A Life Worthy

Category: Holiday

  • Prince of Peace   One-a-Day Friday    12/23/16

    Prince of Peace   One-a-Day Friday    12/23/16

     

    Prince of Peace.  (Isaiah 9:6)

    We know him by many names.

    Jesus Christ

    Alpha

    Omega

    Emmanuel

    I Am

    Lamb of God

    Prince of Peace

    Mighty God

    Light of the World

    The Bright Morning Star

    Wonderful Counselor

    The Amen

    Man of Sorrows

    Lion of the Tribe of Judah

    The Word

    The Author and Finisher of Our Faith

    Bread of Life

    Living Water

    God calls him by another name, the name which is above all names.

    Son.

    And here’s something really crazy.  Because of Christ’s sacrifice, do you know what God now calls us?

    Yes, you do.

    How can that be?  What can that mean?

    Chew on that today.

    Happy Friday, Beloved

    And Merry, Merry Christmas

  • Dad One-a-Day Thursday    12/22/16

    Dad One-a-Day Thursday    12/22/16

    Everlasting Father,  (Isaiah 9:6).

    I hope you have a great dad.  I hope he is loving and strong and gentle and a daily blessing to your life.  I hope this, not only to make those family Christmas dinners a little less awkward, but because it will give you a better picture of God.  You see, God presents himself to us in many ways through Scripture, but I think the one that hangs most people up is the image of a father.  It can be difficult to see God as loving and caring if your earthly father was cold, distant, or absent altogether.

    Look, I’m not gonna get all psychoanalytical here, but I need to point something out.  Whatever your earthly dad does well, your heavenly father does even better.  Wherever your earthly dad messes up, your heavenly father gets it right.  He is the perfection we all fall short of.  He is the goal we can never quite attain.  He will always be there to cheer you when you win, and comfort you when you lose.  His advice will always be perfect, and his discipline will always be just.  He will come to all your ball games, all your dance recitals, all your spelling bees.  He will be there at the hospital bed and at the wedding altar.

    He will always love you.

    Always, as in Everlasting.

    Walk in his love today, Beloved.

    Happy Thursday

  • Mighty One-a-Day Wednesday    12/21/16

    Mighty One-a-Day Wednesday    12/21/16

    …Mighty God,  (Isaiah 9:6)

    We’re almost there. The “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” part.

    So why am I stressed?

    As we get closer to Christmas, all sorts of emotions get stirred up.  Although we would like to say we are focused strictly on the birth of our Savior, the fact is this can be a really crazy time.  Perhaps you are rushing to wrap—or get—or think of—those last gifts.  Maybe you are frantically trying to get ready to travel—tickets, luggage, ohnowhatdowedowiththedogwhilewe’regone.  Could be you’re receiving guests into your nightmare of a house—good luck with that.

    Or you’re moving.

    Or someone you love is sick.

    Or you’re broke.

    Or things are just falling apart.

    Given all that, I feel pretty spiffy that you’ve taken the time to read this.  Since you have, make the most of the moment.  Let the words soak in:

    He is Mighty God.

    Read it again.  Go on.

    Now, say it out loud.

    This King we serve, this Lord we love, this Savior we celebrate is fully capable of meeting the challenges of your day, be they mundane or monstrous.

    And he will.

    Because you are his beloved.

    Because you are his, Beloved.

    Happy Wednesday

  • Wonderful Counselor One-a-Day Tuesday    12/20/16

    Wonderful Counselor One-a-Day Tuesday    12/20/16

    And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, (Isaiah 9:6)

    There can be a lot in a name.  My name is Michael, which means, “Who is like God?”  I like that—it’s a constant reminder of the answer…Nobody. When I begin to get a little too big for my proverbial britches, my very name brings me back to Earth.

    Jesus has the name Wonderful Counselor.  Think about it—what does a counselor do?  A good counselor does three things—listen deeply, see to the heart of the issue, and offer wisdom.   So, we serve a God who actually listens to us—listens deeply.  He doesn’t just pretend to listen to you while he is mentally planning out his day, the way I might.  He actually considers every word you speak—and those you don’t.

    Jesus also sees to the heart of your issue—after all, he knows you better than you do—remember Psalm 139?  You couldn’t hide the truth from him if you tried, so knock it off already.

    Wisdom?  Uh…do I need to point out that his words are the very words of God?  Literally?  Yeah, worth listening to.

    You, Beloved, have a Wonderful Counselor.  Walk in his wisdom today.

    Happy Tuesday.

  • Kingdom One-a-Day Monday    12/19/16

    Kingdom One-a-Day Monday    12/19/16

    …and the government will be on his shoulders. (Isaiah 9:6)

    Here’s the thing with governments—they’re generally made up of people. And, well, I hate to tell you this, but people tend toward selfishness and greed.

    I just heard a bubble burst out there…sorry.

    The United States has a system of government known as a Representative Democracy, aka a republic. This is a strong, just, and efficient method of governance that work flawlessly, except when people are ignorant, selfish, and lazy.

    Oh.

    Same holds true for Communism, aristocracies, feudal societies, even theocracies.  On paper, they look great.  It’s when you add the people that things go winky-wonky.

    Frankly, the best, strongest, most efficient form of government is a benevolent dictatorship.  The problem, of course, is that you can guarantee the dictator part, but not the benevolent bit.

    Yet.

    But guess what, Beloved?  The day will come when we will have an absolute monarch, a king of kings, who will rule with complete authority over all nations.  His reign will be perfect, unhampered by greed, unsullied by sin.  He will know what’s best, want what’s best, do what’s best.

    He will be what’s best.

    Even so, come Lord Jesus.

  • Still Thankful? One-a-Day Friday    11/25/16

    Still Thankful? One-a-Day Friday    11/25/16

    Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever (Galatians 16:34).

    Are you still thankful today, Beloved?  Or has the Christmas to-do list already swapped contention for contentment?  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 the neighbors are pretty much done already…

    Yeah, so I get it.

    But, for those of us in Christ, the One we were thankful for yesterday 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 during the craziness–like today, like right now–to stop and breathe and give thanks.  

    For him

    For you and him

    Happy Friday, Beloved.

  • Thankful One-a-Day Thursday    11/24/16

    Thankful One-a-Day Thursday    11/24/16

    I thank God every time I remember you (Philippians 1:3).

    As I think over all the ways God has blessed me and has filled my life with his love and his grace, my heart comes to you.  You, who enter my digital den and read my ramblings.  For some of you it’s a One-a-Day; for others it’s a Once-in-a-While.  Still, you come, and you read, and you allow me to share the bits and bobs that rattle around inside me.  Look, your time is important.  You could go anywhere in cyberspace and read any of thousands of devotions written by people wiser and better trained than I.  But you spend a few moments here, with me.  You do me great honor.

    So, as you give thanks today, please know that there is someone clacking away at his Chromebook who is very thankful for…you.

    Happy Thanksgiving, Beloved.

  • Freedom One-a-Day Monday  7/4/16

    Freedom One-a-Day Monday  7/4/16

    It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1).

    Today is Independence Day.  Today we celebrate our freedom.  Of course, as Americans we celebrate our national and political freedom. As men and women of God, we celebrate our spiritual freedom.  Christ has set us free from our bondage to sin.  He has set us free from our need to try and earn our salvation, to somehow save ourselves.  He has set us free from the stress and worry and angst and anxiety which so often attack us.

    Hear me, Beloved.  I’m not saying that those things are gone.  On the contrary, sin and self-righteousness and anxiety are still very much evident in this world and, at times, in our lives.  What I am saying is that you are no longer in bondage to them.

    When Paul wrote the above verse to the Galatians he was talking about freedom from the Mosaic Law.  Some Jews had chosen to follow Christ, but still felt compelled to meet the demands of the old covenant.  Paul was pointing out that a person who has Christ no longer needs the old law, and to try and follow it is to be like a slave who, once free, returns to his chains.

    I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that, for some of us, worry and stress operate in the same way as the Mosaic Law.

    It’s about power.

    The Judaizers liked the Law because it gave them a sense of control over their destinies.  They had rules to follow, stuff to do, that they thought would get them to Heaven.

    “But Michael, I don’t worry because I feel powerful.  I worry because I feel powerless.”

    Yes, but it’s still about power.  About control.  You worry because you know you are not in control, and you desperately want to be.  Because if you’re not in control, someone else is, and there’s a part of you that just cannot handle that.

    I’m in the same boat, by the way.  May I steer?  Of course not.

    Sometimes trust seems beyond our grasp.  And without trust, there is no rest.

    So let’s pray for trust today, shall we?  I’ll pray for you, and you for me.  Maybe we can both be set free.

    Today is the day to celebrate your independence.

    And your dependence.

    Happy Fourth, Beloved.

  • Remember One-a-Day Monday  5/30/16

    Remember One-a-Day Monday  5/30/16

     

    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.

     

  • Resurrection   One-a-Day Sunday 3/27/16

    Resurrection   One-a-Day Sunday 3/27/16

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

    Lost

    Alone

    Confused

    Empty

    These words describe how I imagine the disciples felt on that Sunday morning.  They must have figured that, after all, 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?

    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.