A Major Life Change

Good Day In Christ,

Because of a major change in my health, I am suspending blogging on the Underway Devotionals. I September of 2017 I was diagnosed with Leukemia. Through the past several months I have been undergoing chemo therapy treatments in anticipation of a stem cell transplant. I have initiated a new blog that focuses on the journey to a cure for my Leukemia at the web address below. You are welcome to visit and subscribe if you desire. Thank you for following the Underway Devotionals in the past.
As in everything, to God be all the glory!

The Leaning On Jesus Chronicles can be found at
https://forest-holmes-65ft.squarespace.com

Leaning on Jesus
Forest

We Are Of Good Courage

2 Corinthians 5:6-8(ESV)  So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

I have a dear friend who has received some bad news of late. Her cancer has returned. Obviously this is not welcome news. This is one of those situations for cancer survivors that is part of the worry, and always in the back of their mind. It is that fear of a return of cancer. And it is now a reality. Verses speaking of the ‘good fight’ come to mind. A couple of verses that came across in my daily reading also should be shared in this situation. From 2 Corinthians 10:4 (NIV) The weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. The 2nd Corinthians 5 verses above gives us the message that we have the courage of the Lord within us to fight that good fight. And we fight that good fight with divine weapons. What an awesome combination! What we are given is nothing that is tangible. It is part and parcel of our faith, that is also a gift from God. To non-believers this may seem foolish and empty. But to believers, these gifts are truly all that we need. God provides for us daily in all situations. Sometimes we have to look through His eyes to see what we are given to truly appreciate that daily provision. But that is what we do because we are of good courage. What we are truly given is humbling in it’s magnitude. What we are given is given in love that knows no boundaries or limits. 

And so, to my dear friend, I remind you of that which you already know. Be strong and of good courage. Your weapons in this fight are not of this world, they are better. The fight you are beginning again is not one you will fight alone. You have the Lord at your side. And you have your family and your friends. As for us mere mortals who are at your side in this fight, we have hugs and prayers whenever you are in need of encouragement.

Prayer

Lord you know what we need even before we ask for it. The struggles we endure can be overwhelming. They can drive a wedge between You and us, if we give them a chance. Help us Father when our faith waivers. Hold onto us tightly, that we might feel your love and presence. Show us Your will and Your way in the struggles we experience on earth. This we ask in the name of Your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

That Little Reminder

Romans 8:1-2 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Is there a part of your worship life that has not been exercised of late? For example, have you neglected your daily scripture reading? Has your prayer life slacked off? Is your every Sunday church attendance more like once a month or less? Are you no longer connected to a small group bible study group? My point here is that there are many facets to a worship life. Each facet, and I just named a few of many possibilities above, has a purpose. Along with a purpose they give meaning to being a follower of Jesus Christ. 

We live in a world filled with distractions that can keep us busy to the point we neglect some of the more important aspects of a life in Christ. There is always a new electronic device, or gadget, or app, or the latest craze that with try to draw your focus away from Jesus and all that he means to a Christian. Along with the distractions there is a world that screams “we are not worthy, or we are drawn to sin and not saved because of our fallen nature.” Constantly we are shown with the mirror of the world how broken we really are. It can be easy to forget what our state of being is. We are saved, plain and simple. Drop the microphone. Case closed. The Romans 8 passage above stars our true condition. We are set free from the law of sin and death. When you neglect an aspect of your worship life, that creates an opportunity for doubt to place a wedge between you and God our Father. Faith can turn to doubt. Friends of the Risen Savior, do not let that happen. Put aside the distractions and focus your attention on what is really important. Pay attention, stay focused and be mindful of that little reminder that YOU ARE SAVED!!!!!

PRAYER: Lord our lives can become overtaken by the distractions of this world. Help us to stay focused on that one true light that is Jesus. And help us to guide others to that same saving light. Amen 

Going Home After All These Years

Colossians 3:7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

This year my high school graduation class is holding a 40th class reunion. Getting past the reality of being 40 years since graduation has been a struggle. My home town has changed. There are many new buildings and businesses along with a few old buildings and businesses. It is a town which, for lack of a better term, has matured. As have my classmates and myself.

Class reunions are a time where many of us will engage in periods of self examination. Some might call it navel gazing. We look back on our lives and see where we started, where we have been and where we are today. Most will see a remarkable change in our past versus present comparison. And some may not see any changes. Some wines get better with age, and some wines do not. Yes people are the same. The 18 year old young man that left East Tawas, Michigan is not the 58 year old man that returned this weekend. Experiences have molded me for the better, and for the worse. A loving and most merciful God has allowed me to be here on this day to rekindle old friendships. My faith has matured in a manner I could scarcely have imagined as a young man. Finding a love for The Word of God is one of the joys I now have in my life. And being able to share that same Word with a gift from God is part and parcel of what I have become. Each of has our own story, and our own set of gifts from God. We have been given a set of unique experiences that can either grow us, or hinder us. It depends on how we chose to handle that which is our past. Lastly, and most importantly is we are never alone. He is always there. Jesus promised to be with us always to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20.) We embrace that truth and find comfort in that reality. We once waflked and lived in one life, but in Christ we are and walk as His followers. It is a different life we live, and it is a better life that we live.

PRAYER: Father, thank You for this life. Thank You for Your love and grace. Thank You for Your mercy and forgiveness that I cannot earn. Thank you for these 40 years I have been in this world since graduation. And finally Father, thank You for the gift that is each and everyday I am in Your creation. Amen.

An Offshore Wind

Colossians 3: 15-16 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

We are experiencing a series of days here in Cabo San Lucas where the winds are going from the land out onto the ocean. This phenomenon is called an offshore wind. The water near shore is relatively calm. But not too far offshore there are white caps on the waves. In my mind, that is very much how life is. It all looks good, until you venture out into the deep waters of life.

Often we take a short sighted view of our lives. We look at the next day or the next week and see calm and no struggles on the horizon. But that is an illusion, or a mirage at best. Life will bring struggles. We can and should count on that occurring. Illness or injury, trouble at work and struggles at home with family are just a few examples of opportunities for difficulties to enter into our lives. These troubles can be totally out of our control. They just show up. And we have to deal with them. Fortunately, we are not alone. The Lord is with us always. We also have the cloud of believers that surrounds us (see Hebrews 12:1). We can reach out asking for a hug, a prayer, a kind word or for a hand extended in support. That cloud of believers puts a face and a tangible feel to the Jesus we all love and worship. He is alive and He moves among us using one another as a physical example of His love for all. Today and everyday "let the message of Christ dwell among you richly". Be there for one another. For we do not know when it will be our turn to be in need of that hug sent from Jesus.

Prayer: Father, Your Son lived and died for us poor sinners. He admonishes us to love others as He loved us. That kind of love, that sacrificial kind of love can be daunting and we can fall away from showing that kind of love for others. Help us dear Lord to be the people You would have us be. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Restores My Soul

Restores My Soul

Psalm 23:1-3 (ESV) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

At times finding peace of mind can be a challenge. There are so many distractions shouting for attention. Distractions creep up with our family, our jobs, the civic organizations we belong to, and yes, even the church we attend. I know that last one will give many of you pause to think that I have lost my marbles. But hear me out, please.

The church we attend is an environment of what is called corporate worship. We, as believers gather together singing praise to the Lord, hearing scriptures being read, and partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion. We participate in group bible studies and projects to serve others. All of this is done in a group setting. This environment can be consuming, if not balanced with a good strong personal time of prayer, worship, study and reflection. Our God deeply desires to have a personal, one-on-one relationship with you and I. Psalm 23:1-3 is all about that deep personal relationship. Hence the use of the singular "me" and "my" terms. It is not we, or as my southern relatives would say, "all y'all". One-on-one time with Our Lord is crucial to a healthy spiritual life. It is in that environment we connect most deeply. No distractions, just you and The Lord. It is in those moments that so much can be revealed. The intimacy of a deep spiritual relationship does in fact bring peace. It does "restore the soul". All other cares are set aside for you and I to embrace the truth of a profound loving God, our Father, who is longing for that continued connection. Take the time, do it today, before it is forgotten or distractions set in. Please, do this for your soul which needs to find rest and to be restored.

Prayer: Lord, as we come to You in prayer, help us to find that peace that surpasses all understanding, that is found in You and You alone. Let Your love and the Love of Your Son flow into us. Let Your Holy Spirit guide us in this journey of seeking Your presence in our lives. Amen.

Give You Rest

Exodus 33:13-14 “If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.””

Here I am, sitting in a lounge chair at the condo in Cabo, relaxing and thinking deep thoughts. Our annual trip to Cabo affords me the opportunity to find peace amongst the festivities of the resort where we stay. These trips also give me insight into another part of the world culture I would not have were I to stay in Idaho. This place, Cabo San Lucas, where I find rest for my body and soul is truly a land of haves and have-nots.

So many times I find myself in a state of struggle. The world rebels against any desire to be a dedicated servant of the Lord. The busy-ness of life can seek to displace me from a feeling of being at peace in the Lord. Diversions of this life abound. And there is a temptation, to fill the void of being to busy to stay deeply connected to the Lord, with something that this earth has to offer. This void is self created, and so easily avoided. It was created with my lack of diligence and can only be filled by the Lord. It is truly a God-sized hole.

Each of us has the hard wired longing to be connected with God and in a state of peace only God can provide. Our world diligently seeks to draw us away from that state of peace. Satan wins when we seek to fill the emptiness we create with something other than a connection with the Lord. Exodus 13-14 reveals a truth that is as old as man's time on earth itself. His Presence will go with you. And He will give you rest. When we forget that deep and simple truth, we open ourselves up to the separation from God we must avoid. Friends of the risen Savior, stay connected with God. Take the time today and everyday to keep close in study of His Word and prayer.

Prayer: Father, we are Your rebellious children. We seek to fill our lives with things other than You. We wander and can quickly become lost. Help us dear Lord to stay in Your Presence through Your Word and prayer. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that the faith we need is the faith we embrace daily. These things we ask in the strong name of Jesus, Amen.

Where Moths And Vermin Destroy

Matthew 6:19-24 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

I am on a research trip in Las Vegas, Nevada. Visiting Vegas is always an interesting experience for me. For one, gambling does not really appeal to me. Which may cause you to ask why I go to Vegas in the first place? The reason I come to Vegas is it's an awesome place to do research for devotionals. Seriously, this is an incredible location to walk, talk and observe. If you have ever visited Vegas, you may have so understanding. The Las Vegas Strip has miles of opulent casinos and resorts. The stars in the night sky are obscured by the glare of neon lights. In fact, some casinos even have blue sky and clouds painted on the ceiling in order to try to fool you into thinking you are in an outdoor environment. This same casino has ornate statuary and columns of beautifully carved marble. The floors in many areas or marble tiles. Interestingly enough, the statuary are of pagan gods that were worshipped in Jesus' day. The designer of this structure sought to create a place where extravagance would be displayed and mere mortals could find hope in being able to win a fortune gambling. Quite the opposite of the marble cathedrals and basilicas designed as houses of worship. And while all this marble looks beautiful for a few feet away, upon close inspection, the flaws are quite remarkable. Wear and tear have taken their toll. And given this is a man-made structure, it should not be surprising. In biblical terms, the "moths and vermin" have been very busy destroying. The buildings created in Vegas have a purpose. That purpose is to separate the unsuspecting and vulnerable from their money. The palaces of gambling were not built to just be looked at. The palaces are there to draw in victims and replace hope of winning riches with the despair that comes from losing. A popular advertising campaign from a few years ago referred to Vegas as Sin City. The idea was to help people to believe that sin was the sole purpose of Vegas. And while that may be part of the purpose of Vegas, truth be told Vegas is just another city where sin can be found. Vegas is just another place that needs to Gospel preached and embraced. It's another place that needs to hear and embrace the words of the Apostle Paul from Romans 7:24-25. "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.”

Prayer: Father in heaven, our world is broken and lost in sin. Instead of spreading a message of rebuking sinful behavior, we hear the words telling us that sin is not really sin. And many of those voices tell us that to reject this sinful behavior is nothing short of hate for our fellow man. Lord, the light of the Gospel is missing in so many places. Help us Lord to be a beacon on a hill that shines the light of Jesus in a dark world. We ask this in the strong name of Your Son Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sorrowful and Troubled

Matthew 26:36-37 The Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’  He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.

Do you have a couple of friends that you can turn to when you are troubled?  The friends I am referring to are what would be called close friends. They are people you have laughed with, frequently share time with, and possibly shared tears with over difficult times in your lives.  They are the kind of friends that accept you for who you are, and you accept for who they are.  How you came to be friends can be of little consequence.  There are two important aspects in this kind of friendship.

1.) You are there for each other when times are good, and when times are bad.  The matter of being available is what counts.  In our modern world of cellular, text messaging, and social media the avenues for connection have expanded drastically from anything in the past.  Knowing that there is someone out there to talk with, to reach out to is incredibly important. And for the person that is reached out to, your role is to put a face on the love of Christ.  To listen, to talk, to care, and to pray with.  And most importantly to know that someone is there to not just pray with you, but to pray for you is so indescribably comforting.  A little piece of the peace of God that surpasses all understanding flows from that simple act of praying for a close friend.  The grace of God flows abundantly in prayer.

2.) A close friend also holds us accountable.  This can be difficult at times for the friend to do. But having someone who is willing to speak openly, honestly, and objectively is another part what a close friend can do.  It is very easy, and tempting to throw a pity party when we are suffering.  The close friend is one who will call us on things we need to be called on. They will help us to see with our own eyes what fault we have, or what role we played in our current situation.  This is truly an act of love and done with trust and without malice.  We may not be able to see the fault in ourselves and a close friend will step up in love to help. 

In Matthew 26 we learn that Jesus takes Peter, James and John with him because he needs the accountability, and prayers of these, his closest friends.  He asks this of these three men during a time when he is troubled as at no other time in his life.  He knows his limitations, and he knows that without their help and support he may weaken.  His time of testing is upon him and he needs to prepare for what He knows is ahead. Dear friends of the Risen Savior, do you have close friends and are you a close friend someone can call upon in their time of sorrow and trouble? 

Prayer:  Almighty God, we are placed on this earth with the knowledge that we are not alone. You are with us always. And we also know that You have given us close friends we can reach out to when we are struggling. Help us to reach out to You through faith. And help us to be worthy of the trust placed in us when others reach out in need. We ask this in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Harsh Words

Proverbs 15:1  A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

I guess I am something of a dinosaur. The current craze of "political correctness" grates against my nature and character. It could be an aging thing, or I might just be getting fed up with the mantra of the current narrative being shouted from many towers. We foolishly think that those elected to public office, or those who gain prominence socially would speak words of wisdom. Sadly, that is often not the case. Ignorance has replaced wisdom in modern speech.

At some magical undefined date and time there came a shift in the beliefs of the country we call the USA. I cannot pin down the precise moment, but it happened nonetheless. And we are not a better country for that change. Without any doubt, Satan is celebrating. For we have arrived at a point where we elevate sinful behavior and decry those who speak out against sin. Some might say we are living in an age of social enlightenment. Those same words have been used on many occasions to justify all manners of despicable and and sinful behavior. Sadly the measure used to define this "enlightenment" is not written down. It is merely made up is someone or a group of people's head. And surprise, surprise the measure shifts to meet the convenience of the modern desires. Today when somebody choses to stand up for biblical principals, they are shouted down and called hate mongers. The words of Jesus from Matthew 23:13 ring awfully loud  "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in." Jesus used soft words on many occasions. He delivered many messages with sweet words. But, on some occasions, when soft words had failed it was time for harsh words and tough talk.  The truth in ancient times was not warmly received. Unfortunately the same holds true today regardless of the perceived level of "social enlightenment".

Our problem is not different than in the days when our Savior walked this earth. Sin is sin and to not call it sin does not lessen the abomination before God it represents. Somewhere and somehow we as believers need to find the words of love to share the message that we embrace the sinner, we just reject the sin. We love those who sin, because we too are sinners. We do not accept sinful behavior as correct behavior. We cannot preach the holier-than-thou doctrine because we are not. We who are sinful and broken rely on the grace of God for our salvation. We acknowledge our broken condition. But, those who reject that they are broken a paving a path of destruction upon themselves and the generations to follow. If something is wrong, it is wrong. It does not become right because the vocal minority choses to say it is right. How well did that work out for Sodom and Gomorra? We need to pray because this is a God-sized problem that is Satan inspired & manmade. You and I by ourselves cannot solve this problem!

PRAYER: Father in heaven, give us Your words. We need Your words to change what needs to be changed. Inspire us with Your words to reach out in love to embrace the sinner, because Your Son embraced all mankind on the cross. Give us the words to share the message of forgiveness gained on the cross. We desperately need You Lord. This we ask in the strong name of Jesus, Amen.

The Joy And Peace Of Family

1 Chronicles 16:25-28 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength,

The gathering of the clan is underway in Georgia. My family is assembling for our periodic, and unfortunately all too infrequent face-to-face sharing of time and lives. The back drop for this reunion is my wife Pam and I was the sermon at Grace Lutheran last Sunday. It was about family reunions and the difficulties that ensue. For many of you reading this, that too may be an element of your reunions past and present.

For my family, this reunion is markedly different. You see, each of us has changed since the times of the past. Gone are the anxieties of the past. Life and the challenges placed before us have forever forged a new person than the youth, or younger person we all were. We all have children in various stages of life. Some with the  innocence and glow of youth. Some who have children (and even grandchildren) embarking on the earliest stages of adulthood. Still others have adults where children once stood and grandchildren from those same kids. Time has changed everyone. Dad is older and feeling the toll of aging we all encounter. Mom is absent here, but still in our hearts and with Jesus. In her place is a very nice stepmom who is a great friend to all of us and the love of Dad's life.  Our lives are much different than in our past.

One of the most marked changes in all our lives is the role the Lord is playing. He has worked within each of us to forge a profound change. Each has found a relationship with the Lord. That has not been the case for all of us. Each in his or her own way has been through profound struggles. Each has at one time, or more than one time, reached the end of ourselves and all we could handle. Each, in our own way and time has found joy, strength and comfort in the Lord and his dwelling place. Our conversations at this reunion certainly are filled with memories of people, times and places from our common past. But for the first time, there is a common thread now that has not always been there. The role the Lord is playing in our lives is much different than in the past. That change is deep within the threads of our conversation. And frankly dear friends of the Risen Savior, that has made all the difference. I am truly blessed. My prayer for you this day is that you too will find that same difference at your next family reunion.

PRAYER: Father in heaven you give us family in our lives. And while we may not always accept that as a blessing, You have truly given us a visible link to our past and the lives we lived in that past. You have reached out to each family member in Your own way and in their own way our family members have embraced, or stepped away from that outstretched hand. For those who are firmly in Your embrace we give thanks. And for those who still have not grasped the love that You hold in Your hands, waiting for them to accept we ask for Your patience and perseverance. Help us Dear Lord to find the words and the love to share Your love in the way You would have us share. Let us put aside our past differences and embrace our families with that same love which You embrace all of Your with. We ask this in the name of Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Let The Morning Bring Me Word

Psalm 143:8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

Yesterday was a cloudy and rainy day in paradise. Having a day off from all the business of activities while on vacation turned out to be a good thing. It was a good day for a bit of introspection & navel gazing type thinking. Ye ole hamster on the wheel in my brain had a real work out!

I have a morning routine of sorts. One element involves checking my e-mail. Delivered to my in-box each day is a daily scripture from KLOVE, Zondervan NIV, along with a more lengthy old and new testament bible study. I do not have to open a bible to lookup verses, these just arrive. The morning brings me word of His unfailing love. Many mornings they are words of encouragement or a good strong reminder of the why and what I believe. Today was no different. The KLOVE Psalm 143:8 scripture came from the New Living Translation (NLT). I shared the New International Version 1984 (NIV 84) translation with you in the opening verse to this devotional. The Bible in the NIV 84 and English Standard Version (ESV) are the preferred translations for me. In these translations I find comfort and understanding of what God would have me learn of His love for me and all mankind. In these translations my path is illuminated more clearly than in other translations. I liken this to the story of Pentecost from Acts Chapter 2. The same message delivered in different languages to be heard by those listening with different backgrounds or origins. It is truly wonderful how easily the Word of God is so freely available in our world today. The only barrier for a person to overcome is the desire to hear or read His Word. While it brings comfort to some, it can surely bring distress to others. His Word shows us the path He would have us walk. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. This path may not be the path we are walking, and it may convict us of our sinful nature. His Word will certainly lead you to find Jesus and the unfailing love the Father has for all of us.

Do you have a daily bible reading plan? Below are a few of links to find a source of daily reading and inspiration.

www.BibleStudyTools.com

www.KLOVE.com

www.thenivbible.com

PRAYER: Father, thank You for Your Word that both convicts us and comforts us. Help us to daily find Your Word and the message You would have us learn in Your Word. Amen

Grace And A Pelican

2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

My mornings sitting in my chair beachside offer me the opportunity to see nature at work. The waves most mornings gently roll into the shore. Manta rays jump from the water and slap the surface upon reentry. The charter boats head up the coast in search of a catch to please their clients. And then there are the pelicans. Pelicans are not the most graceful of birds. Large bodies and big wings do not make for aerial acrobatics. It takes a lot of effort to lift that body into the air. Keeping it in the air also requires considerable effort. The pelicans along the coast of Cabo San Lucas, and other coastal areas, have learned how to glide along the waves. Just in front of a gently rolling wave is an air current that generates lift. As long as the can stay just in front of the wave, the pelicans have the lift they need to fly as far as the wave will take them without having to flap their wings to generate lift for flight. Watching the pelicans reminded me of how people approach grace and salvation.

The concept of grace can be difficult for some to grasp or accept. Many will think grace is too easy. Their perspective is it cannot be that easy to be saved. They will try to earn their salvation. They worry about how much they need to do to earn what they seek. In doing so they miss out in the joy of just believing we have a loving God who sent His only Son to die for us so that all may be saved. Ephesians 2:4&5 remind us that But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. This grace is not earned. This grace is certainly not something we can earn because by our nature, we are sinful. Try as we might, we stumble more than once each and every day. And so when we finally come to grips with the reality of our situation, we can fully appreciate how important grace is. Thinking back to the pelican, the bird would have to be continuously flapping it's wings to maintain flight, Unfortunately, with a body like the pelican, they cannot fly very far before becoming exhausted. The pelicans have learned to glide with the wave fronts. We too need to put aside our foolish effort to earn the grace that is already freely given. We need to embrace the grace. And in doing so, we find the peace from God of knowing we are loved and we are saved. When you think you need to go back and earn grace, remember the lesson of the pelican and glide along the wavefronts. And may the grace and peace of God be you all of your days.

PRAYER: Almighty God, Your gift of grace gives us the lift we need. Help us to remember that gift is given with love and accepted by faith. Give us the words to share that good news with those who do not know or reject that gift. Let our words be soothing, comforting and filled with Your love. This we ask in the name of Your loving Son Jesus Christ, Amen.

Saved By Grace

Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Recently, while visiting Cabo San Lucas, Mexico I was asked about my home church Grace Lutheran in Pocatello The questions asked were the normal why there, what is it like, what brought you there? It was an opportunity to share I deeply appreciated.

The early church, the "Acts 2" church is a model that most churches seek to emulate. A few get it right. And some get it VERY right. Some will focus solely on clergy led study of the word. In this church model, ordained ministers lead all studies offered or sponsored by the church. It is a model that appeals to some worshippers. Others will sponsor bible studies that augment the weekly Sunday worship service. The studies are not all led by an ordained minister. The majority are led by a lay person. By that I mean someone who is not a minister, preacher, etc. my wife Pam and I belong to what is called a small group. It's a small group of 15. We meet on Thursday evenings, study the word, break bread, pray, share some wine, and we share our lives. We are a group of people who have lived through the trials and tribulations of life. Illness, loss of family members ear and far, death of spouses, death of members, children problems of all kinds have help forge a relationship we each hold precious and dear. We have added new members as others have moved away, or passed away. The Lord in His grace and love has put this group together and we are blessed. We share life, love, laughter and most of all, we share a love of, and for Christ. Jesus is the center of our group. My prayer for you on this day, a day the Lord has made is that you would find such a group in your life.

PRAYER: Father, on this day, please reach out to those who are hurting, lost without You in their lives. Guide each of us to share Your love and Your Word. Help us, with Your Holy Spirit to be Your hands and feet. This we ask in Jesus' name, Amen. 

Saved By Grace

Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Recently, while visiting Cabo San Lucas, Mexico I was asked about my home church Grace Lutheran in Pocatello The questions asked were the normal why there, what is it like, what brought you there? It was an opportunity to share I deeply appreciated.

The early church, the "Acts 2" church is a model that most churches seek to emulate. A few get it right. And some get it VERY right. Some will focus solely on clergy led study of the word. In this church model, ordained ministers lead all studies offered or sponsored by the church. It is a model that appeals to some worshippers. Others will sponsor bible studies that augment the weekly Sunday worship service. The studies are not all led by an ordained minister. The majority are led by a lay person. By that I mean someone who is not a minister, preacher, etc. my wife Pam and I belong to what is called a small group. It's a small group of 15. We meet on Thursday evenings, study the word, break bread, pray, share some wine, and we share our lives. We are a group of people who have lived through the trials and tribulations of life. Illness, loss of family members ear and far, death of spouses, death of members, children problems of all kinds have help forge a relationship we each hold precious and dear. We have added new members as others have moved away, or passed away. The Lord in His grace and love has put this group together and we are blessed. We share life, love, laughter and most of all, we share a love of, and for Christ. Jesus is the center of our group. My prayer for you on this day, a day the Lord has made is that you would find such a group in your life.

PRAYER: Father, on this day, please reach out to those who are hurting, lost without You in their lives. Guide each of us to share Your love and Your Word. Help us, with Your Holy Spirit to be Your hands and feet. This we ask in Jesus' name, Amen. 

Why do you look for the living among the dead?

Luke 24:1-6 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: “

We have arrived at the E day of the C&E Lutheran church-goer season. C&E stand for Christmas and Easter. Some folks chose to attend worship services on Christmas & Easter only. I guess their thought process is getting their spiritual tank refilled twice a year, and on really big days, is enough. My heart goes out to those who chose this type of faith. You miss so much the rest of the year. Certainly you miss all those good Lutheran potlucks!

The tomb is empty! He is risen indeed Alleluia, Amen! These are the words we long to hear each Easter morning. This Disciples rejoiced when they heard he had risen. Although slow to accept that possibility, it  brought joy to their hearts. Personally, I struggle during Lent with the concept of annually walking through the Ash Wednesday through Good Friday activities. The reason I struggle is I know what happened. I accept the Gospels as truth. Being reminded of the trials and tribulations of Jesus and His Disciples is good. But I just hold so dearly to the love shown on that cross, and knowing the tomb will be empty on Easter morning. I know am imperfect by the best of my own efforts. I routinely fail. A sinner is what I am. But I am made perfect in Christ. (Colossians 1:28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.) My sins are no longer red. Rather they are washed white as snow. (Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”) I am saved by grace by grace through faith. My only hope rests on the words of Ephesians 2:6-9 (And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.)  

Others may chose to not accept the promise of life and salvation. They may go through life desperately trying to earn grace. Sadly this will be in vain. And others who accept grace still feel a need to do something to help earn grace. It is as if the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was not enough. Faith can be a struggle for many. Almost as if they are constantly working a deal with God. “God if you show me your love by doing ________, I will continue to believe in you.” My heart also goes out for this group. Theirs is a long and difficult faith walk. 

Today we listen with anticipation to the words of the angels from Luke 24. “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:” Our hopes and our prayers rest not just the Jesus who died on the cross for our sins. Our hopes rest with the whole Jesus. This Jesus who died on the cross and was raised from the dead. That Jesus was seen in a resurrected state by thousands, not just His disciples. That is my hope. And that is the lesson to be shared. We do not look at just the cross. We look with great hope and the promise held by the empty tomb. Share that message today and everyday with those you encounter in your life. It is a life giving message.

PRAYER: Almighty God, You who raised Jesus from the grave are our sole hope. We place our trust in You Lord. No other way to grace will work as a substitute. The gift of grace given is one we seek to hold on to in our hearts and minds. Help us to stay convicted of that promise. Give us the words to share with those who do not hold firm to that promise. We as this in the name of our Risen Savior, Your Son Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Spirit are one God now and forever, Amen.

He Claimed To Be The Son Of God

In walking through the Season of Lent this year, I sought to align the sequence of events in the Gospels with how they are presented in a time line. At different times in our Christian walk, some parts of scripture stand out more than others. This year, for me the verses shown below are in sharp focus. In a earlier devotional I spoke of how the truth can be inconvenient at times and hard to accept. For the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the High Priests, Jesus was an inconvenient truth. Jesus spoke a truth that was not in synch with the truth as espoused by the Jewish rulers of His day. The truth Jesus spoke threatened the livelihood and the very existence of the Jewish rulers. At some point, the rulers knew they would lose their status and place in leadership. So extreme measures were viewed as appropriate. 

John 11:45-53 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all!  You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

When Jesus was betrayed by Judas, He was brought before Annas for what we would call today a preliminary hearing. The results were predictable. The wheels of justice, as determined by the Jewish leaders were set in motion. 

John 18:19-24 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”  When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded. “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”  Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.

After the preliminary hearing, Jesus was taken to Caiaphas the high priest. The foregone conclusion that he was guilty and should die was to play out for all to see. Jesus did not back down. He remained firm is His convictions, and this played into the hands of those who sought to end the threat he posed to them.

Matthew 26:63-66 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered.

Things were complicated for the Jewish leaders. They could not themselves kill Jesus. To accomplish the desired end required they enlist the support of the Roman Governor of the region, Pontius Pilate. Pilate was between a rock and a hard place. He was charged with keeping the peace. The Jewish leaders were stirring up the citizenry. If Pilate could not keep the peace, he would be replaced and recalled to Rome where he would be killed for his failures. Try as Pilate might, he was being forced into taking an action he did not want to take.

John 19:7-11 The Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

John 18:37-40 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?” They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.

Matthew 27:22-24 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

John 19:14-16 It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews. But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 

And so the crucifixion of Jesus took place. He suffered the humiliation of the cross. It was a horrible, painful death from asphyxiation. But, Jesus submitted to the will of His Father and …

Luke 23:44-46 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

On this day after Good Friday, we look back on the events that transpired in that seemingly distant past. Our Good Friday worship services served as a reminder bringing the past into the present even if for just a short period of time. We grieve, mourn, meditate on our own sinfulness and remember that our sins also drove the nails into Jesus’ hands and feet. Our hands were also on the hammer that pounded each nail home securing Him to that cross. He bore our sins willingly because God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit love you and I that much. We are blessed beyond measure with that love and need to remember that. We look with anticipation towards the dawn of Sunday when Christ, the Risen Savior returned.

PRAYER: Our Father In Heaven, thank you.

The New Covenant In My Blood

Luke 22:19-20 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

I have discovered something about writing that most professional writers know and I did not. There is a thing called writers block. You hit a point where righting is no longer fun or productive. When you try to "power through" the block, it is miserable and so are the words you put down on paper ( or on the screen). There are times when you need to stop forcing the writing, take a break and regroup. Some folks hit that point quicker or more frequently than others. We are all unique. And when you have given the block time to pass, writing is once again a joy. You remember why you started writing in the first place. I suspect the same holds true in most creative endeavors.

The Season of Lent can serve as a reminder of the full weight of our sin and the price paid for that sin. We celebrate Lent to help us remember the gravity of our lives and how we chose to live our life. Without the reminder of Lent, my thought is we would become very complacent in our lifestyle and possibly our faith. We can easily take for granted the grace we fully rely on for our salvation. From Ash Wednesday through Good Friday the scriptures we read in church services and the messages we hear preached are focused on helping to remember the sacrifice on the cross. Jesus, Son of God, full member of the Holy Trinity died a very painful death for our sake. He did not seek glory, He did seek to serve and did so with the full measure of His life. Without Lent, we may forget “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." Lent is also a time of renew of the spirit.

But Lent comes around once a year so we frail humans need a more constant reminder. And that is why we remember Christ in Holy Communion. The words of Jesus “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me," and "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you" become very tangible. The bread and the wine in with and under the words of Christ point us towards Christ. He is there in that bread and wine. We know this to be so, because he has told us it is so. The reminder of the sacrifice, and the new covenant that came with that sacrifice are brought forth for us to hold onto. When we forget how much it cost, or how much we are loved, the not-so-subtle reminders are right in front of us at the communion rail. If your regular worship service is missing the element of communion you are really missing something. The blood of Christ was poured out on the cross and in communion, we remember that act of sacrifice, love, and the gift of salvation we received. Friends of the Risen Savior, I pray that you will take the time to cherish the experience of communion during this season of Lent. Remember, Christ is really there for you.

PRAYER: Father, we thank You for the gift of Holy Communion. To opportunity to remember in a tangible way Your Son, His sacrifice, and our salvation all rolled up into one is a blessing. Help to experience this often and through Your Holy Spirit to fully grasp the length, width, and breadth of Your love. We ask this in the strong name of Jesus Christ, Amen.