradictions. Following Jesus’ arrest, the other disciples fled in fear, but Peter and one other disciple followed the group to find out what would happen to their friend and master. That was loyalty, but again it was contradicted by Peter himself when asked if was a follower of Christ and he answered, “No.”

Our loyalty to Christ is put in place when we accept and admit in our hearts that Jesus is the Messiah and the author of everything good and perfect in our lives. Our problem comes when the world around us challenges us with anti-Christian actions and attitudes or a display of indifference. In our silence and in our daily walk we have the opportunity to witness our beliefs. Our very walk and talk can say to others, “Yes, I am a follower of Jesus Christ!”

Holy God of love, may our actions bear witness to the truth of our trust and love for You!

...let everyone be swift to hear; slow to speak; slow to wrath. (James 1:19)

Rabbi Harold S. Kushner writes in When All You’ve Ever Wanted Isn’t Enough: A business associate of my father’s died under particularly tragic circumstances, and I accompanied my father to the funeral. The man’s widow and children were surrounded by clergy and psychiatrists trying to ease their grief and pain and make them feel better, but nothing seemed to help. They knew all the right words but nothing seemed to make an impact. They were beyond being comforted. The widow kept saying, “You’re right, I know you’re right, but it doesn’t make any difference.”

Then a man walked in-a big, burly man in his eighties who was a legend in the toy and game industry. He had come to this country illiterate and penniless and had built up and immensely popular and successful company. He was known as a hard bargainer, a ruthless competitor. Despite his success, he had never learned to read and write...He had been sick recently, and his face and walk clearly showed it. Be he walked over to the widow and started to cry, and she cried with him, and you could feel the atmosphere in the room change. This man who had never read a book in his life spoke the language of the heart and held the key that opened the gates of comfort and solace where learned doctors and clergy could not.”

Compassionate Creator, may our hearts be always open to the language of the heart that we might lift others from their sadness and grief!

“But blessed is the person who trusts in God, whose confidence is in the Creator.” (Jeremiah 17:7 Inclusified)

A missionary in Africa had been witnessing faithfully to a certain individual. Following their conversation one day, the unconverted man placed a small statue and a silver coin on the table before him. Then he took two slips of paper and wrote something on each. Putting one beside the image and the other with the money, he turned to the Christian worker and said, “Please read this.”

On the note next to the idol, the man had written, “Heathen god.” The sheet next to the coin read, “Christian god.” From what this needy soul had observed in the lives of the merchants who were calling themselves “Christians,” he concluded that money was their god and the object of their devotion.

We all must be careful of placing our trust or focus in anything other than the true God. Trust that is placed elsewhere is misguided and fruitless. One who fails to rely completely on God can easily mislead others who are watching closely. A life rooted in God is a tree planted in fertile ground and rooted deep.

Holy Creator, may we walk in such a way that others will know that we walk with You by our side constantly.

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor; for we are members one of another. (Ephesians 4:25)

R. G. LeTourneau, an outstanding Christian businessman for whom LeTourneau College was named, made a fortune with a company that manufactured large earth moving equipment. He once remarked, “We used to make a scraper known as ‘Model G.’ One day someone asked our salesman what the G stood for. The man, who was pretty quick on the trigger, immediately replied, ‘I’ll tell you. The G stands for gossip because like tale-bearer this machine moves a lot of dirt and it moves it fast.’”

The trouble with gossip is not so much that it is spoken as an intended lie, but that it is heard as if it were absolute truth. Abraham Lincoln had a favorite riddle he used to put to people: “If a man were to call the tail of a dog a leg, how many legs would the dog have?”

The usual reply was “five.”

“Wrong,” Lincoln would say with his wry smile. “The dog still has only four legs. Calling the tail a leg doesn’t make it one.”

Just because a tale may have been repeated many times by so-called “reliable sources” doesn’t necessarily make it a truth.

God of Truth and Justice, may Your Holy Spirit guard my mouth against falsehoods and the spreading of gossip. May the truth be always in my heart and on my lips.

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let them who hear say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let them come; and whoever wishes, let them take the free gift of the water of life!” (Revelations 22: 17)

Throughout the scriptures, the invitation to “come” is most commonly expressed through the human craving of drinking fresh water. Thirst is a more intense drive than hunger. Water accounts for approximately three-fourths of our body weight, and our bodies constantly need fresh water to survive. The pangs of thirst produce in us the fervent desire for water. This is why so much of the hunger for salvation is equated with physical thirst.

Isaiah says, “Come, all you who thirst; come to the waters.” (Isaiah 51:1) Jesus said, “Whosoever believes in me shall never be thirsty.” (John 6:35) and, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6). To the Samaritan woman at the well He offered living water.

The scripture for today offers a great and final invitation to come and “quench the thirst” for righteousness and salvation using the same physical need for water. Whoever has a sincere desire for salvation is assured over and over throughout the Holy Word that the desire will be filled just as cold, fresh water will quench the strongest thirst. No one is left out of this promise—young, old, rich, poor, educated, illiterate, no nationality—everyone has a promise. The invitation is open to all! What a closing to the greatest book ever written.

God of Love and Fulfillment, quench our thirst for You with the same living water that Your Son offered the Samaritan woman!

A wise person will hear, will increase learning; and a person of understanding shall attain unto wise counsel. (Proverbs 1:5)

Helen Keller was left deaf and blind by an incurable childhood illness. A patient and persistent teacher, Anne Sullivan, taught her to read through her senses of touch, smell and taste.

At the close of her autobiography, Helen Keller writes:

Fate–silent, pitiless–bars the way. Fain would I question His imperious decree; for my heart is undisciplined and passionate, but my tongue will not utter the bitter, futile words that rise to my lips, and they fall back into my heart like unshed tears. Silence sits immense upon my soul. Then comes hope with a smile and whispers, “There is joy in self-forgetfulness.” So I try to make the light in other people’s eyes my sun, the music in others ears my symphony, the smiles of others’ lips my happiness.

Silence can be used to nurture pouting, anger, and hatred. Far better uses for silence are reflecting, meditating, and listening. It is only when we are truly silent before God that we can hear the “still, small voice” speaking in our very souls.

Blessed Creator, may we sit before You in silence that we might hear You speak to our hearts and souls!

A man that bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. (Proverbs 25:18)

A trumpeter was once captured by the enemy. He pleaded with his captors: “Please spare me! I have no gun. I am not guilty of any crime. I have not killed a single one of your soldiers. I only carry this poor brass trumpet and play it when I’m told to!”

“That’s why we’re putting you to death,” his captors replied. “While you do not fight yourself, your trumpet stirs up all the others to battle and that causes them to kill!”

So it is with our criticism of others. We may not hate, mistrust, or avoid the person we criticize, but our criticism can stir others to manifest these feelings and behaviors.

There once was a woman to whom gossip and criticism was so utterly distasteful that whenever a visitor brought up something negative about a person, she would immediately say, “Come, let’s go and ask if this is true or not!” The tale-bearer was always so taken aback that he or she would beg to be excused. But the determined woman would insist on escorting the reluctant soul to the subject of the tale to verify its truth or to hear the other point of view. After awhile, no one repeated a tale or voiced a criticism in her presence!

Build up your friends...don’t tear them down.

God of Justice, help us to hold our tongue concerning those around us, lest we fall under Your judgment!

Scripture: Matthew 18: 1-4

Verse For Today: Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19: 14)

There are times when we simply do not know what to do, no matter how old we are of how mature we might be. In those moments, we want to trust in God, but it’s often difficult to actually step out in faith.

During World War II, the King of England ordered an evacuation of children from the bomb-torn areas of London. Since many of the youngsters had never been away from home before, they were upset. A mother and father put their young son and daughter aboard a crowded train and said good-bye.

The little girl began to cry. She told her brother she was scared because she didn’t know where they were going. Brushing his tears away, he put his arm around her to comfort her. “I don’t know where we’re going either,” he said. “But the King knows.”

Many of us feel uprooted, unwanted and alone. But though we may not always understand the feelings of our family, our peers or society in general, we can trust in the fact that God understands and knows where we are and where we are going. After all, if we trust, God is doing the leading. By trusting and loving God, we can be assured that someone knows where we are at all times and is watching over us.

Holy Parent, take my hand in the confusion of being lost, rejected, or just feeling like I’m floating alone. I’m confident that You know where I am!

The fear (awe) of the Lord teaches a person wisdom, and humility comes before honor. Proverbs 15:33

Have you ever heard the expression, “It’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect like me!” It might be humorous if we didn’t see people every day who appear to live by that principle. In the scriptures, Philippians 3:3 challenges us, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

Few people are like the man who was referred to as “Mr. Anonymous.” Every six weeks he drove to nursing homes in an unmarked van and delivered one or two suit boxes full of roses. Then he left. He sought no recognition; he simply wanted to bring joy. I like to think of “Mr. Anonymous” as a Christian who has taken the words of the Savior to heart: “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Parent, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Mathew 6: 3-4)

We realize that we are not perfect, be we serve a perfect God. Honor is not something we demand. Honor is given to us by others when we humbly serve in a manner that glorifies God. May we be found faithful to God and the promises of God and not to other people’s ideals.

Holy God, look into our hearts and find the secret places. Honor, we pray, the humility You find amidst our pain and confusion.

And they understood none of these things. (Luke 18:34)

God called Jesus Christ to a mission that, from all human standpoints, was unmitigated disaster. From every standpoint that humanity can look upon the ministry of Jesus Christ, Jesus was a total failure—every standpoint, that is, except God’s.

What seems a failure to humankind will almost always be a triumph in the eyes of God. That is because humans’ purposes are never God’s purposes and God’s purpose is never human in context.

If we maintain communion with God, we can be assured that everything is all right. What we may perceive in our daily walks as failures, God will turn into triumphs, taking on the stumblings of human nature and changing them to victories.

Paul says, “All things work together for good to those who love God.” The death of Jesus Christ on a cross on Golgotha is the greatest example of all as to how the mind of God can change failure into victory.

God of victory and love, as I stumble and fall through this thing called life, help me to claim the victories that You make out of my failures!

Do all things without murmurings and disputations. (Philippians 2:14)

On his way home to surprise his mother for All Soul’s Day, Mishi Dobos stopped by the family’s summer cottage to see what repairs he might undertake next. His eyes fell on the garden well, a solid brick structure four feet in diameter. As he leaned over to peer into the 74-foot shaft with a flashlight, he failed to notice the frosty moss on the well’s rim. Within seconds, he had plummeted feet first into the shaft, landing ankle deep in soft mud.

For three days Mishi shouted for help. Then, on the fourth day, while attempting to make a place to sit, he ripped a carpenter’s clamp–a foot long piece of metal with upturned ends–away from the rotting wood. Mishi thought, What can I do with this? Studying the walls, he saw a brick missing on one side. An idea dawned–use the clamp to chip out bricks in a staggered, upward fashion and climb out!

Mishi went to work. At best, he could remove three bricks an hour. But brick by brick, and one more bad fall later, in all, six days and 23 hours after plunging into the well–Mishi swung his leg over the edge of the upper rim, the rusty carpenter’s clamp in his hand.

Look around your world! Our lives are filled with normal, everyday objects which might appear to be useless. But God might show us how to use them with cleverness and strength!

Holy Creator God, show is the wonders of the ordinary in Your world!

So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph (John 4:5)

The setting for this scripture passage is the town of Sychar in the province of Samaria. In Jesus’ day the country of Palestine was divided into three provinces—Judea to the south, Galilee to the north and Samaria in between. Jesus and His disciples had left Judea and were traveling to Galilee through Samaria.

Most Jews of the time would bypass Samaria because of an intense hatred for the Samaritan people. The division and the beginning of this animosity occurred 700 years earlier when the Northern Kingdom was captured by Assyria. Most of the Jews were deported and foreigners settled into the land of Samaria. This produced “mixed” marriages and the race became what was then termed “Samaritan.”

Jesus was not to be caught up in the cultural restriction imposed by the society of that day. In fact, he not only traveled through Samaria, but stopped to drink from the well of his ancestor, Jacob.

This backdrop provides a thought provoking situation—are the restrictions and prejudices of today’s society worth tolerating or following? Are we also bound to the cultural restrictions of today’s society, or do we, like Jesus, cast aside the restrictions and expectations, and promote love and acceptance in the same manner Jesus did?

Holy God of Justice, show us that those we might look down upon or belittle are basically the same human composition that we are.

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

In her book, “Love and Duty,” Anne Purcell writes about seeing Major Jim Statler with her pastor outside his study after a Sunday service. She knew instantly that he was there with news about her husband, Ben, on active duty in Vietnam. Just as she had feared, Jim gave her a chilling message. “Ben was on a helicopter that was shot down...He’s missing in action.”

Anne recalls, “Somewhere in the back of my mind a little candle flame flickered. This tiny flame was the vestige of my faith.” Days passed without work. To her, being an MIA wife was like being in limbo. She found herself only able to pray one thing: “Help me, dear God.” She says, “I hung onto this important truth–that God would help me–and the flickering flame of my candle of faith began to grow.” Then, one day, she noticed a white dove sitting in her yard. It was particularly beautiful, very still and quiet, and a highly uncommon sight in her neighborhood. She took it as a sign from God that God was, indeed, very near.

For five long years, Anne Purcell clung to the fact that God was near. Little did she know that during those years before she was reunited with her husband, Ben was whispering from a POW cell, “Anne, find solace and strength in the Lord!”

God of mercy and compassion, draw near to each of us in our times of trouble and concern. Stand firmly beside us and give us strength!

He that reproves a scorner gathers to himself shame; and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot. (Proverbs 9:7)

When Charles Spurgeon was still a boy preacher, he was warned about a certain woman in the congregation who had a reputation for being extremely quarrelsome. He was informed that she was intending to give him a good tongue-lashing when she found him.

Spurgeon said, “All right! But that’s a game that two can play.”

Shortly after that, the woman met Spurgeon and began to assault him with a flood of verbal abuse. He simply smiled back at her and said, “Oh, yes. Thank you. I’m quite well, thanks. Thank you for asking. I hope all is well with you too.”

His remarks were followed by another tirade of know-it-all comments, this time with her voice at a higher volume. He again smiled and responded, “Yes, it does look rather like it might rain. I think I better be going now.”

The woman stood for a moment watching as he walked away. She threw her arms in the air and said, “Bless the man. What’s the use of storming at him. He’s deaf as a post!”

Never again did the woman confront Spurgeon, or even attempt to speak to him. And never did he tell her what he had done. Spurgeon’s lesson to us was that some people will argue for no reason, and it is better to walk away than attempt to converse with them.

Creator God, grant us the wisdom to hold our tongue, even when others around us are not holding theirs!

He that keeps his mouth keeps his life; but he that opens wide his lips shall have destruction. (Proverbs 13:3)

Constance Cameron tells a lesson her mother taught her. One day, when she was about eight, she was playing beside an open window. Inside, Mrs. Brown was confiding a personal problem to Constance’s mother. After Mrs. Brown had gone, the mother realized that Constance had heard everything that had been said. She called her daughter into the house and said, “If Mrs. Brown had left her purse here today, would we give it away to anyone else?”

“Of course not,” the little girl replied. Her mother continued, “Mrs. Brown left something more precious than her pocketbook here today. She left a story that could make many people unhappy. That story is not ours to give to anyone. It is still hers, even though she left it here. So we shall not give it to anyone. Do you understand that?”

Constance understood. And from that day on, whenever a friend would share a confidence or even engage in careless gossip, she considered what they had said to be the personal property of the other person–and not hers to give anyone else.

The old saying bears great truth: “If you don’t have something positive to say about someone or something, don’t say anything.”

Holy God of Truth and Justice, give us a heart that respects the property of others, even the stories and secrets they might share with us!

And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. (Matthew 28:20)

In today’s world, we have all learned to live with voice mail, menu telephone answering devices and hundreds of other technological marvels. While some companies view these as time savers, customers often resent the long waits, pushing this button and then that button, hoping that at some point they might hear a human voice who will listen to their reason for calling.

Have you ever stopped to wonder what it would be like if God installed an answering device such as this? Imagine praying and hearing, “Thank you for contacting God’s House. Press 1 for requests, press 2 for thanksgiving, press 3 for complaints, or press 4 for all other inquiries.” Or suppose you heard, “All of our angels are busy at the moment; please stay on the line since your prayers are important to us. The next available angel will take your call in the order received.”

We all need to be thankful that this does not happen when we approach God’s throne in need. One consistent theme throughout the scriptures is that God is always there when needed—always.

It is comforting to know that we will not hear, “At the tone, please leave a message and someone will get back to you. In the meantime, may you be blessed and have a wonderful day!” There is no concern or need that is too small or too difficult for God to manage. And we can rest assured that when we pick up the “heavenly phone” there is a real Being at the other end just waiting to hear from you.

Holy God of mercy and love, thank You for being available when I need You. And thank You for not putting me on “hold.”

...for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34)

Author J. Allan Peterson tells about a flight he took on a 747 out of Brazil. He was awakened from a sleep by a strong voice announcing, “We have a very serious emergency.” Three engines had quit because of fuel contamination and the fourth was expected to go at any second. The plane began to drop and turn in the night, preparing for an emergency landing.

At first the situation seemed unreal to Peterson, but when the steward barked, “Prepare for impact,” he found himself–and everyone around him, praying. As he buried his head in his lap and pulled up his knees, he said, “Oh, God, thank You. Thank You for the incredible privilege of knowing You. Life had been wonderful.” As the plane approached the ground, his last cry was, “Oh, God, my wife! My children!”

Peterson survived. As he wandered about the airport in a daze, aching all over, he found he couldn’t speak, but his mind was racing. What were my last words? What was the bottom line? As he remembered, he had his answer: relationships! Reunited with his wife and sons, he found that all he could say to them over and over was, “I appreciate you! I appreciate you!”

We each need to listen to what we are saying. Have you told those who matter to you how you really feel. Do it before it is too late. There may not be another chance.

Holy Creator, show us our own hearts that we might know those who matter most to us in this life. Give us the words to show them how much love we really have to give them!

A time to break down and a time to build up. (Ecclesiastes 3:2)

Sir Christopher Wren was a famous architect of 1600 England. Following the fire that devastated London in 1666, Wren began a rebuilding process and designed as many as eighty-seven of the rebuilt churches of the city.

The story is told that one day, while Wren was visiting one of the cathedrals being built, he approached a worker and asked, “What are you doing?” to which the worker replied, “I’m a stonemason and I’m laying stone for this building.” A second worker was approached with the same question. His response was, “I’m helping Christopher Wren build a cathedral.” One saw stone and the other saw a greater vision.

As a child of God, each of us needs to seek out the “greater picture” and walk with Jesus accordingly. Each life is framed in the promises of God through the Holy Scriptures. It is that framework that provides us with a bigger picture than most others can see.

Which of us, when asked about our Christian walk will reply, “I’m trying to be good,” and which of us can say, “I am doing God’s work, the work that God has called me to do.” We need to seek out the bigger picture.

Holy God of Wisdom, we know that You have provided us with a blueprint of how to live. May we see the bigger picture that lies beyond the blueprint!

The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. (Proverbs 11:5)

Convicted Watergate conspirator John Erlichman wrote of his experience: “When I went to jail, nearly two years after the cover-up trial, I had a big self-esteem problem. I was a felon, shorn and scorned, clumping around in a ragged old army uniform, doing pick and shovel work out on the desert. I wondered if anyone thought I was worth anything...For years I had been able to sweep most of my shortcomings and failures under the rug and not face them, but during the two long criminal trials, I spent my days listening to the prosecutor tell juries what a bad fellow I was...I’d go back to a hotel room and sit alone thinking about what was happening to me. During that time I began to take stock. I was wiped out. I had nothing left that had been of value to me–honor, credibility, virtue, recognition, profession.”

Then Erlichman began to see himself...and to care deeply about his own integrity, his capacity to love and be loved, and his essential worth. He concluded about the Nixon years, “In a paradoxical way, I’m grateful for them. Somehow I had to see all of that and grow to understand it in order to arrive.” Sadly, the inner character Erlichman developed came too late to impact his political career at the top.

Keep a daily check on your character. Of all the abilities you may possess, the one to develop a good character is your greatest.

Holy God, guide us in the development of our becoming what You would have us be!

Jesus said to his disciples, “This poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have given out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty. (Mark 12:43,44)

This is a true story related to me by a nursing friend:

Student nurses were instructed not to accept any gift from a patient. Only once did I disobey this rule. Rosie was destitute. She spoke of her family but no one else visited her. She was dying from the consequences of an arduous life. Watching her solitary vigil evoked my admiration and affection. We talked of life, of death and of God.

One day she began rummaging through a shabby change purse. “I want you to have this,” she said, handing me a shiny new quarter. “I was saving it for my granddaughter, but she isn’t coming.” I started to hand it back, but the delight of her expression halted my hand in mid-air. I realized that refusing her gift would be one more rejection in the life of a woman who knew rejection all too well. A few days later, Rosie died.

That was over 20 years ago. I still have the quarter, and occasionally I look at it and remember. I think of the woman in the temple who gave her two mites and wonder if she gave with the same attitude as Rosie. The act of giving made Rosie’s face radiate with joy, and through it God taught me a lesson I have never forgotten; the joy of giving can be realized only if there is a receiver.

Most generous and loving Creator, help us to give of our time, our talents and our possessions and money. Help us also to be willing to graciously receive that others might experience the joy of giving!

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. (Psalm 51:2)

Many mountain trails wind through the forest near our house. The trees, the creatures, the ravines with their multi-shaped rock formations–some like ancient, gray dinosaurs–all speak to me. A stream tumbles down through the valley and across my favorite trail. Before I reach it, the stream sings to me in the distance. I stepped across it recently and dislodged several large stones that came crashing down into it, muddying its crystal clear water. I felt sad that I had disturbed the beauty of the stream. But then I watched as fresh, clean water from somewhere up the mountain washed the muddy water away until the stream was once again clear as it had been before.

I realized that often my life is like that stream. I can really muddy things up with my choices and behavior sometimes. I also realized anew that the God Who cleansed that muddy mountain stream would also cleanse me.

That day I found myself kneeling by the stream, praying a prayer of confession and seeking forgiveness. And it was as if those actions opened up the cleansing waters of God’s grace, which flowed into my soul clearing out all that was unclean and disturbing to the clearness of my inner self.

God of mercy, help us this day to open our hearts to the never-ceasing flow of Your cleansing grace and forgiveness!

Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. (Ephesians 4:26)

Anger is one of my biggest obstacles to overcome. After digging deep down in my soul, I can usually discover the pain that is causing my anger. Then I work to forgive the source of the pain and take that pain to God in prayer. When I leave it with God, I can feel forgiveness and acceptance. That doesn’t mean that the pain and anger won’t come back. If they do, I feel guilty, unchristian–like a failure. I begin to sink into depression–the “frozen rage” that is my anger turned inward upon myself.

My doctor says that anger is an energy. We cannot simply ignore it. We must channel the energy in a positive direction, or it becomes destructive. With God’s help, this energy can become power that gives us passion for life. We can make it work for us and not against us.

Anger is a natural emotion that all humans experience. Even Jesus felt anger, but he did not use it to destroy others. He used all the energy of his life to bring the redeeming message of God’s love to us. We can ask ourselves, “How am I going to use my energy for God?” Then even anger can propel us in the direction God wants us to go.

Ever-loving God, help me to forgive but not to stop there. Help me to use all my energy to serve You and my neighbor!

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (Philippians 4:11)

The story is told of a farmer who had lived on the same farm all his life. It was a good farm with fertile soil, but with the passing of years, the farmer began to think, ‘ Maybe there’s something better for me.’ He set out to find an even better plot of land on which to farm.

Every day he found a new reason for criticizing some feature of his old farm. Finally, he decided to sell. He listed the farm with a real estate broker who promptly prepared an advertisement emphasizing all the many advantages of the acreage: ideal location, modern equipment, healthy stock, acres of fertile ground, high yields on crops, well-kept barns and pens, nice two story house on a hill above the pasture.

When the real estate agent called to read the ad to the farmer for his approval prior to placing it in the newspaper, the farmer heard him out. When he had finished, he cried, “Hold everything! I’ve changed my mind. I’m not going to sell. Why, I’ve been looking for a place just like this one all my life.”

When one starts identifying the good traits of any person, situation or organization, one is likely to find that they far outweigh the bad. We each need to focus on what we have. What we don’t have is most probably insignificant.

God of love and goodness, may we appreciate all that You have given us in this life. You know best what each of us needs and wants!

He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whosoever heeds correction gains understanding. (Proverbs 15:32)

An officer in the navy had dreamed from childhood of commanding a great battleship one day. He finally achieved his dream and was given commission of the newest and proudest ship in the fleet.

One stormy night, the captain was on duty on the bridge when he spotted a strange light rapidly closing in on his own vessel. As his ship plowed through the giant waves, the light rose and fell just above the horizon of the sea. He ordered his signalman to flash a message to the unidentified craft on his port side. “Alter your course ten degrees to the south.”

Within seconds a reply came back, “Alter your course ten degrees to the north.” Determined that his ship would never take a back seat to another vessel, the captain snapped second order. “Alter your course ten degrees–I am the CAPTAIN!!!” The response beamed back, “Alter your course ten degrees–I am Seaman Third Class Smith.” By this time the light was growing brighter and larger.

Infuriated, the captain grabbed the signal light and personally signaled, “Alter course, I am a battleship.” The response came quickly, “Alter your course-I am a lighthouse.”

There are times when standing on principle can compromise our own security and well-being. Perhaps it is best if we allow God to be our “lighthouse” instead of relying on our own demands. God knows the best route for us in all things.

Holy Creator and Guide, lead us in the ways that will be most beneficial for us. May our own egos be put in place. You have a better plan!

This is love: not that we loved God, but that God loved us and sent the only Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (I John 4:10)

Jesus made it abundantly clear that left no doubt that following Him faithfully might very well demand of most some personal sacrifices, and to many even the supreme sacrifice of death itself. Historically this has been true throughout the history of the church. The pages of the past run red with the blood of martyrs who have been called upon to renounce their beliefs in Jesus Christ or be slaughtered; most have chosen the latter.

Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna, was taken by Roman guards to be put to death for his leading of the church. He invited them to share in a feast prior to his execution and upon the completion of the meal, he asked that he be allowed to pray for one hour. The guards overheard his prayers and were brought to repentance through it and as a result, they refused to carry out the orders of execution.

Others came and took Polycarp before the proconsul who ordered him to be burned at the stake. Prior to his execution he was offered one last chance to deny Christ, and his response was, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and he never once wronged me. How then shall I blaspheme the One who has saved me?”

In today’s society, such executions are few and far between, at least in the western world, but many of us are still called to sacrifice. We may be called upon by God to forgo or give up a position which would require us to compromise our faith, or to end a relationship we desire because of a partner who challenges our beliefs in God. When we are challenged in these ways, may we have the strength and courage to stand firm on the promises of God. “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past—only what’s done for Christ will last!”

God of Infinite Wisdom, may our lips never be silent, under any conditions, if silence means a denial of our faith and trust in You!