Name One-a-Day Monday    5/15/17

Posted on by May 15, 2017
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A life worthy

Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things.  Who, O God, is like you?  (Psalm 71:19).

My name is Michael, in case you didn’t know.

The name Michael means, “Who is like God?”

Yeah, so, when I was a kid I thought the name was a statement, “The one who is like God.”  It did wonders for my ego. When I found out it was actually a question, it took me down a peg or five.

But really—how cool is that? Every day, all the time, my own name reminds me that there is no one greater, no one stronger, no one with more authority over this universe than the One who loves me.

The One, by the way, who loves you.

Remember that as you head into your Monday.

Walk in confidence, Beloved.

Through the Years One-a-Day Friday    5/12/17

Posted on by May 12, 2017
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A life worthy

Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.  Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come (Psalm 71:17-18).

A life spent with him.

Do you remember when you first came to Christ?  I was nineteen years old, living all alone in a cabin in the woods.

Seriously

For the first time everything made sense.  I read my Bible cover to cover within the first month of being saved. I felt a freedom and a strength I had never known.  I was off on an adventure, and I was coming home—all at the same time.

Twenty-many years later, I see the power of his love working in and through me.  I’m not yet the man I want to be, but I have learned the wisdom of Popeye—I yam what I yam, and his grace has not been without effect.

The day is coming when the salt will outweigh the pepper.  My body will be old, though I will probably still act like a six-year-old and make my daughter roll her eyes.  I trust that God will hold me tight even then.  I will get to look back on a life lived with him, and I will pass the torch to my children and theirs knowing that the One who has been faithful to me will continue to work long after he has taken me home.

Kinda cool, when you think about it.  Sorta gives perspective.

It’s Friday, Beloved.

Enjoy the journey.

Chatterbox One-a-Day Thursday    5/11/17

Posted on by May 11, 2017
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A life worthy

My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure.  I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. (Psalm 71:15-16).

Do you talk about him?

I know that you love him, you trust him, you worship him.

But do you talk about him?

Considering all that he has done for me—you know, forming me in the womb, providing my every breath, saving my soul—it would make sense that I talk about him every day, all the time, to everyone I meet.

But I don’t.

Oh, I talk about him to other Christians, telling them, “How God is working in my life,” because that is safe and expected and makes me look good.  But with the nonbeliever, the one who desperately needs to know that there is a God who is real and true and faithful and at work in everyday schmoes like me?

I am often remarkably silent.

Why?  No good reason.

Plenty of reasons…just no good one.

Partly I don’t want to make them uncomfortable, which is silly. After all, if they don’t know Christ, they need to be uncomfortable.

Partly I don’t want them to think I’m a fool, which is just too pathetic to talk about on a Thursday morning.

Partly—and this scares me the most—sometimes God simply does not come to mind.  I am so wrapped up in my own stuff that…

Yeah.

I really hope I’m alone in this.  I hope you have no idea what I’m talking about, because you’re out there proclaiming Christ every day, all the time.  I hope you never let your foolish flesh get in the way of God’s work through you.

That is my hope for you today, Beloved.

And my prayer.

Happy Thursday.

My Hope One-a-Day Wednesday    5/10/17

Posted on by May 10, 2017
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A life worthy

For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth (Psalm 71:5).

Think about it.

It doesn’t say, “You have given me hope.”

Or “You give me reason to hope.”

It says, “You have been my hope.”

God himself is our hope.  He is our confidence.

I gotta tell you…I’m not even sure what that means, but this passage seems to be not about what God does, but about who he is.

I’ve been walking, stumbling, slipping, and striding with Christ for twenty-nine years now.  I can’t count the number of times he has been hope and confidence and joy and strength and peace for me, when there was no earthly reason I should have any of those things.

I can’t count the number of times…but it’s fun to try.

As you head into your day, consider the times that God has supported you, not just with his gifts, but by his very nature.  And praise him, not just for what he does, but for who he is.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

Rock  One-a-Day Tuesday    5/9/17

Posted on by May 9, 2017
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A life worthy

Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress (Psalm 71:3).

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ love and righteousness.

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand.

All other ground is sinking sand.

All other ground is sinking sand.

Yep.  Stole that one.  But hey, why reinvent the wheel?

Or the Rock?

It’s Tuesday, Beloved.  Stand firm.

Refuge One-a-Day Monday    5/8/17

Posted on by May 8, 2017
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A life worthy

In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me (Psalm 71:1-2).

Some days he calls me to stand firm, armor gleaming and sword sharp, and do battle in his name.

Some days he calls me to hide myself in him, to pull his protection over me like a child hiding under the blankets, and let him do all the fighting.

Why the difference?  I don’t know for sure.

I do know that if I could stand tall all the time, I would probably start thinking that I was doing it on my own.

I’m foolish that way.

So, today I am reminded that there are things out there, both physical and spiritual, that are too big, too strong, too much for me.

But not for the One who loves me.  Not for the One who rescues me.

Beloved, you can’t be strong every day.

And that’s OK.  He doesn’t call you to be strong every day.

He just calls you to be his every day.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Authority One-a-Day Friday    5/5/17

Posted on by May 5, 2017
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A life worthy

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law (Matthew 7:28-29).

It’s like taking a lecture from the guy who wrote the book.

No…

It’s like taking a lecture from the guy who wrote the book, developed the concept upon which the book was written, grew the tree from which the paper was made on which the book was written, developed the language in which the ideas for the book were communicated, and created the universe in which ideas, communication, trees, books, and people exist.

Yeah… I think he’s worth listening to.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

Advice One-a-Day Wednesday    5/3/17

Posted on by May 3, 2017
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A life worthy

But everyone who hears these words of mine but does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand (Matthew 7:26).

…but does not put them into practice…

Wouldn’t wanna let that slip by, would we?

It’s the end of the semester.  A twelve-year-old student stands in front of me, eyes rimmed with panic, and asks, “What can I, like, do to, like, you know, raise my grade?”

“Easy,” I respond.  “Build a time machine, travel back a few months, and do the things I told you to do then.”

I have a tendency toward sarcasm.  It’s not always helpful.

As a teacher and a father and a brother and a friend I’ve dispensed a load of advice over the years.  Most of it was solid.  Much of it was ignored.  There are few things as frustrating as handing someone the solution to their problem, wrapped up with a metaphorical bow, and then see them walk away and toss it in the metaphorical trash can.  You know the feeling, because you’ve been there yourself.

I’ve also received plenty of excellent advice over the years, much of which I’ve ignored.  That’s not nearly as satisfying to talk about, however, so I’m not going to.

Good, godly advice is a treasure not to be wasted.  And there is no gooder, godlier advice than that which comes from our good God.  His words are life; what say we live them today?

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

Windstorm  One-a-Day Tuesday    5/2/17

Posted on by May 2, 2017
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A life worthy

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock (Matthew 7:25).

Family and I went camping once upon a time.

Oh yeah, we’re great campers.

God, in his wisdom, decided to impress the above Scripture upon us in a delightfully graphic way.  He sent wind.  Really windy wind. All night our tent sagged and swayed and slipped and smooshed and threatened to take us to Munchkin Land.  Not restful, and decidedly not peaceful, and mildly terrifying.

We’ve spent numerous windy nights in our house over the years. Nothing much to report.  It’s actually kinda fun sometimes, if we notice it at all.

Every life has storms, Beloved.  Where will you spend yours?

Happy Tuesday.