Situations

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time. Hebrews 4:15-16 HCSB

“What seems to be the problem today?” asked the Emergency Room nurse impatiently.

I couldn’t answer. Kathy, my wife, tightened her lips and slowly said, “Miscarriage.”

The nurse directed us to the waiting room where I began filling out the paperwork. After a few minutes, I noticed that Kathy was nodding her head and moving her lips through her tears as she watched a nearby television. I turned and noticed that it featured an African American choir swaying back and forth singing Lord, You are good and Your mercy endureth forever. There, in the midst of her pain, Kathy was in the presence of the Lord.

Lord, we know that You understand the situations of our lives and that You understand exactly how we feel about them. Help us to worship You even when we don’t understand what is happening around us.

A Wonderful Life

Wait for the Lord; be courageous and let your heart be strong. Psalm 27:14 HCSB

I love the old movie It’s A Wonderful Life. George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, waits throughout the entire movie to be able to leave his hometown of Bedford Falls. Once, he even tells his father that he feels that if doesn’t get away he’s going to burst. However, through a series of circumstances, George isn’t able to leave the town. He discovers in the end, however, that the work he did while waiting to leave was extremely valuable to himself, his family, and the entire town.

There have been many times in my life and ministry when I’ve felt like George Bailey. I’ve watched others go here and there and it all looks so wonderful from the spot where I’m waiting. In those moments, I sit and wonder, “Why can’t that be me?”

Fortunately, the Lord has His ways of pulling me away from my own personal pity party and helping me to realize that He has personally positioned me to be where I am to fulfill His purposes. My only appropriate response to Him is worship.

Lord, help me to worship You while I’m waiting.

Smooch

But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us! Romans 5:8 HCSB

It was in the back corner of a small town skating rink that I experienced my first kiss. My hands held tightly to the rail as my lips moved ever closer to hers. After what seemed like an eternity, she took charge and finally sealed the deal by laying one on me.

On the way home that evening, one of my friends said, “I saw you kissing that girl in the corner. I guess you’re in love with her, huh?”

I thought about it for a moment and answered, “No, I don’t think so, but I liked it.”

Years later, I stood in my college chapel with tears streaming down my face and kissed my wife in front of God and everybody.

At the wedding reception, one of my college buddies showed up and said, “Man, you two sure do look like you’re in love!”

Without hesitation, I replied, “Without a doubt, man. Without a single doubt!”

So, what’s the difference? Where does the love come from? Love has been described in many ways, but is really only defined in and through our commitments.

Jesus showed His love and ultimate commitment to us when He died for us on a cross while we were still sinners. If He did this for us, we should be willing to demonstrate our love for Him by being totally committed to Him.

Guarding and Waiting

Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. Proverbs 4:23 HCSB

How much of human life is lost in waiting. Ralph Waldo Emerson*

It’s happened time and again. A man with a pure heart prays to the Lord for direction in life or career or ministry and sits down to wait. At first, he is full of faith and has a spirit of perseverance that is contagious. However, time passes, as it always does, and it seems that God has not spoken, at all. The stuff of this world becomes extremely interesting and waiting on the Lord and His purposes ceases to be appealing. One morning, instead of praying, he wonders, “Maybe it’s not so bad to try out what the world has to offer. It can’t hurt, can it? I mean, if God hasn’t spoken yet, He’s probably not going to speak today.” So, he dabbles in alcoholism, pornography, gossip, vicious thoughts, gambling and profanity, just to pass the time. Suddenly, the pure heart ready to serve the Lord is no longer pure and the determination to serve the Lord has vanished.

Lord, help us to guard our hearts as we wait on You.

*thinkexist.com

By Grace

For by grace are you saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift-not from works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 HCSB

I am extremely fortunate to work with talented musicians and artists everyday. I love interacting with these creative people who are so passionate about communicating their feelings to the world in various ways. Over the years, I’ve heard glorious music, viewed breathtaking art, read heart-wrenching poems, and watched realistic drama. I’m constantly amazed and often overwhelmed by the tremendous talent that God has given to His people.

However, it’s not through the artistic gifts of people that we are redeemed. We are saved by the grace of God through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. It’s comforting to know that our salvation doesn’t rely on how high we can sing, how beautifully we can paint, how perfectly we can act, or how wonderfully we can write. There is no one who can brag, “It’s because of my amazing vocal abilities that I am saved.”

Sooner or later, even the super talented must realize that we are not the source of our salvation. It’s only by the grace of Jesus.

Lord, thank You for Your grace.

Joy

Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4 HCSB

I don’t know about you, but I find it difficult to embrace the great joy that I’m supposed to find in the trials of life. You won’t normally find me saying, “It looks like I’m getting ready to go through some hard times! Isn’t it wonderful! I’m so glad that my faith is being tested because I know that faith produces endurance! Yippee!”

However, going through times of faith testing is good for us. It helps build up our spiritual endurance for future situations in which we will find ourselves. When a runner trains for a marathon, the rigorous training time is important to build up the endurance he needs to make it the full 26 miles on the day of the race. In a similar fashion, we must view our spiritual trials as a positive experience, meant to help us increase our faith to higher levels of endurance.

Lord, help us see the joy that can come from the struggles of life.

Cost

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 HCSB

There is no victory at bargain basement prices. Dwight D. Eisenhower*

My wife is always looking for a bargain. In fact, if what she’s looking for isn’t on sale, she’s most likely not going to buy it. We live across the street from a mall and she walks through it all the time, but she purchases most of her clothes from discount department stores, at thrift stores, and even garage sales. She has one pair of shoes that she purchased for $2.50 at a discount shoe outlet. When I asked her how much the shoes were, she answered, “They were only $1.25 each.”

Fortunately, when God saw that we needed redemption, He didn’t go looking for a bargain. He offered the most valuable thing that exists, Himself, to purchase our salvation. He lowered Himself to become a man. Then, substituting Himself for us, He died an excruciating death on a cross, after being beaten mercilessly. The cost was greater than that of anything ever purchased.

Lord, thank You for paying the full cost of the penalty for my sin.

*brainyquote.com