Encouraging Words for Today

The results are in! The votes have been cast, the majority of the ballots have been counted, and the people have spoken. For many it is a day of rejoicing, for many others a day of disappointment and trepidation, “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth…”. (Luke 21:26 NKJV).

Whichever camp you find yourself in this morning, one thing is certain. This election is over. What’s done is done and now we must move forward, looking toward the future. There’s no turning back. No second chances.

And yet there is! A second chance, I mean. No, not for the election. That’s over and done. But YOU still have a second chance, a second chance to give your heart to Jesus, another opportunity to make Him the Lord of your life, to claim the home in Heaven He has prepared for you.

You still have time to make your choice, but don’t wait! Just like elections, God has set a day of reckoning. When that day comes, there will be no more second chances, “for at the appointed time the end shall be.” (Daniel 8:19).

At that time, a voice will declare in the Heavenly courts, “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”” (Revelation 22:11).

But do not despair. That day has not yet come, but it is coming soon. Now is the time to cast your vote for Jesus. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Now is the time “to make your call and election sure.” (2 Peter 1:10).

Don’t wait, my friend. Choose Jesus today. Give Him not just your vote, but your life, right now, and every day till He comes. If you do then you need not fear tomorrow, because you can know without a doubt you are on the winning side.

Today is one of those turning points in Earth’s history. It’s Election Day here in the United States. Millions of ballots have already been collected and millions more will be cast today. By late tonight (or maybe tomorrow morning) we will know which direction our nation will be headed in the next four years.

I am not going to argue for one side or the other. That is not the purpose of this blog. I’ve cast my vote and I hope you have too. The rest is in God’s hands. And make no mistake, God is in control, no matter what the outcome. “He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings.” (Daniel 2:21 NLT).

No, my purpose today is to remind you of a far more important election, one that has already occurred. The Bible tells us, “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” (Ephesians 1:4). Long ago God cast His vote for you and He sealed His choice with the blood of His Son, who died that you might live. No matter what happens today, you may know this one thing, without a doubt, “that you are the Elect of God.” (1 Thessalonians 1:4 RGT).

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved”, let’s act like it today. As we deal with others, especially those who disagree with us, let’s “put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another…”. (Colossians 3:12-13 NKJV).

While the United States is a great nation and we are proud to call it home, we must never forget our true citizenship lies elsewhere, for “we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.” (Philippians 3:20 NLT).

Our true home is in heaven, but while we are here let’s put aside our differences and together “work for the peace and prosperity of the city where [God] sent [us] into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine [our] welfare.” (Jeremiah 29:7 NLT). As the Elect of God, let’s act like citizens of Heaven and treat others with kindness, sharing His love with everyone we meet – no matter what side of the aisle they might be on.

I love the end of Daylight Savings time each fall. I love that we get an extra hour in the day. Most people like to use that extra hour to get some more sleep. Not me! For me it’s bonus time, time to get an early start on the day, to get more done. And, as busy as last week was, I can use that time.

Time is a finite entity, at least on this earth. There are only so many minutes in the day, so many days in a lifetime. In Ephesians 5:15-16 Paul encourages us to “be careful how you live. Live as men who are wise and not foolish. Make the best use of your time.”

Each of us gets only so many hours per day. Today you get an extra one. Don’t waste it. Use it to spend a little extra time getting to know your Savior, to help a friend, to share a kind word with the cashier at Walmart. And don’t stop with today. Use every hour of every day to live for Jesus, making the best use of your time to make a difference in the lives of those around you.

As the old song by the Steve Miller Band goes, “Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ into the future.” So make the best use of your time today and “Feed the babies who don’t have enough to eat. Shoe the children with no shoes on their feet. House the people livin’ in the street.”

God has given you a gift today – time. Use it wisely before it slips away.

We got our first frost this last week and Ana’s garden is looking pretty sad. The tomato plants are drooping, the leaves on the squash are turning brown, and the flowers are all wilting away. It’s sad to see what was once so beautiful now dead and dying.

That’s the way of life though. Everything of this earth is temporary. As Peter said, “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.” (1 Peter 1:24 NKJV). We work and strive to get ahead, but disease still strikes, recessions still come, and gardens still wilt under the first frost of Fall. Old age still happens and all our efforts come to naught.

It’s no wonder Solomon, although surrounded by untold wealth, still lamented, “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 2:11).

It would be easy to get discouraged by the temporariness of this life, but there is one thing that brings us hope – God’s Word still remains. “The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” (1 Peter 1:24, 25).

Everything else will fade away, but we can always count on God’s Word. Even when all else fails us, the promises in God’s Word still stand. The Word who was in the beginning and was with God and was God, still reigns in Heaven. In Him is still life and that light is still the light of men.

Let Jesus guide your steps today. Let His Word be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path. (Ps 119:105). No matter what comes your way, hold tight to Jesus. In this world gardens will fade and plans fall through, but there is one thing which you can always count on, one thing which will always endure – the word of the Lord. Make it the center of your life today and every day till He comes.

It’s been a busy week. Doctor’s appointments, meetings, chores – the list went on and on. Sometimes I wasn’t sure whether I was coming or going. With so many things to do it was hard to know where to start. Trying to get so many things done made it feel like I wasn’t getting anything done at all.

Martha had this same problem. Jesus and the disciples were visiting and there was so much to do. Food to prepare, the table to set, dishes to be done. She was so distracted and distressed she hardly had time to think. But while Martha rushed around, “her sister, Mary sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.” (Luke 10:39 NLT).

Frustrated, Martha complained, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” (v. 40). But Jesus just smiled and replied, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (vs. 41-42 NKJV).

In this busy world, with so many demands on our time and resources, it’s easy to forget there is only one thing that really matters in the long run – your relationship with Jesus. Everything else is secondary and temporary. A life lived with Jesus is the only life that never ends.

This Sabbath, don’t be a Martha, distracted by all the things you need to do. Instead, follow Mary’s example and do the one thing that really matters – come sit at Jesus’ feet.

I love music, but I don’t have the greatest singing voice. In academy, where almost anyone could get into the main choir, I was one of the few who didn’t make the cut. I can’t blame the music teacher too much. My audition was pretty bad. I can understand why she wouldn’t want to hear me day-after-day trying to keep up with the rest of the choir.

There is one Person, however, who loves to hear me sing. My Heavenly Father thinks I have a beautiful voice, especially when it is raised in praise to Him. As I walk along in the early morning, thinking about God’s many blessings and enjoying the beauty of a new day, my heart is filled with joy and I, like David, “burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” (Psalms 28:7 NLT). My voice may not sound great to human ears, but my Father cherishes every note.

This morning God would love to hear from you too. Don’t worry how melodious your voice may or may not be. Just lift your voice in praise, “singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…and making music to the Lord in your hearts…give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:19-20).

To your Heavenly Father, it is not the quality of your voice that matters, but the sincerity of your heart and the depth of your love. So, go ahead! Belt it out! Today “glorify his mighty works, singing songs of praise.” (Job 36:24). Let Him know what He means to you. I promise, every note you sing will be music to His ears.

I remember backpacking with my father and brothers up Mount Marcy in the Adirondacks of New York. We had an amazing time, just enjoying each other’s company and hiking through that beautiful company. But, man, those packs would get heavy by the end of the day! We’d come to regret packing that extra set of clothes and that book to read late at night. Those things that had seemed so essential when we started out just weighed us down the longer we hiked.

Anyone who has ever done any backpacking knows that the lighter you make your pack the easier the journey. The same is true in our journey through life. In Hebrews 12:1 we are told to “strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set for us>”

Before we can “run with endurance the race” called life, we must first “strip off the weight that slows us down…”. We must set down our burdens of regret, the habits we cling to, “the sin that so easily trips us up.” We must give these things to Jesus and let Him carry them for us.Only we do this, can we truly succeed in this race called life and someday cross the finish line to our heavenly Home.

What burdens are you carrying today? What sin is tripping you up?. Let it go! Set your burdens down at Jesus feet. Then run! Run the race set before you, knowing Jesus will run with you every step of the way.

I generally avoid politics like the plague in this blog. I’ve made the mistake of expressing my opinion a few times in the past and I still have the scars to prove it! Politics gets people’s hackles up, brings out emotions long buried, and, if we are not careful, can divide not just our country, but churches and families too.

So, I won’t be endorsing any candidate or championing any political party’s platform. I have my opinions, but I’ll keep them to myself. I will, however, ask you one question. It’s the same question Jesus asked Andrew and John after they’d abandoned John the Baptist to chase after Him. The question is, “What do you seek?” (John 1:38 NKJV).

“What do you seek?” That is the question Jesus is asking each of us today. “What do you seek?” Peace? Forgiveness? Direction? Purpose? Hope for tomorrow? We each are seeking something different, but everything we are seeking is wrapped up in one Person – Jesus Christ.

Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6 NLT). He alone is the answer to our every need, to the deepest longings of our hearts. It is only in surrender to Him we can find ultimate victory and a hope for a better tomorrow.

Political candidate’s will in the end always disappoint, but Jesus will always come through. Political slogans and political causes will come and go, but “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8).

So, the question comes to you again today, “What do you seek?” Or perhaps the real question is, “WHOM do you seek?” Seek Jesus and find in Him everything you’ve been looking for. Vote Him in as Lord of your life today. A vote for Him is never wasted, because only He will never let you down.

My wife is an amazing cook, which is one reason I weigh 28 pounds more now than when we first got married (at one time that number was 43 pounds, but let’s not go there). I’m always looking forward to what she’ll come up with next, because it’s always incredible.

Every good cook needs an official Taste Tester, a role I dutifully (and eagerly) play in our home. In spite of the fact that I chow down almost everything Ana cooks, sometimes she still needs reassurance. That’s when she will take a spoonful of whatever she is making and stick it in my mouth, commanding, “Taste this!”. Now, my momma didn’t raise no fool! I know a good deal when I see it. This is one command I always obey, knowing anything Ana has made will be delicious.

The Bible tells us, “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8 NLT). Every day, our Heavenly Father is preparing new wonders for us to behold, new delights to feed the hunger of our souls. It may be the song of a bird in the trees, the scent of wildflowers in the breeze, or a beautiful sunrise on the horizon. Perhaps it is the smile of a stranger, the laughter of a child, or the sweet taste of an orange on our lips. Whatever it is, one thing is certain – it will be good.

Even on those dark days, when disappointments and mistakes leave a bad taste in our mouths, God still invites us to taste and see that He is good, to open our Bibles and taste His words, for “they are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.” (Psalm 19:10). He bids us open our eyes and see His hand at work in our lives, causing “everything to work together for the good of those who love Him…” (Romans 8:28).

This morning God is cooking up something special for you to enjoy. Trust Him, just like I trust Ana. Don’t hesitate. Just “Open your mouth wide, and [He] will fill it with good things.” (Psalms 81:10). Today, taste and see for yourself – the Lord is good!

I love to work with my hands and I’ve got quite a collection of tools to prove it. With those tools I’ve built custom cabinets, remodeled houses, and created beautiful intarsia, using pieces of different colored woods to create 3-D mosaics, such as an eagle in flight or a woodland scene. The fact is, I’m never happier than when I have a tool in my hands.

The thing about tools is, you have to use them or you’ll lose them. If you leave a tool stored away in a box or you fail to keep it maintained, it will deteriorate and become useless. Moisture will get in, causing it to rust, or the blade will become dull, leaving it useless.

The same is true of the talents God has given us. Our talents are wonderful tools we can use to bring joy to others and make our world a better place, but if left unused they lose their edge and fade away, becoming useless to us and the world.

In the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25, Jesus tells the story of 3 servants whose master entrusted with different amounts of talents (money), “to each according to his own ability…” (v. 15 NKJV). Then the master left, expecting the servants to put the talents to use.

Two of them did, earning their master’s praise on his return, but one buried his talent in the ground. The master was livid, calling him a “wicked and lazy servant” (v. 26). The master took the talent from the lazy servant and gave it to a faithful one, knowing he would put it to good use.

God has given each of us some talent, some tool, to use for Him. Some have received many tools and others just a few. For some, their only talent is time, but even that can be used in God’s service and to help others.

No matter how many or how few, we each have the responsibility to put those tools to use for the good of others and to advance God’s kingdom. If we don’t use our talents, they’ll deteriorate and become useless, just like those tools rusting away in a box in my garage.

Someday soon Jesus is coming back. Until then I want to put the tools He’s given me to use for Him, improving them and using them for His glory, and “make the most of every opportunity.” (Colossians 4:5 NLT). I hope you will do the same, so that on that day, together, we will hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant…Enter into the joy of your lord.’ (Matthew 25:21 NKJV).