“The angel spoke to the women: ‘There is nothing to fear here. I know you’re looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed. Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.’ That’s the message.’ The women, deep in wonder and full of joy, lost no time in leaving the tomb. They ran to tell the disciples. Then Jesus met them, stopping them in their tracks. ‘Good morning!’ he said. They fell to their knees, embraced his feet, and worshiped him. Jesus said, ‘You’re holding on to me for dear life! Don’t be frightened. Go tell my brothers that they are to go to Galilee, and that I’ll meet them there.’ ” (Matthew 28:5-10, emphasis added)
“[I]f the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)
So, now what? Now that we’ve celebrated the incredible gift of new life, forgiveness, hope, joy and peace secured for us through the glorious resurrection of Christ, what difference will it make? How will it affect our work, our relationships, our use of the time, talent and treasure entrusted to us? Will Sunday’s stirring remembrance remain with us all week? Will we take to heart the words of Jesus to the women at the tomb, “I’ll meet them there,” and his promise to the disciples recorded a few verses later, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20)? Will we go forth from Easter trusting in the truth of Romans 8:11 that by the Holy Spirit, the Lord in fact dwells in, and breathes life into, all who believe and follow after Him?
Gracious God and risen Lord, we celebrate all that you accomplished on our behalf through the Resurrection. As we continue to praise and honor you far beyond Easter, we thank you that you are faithful to meet us where we are, to fill us with your strength, and to lead us in your way. Amen.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
All Is Well
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge…my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2)
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Paul the apostle, in Philippians 4:12-13)
All is well? Get real. Anxiety is the order of our day. From Wall Street to Main Street, from economics to geopolitics, from the supermarket to the housing market, uncertainty has crept in like a fog. In the midst of these times that might well try our souls[1], the truth expressed in the Scriptures above is as relevant as ever. These words provide us with a timely reminder that in the Lord we have a secure Anchor for every season and storm. I know a wise man named Bob Warren who, if asked how things are going, is likely to reply: “The Lord’s on His throne and all is well.” All is well. Yes, it is. When tumult churns around us, it’s great to remember that the King of King still reigns, unchanged, undaunted. The Lord of Lords remains a Rock. The God of Gods is forever a Fortress, a Deliverer, a Stronghold, a compassionate Savior to all who would seek refuge in Him.
O God, you are our constant Hope; our Rock, Fortress, Deliverer and Shield. Thank you for offering stability in the midst of instability, peace in the midst of uncertainty, and contentment in the midst of every challenge we might face. Amen.
[1] With apologies to Thomas Paine’s Revolutionary War-era quote.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Paul the apostle, in Philippians 4:12-13)
All is well? Get real. Anxiety is the order of our day. From Wall Street to Main Street, from economics to geopolitics, from the supermarket to the housing market, uncertainty has crept in like a fog. In the midst of these times that might well try our souls[1], the truth expressed in the Scriptures above is as relevant as ever. These words provide us with a timely reminder that in the Lord we have a secure Anchor for every season and storm. I know a wise man named Bob Warren who, if asked how things are going, is likely to reply: “The Lord’s on His throne and all is well.” All is well. Yes, it is. When tumult churns around us, it’s great to remember that the King of King still reigns, unchanged, undaunted. The Lord of Lords remains a Rock. The God of Gods is forever a Fortress, a Deliverer, a Stronghold, a compassionate Savior to all who would seek refuge in Him.
O God, you are our constant Hope; our Rock, Fortress, Deliverer and Shield. Thank you for offering stability in the midst of instability, peace in the midst of uncertainty, and contentment in the midst of every challenge we might face. Amen.
[1] With apologies to Thomas Paine’s Revolutionary War-era quote.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Our Portion
“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:24)
“And Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)
‘The Lord is my portion.’ Not, the Lord gives me my portion. A step further: He is my portion. Not, Jesus points the way to a good life. A level deeper: He is the life (John 14:6). Not, he was a winsome rabbi who set a good example on earth for us to follow 2,000 years later. One better: He is the living, risen Savior (Matthew 28:6) who remains alive and active today in all who would follow Him and be led by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).
Thank you, loving God, compassionate Father, tender Savior, for today’s reminder that You are faithful…that Your mercies are new each morning…that You are our portion for life…that as we wait on You we will see Your goodness poured out in abundance. Strengthen us to go forth with grateful, hopeful hearts today, we pray. Amen.
“And Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)
‘The Lord is my portion.’ Not, the Lord gives me my portion. A step further: He is my portion. Not, Jesus points the way to a good life. A level deeper: He is the life (John 14:6). Not, he was a winsome rabbi who set a good example on earth for us to follow 2,000 years later. One better: He is the living, risen Savior (Matthew 28:6) who remains alive and active today in all who would follow Him and be led by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).
Thank you, loving God, compassionate Father, tender Savior, for today’s reminder that You are faithful…that Your mercies are new each morning…that You are our portion for life…that as we wait on You we will see Your goodness poured out in abundance. Strengthen us to go forth with grateful, hopeful hearts today, we pray. Amen.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Boating Life magazine articles
Monday, February 25, 2008
Be Filled
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)
“Give us day by day our daily bread.” (Luke 11:3)
“And I ask that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19b, The Message)
“The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” (Psalm 126:3)
Why do the Scriptures remind us numerous times to “fill up” daily on the love, grace, strength and guidance that come from God alone? It’s simple: we’re all holey. That is, we all leak. To slake our spiritual thirst requires much more than just an infrequent sip. To satisfy our divine hunger means more than just eating an occasional meal at the Lord’s table and then letting our stomachs growl for days or weeks on end. The strength we need for life—for love and friendship and work and play and rest—is a heavenly gift to which we have full access every moment of every day. Our great source for the nourishment that results in fullness is not some mysterious, universal vibe conjured by trances, poses and breathing techniques; it is a river of holy energy flowing freely from a divine Creator, the loving God, the just, yet merciful Savior, through the living Word of God and through the Holy Spirit who is alive, at work, and ready to quench the deepest longings of all who seek God. So let us seek Him afresh today.
Heavenly Father and gracious Lord, you know that we leak; fill us anew today with all of the strength we need for life, for godliness, for living in fullness and joy. Amen.
“Give us day by day our daily bread.” (Luke 11:3)
“And I ask that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19b, The Message)
“The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” (Psalm 126:3)
Why do the Scriptures remind us numerous times to “fill up” daily on the love, grace, strength and guidance that come from God alone? It’s simple: we’re all holey. That is, we all leak. To slake our spiritual thirst requires much more than just an infrequent sip. To satisfy our divine hunger means more than just eating an occasional meal at the Lord’s table and then letting our stomachs growl for days or weeks on end. The strength we need for life—for love and friendship and work and play and rest—is a heavenly gift to which we have full access every moment of every day. Our great source for the nourishment that results in fullness is not some mysterious, universal vibe conjured by trances, poses and breathing techniques; it is a river of holy energy flowing freely from a divine Creator, the loving God, the just, yet merciful Savior, through the living Word of God and through the Holy Spirit who is alive, at work, and ready to quench the deepest longings of all who seek God. So let us seek Him afresh today.
Heavenly Father and gracious Lord, you know that we leak; fill us anew today with all of the strength we need for life, for godliness, for living in fullness and joy. Amen.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Love for the Wanderer (from Feb. 4)
“So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?” (Romans 2:3-4)
“O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free! Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me! Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love; Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!”** (Samuel Trevor Francis, 1875)
To the wanderer, to the lost and confused, to the stained and ashamed, to the reckless and fearful, to the bitter and broken-hearted, to the once-hopeful saint who feels despondent and disqualified, to the prodigal who realizes how lonely the path away from God has become, this message is for you: All is not lost. Your life isn’t over yet. Stop. Stop right where you are, look up, and let this truth wash over you: “I love you,” says the Lord, with tender compassion in His eyes. “I love you with an everlasting love. Return to me. Melt into my embrace. I will cleanse your wounds, heal your heart, renew your mind, and restore your hope. I will replace your shame with joy. Simply return.” O the deep, deep love of Jesus!—let’s bask in it today, and receive the kindness offered to us as we return.
Thank you, God, for your deep, deep love, and for your kindness that leads us to repentance. Thank you for calling wanderers back home, away from destructive ways, into your loving embrace. Amen.
**The complete hymn is available here.
His Plans
“Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” (Psalm 33:8-11, emphasis added)
“This is what the LORD says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’ ” (Jeremiah 29:10-13)
We often hear Jeremiah 29:11 quoted as a word of encouragement, and it’s a good one. But verse 11 tells only part of the story; verses 12-13 continue the thought with a promise and a condition. The promise is that God will listen to his people and hear them when they pray. The condition is that his people will find him when they “seek him with all your heart.” Last week, several colleagues and I were working on a challenging project. At one point in a meeting someone said, “We sure need to be praying about this.” It was suggested that we pray right then, so we stopped, and I led us in prayer. Our prayer focused on plans: that God, whose plans founded our organization, whose plans have sustained it, and whose plans for it will continue, would meet us with wisdom, guidance and peace. I can’t speak for the others in the room, but I can tell you that a weight lifted from me as we prayed. It was a simple reminder: HE is in control; we don’t have to be. As Psalm 33 proclaims, “The plans of the Lord stand forever.” So, how do we apply this truth? We begin by seeking Him with all our hearts in every endeavor. If we make our own plans and they succeed, we can say, “Look what I did. Look at the career I’ve built. Look at my house. Look at what these hands have accomplished.” What’s wrong with that approach? Only this: Self-made people will only go so far. But if we start by seeking God’s plans and following Him, the potential for what He can do through us is so much greater than what we could accomplish on our own. Does the Lord have good plans for us? Absolutely! So let’s seek after the purposes of His heart that will endure through all generations. Let’s pray, trusting that He will listen. And let’s believe and know that when we pursue Him with all our hearts, we will truly find him.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder that your plans for us are good. No matter who we are, where we come from, how checkered our past might be, our future in You is a bright one. As we seek after You afresh today and this week, we trust that You will prove yourself faithful once again to listen, to hear, to guide and to sustain us. Through Jesus we pray, with gratitude for Your grace, Amen.
“This is what the LORD says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’ ” (Jeremiah 29:10-13)
We often hear Jeremiah 29:11 quoted as a word of encouragement, and it’s a good one. But verse 11 tells only part of the story; verses 12-13 continue the thought with a promise and a condition. The promise is that God will listen to his people and hear them when they pray. The condition is that his people will find him when they “seek him with all your heart.” Last week, several colleagues and I were working on a challenging project. At one point in a meeting someone said, “We sure need to be praying about this.” It was suggested that we pray right then, so we stopped, and I led us in prayer. Our prayer focused on plans: that God, whose plans founded our organization, whose plans have sustained it, and whose plans for it will continue, would meet us with wisdom, guidance and peace. I can’t speak for the others in the room, but I can tell you that a weight lifted from me as we prayed. It was a simple reminder: HE is in control; we don’t have to be. As Psalm 33 proclaims, “The plans of the Lord stand forever.” So, how do we apply this truth? We begin by seeking Him with all our hearts in every endeavor. If we make our own plans and they succeed, we can say, “Look what I did. Look at the career I’ve built. Look at my house. Look at what these hands have accomplished.” What’s wrong with that approach? Only this: Self-made people will only go so far. But if we start by seeking God’s plans and following Him, the potential for what He can do through us is so much greater than what we could accomplish on our own. Does the Lord have good plans for us? Absolutely! So let’s seek after the purposes of His heart that will endure through all generations. Let’s pray, trusting that He will listen. And let’s believe and know that when we pursue Him with all our hearts, we will truly find him.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder that your plans for us are good. No matter who we are, where we come from, how checkered our past might be, our future in You is a bright one. As we seek after You afresh today and this week, we trust that You will prove yourself faithful once again to listen, to hear, to guide and to sustain us. Through Jesus we pray, with gratitude for Your grace, Amen.
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