Monthly Archives: February 2019

Clothes Make the Man

26 Feb

There’s a famous saying that goes, “Clothes make the man (or woman).” It turns out this is true. What we wear affects others’ perception of us and even how we perform.

In a study published in Psychology Today, 74 participants were give white coats to wear. Some were told the coat was a doctor’s coat, while the others were told they were wearing a painter’s coat.

Asked to study two pictures side-by-side and find the differences, the people wearing the “doctor’s coat” outperformed those wearing the “painter’s coat”, even though the coats were exactly the same.

They were then instructed to look at a doctor’s lab coat hanging in front of them and retake the test. Simply looking at the coat did not affect their scores.

The researchers concluded “we must see and feel the clothes on our body – experience it in every way – for it to influence our psyche. (1)

Romans 13:14 says, “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ…” And Galatians 3:27 adds, “all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

It is not enough to just call yourself a Christian. You must experience Christ in every way, wrapping yourself with His robe of righteousness, to be changed into His likeness.

When this happens, you will take on not just the name of Christ, but His very character, so “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:4)

When you accept Jesus as your Savior, you will start to look like Him, sound like Him, and, most importantly, act like Him. Instead of your old filthy rags of self-righteousness, you will “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)

If it’s true that “clothes make the man”, then don’t wait a moment longer. Shuck off your old filthy rags and wrap yourself in Christ’s blood-stained robe. “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ” and let Him remake you into His image today.

God bless and have a great day!

You’re Going to Soar!

25 Feb

I’m sick of being sick!

This is my 4th day feeling lousy. Went home early from work Friday, thinking I just had a 24 hour bug, but 3 days later I feel even worse. Headache, congestion, sore throat. I’m ready for this to be over!

All of us face setbacks or sickness at one point or another in our lives. It’s usually our own fault, due to not getting enough rest or eating the wrong things, but not always. Sometimes it’s just a result of living in this sinful, old world.

Either way, we must never let setbacks, whether to our health or in life in general, cause us to lose faith in God’s mercy and goodness. Rather we must, like David, declare, “My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.” (Psalm 73:26 NLT).

God “forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.” (Psalm 103:3). The problem is, healing sometimes takes time and when your in the midst of it, it seems to take forever.

The hardest command in all of Scripture is to “Wait patiently for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14) God does everything in His time and His way, but His timing is always perfect and His way is always best.

So, this morning, whether you feel like a truck ran you over or are on top of the world, have faith in God. In good times or bad, He is right by your side. Trust in the Lord, no matter what, because “those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.” (Isaiah 40:31).

Right now you may feel like your grounded, but trust in God and someday soon you’re going to soar!

God bless and have wonderful, healthy, day!

He Knows What He’s Doing

24 Feb

Sometimes God puts us in places we don’t want to be, jobs we don’t want to do, situations we’d rather avoid. When this happens it can be hard to trust in His goodness, to believe He has our best interests in mind.

Paul felt this way. He had a “thorn in the flesh”. I don’t know what it was, but it doesn’t sound real pleasant. Three times he “begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT).

Our Heavenly Father can see the big picture, the “end from the beginning” and He is always looking out for the good of His children. Sometimes this means letting us stay in difficult circumstances, because it will help us grow. At other times He may need us where we are to be a blessing to another.

One thing is for certain. We can trust Him. He promises in Jeremiah 29:11, His plans are “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

This morning, before you quit that job you hate or run from that relationship that’s not going too well, stop and ask God for direction. You just may be right where you belong right now. And I don’t know about you, but the only place I want to be is the place where He wants me to be – even if it’s hard.

As you start a new week, don’t let circumstances determine your course. Instead, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5-6). He knows what He’s doing – guaranteed!

God bless and have a terrific new week!

Part of His Plan

23 Feb

I am blessed to work with an amazing group of people at the Confluence Health Walk-in Clinic in Wenatchee, WA. I don’t always love my job, but I love the people I work with!

Although we come from a diversity of backgrounds, each day we come together as a unit, providing compassionate, quality care for our patients.

Each of us has a role to play and each person is essential to the team. The doctors, PA’s, and NP’s may be in charge (or at least the nurses let us think we are), but we’d be lost without the others.

The receptionists do the check in and keep the patients coming, while the MA’s room them and take their vitals. Meanwhile, the ward clerks provide a calm in the midst of the storm and the nurses keep things moving smoothly.

Our manager, who keep us all on the straight and narrow, is always quick with an encouraging word, when things get a little tense.

Each one of us has a part to play, unique talents we bring to our job, which make the Walk-in Clinic work and assure a high-quality of care. Every person there is essential to our overall success.

This is what God intends for His church. 2 Corinthians 12:12 & 14 says, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ…Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.”

Some in the church may not feel they are important, because they are not a pastor or an elder, but each one of us is essential. We each have been given unique gifts the church needs to complete its mission of sharing God’s love with the world. You may not think your talent is anything special, but “in fact God has placed the parts, in the body, just as he wanted them to be.” (v. 18).

This weekend, as you worship with fellow believers, take a look around and thank God for each person and the part they play in His plan. Then ask Him to show you where you fit in, because, I guarantee, you do!

God has a very special job, just for you. You’re part of His Plan. So, let’s get going and finish the work – together every step of the way!

Little Things Matter

22 Feb

Last evening I received an email from another provider who had just seen a patient I’d seen once 9 years ago. She wrote this gentleman still remembered our visit and my kindness. She said he gives me a large part of the credit he is still clean and sober 9 years later.

I’m not telling you this story to toot my own horn, because, the truth is, most days I probably get things wrong more often than I get them right, when dealing with people. But somehow this one day, by God’s grace, I must have gotten it right.

No, I’m telling you this, because we each need to realize little things can count in big ways. I have no idea what I said to this man and, honestly, I don’t remember him at all, but something I said or did made an impression on him, enough so that it has helped him stay sober all these years.

My friend, Mike Temple, who writes a daily devotional, The Open Wordh, this morning told the story of a shipwreck caused by a clogged oil filter. It’s sometimes takes only a small thing to determine the course of large ship, for good or for bad.

The same is true with people. You may never know how something you say affects another person, how some small thing you do may alter their journey through life.

James 3:5-6 warns “the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.”

A tongue can wound or it can heal. Our words can sear or they can soothe. They can drive someone away from Christ or steer them into His arms. The choice is up to us.

It only takes a small rudder to turn a ship and sometimes it takes just a single word or a kind smile to point another in the right direction.

Little things matter. Little words count. Proverbs 15:23 says, “…it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!” This morning may God give us the grace to say the right thing at the right time.

Today, let’s follow the advice of the old children’s song to “be careful little tongue what you say…” After all, you never know who may be listening.

Turn on the Light!

21 Feb

Do you ever feel like God doesn’t see you, that somehow you’ve been overlooked within the seething mass of humanity clamoring for His attention. I know I do.

When problems mount, disappointment meets me at every turn, and prayers seem to go unanswered, I feel like “My way is hidden from the Lord, my cause is disregarded by my God”. (Isaiah 40:27 NIV).

When I’m feeling like this it would be easy to give up, to toss my Bible away in despair, but that would be foolish. Does a starving man turn away from a hand holding out bread? Does a thirsty man ignore a rushing brook? Then why would I, starving for God’s attention, thirsting for a word from His lips, turn my back on His Word, the one place I know I will find Him and hear His voice?

No, it is at times, when all seems dark, that I need to turn on the light! I need to open God’s Word, because His “word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105). It will show me the way back to God.

It is in these moments I must search all the harder for God, immersing myself in His Word, for I am promised “You will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29.

When I do this I find reassurance, that God is still “…the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 40:28), that, though He may seem far away at times, He is not far from any one of us.” (Acts 17:27), but is in fact, still “the God who sees me…” (Genesis 16:13) and who “will be with [me] wherever [I} go.” (Joshua 1:9).

This morning, if you feel abandoned, alone in the dark, then turn on the light! Open God’s Word! He is right there waiting for you today. He still loves you “with an everlasting love”, still draws you “with unfailing kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3).

In pages of Scripture you will learn He still “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3) and He promises “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”(Hebrews 13:5).

If you find yourself in a dark place this morning, know this, my friend. You’re not abandoned. You’re not alone. You just need turn on the light!

God bless and have a wonderful day!

Reflect the Son!

20 Feb

Last night our valley was illuminated in a spectacular way by the latest “supermoon”. The moonlight reflecting off the snow lit up the surrounding fields, driving the darkness into hiding. It was so bright the light coming in our bedroom window woke Ana in the middle of the night.

A day is coming when, “The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.” Isaiah 60:19 NIV.

I can’t wait for that day to come, but until then we have a work to do. We are each called to “reflect the glory of the Lord” as “the Lord…makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

The moon has no light of its own, but merely reflects the sun. Likewise, you and I were put on this planet to do the same, to reflect the Son. If we let Jesus have free reign in our lives then, when people look at you and I, they will see a reflection of Jesus, with no element of self to cloud the view.

This world has enough darkness. Let’s each choose to “reflect the glory of the Lord” by what we say and do. Let’s let Jesus’ love shine from us, lighting the way for others through the dark valleys of life, so they too can find their way safely home to His arms.

God bless, have a wonderful day, and, in all you do, do what you were made to do – reflect the Son!

The Choice

19 Feb

When troubles come,
when love goes astray,
When sickness strikes,
dear ones pass away,

We have a choice
between doubt and belief,
To trust in God
or give into grief.

We can drown in doubts,
give into fears,
Believe Satan’s lie
God caused our tears.

Or we can chose,
in life’s darkest hour,
To trust in God,
believe in His power.

Knowing He loves us
and feels our pain.
Trusting Him both in
sunshine and rain.

The choice is ours,
trust or turn away.
Believe in God
or run from the fray.

Bitterness and anger
or calm and peace.
Hatred and despair
or sweet release.

The choice you make
in moments of strife
Determines your course
the rest of your life.

So, choose wisely my friend.
Trust in God’s love.
Let him fill you today
with peace from above.

Be Anxious for Nothing

18 Feb

I woke up way to early this morning, with an overwhelming feeling of anxiety. I’m not sure if it was a dream I’d had, the stress of a busy day at work yesterday, or the sandwich I’d eaten driving home at 9 PM, but something had me stressed and I couldn’t get back to sleep.

Finally, I got up and went out to the living room to read. As I read Romans 8, with its wonderful promise that nothing, not even “our fears for today or our worries about tomorrow…can separate us from God’s love”, my anxiety disappeared, replaced by “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding…” (Philippians 4:7)

I think this is how David must have felt when he wrote, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” (Psalm 94:19 NIV). Truly, as the song says, “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!”

We all deal with anxiety at one time or another, but we need never deal with it alone. In Jesus we have “a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share”. No matter the hour of the day (or night) He is right there when you need Him, ready to hear your worries and fears, calm your anxious thoughts, and carry your burdens and cares.

This morning, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6 NKJV). Don’t let anxiety handcuff your life a moment longer. Instead, “Cast all your anxiety upon him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV). Invite Jesus into your heart today and let Him break anxiety’s hold.

Have a great day, sleep well tonight, and “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him…” (Romans 15:13 NIV)

Change of Plans

17 Feb

I hadn’t planned on being at work yesterday.

In fact, I was supposed to be the elder-in-charge at church, leading out in the worship service. However, God had a change of plans.

The PA who was supposed to be on duty was sick and needed me to fill in. Thankfully, one of the other elders kindly agreed to take over my duties, so, instead of sitting on the platform at church, I found myself rushing from room-to-room in the Walk-in Clinic on Sabbath morning. It wasn’t where I wanted to be, but I knew it was where God wanted me to be. I just didn’t know why.

I soon found out. Walking into one of the rooms, I was surprised when the patient’s face lit up with delight and she exclaimed, “It’s you!”

I was a little taken aback at first by her enthusiasm, because this is not how I’m usually greeted. Most people I see are so wrapped up in their misery, they barely mumble “hello.”

As I sat down, she said, “I prayed to God it would be you I’d see.”

Now, I’m not used to being an answer to someone’s prayer, so I laughed and replied, “Well, then God answered your prayer, because I’m not even supposed to be here today.” We went on to have a very pleasant visit and both left the room smiling at how God works.

Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” (NKJV).

You may not always understand why God leads the way He does, especially when your plans are going in an entirely different direction, but you can always trust His plans for you are “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).

I know you’ve got big plans for this week, but if you find God directing your steps elsewhere, don’t be afraid to go where He leads. You just might be the answer to someone’s prayer today, but you’ll never know unless you go. Go in faith. He’ll be with you every step of the way.