New Year's Eve

New Year’s Eve “The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46:7 Today, rather than focusing on a new beginning, let’s give thanks for the blessed year that has passed. There are both positive and negative memories, and we may ask why we did some dumb things. Or why something great happened? Whatever the case, the Lord was with us, and we must be thankful. Thought for Today: Let us be thankful for last year and prayerful about our future. As we move forward, let’s remember two of my favorite themes. Keep healthy in your spirit, mind, and body. Also, when in doubt, “Just do it!”

2024!

Gifts "For by the grace given me, I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, In accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, And these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ, we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us." (Romans 12:3-6) Christmas has passed, and we were all involved in its materialism at some level. The advertising, the gift-giving, and the holiday cards all lead us away from its meaning. It is not about the gifts that were given and received by people. Earlier this year, we read about the gifts that God gave us. Paul's letter to the Romans has a special meaning. Verse nine of Romaans twelve lists seven of God's gifts. It is essential to understand God's blessings and recognize our gifts. We need to know where we fit in God's world and how to apply His gifts in our lives. These gifts matter- They are not advertised on TV or in the newspaper. They are given to us by Him to use. Thought for Today: As we approach the New Year, let us think about who we are and what gifts God has given us. Let us learn to use these gifts to make our lives and the lives of others better. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, self-improvement always seems to be an objective at this time of the year. Each year I focus on "my improvement" and sometimes do not recognize the tasks you may have set forth for me. I pray that this will be the year that "my improvement" is accomplished by identifying your gifts to me and finding a way to do your work with them. Amen

Merry Christmas

"Joy to the World, the Lord has come" There are many one-liners in Christmas carols. The opening of "Joy to the World" says it all. It summarizes our Christian lives, lives of joy through the forgiveness of our faith and our Christian peers. Let us all feel the joy of the season and the love for each other, and keep our faith strong throughout the season. With blessings, have a great Christm

Universal Hope

Blue Christmas

Blue Christmas “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you, my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” (Psalm 57:1) Many churches have a special service for people having a sad time over the Holidays. Our pastor must have been an Elvis fan once because he called it a Blue Christmas Service. We can always find reasons to be blue over the holidays, and it is good to look at those feelings, put them in perspective, and pray to God for the support available to us. It was one worth attending whether you were sad or not. Our friends Bob, Carl, and Dave miss their wives who passed away this year. There are too many to list with severe ailments and others with challenging career and financial situations. Several years ago, we met a young gentleman, John, who had visited during the summer. He was in tears during the service. He was despondent because his parents were having a problem with his sexual preference. I ask you all for prayers. Celebrating Christmas is for all of us. Through it all, we remember those who are experiencing loss. June and I pray about aging and life in a new society with COVID and war. It is important to take refuge in the shadow of God’s wings. Thought for Today: Let us take note of our sad feelings over the holidays. We need to recognize that they exist rather than masking them with joy. Pray about them, turn them over to God, and enjoy the celebration of Christ’s birth. Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we have special holiday prayers. We pray that your presence brings trust and love to the world. We pray for people who have lost loved ones and are spending their first Christmas with an empty place at the table while giving thanks for your role in our lives and the help you give us. Thank you for being available for us each day. Amen

Endurance

Endurance and Encouragement “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves ….” (Romans 15 vs. 5) Instant gratification is something that we always seem to want and often expect. We have national lotteries around the world, and people become instant winners. (They may have played for twenty years!) The desire is clear; we want what we want when we want it. If that is where you are at in your life, you need not read any further today. That is not my message! Paul’s message to the Romans is about endurance and encouragement, two things given to us through our faith and prayers that will make us successful. There will be no lightning bolt that makes us winners. In the years that June and I were associated with my son’s music business, we dealt with hundreds of starry-eyed musicians waiting for their big break. Some made it, but all that succeeded earned it. The ones that worked at it 24/7; the ones with an undying passion for writing and performing; those who were too serious about it to enjoy the party atmosphere succeeded. In our own lives, we need to endure. Life is not a sprint, it is more like a marathon, and there are no days off. We will feel weary and need encouragement. We need a place where we can find encouragement; we have it because God is with us. We do need to reach out and grab it through prayer. Thought for Today: Let’s think about who we could reach out to for encouragement; our pastor, significant other, child, or bartender. There is always someone. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we thank you for your support and pray that we can let you in when we are tired. Amen

The Happiest Season

Happiest Season “Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist. others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8 vs. 27-29) It is a wonderful time of the year when we look forward to celebrating Christ’s birth. We are blessed because of His presence in our everyday lives. We have a God-given relief from the daily stresses our society places on us. Interestingly, 30-plus years after his birth, Jesus was asking who they believed he was. My thoughts are that the Christmas story would be enough. But then, nothing in this world is ever easy; not then and certainly not now. So what is Christmas really about? Gifts, material giving, and recharging of our spiritual batteries. It is a great time of the year, the happiest time. We must enjoy the season while recharging our batteries, reinforcing our beliefs, and preparing for the New Year. Katharine McPhee said in her song: “Have yourself a merry little Christmas Let your heart be light From now on, our troubles Will be out of sight.” Blessings to you all for a great season of Joy! Thought for Today: The Christmas season is not all joys. We will encounter stress, financial hardships, bad weather, and all the events of winter life. They are all blessings that are part of our lives. We need to keep Christ as our focus. Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we give thanks for Christmas and festivities. Through prayer, we give thanks that “our troubles will be out of sight.” Amen

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! Thanksgiving "As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving". (Colossians 2:6-7) June and I are incredibly thankful for a family running event we started in 1990 called the Turkey Day 5K. We are tearfully proud each year when thousands of runners, walkers, pets, and wheelchair participants enjoy their Thanksgiving morning in downtown Minneapolis. There will be food and cash contributions to the Sa local charity. We both feel blessed that the Lord inspired us to start this event and placed people in our path who have made it special. Thanksgiving is the traditional start of what we call the holiday season. While giving thanks, we must be aware and focus on the good, rewarding parts of our lives. In his book, With All My Strength, H. Norman Wright puts it this way, "Thanksgiving is not to be limited to only the times when we are aware of blessings. We thank God for unconditional love and goodness, unlimited wisdom, and abundance at these times. Let us give thanks even when we have a problem to solve when there are difficulties to be met. We are rejuvenated when we give thanks continually in spirit, mind, and body." Let us hold those thoughts and be thankful for all of our blessings. Thought for Today: Let us focus on giving thanks to God for our love for each other and the support we both give and receive. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, we give you thanks for our friends, families, and our troubles. We thank you for our financial crises, family stress, and the waves in our seas of tranquility. Through our problems, we learn to pray and appreciate the many blessings that seem greater than life's ripples. We thank you for our lives, love, and Grace. Amen

The Dali Lama

The Dalai Lama “Can any of you, by worrying, add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6 vs. 27) June and I have the ability to enjoy our lives, both the pitfalls and the pleasures. We strongly believe that the Lord has been involved in our lives and led us to enjoy simple pleasures. We both believe that the ability to put the events into perspective is our greatest blessing through our faith. A Christian friend forwarded this to me. It does not describe a person of faith but is accurate for those who have not developed a spiritual lifestyle. The Dalai Lama, when asked about what surprised him most about humanity, answered, “Man. Because he sacrifices his health to make money. Then, he sacrifices his money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives like he is never going to die, and he dies having never really lived.” Maybe we can help the friends being referred to by the Dalai Lama. Thought for Today: Who in our circle of friends resembles the Dalai Lama’s description? It could be a family member, neighbor, friend, or church member. Let’s think about that and find a way to share our faith with them. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, today, let us pray for those who have not included Christ in their lives, those who are spiritually weak and worried about physical rather than Godly issues. We pray for them and ask you for a way to help, a way to share, and a way to contribute to their spiritual growth.

Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual Gifts "Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, ...There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men." (1 Corinthians 12:1-6 NIV) Often, the bible mentions the gifts given to us by the Lord. However, in every case, the same Spirit is mentioned. Think about what that means to all of us. Think about us as a team, a Christian body placed on earth to do God's work. Not alone but as a team. I have always preferred working with a partner. I believe that two people working as a team is four times better than the best of the two working alone. If that is true, how powerful is a small congregation working together doing God's work? In the 2004 Super Bowl, the New England Patriots came out to play without the TV Network's usual fanfare of individual introductions. They came and won as a team. Last week, the newspaper's sports page was dedicated to the state girls' soccer championship. It listed the rosters of the two finalists and the state's all-star team. No all-stars were listed on the two teams' rosters playing in the finals. The championship teams won as a team without any all-stars. We need each other; our Christian family must get the job done. So we all "have different gifts but the same spirit." We can all participate and use these gifts to do God's work, but we do not have the gifts to do it alone. Thought for Today: Let us focus on our talents and God's gifts to us. Let us recognize our gifts and use them to do God's work. Prayer: Heavenly Father, we ask, "What is it all about?" We pray to you for the ability to better understand it all. We pray for the ability to recognize our gifts and the knowledge of how to utilize them to help. Amen

He Comes Through

He Comes Through “Praise the Lord, I tell myself, “With my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, I tell myself, And never forget the good things He does for me.” (Psalm 103 v 1 & 2) Every day the Lord gives us blessings. It is easy to forget the role He plays in our lives in our busyness. Here are three events that made me think of the Lord this week. Early in the week, a friend and I discussed what we prayed about. They were guidance, support, internal peace, and several others. It was apparent that neither of us prayed for favors or help. We realized that through prayer, good things would happen. Last week, a twenty nine year old hocker player died from a skate related injiry. Why? That is a big question and certainly something that makes people doubt. When the final reports are in on this, somehow, good will come from his young life. It is too soon for mortals to understand. The third event that brought the Lord to the forefront was a Good News buddy from San Diego correspondence about his return home after a firestorm that ravaged his neighborhood. There were, 15 of 47 houses destroyed on his street, plus the sanctuary of his church. Here are the words he used in closing his correspondence: “Truly, God is good. Many lessons are to be learned, and many prayers are answered. To God be the Glory.” Thought for Today: Today will be just like many others. Our calendars are crowded, we will have unreasonable demands on our time, and we will need to focus on making it all happen. Let’s take a few minutes and think about the Lord’s role in our lives with that in mind. Let’s let Him into our day. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, today we pray to see the results of your participation in our lives and the ability to accept what we do not understand. We trust that good things will happen. Amen

Our Rock

Pray for world peace.

Our Rock “There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” (1 Samuel 2 vs. 2) Growing up in New England, we often fished in streams and frequently crossed them by stepping from rock to rock. We got cold and wet when we stepped on a loose one or slipped. The analogy to the passage is that we chose the wrong rock! That is not an option with God. The Lord is the rock of our life, our foundation, and always with us. We forget that simple truth; we will not let Him in to help when we feel lonely. During those times, we can feel cold and lonely. (Hopefully not wet.) Prayer and devotionals will help that situation. If you are reading this today, you are probably sitting squarely on the rock. Thought for Today: Let’s be aware of our foundation, our rock. Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, I recognize you and thank you for being my rock and foundation. I pray to identify someone who has slipped from your rock and help them. Amen

Eisenhower's Birthday!

Pray for world peace on Eisenhower's birthday

Eisenhower “He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant —not of the letter but the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3 vs. 6) We are in some way the light, ministers of the gospel, or promoters of the Holy Spirit. That is a part of the covenant we make when we join the Christian church. That is a tremendous responsibility, and I don’t feel like a “spirit” promoter daily. I have always had a propensity for relaxing through exercise. Workouts are a daily piece of my life, and pursuing it shows my selfish streak. In my late twenties, I made a covenant with myself to be as good as possible. I wanted to be a good dad and husband and believed fitness was a piece of the equation. Later in life, June and I decided that fitness was more than physical; i.e., it was spirit, mind, and body. We agreed that we would work on the spirit and mind together, but she was not interested in joining me on my swims, bike rides, and runs. (She was always a bit smarter.) OOPS- that decision meant three times as much work. Our 34th President, Dwight David Eisenhower, firmly believed in this. He did his morning exercises, and whenever possible, he kept his calendar open for an after-lunch nap. He would spend time chipping and putting before his afternoon meetings at the Whitehouse. His colleagues considered him eccentric and selfish, and he felt he needed a scheduled break to be the best he could be for himself and his country. We must be the best we can be for ourselves and our families and serve the Lord. Be a bit selfish so that you can help. Thought for Today: Today, let’s do something for ourselves to help our spirit, mind, and body. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we pray to keep our covenant made to you today. We pray that we are shining your light as bright as we can. We pray that we are the light of the world so others may find you through us. Amen

I Yam Who I Yam!

I Yam what I yam "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," (Phillipians 4-13) Was Popeye a philosopher? Cartoonists often are. When confronted with difficult situations, Popeye would say, "I yam what I yam?" gulp down his spinach and defend right. We are not all Popeyes, and we are expected to conform, often to standards below our Christian faith standards, and may face difficulties if we do not. It is necessary to understand who we are and what we are and keep the Lord in our daily lives. We need our "spinach." . In many ways, we are continually fighting image syndrome. Quite often, we get flack because we don't fit in. Conformity is the word, and clones are the result. How did some prophets or John the Baptist fit in with the rest of their society? Probably not too well at times, and they were special. The truth is you are you. You are who God created you to be, and he wants you to know who you are and understand your individual characteristics. No one else is exactly like you. God created you and then broke the mold. You are unique, and it is all right to be you. Don't let others shape you. That is God's task. He started with you, will finish with you, and will be with you. He is our spinach. He does want you to be you. Thought for the Day: Let us search for the person God wants us to be to serve him better. Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we travel through our weekly chores, we need to see a way to help You. We often lose track of your plan, and sometimes we are too busy and do not understand it. This week, we pray that we may find a better way to serve You and make life better for everyone. Amen.

Special Days

Special Days ” This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118v 24) There are 365 days every year. Our goal and challenge are to enjoy every day. We can not allow our finances, a boss, or other outside influences to steal pleasure from any day. God put us here to be happy, and we need to do that for Him. OK, let’s get real. Some days are just a drag, and things go wrong. God rains on our parade, and our back goes out again, etc. When negative things get in the way, we have a hard choice. We can choose to have a bad day or trust our faith and give thanks for what went right. Some days, it seems that the only thing to give thanks for its end. Well, that’s enough to make it a good day. We all have problems and challenges that will take longer than one day to resolve. We need to remember two important things. When we live one day at a time, we simplify our solutions. We can work on it tomorrow if we do not get it today. When we believe an issue is unsolvable, we need to remember that the Lord is with us, and He can change the rules. We need to pray and turn unsolvable matters over to the Lord. Allowing God to be with us daily guarantees that we will have a good day. Thought for the Day: This will be a wonderful week for all of us. We will walk through the challenges and bless the Lord for the experiences and lessons that we learn one day at a time. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, our world often confuses us. There are problems that we want to fix now and can not. We thank you for the many things that go well and pray that we may cheerfully contribute to your plan.

Trust

Trust “I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last, you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4 vs. 10-13) It always amazes me and reinforces my faith when something Paul said 2000 years ago applies directly to today’s world. For several years our free world economy has been flaky. Trust in government has faded as the leaders of America and the world have become polarized. The advent of Ponzi schemes and fraud by high-powered executives have hurt the trust we need in our financial markets for them to be strong. Even at low levels of government, doubts about their ability to perform are stronger than ever. It is scary because our country and the world rely on trust. In America, our money reminds us that “In God We Trust.” I promise to turn this around. I try not to be political, but that seems to be the case today. Paul is pointing out a simple truth, and we must pay attention. In a recent telecast, televangelist Joel Osteen said, “We do not know what the future holds, but we do know who holds our future.” Hmmm, there is something to think about. Thought for Today: Today and always, take time to focus on our savior. Take a few minutes to appreciate and welcome Him into our life. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, today we give thanks for Paul’s words and encouragement. We pray that we may accept his advice graciously and lean on you to get through our daily stresses. Amen

New Beginnings

Start the Day " The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble." (Proverbs 4:18& 19) Those who have known me long know I have always been a morning person. I think there is no better time of day than early morning, even sunrise. There is no prettier sight than the sun coming up out of the sea off of Boston, the early light on the first tee waiting for enough daylight to see the ball's flight, or the sun coming up over a mountain when viewed from a canoe while fishing. I am blessed because the first light is a spiritual event to me. Each sunrise starts a new beginning, an opportunity to do better, and a new opportunity to do God's work. Yesterday is gone and can not be changed, and our future is today and beyond. These devotionals started as something to do during the early hours. The newscasts on TV were (and still are) depressing. The newspapers are full of bad news. It seems that bad news sells. Tomorrow, you will see a "first light." It may be mid-morning if you are a late sleeper or a sunrise. Either way, it is a new beginning, a new opportunity. It will be the first day of the rest of your life. Spend it with hope and joy. Thought for Today: There will be seven days this week. Each is a fresh start. Let us feel the spirit in the first light, the blessing of a new day. Let us live the first day of the rest of our lives with faith and the joy of the Lord. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we thank you for the sunrise, the new beginning, new opportunity. We pray we may use this opportunity to do your will here on earth. Amen

Our World “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3 vs. 5) As an octogenarian, I constantly wonder about the direction society is going. Remember the good old days? It seems that whatever age you are, they exist. Two of my mom's favorite expressions were "Live and Learn." and "The more you know, the more you don't know." By now, we “Octos” know it all. Hah. In the 50s, TV was going to ruin us. We spent more time watching it than reading, but we still read books. Then, in the 1980s, we bought an Apple IIE computer, and a new age began. In our ever-evolving society, the only constant in the human race is “change.” What has not changed? Nature. We still have four seasons; the sun rises and sets, and tides ebb and flow. It is September, and here in the northland, the evenings are cool, school has started, and a few leaves are turning. Man’s technology changes the way we operate. Our constant is our God-given world. We will read on our phones and tablets and send emails through cyberspace. All the while, God’s world will continue to evolve. Thought for Today: Give thanks for the many fall activities; school begins, kids are excited, and the formal learning process starts. To some, the start of the fall sports season is meaningful. To others, the fall means hunting and being outdoors. It would be easy amongst all the activities to forget God. Remember that all this is God's work, and give thanks for it all. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we thank you for your patient love. We hope and pray that we may use that love to understand this complex world and apply it to everyone's benefit. Amen

Peace

Peace “Who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except for our God?” (2 Samuel 22:32) In late August, Christian church ministry teams make many phone calls and home visits. Our pastor calls everyone in the church directory and invites them to the fall programs. With the help of his team, there will be home meetings, coffee shop visits around the city, and often just messages on answering machines saying that we care. It is a time of invitation to lead people back to the Rock of Stability and Peace. For families, school is about to start. The fall activities are about to begin, the summer slowdown, and the vacations are over. Empty nesters are looking at the leaves turning and thinking about winter, and warm weather travels, and the holidays. For the most part, the human race is kicking into high gear- back to being too busy. In many cases, it means not being at Peace. In the next few months, we may find ourselves in complicated situations and need to be reminded not to leave the Rock, our Lord, behind as we move forward into these exciting times. It is time to accept the invitations from our ministry teams and keep the Lord in our everyday lives. We need to keep Him in our lives to maintain our tranquility and keep us on an even keel. Thought for Today: Let’s look at our calendars and schedule a few minutes with our Lord, a few minutes for meditation, and a few minutes to give thanks. And a few minutes for ourselves. Let’s do this so that we will be at Peace and be better able to help others. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, let’s be calm and relaxed, patient and observing, caring and loving as we deal with others. Let us shine your light so others will recognize we are at Peace. Amen

Birthday Special

August 21- Birthday Special “Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Each year on my birthday, I give thanks for something I learned as a YMCA brat in my youth. The symbol for the Y is a triangle, and each side has a meaning, “spirit, mind, and body.” Each year I give thanks for my role as a father, son, and place in society. But let’s talk a bit about what it takes to be in a good place with ourselves. It is being selfish, yes, being selfish in pursuit of a healthy self: mentally, physically, and spiritually. In each of our lives, we must fit into niches in society; a family, a workplace, and a social setting. We fit best when the three sides of our triangle are in a healthy balance. In all areas of our lives, it is essential to demonstrate the forgiveness and love that comes from spirituality. We need to be physically fit enough to deal with the long days without being fatigued and run down. Also, we need to be mentally sharp when making life decisions. That is a lot to ask of mortals and not an easy task. So be a bit selfish. Take care of yourself so that you may be all that God wants you to be and be capable of doing His work when the opportunity presents itself to you. Take care of yourself to be all that your family needs you to be. Remember the logo of the YMCA, spirit, mind, and body. Keep fit and enjoy life. Birthday Thought: Today is the day the Lord has made, a day for me to enjoy. Friends will recognize it, the family will celebrate it, and I will enjoy it. It is a blessing that we all have and a great day to give thanks to the Lord for all of our many blessings. Birthday Prayer: Heavenly Father, today is a special day, the day that you brought me into your service. Throughout this day, I thank you for all the opportunities you have provided me and the chance to have a healthy relationship with family and friends. Today I will often hear the words “Happy birthday.” To those words, I say, “Thanks be to God.” Amen

Rewards

Rewards of Faith 

“Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;

you are the praise of Israel.

 In you, our fathers put their trust;

they trusted, and you delivered them.

They cried to you and were saved;

in you, they trusted and were not disappointed.”

(Psalm 22 vs. 3-5) 

            We live a long time, and often, the road is bumpy. The statistics on our world economy indicate some long-term economic decline. Economic difficulties always hurt the lower third of the income range first and hardest. Globally, decisions and priorities are changing. We need to deal with changes.          

            My thoughts are not about policy, elections, or the economy. They are about prayer and priorities. First, we must pray for the lower third of our global socio-economic world. Food in the US is expensive but is scarce and unaffordable in many nations. More people will be starving around the world next year than this year. We need to pray for those that are suffering from hunger.           

            When times get tough, we need to stick with our faith and beliefs as followers of Christ. Pray for our neighbors and those less fortunate and give more of ourselves. Follow the basic principles of our faith. The Psalmist states that we will not be disappointed- we need to believe. It is now that we all need to gather our resources to help. We need to believe that the Lord will be there for us, and we need to be there for Him. 

“I am the LORD your God,who brought you up out of Egypt.

Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.”

(Psalm 71 vs. 14) 

Thought for Today:  Let’s think about trusting the Lord to be there when we need Him. Some on this email list need help, and some can help. Let us all do what we can in the name of the Lord. 

Prayer for Today: Father, we pray for the resources to relieve hunger where we live and worldwide.

Amen

 

 

 

Winning 

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of

compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so

that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we have

received from God."

 (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

             Who in our lives are the winners? Some say the one with the most toys wins. That is a materialistic

one-liner that gives me goosebumps. However, in our society today, we pursue "things" instead of happiness and peace. So who are the real winners, and how do they win?

 

God placed us here to be his stewards, with our priority to be sharing the gifts we received from Him with others. That seems to be a very tall order. However, we always feel great when we have helped a friend or stranger. 

God gives us resources in many different forms. We have money that we earn and the knowledge that we have learned. We graciously share these things with our families and children, making us feel good. Many people also reach out beyond their family units and share. There are ways to share and sow the seeds God has given us to plant, and we are real winners when we share our gifts. 

Thought for Today: Let us look for an opportunity to help someone who is sick, hurting, or lonely. If we fail to find someone, let's share some extra with our Church. Sharing a bit will make us feel better. 

Prayer for Today:  Heavenly Father, we live in a troubled world: civil unrest, road rage, families in strife, and other tragic incidences. Today we pray for an opportunity to help and share with someone and demonstrate your Grace through our actions.Amen. 

 

Marriage

" A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.

Her husband has full confidence in her

and lacks nothing of value."

(Proverbs 31:10,11 ) 

On  July 28^th, 2018, June and I celebrated our 50^th wedding anniversary. We were married on her 30^th birthday. She has been a blessing to me, and I often refer to her as the light at the end of my tunnel. She helped escort me from my dark period of the 1960s into something better- that seems to be still growing. Fifty years is a long time, and it was not all romance and happy times. There was alcohol treatment, recovery, career moves, stress, the challenges of raising four children, and just living with Bob, who does not always make sense. 

           I often discuss the many benefits of a good marriage: the great mutual support, the care when illness arrives, and the joint celebrations of the many events that occur. Yes, marriage is truly an extraordinary institution when things are well and blessed by God. 

Thought for Today: Let's keep it simple and enjoy our significant other and those others around us. 

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, today we give thanks for the people that you have placed close to us in our lives. We pray that as this week progresses, we can share our love with friends, family, and others we meet. 

Amen

 

 

 

 

Ministers

"You are the light of the world.
A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.
Instead, they put it on its stand,
and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before men,
that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
(Matthew 5:14-16, NIV)

 

        My pastor says that we are all ministers in some way. Is that true? The term closet minister applies to most Christians. We help, lead by example, attend services to learn more, and silently minister to those around us. Sometimes we do not know we are ministering.

       In every Sunday service, takers, givers, and silent ministries occur in many ways. Several years ago, a young single couple acted in a very special way, holding hands, whispering in each other's ears, and an occasional peck on the cheek. Usually, that would be inappropriate. The pastor announced their pending wedding during that service.

        After the service, the conversation was about how neat that was to have that level of enthusiasm for each other. That couple, without intent, set an example for older couples. They were ministers. "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds...".

 

Thought for Today: Be thankful for those around us, at peace, and demonstrate our passion and love for others. Spring flowers have burst into color; warm weather makes us feel great, so let's utilize our spring spirit to demonstrate our faith.

 

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, you have blessed us with many friends. We are surrounded and can not avoid them. We are blessed at work, on the streets, and at home. Today we want to pray for them all that they recognize the beauty of Christian friendship.

Amen

 

 

Infants in Christ

Infants

“Brothers and sisters,

I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit

but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.”

(1 Corinthians 3 vs. 1) 

            I confess to you that I cannot quote a lot of scripture; I do not know a lot of biblical history; I have never visited the holy land; sometimes, I skip my Friday bible study to play golf or work out. At best, I am an infant in Christ.           

That is good because it leaves plenty of room to grow, to keep trying, and a reason to keep writing. There is growth ahead when we do the right things. Our life is a spiritual journey without limits or an end. That’s an excellent thought.           

As a young engineer, my mentor used to quote Aristotle, “The more you know, the more you know you don’t know.” It is true with our faith. The more we learn, the more the mystery and the higher our thirst becomes. That may be the best part of it all. 

Thought for Today: Recognize the opportunity to grow in the Spirit, that we are in our infancy and have room for exciting growth! 

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we are grateful for your presence in our lives and the peace brought to us through faith. We will face challenges today and go forth with the knowledge that you will be with us.

Amen

 

Control

 Today's world seems out of control. We must trust our faith.

 Control 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding."

(Proverbs 3:5).  

Life tests our faith in many ways. We go through valleys before we experience peaks, the good times. We find it easy to take credit for the recovery. After all, we generally "take control" and work through problems. That's the human way.

       

Several years ago, our pastor presented us with a pin, Christ's feet. The pin is symbolic of footprints in the sand, serving as a reminder that we never walk alone. We often think of God as a "Macro" rather than a personal assistant. When in control, we may not be aware of and feel God's presence.

       

Too many outside factors play out in life to have "full control." When we feel in "full control," we are misleading ourselves. We always need to have the trust that our faith teaches. With God as a partner, it is easier to get through crises. He is always our partner.

Thought for Today: Control the ball, keep our problems in our grasp, and handle it all. Then look back and thank Him for the help.

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, Heavenly Father, the world seems out of control. We doubt what role you are playing out with all the ills that exist. Economic struggles, terrorism, and world poverty all seem to dominate our lives. It is hard for us to keep trust and show the needed love. We pray for guidance on trusting you more, doing your will in tough times, and being a good follower of Christ's teachings.

Amen 

Power

Power 

"You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary;

the God of Israel, whose power is in the skies."

 (Psalms 68:34-35).

                 Power- what a word. What a feeling. We come into the world looking for power and equate power with security and control. We hear about power brokers. Books on leadership tell you how to gain. Use and retain power. The feeling of power can be addictive. It gives us an adrenaline rush.           

In relationships, power usually manifests itself as domination. When a significant other demands submission, a partnership is lost and will not reach its full potential. Power sometimes negates God's will. It can become a power broker's God.               

I have always said that two people working together are four times better than either. My definition of a partnership is when two become one in objectives, dreams, and goals. In a good relationship, power is not a problem. Power is only a problem when it is misused.               

In relationships (married, parent-child, and others), sacrifice and caring (love) will generate a better relationship than power and control. Often power and control are masks for insecurity and low self-esteem. It prevents bonding and growing in a caring relationship.

"Love one another, Just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."

(Ephesians 5:25) 

Thought For Today: Let us keep caring, consideration, and love at the forefront of our decision-making. 

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, help us put the trials of everyday life in perspective. Guide us to inner peace. Help us find the love of Jesus.

 Amen 

 

Boldness

 Boldness 

"Almighty God, may they be filled with the Holy Spirit

 and speak the Word of God with boldness..."

-- Acts 4:31 

                April fool's day is a day of practical jokes, misleading emails, and general tomfoolery. That will not work because we cannot hide from God, who loves us. So, let's skip reading our devotional and forget the Holy Spirit and our Lord so that we may participate. 

            Today the comics in the newspaper will have Fool's Day jokes, the news and sports programs will be full of them, and there will be a few bogus press releases to get your attention. If I were to write a press release for today, it would be "Bob shoots par at St. Andrews!" or "… wins the Ironman." People would immediately recognize these were jokes, and some would know they were my fantasies.          

Like all days, I hope this devotional puts you on track to recognize the Holy Spirit in your life and its role in you. While others are playing jokes, we need to be sure that we are bold in our faith.

Blessings to you all, and enjoy the start of April. 

Thought for Today: Today, we will be bold in our faith and remember that it is ok to be a joker. 

Prayer for Today: Father, we give thanks for all we are and have. We thank you for having the freedom to enjoy a good joke, a great laugh, and the faith to know the absolute truth. We pray for good health, world peace, and prosperity for all. Amen 

Note: Today, 2023, In am sitting surrounded by six to twelve inches of heavy wet snow covering golf courses that are expecting to open soon.

            

 

Harvest? Invite?

 

 Harvest? Invitation? 

"It's still four months until harvest?

I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields!

They are ripe for harvest."

(John 4 vs. 35) 

            It is spring, and our fields are softening. It is approaching planting time, and harvest will be in the fall. That is how the world works in my upper Midwest mentality. We till, plant, weed, water, prune, and harvest when we are lucky. Along the way is wind, rain, hail, heat, and all the forces of nature that we cannot control. June and I had beautiful gardens for over twenty years and miss them a bit everyspring.           

Jesus is not talking about a food harvest, and his disciples are. Jesus talks about making converts, telling the story, and inviting people to worship. There are no seasons for that. Hold on to that thought because our churches may have harvest times when we are more invitational than others.           

There are times when we are open to inviting people to worship, Easter, Christmas, rally Sunday, and special events throughout the year. It is relatively easy, and most of us feel comfortable inviting people to join us at those special times. Throughout the year, Christians tend to hold back on invitations to worship. 

We are all proud of our faith, congregations, and church and are willing to share on special occasions. Jesus asked to "…open your eyes and look at the fields!" Let's invite a friend to join us soon.

Open your eyes and look at the fields! 

Thought for Today: Many of us are members of declining Christian churches. Today let's think about why.

 Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, our troubled world often seems to take control of our lives, and trouble seems to supersede your will. Today we give thanks that in our world, we have a choice to follow you, and we pray that we can choose to contribute to doing your will here on earth by following Jesus' teachings.

 

Saint Patrick's Day

 St Patrick’s Day 

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

(Galatians 5 vs. 1) 

            There was always a large St Patrick’s Day parade and celebration when growing up in Boston. It was great fun, mythical fun without a grain of truth to it. There were stories about a saint who drove the snakes out of Ireland, green beer, and buttons that said everyone was Irish today. 

            Wikipedia does not mention green beer or parades but tells of a great man who converted a country. St Patrick was an Irish saint who lived from 387 to 461. He is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. He allowed the Irish to become free of their demons (maybe snakes?) and experience the grace of Christ. We need to honor him for that today. 

 Thought for Today: Today, let us honor a person who spread our faith and the grace of Jesus to the heathen population. Ok, let’s do it by drinking a toast with green beer. 

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, we thank Saint Patrick and the many saints of the first millennium. They brought the grace of Christ to the world and made our lives special. We pray that, in some way, we carry on their work.

Amen

 

 

Endurance and Life

Endurance and Life

(Personal Story) 

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial,

because when he has stood the test,

he will receive the crown of life that God

as promised to those who love him."

(James 1:12) 

In our seemingly endless search for tranquility, we tend to "want what we want, when we want it." We want our victories to come via the easy route, which is rarely a reality. Life is not a sprint but an endurance event, a marathon.           

 As an amateur triathlete, swim, bike, and run to get to the starting line to race took hours of practice, primarily alone; sometimes in pain; often in terrible weather conditions. It seems strange that in most races, there are thousands of participants. What for? Why do people do that?             

Let me summarize the feelings that occur during a typical Triathlon. One experiences anticipation and excitement standing on the beach during the national anthem. There is generally a feeling of spirituality during the blessing. There was a period of fear during the swim in all my races. Boredom, pain, doubt, and an entire array of other feelings occur during the bike ride and run. Then comes the good time, the approach to the finish line. 

            The finish line of an endurance event generally has a crowd of 5,000 to 20,000 spectators. Enthusiasm and positive energy seem to radiate out of the group to be absorbed by the competitors. Most of my fellow racers agree that the feeling of finishing, the pride, accomplishment, and of course, just being done, is very special. Many cross the finish line with tears of joy in their eyes. 

            As a grandfather and senior citizen, I can look back over the years and see the parallels between racing and life. Life is full of challenges, fears, and excitement. Be patient, meet challenges, and look forward to receiving your "crown of life." 

Thought for Today: We are living through trying times. There is too much to do, too much work, not enough playtime. However, we have God and our Christian friends through Him. Today, look toward the future, knowing that patience and perseverance will bring us tranquility and happiness. 

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, as Christians, we are not perfect, and we seem to want immediate gratification throughout our lives. Today, we pray for patience to discover your will, the courage to implement it, and the knowledge to recognize your presence in our lives.

Amen

 

 

 

Life Of Victory

 

Life of Victory

 

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial,

for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life,

which God has promised to those who love him.”

(James 1: 1-12) 

The elderly can often be curmudgeons, maybe angry. They are focusing on the past rather than the joys they have now. A good goal in life is to have your grandchildren remember you as happy, content, and proud. 

Life comes at us in waves or phases; the rapid learning years of childhood and youth; the wealth-building, family, or working years; the secure phase or empty-nesting; the retirement years winding down to an end-of-life experience. Each stage is unique, different, and memorable, filled with both joy and sorrow, and that is life. 

We make choices with our focus. We could always use more money, more company, less pain in our joints, etc. The sun will rise and set; we will wake and sleep. The Lord will be with us, and we will have great memories of our past. Focus on them. 

One of my favorite television evangelists, Joel Osteen, likes to say, “Keep on keeping on!” 

Thought for Today: Negative influences will occur, and we can either dwell on them or deal with them. Today, let us focus on moving on with our lives and faith. 

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, the world is full of confusion. There is trouble in the mid-east, deranged people shooting up our sacred institutions and some awful winter weather. We pray for the ability to understand it all and put it into the context of your plan. We offer special prayers for the older generation as they move onward. We pray for peace, understanding our place in your world, and the opportunity to do your will here on earth.

Amen