A Life Worthy

Category: Holiday

  • Strong One-a-Day Monday 11/25/19

    Strong One-a-Day Monday 11/25/19

    Give thanks with a grateful heart.

    Give thanks to the Holy One.

    Give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ, his son.

    And now, let the weak say, “I am strong…”

    (Give Thanks, Don Moen, 1986)

    Context is really important.

    This line from Don Moen’s song is found in the Bible in Joel 3:10.  Of course, those of you who look it up will find that the Lord is actually speaking to the enemies of Israel, the nations who have plundered and destroyed his people.  God is essentially telling them to “Bring it on,” to prepare to fight, because God is going to turn them to powder.

    Not exactly the same feeling Mr. Moen was looking to engender in his song.

    Why am I telling you this, and spoiling the moment?  Well, for one thing, I want you to be Biblically literate.  If we’re going to use Scripture, we should at least know what it really says.  

    Also, even with the contextual confusion, this remains one of my all-time favorite worship songs.  And the message is true, even if the reference is a bit askew. The Bible is full of the truth that God gives strength to the weak.  He offers–may I be so bold as to say that he longs–to show his strength in our feeblieosity.

    Do you feel weak?  

    Well, you are…you know… in and of yourself.

    But in Christ…oh, Baby!

    In Christ you are mighty.  In Christ, you have the power to do battle with whatever comes against you today.  In Christ, your weakness is transformed into his great strength.

    So now, though you are weak, say, “I am strong!”

    Go ahead, say it.

    Happy Monday, Beloved.

  • Take Time One-a-Day Friday 11/22/19

    Take Time One-a-Day Friday 11/22/19

    As we close in on Thanksgiving, I’m going to look at one of my favorite worship songs.  It’s written by Don Moen. Part of it is Scripture; all of it is scriptural. Feel free to sing along!

    Give thanks with a grateful heart.                         

    Give thanks to the Holy One.

    Give thanks, because he’s given Jesus Christ, his son.

    Are you thankful today, Beloved?  Do you even have time to stop and think of all you have to be thankful for? Or are you so busy preparing your house or your travel plans that preparing your heart has slipped down the list? Even worse–has your Christmas to-do list leapfrogged Thanksgiving entirely?  Look, I’m not judging; I know you’ve got a lot to do. Myself, I’m looking at a garage that needs to be cleaned–I’ve been putting it off for eight months now–just so I can get to the Christmas lights, most of which are broken, if I remember correctly. I have a vague memory of an entire string of lights falling from the roof last January, resulting in a string of mini-explosions and a decision that I would replace all the lights “Next year,” when finances would undoubtedly be better, except they’re not.  So I’ve probably gotta buy lights, and garland, and maybe a lawn elf–but no inflatables, I’m passionately against inflatables–before I can even start decorating, and some of the neighbors are done already…

    Yeah, so I get it.

    But, for those of us in Christ, the One we give thanks for next Thursday is the same One we celebrate at Christmas.  It’s pretty much the same holiday; you just have to swap funny hats.

    Of course, you know that already…you’re a bright one.

    So, hey, take time–like today, like right now–to stop and breathe and give thanks.  

    For him

    For you and him

    Happy Friday, Beloved.

  • Thank You One-a-Day Monday 11/11/19

    Thank You One-a-Day Monday 11/11/19

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

    Thank you, Veteran.

    Thank you for leaving your home behind in order to protect it.

    Thank you for setting aside your freedoms to help safeguard mine.

    Thank you for fighting for my right to protest, even when my protest saddens or angers or disgusts you.

    Thank you for shouldering a rifle, or climbing into a chopper, or racing toward a bomb blast, knowing that today could be the day that you are called to give “the last full measure of devotion.”

    You must be terrified.

    You go anyway.

    For me.

    Thank you.

  • Darkness and Light One-a-Day Thursday 10/31/19

    Darkness and Light One-a-Day Thursday 10/31/19

    Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:19-20)

    Today is Halloween.  A day on which this fallen world celebrates death and darkness.  Oh, they wrap it in candy and pumpkins, but it is what it is.

    Maybe you could make today an early Thanksgiving. Make a point of noticing the blessings in your life.  Point them out to your friends and praise God together. Pick your favorite worship song and get it stuck in your head.  In short, fill yourself with life, not death…with light, not darkness.

    Yes, you may still dress up like a superhero and eat candy.

    Happy Thursday, Beloved.

  • Eighteen Years One-a-Day Wednesday 9/11/19

    Eighteen Years One-a-Day Wednesday 9/11/19

    Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men (Psalm 71:4).

    Eighteen years.

    Eighteen years since “Nine-One-One” became “Nine-Eleven.”

    Eighteen years since we awakened to fire and smoke and terror and grief.

    Eighteen years since the hand of the wicked reached out to strike at our nation.

    It was a horrific reminder that there is evil in this world.  Evil will always attack the innocent. Evil will always set itself against the people of God.

    And yet, you didn’t really need the reminder, did you?  You’ve known the attack of evil—maybe not on so grand a scale, but you’ve known it.

    And you will again.

    It comes with the territory.  It’s part of the package of being His, of living for Christ in this world.

    And so is deliverance.

    As surely as the sun rose this morning.

    As surely as the Son rose long ago.

    God will not let evil win.  Not in this world. Not in your life.

    So as you remember 911 today, as you see the proud flags and hear the lofty speeches and see the heartfelt posts, remember your own personal 911’s, and how God has brought you through them.

    And trust that he will again.

    Walk in remembrance today, Beloved.

  • Remember One-a-Day Monday 5/27/19

    Remember One-a-Day Monday 5/27/19

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

    We are called to remember.

    So…remember.

    Remember the One who died that you might live,

    who was bound that you might be set free.

    And remember those who have followed His example, leaving their homes behind to travel to foreign soil, where they give their lives that you and I might be free.

    Right now, as I write this, some warrior shoulders a rifle, or climbs into a chopper, or races toward a bomb blast, knowing that today could be the day that they are called to give “the last full measure of devotion.”

    They may be terrified.

    They go anyway.

    For you

    and me.

    Remember, Beloved.

    Happy Monday

  • And Today One-a-Day Monday 4/22/19

    And Today One-a-Day Monday 4/22/19

    I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever  (Psalm 145:1-2).

    So

    Easter’s over.

    It’s Monday.

    I hope yesterday was very special for you. I hope you worshipped and prayed and rejoiced and felt especially close to Jesus as you celebrated his resurrection.

    And now there’s today.

    Monday

    Mundane

    As we move into our week, as all the stuff and garbage that we put aside yesterday comes flooding back with a power that only Monday can muster, can I ask you to do something?

    (And by you, I mean me, too.)

    Let’s try to approach Monday with the same joy and reverence and celebration that we felt yesterday.

    The tomb is still empty.

    He is still risen, indeed!

    The One who made you and knows you and died for you and rose for you still loves you more than you can possibly imagine.

    Walk in that love today, Beloved.

    Happy Monday

  • Risen! One-a-Day Easter Sunday 4/21/19

    Risen! One-a-Day Easter Sunday 4/21/19

    For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave (Psalm 86:13).

    Lost

    Alone

    Confused

    Empty

    That’s how I imagine the disciples felt on that Sunday morning. They must have figured that, after all, Jesus had failed.

    After all the hopes

    after all the struggles

    after all the trials

    after all the miracles

    after all the moments of doubt and grace and glory

    Jesus had failed.

    Has anyone ever been more gloriously wrong?

    On Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene went with some of the other women to make sure that the body of Jesus was properly cared for. Oh, the surprise they got! The tomb was empty, the body was gone, and an angel announced, “He is not here; He has risen!”

    Can you imagine?

    No, seriously, can you imagine it?  Imagine going with Mary and seeing the stone rolled away, hearing the angel’s words.  Imagine being with the disciples when she brings them the news. Imagine running with Peter and John to see for yourself, and finding the tomb empty, the grave clothes neatly folded.  Imagine standing with Thomas, the doubter, as he touched the wounds on his living Lord.

    Imagine.

    His death satisfied the requirements of the old covenant—a perfect sacrifice to cover all sin always.

    His resurrection broke the power of Death forever, and ushered in the New Covenant—a promise of grace and hope and peace.

    His return will bring the fulfillment of history, as he gathers those who put their trust in him and takes them home forever.

    He is risen, indeed!

    Walk in joy today, Beloved.

    Happy Easter

  • Alone One-a-Day Saturday 4/20/19

    Alone One-a-Day Saturday 4/20/19

    Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones (Zechariah 13:7b).

    Everybody loves you when you’re winning.

    What happened to the crowds?  Wasn’t it just last Sunday that the people were lining the streets, cheering for Jesus?  Now where are they?

    Gone.

    When the soldiers came for Jesus, the disciples scattered.  John followed, but at a distance. He needed to know what was happening, but he couldn’t bring himself to intervene.

    Peter, like John, followed at a distance.  He mingled with the crowd, where he could blend in and, hopefully, go unnoticed. While he was standing with a group, a servant girl recognized him. Here was Peter’s chance to stand tall for Christ.  Here was his golden opportunity to proclaim his loyalty to Jesus and stand with him—die with him, if need be. After all, that is what he had promised Jesus he would do.

    What did he do?  You know what he did.  He denied his Lord. Big, strong Peter couldn’t stand up to the questions of the lowliest servant girl.

    What of the rest?  All we know is that they ran for it.

    Don’t be too hard on the disciples.  I’m convinced they genuinely believed that they were up to the challenge.  When Peter said he would never betray Jesus, I think he meant it down to the marrow of his bones.  He didn’t have the courage, because he was only human.

    Like us.

    We know that John, and Mary, and a few others came to the cross before Jesus died; Jesus even spoke to John from the cross. But in the end, Jesus had to fulfill his purpose himself.

    In the end, Jesus went to the cross alone.

    He went to the grave alone.

    He rose from the dead alone.

    Because he had to.  That was the point—if anyone else could have done it, if anyone else could have helped, we wouldn’t have needed the perfect Son of God.

    Jesus stood alone so that you will never have to.

    Because he loves you.

    Yes, you

    Walk in thankfulness today, Beloved.

  • Good Friday One-a-Day Friday 4/19/19

    Good Friday One-a-Day Friday 4/19/19

    Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me (Psalm 41:9).

    Betrayal

    It’s a bitter, ugly word for a bitter, ugly deed.

    Perhaps the worst thing about betrayal is that, by its very nature, it involves someone you trust.  In a sense, you have to give the betrayer the power to hurt you by making yourself vulnerable. Those who never make themselves vulnerable to others can never be betrayed.

    But then, they can never really love, either.

    The most powerful of all persons made himself vulnerable, opened himself to rejection, let himself be betrayed, to rescue his beloved.

    That would be you.

    Good Friday, Beloved