A Life Worthy

Sins of Omission One-a-Day Tuesday 1/5/16

Posted on January 5, 2016 by michaelJanuary 17, 2016

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins (James 4:17).

There are sins of commission…and sins of omission.

Once upon a time, I had three friends. I’ll call them Susan and Sally and Sam (names have been changed to protect the innocent…and the guilty). Susan and Sally saw that the weather was getting very cold at night, and they knew that there was a large population of homeless in their community. Susan and Sally wanted to collect some blankets, make some sandwiches and coffee, and go minister to people. The girls did not feel entirely safe about going into this area alone at night, so they decided to ask Sam to come along. Sam was a strapping young man fully capable of protecting his friends and lugging heavy loads of coffee and blankets and ministerial whatnot. So, Susan and Sally asked Sam to come with them and minister to the poor, and Sam said…

“I’ll pray about it.”

As it turned out, “I’ll pray about it” was a handy euphemism for, “I have no intention of doing what you ask, but I wish to sound spiritual and avoid looking like a selfish ninny. I shall now hide from you until this whole unpleasant situation goes away.”

God will bring you an opportunity to glorify him today. What will you do with it?

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

God’s Plan or Yours? One-a-Day Monday 1/4/16

Posted on January 4, 2016 by michaelJanuary 17, 2016

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this of that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil (James 4:16).

OK…back to James.

How is it boasting and bragging to make plans? I mean, we’re supposed to be intentional with our lives, are we not? We shouldn’t just drift. Doesn’t God honor the go-getter, the goal-setter, the man-with-a-dream?

Yes…and yet not so much.

See, it’s the Tower of Babel all over again. If you read Genesis Chapter 11, you might get the idea that God punished humanity unfairly. I mean, folks were building a great city, and a mighty tower to go with it, and God brought it crashing down. What, is God anti-technology? Or is it that the Mighty One feels threatened by Man’s achievements?

You’re getting close.

Look, there is nothing we can do to threaten God, but much that we can do to threaten our relationship with God. The people in Genesis were building their tower, not God’s. They were looking for their glory, not his. Humanity had a plan, but it was a plan that excluded God, and he wasn’t about to let that stand.

So, what of your plans, Beloved?

Do they originate in a desire to glorify God…or you?

Do they take into account God’s sovereignty…or seek to establish your own?

Will these plans, if successful, bring you closer to God, or push you away?

Think about it. I’ll see you tomorrow…if it’s the Lord’s will.

Happy Monday, Beloved

God of Second Chances – One-a-Day Friday 1/1/16

Posted on January 1, 2016 by michaelJanuary 2, 2016

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

New day

New year

New you

We serve a God of second chances and new beginnings. No matter what 2015 looked like, it is gone. Today you begin again. If last year was one of triumph, great—remember and rejoice, but don’t live there. Press on. If last year was one of failure, or pain, or loss—praise God for this new beginning.

The image in my head this morning is of the land after a snowfall, when nothing has yet touched the surface of the snow. It is fresh, clean, and waiting.

So…go make snow angels.

Happy 2016, Beloved of Christ.

One-a-Day Thursday 12/31/15

Posted on December 31, 2015 by michaelDecember 31, 2015

One thing I ask of the Lord; this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple (Psalm 27:4).

Just to be with God. Do you ever want that? Do you ever have those moments when you get past wanting from God and just want God?

I have to admit; for me, those moments are too few and too far between.

But then, the New Year is about fresh starts and making changes, isn’t it?

How many things are you asking God for in 2016, Beloved?

How about just one?

This one.

One-a-Day Wednesday 12/30/15

Posted on December 30, 2015 by michaelDecember 30, 2015

“The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley.”–Robert Burns

I guess we’ve all had “agley” days, days when Life intrudes on our plans. It’s annoying, and frustrating, and sometimes painful.

And sometimes worse

I have a friend who is, quite literally, on his deathbed. He is a young man, a good man, a man of God. He had big plans for his future which did not in any way include cancer.

God’s plan did.

So what, then? Should we refuse to make plans, since they can all go “Poof” in a heartbeat? Should we life for the moment, wild and free and heedless of the future?

Uh, no. ‘Cause I have a mortgage and kids that really like regular meals.

That’s not where James is going here. He’s just reminding us that our plans, like every other aspect of our lives, belong to God. If we are his , we must acknowledge and welcome his power to shape our days as he sees fit. If we get caught up in working for the future, we gamble on a tomorrow that we may not get.

You have today, Beloved.

You have now.

Spend it well.

One-a-Day Tuesday 12/29/15

Posted on December 29, 2015 by michaelDecember 29, 2015

There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you–who are you to judge your neighbor? (James 4:12)

This is another one of those passages that serves as a mirror of my relationship with Christ. When I am in a good place, when I am in submission to his will and trusting in his love for me, I can grant a hearty “Amen!” to this verse. When I am out of sorts, getting a little fleshy–well, this one gets under my skin. I mean, to admit that God is God and I am not? Grrrr…..

‘Cause I’m excellent at judging and I know stuff and I’m in pretty good shape to judge if you look past a few flaws in my character and why are you looking at flaws in my character anyway what are you judging me who are you to judge only God can judge and…

Oh, yeah.

Take a good look in the mirror this morning, Beloved.

Happy Tuesday.

One-a-Day Monday 12/28/15

Posted on December 28, 2015 by michaelDecember 28, 2015

Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it (James 4:11).

So, now that the extended family is gone…tell me.

How many snide remarks were there?

How often did you mock Weird Uncle Dave because, well, look at him with that silly comb-over and that “girlfriend” who is, what, half his age and is obviously only after him for his money and is totally playing him for a fool so of course we gotta laugh…

Yeah…

Christmas is over.

Christ isn’t.

Have grace, Beloved.

One-a-Day Saturday 12/26/15

Posted on December 26, 2015 by michaelDecember 26, 2015

Peace 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 Saturday, Beloved

One-a-Day Friday 12/25/15 Christmas Day

Posted on December 25, 2015 by michaelDecember 25, 2015

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 on Christmas morning, 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.

Merry Christmas

One-a-Day Thursday 12/24/15

Posted on December 24, 2015 by michaelDecember 24, 2015

…Mighty God, (Isaiah 9:6)

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

So why am I stressed?

As we move into Christmas Eve, all sorts of emotions are getting 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.

Happy Thursday