Encouraging Words for Today

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

Have you ever noticed how God is really good at messing up your life? He’s been messing mine up for years!

For example, just yesterday I was looking forward to a day off and He sent me to work instead. On Super Bowl weekend, no less! What’s with that?

But, you know what? It turned out to be a good day after all. If I hadn’t gone to work:

• I wouldn’t have gotten to work with Carla, Erin, Meghan, Narcilli, Leslie, Jennifer, Laura, Vicki, and Alex. I sometimes hate my job, but I love the people I work with! BTW, you all did great yesterday!
• I would have missed out on praying with a woman overwhelmed by depression, offering her hope for a better tomorrow.
• I would have had to go through the pain of watching my Patriots lose to the Eagles.
• I wouldn’t have had a 2 year old girl, with the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen, dance on the exam table, just to make me laugh! That was worth coming in all by itself!

God loves to mess up our plans. Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” Just when you think you’ve got your life figured out God throws a monkey wrench into things. He’s been doing it since time began:

• David was content minding sheep, but God wanted him to lead a nation.
• Moses was on the fast track to be the next Pharaoh, but God called him to set His people free.
• Gideon was hiding in a pit, threshing wheat, when God chose him to defeat the Midianites.

God has messed up my life so many times through the years, but I’m so glad He did! If He hadn’t:

• I never would’ve met Ana, who’s been messing up my life now for 36 years – in so many wonderful ways!
• I would’ve missed out on the joy Rishana, Andrew and Alex bring me. Without them my wallet might be fatter, but my heart wouldn’t be so full.
• I’d have stayed in New York and missed out on having friends like Shawna, Christian, Heather, and Christine.
• I’d have never left Chehalis and gotten to live in the beautiful Wenatchee Valley or know the wonderful people at the Cashmere Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Over and over God has messed up my life and fooled with my plans, but my life is so much richer and rewarding because He did.

Today, God wants to mess up your life too. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”  Your Heavenly Father wants to take you places you’ve never been, show you things you’ve never dreamed are possible, and mess you up in so many beautiful ways.

I know you’ve got your life all planned out, but take a chance and let Him direct your steps instead. 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.

Give Jesus your heart today. Put your trust in Him. Then stand back! He’s going to mess up your life in so many wonderful ways!

God bless and have a wonderful messed-up day!

Through the Storm

In the midst of life’s storms,

due to life’s stress,

It’s hard to believe

in a God who knows best.

***

Sometimes you can’t see

the sun through the rain.

Sometimes you can’t feel

God through pain.

***

But if you can’t see

God through life’s mist,

that doesn’t mean

He doesn’t exist.

***

It’s by the storms,

the earth is made new.

It’s through life’s trials,

God does the same thing for you.

***

Though the waves crash

and the winds screech,

He’s never far off.

You’re never out of His reach.

***

If you’ll but listen,

His voice you will hear.

If you’ll but wait,

He soon will draw near.

***

If you’ll will stop

and seek His face,

He’ll flood your life

with His mercy and grace.

***

Come to Him now.

He’s waiting for you,

with arms wide open,

with love that is true.

***

So, today take His Hand,

let Him lead the way,

through life’s dark storms,

to a brighter new day.

Where is God

when a loved one dies,

when grief overwhelms,

tears fall from our eyes?

***

Where is He

when a spouse departs,

taking with them

a piece of your heart?

***

Does God turn His back

when your child strays?

Does He cover His ears,

when you kneel down to pray?

***

No, God never leaves,

Nor does He turn away.

No matter what comes,

by your side He will stay.

***

Nothing can ever

separate us from His love,

no power on earth

or in sky up above.

***

He’s with us in trial,

death or despair,

hunger, persecution,

calamity or care.

***

Not even the powers of hell

can tear us apart.

He’ll never leave you.

He’ll never depart.

***

So, when next trials come

or loved ones depart,

when tears fall like rain

on your poor, broken heart…

***

Don’t ask where God is

or think you’re alone.

Don’t murmur, complain,

cry out or moan.

***

Instead, trust in God,

put faith in His care.

No matter what comes,

He’ll always be there.

Some days are harder than others. You wake up full of energy, feeling on top of the world. You can tell already it’s going to be a great day!

Unfortunately, your spouse woke up on the wrong side of the bed and some sharp words are exchanged. Your kids won’t get moving and miss the bus. To top it all off, your boss calls to tell you to come in early. Suddenly your day’s not looking so great after all.

It’s on days like these that texts like 1 Corinthians 2:9 mean so much. It says there, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

That sounds really good. No matter how my day is going and even if my life to this point hasn’t been all I hoped it would be, there are better days ahead. God has wonderful plans for you, “…plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11. He’s going to do amazing things in your life, things which are better than anything you could ever imagine.

So this morning, if things haven’t started out quite like you had planned, why not start over right now? Take a moment to thank God for all His blessings and invite Him to take back control in your life. “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.

I know the day didn’t start out so hot, but don’t quit now. God’s got something special prepared for you today, something beyond your wildest imaginings! So, pick yourself up off the ground, dust off your worries and cares, and take His hand. Put your trust in Him and prepare to be amazed! It’s going to be a great day after all!

“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:5 NLT

Today is a very special day. 50 years ago today my twin sisters were born. Happy Birthday, Jan and Nan!

As most of you know Jan and Nan were adopted. After having 3 boys my parents realized they were doing something wrong, so they decided to adopt the girls. It was the best decision they ever made.

From the moment they came into our home Jan and Nan have brought love, joy and laughter to all of our lives. I can’t imagine what our home would’ve been like without them, but I know it would not have been nearly as much fun.

What many of you don’t realize is I am adopted too. So are my brother Larry and my other sisters Joanne, Joan, and Donna. No, we were not adopted into the Edison family. We were adopted into God’s family.

Ephesians 1:4-5 says, “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”

You and I and every person in this world are children of God. Even before He created the world, God decided to adopt you into His own family. He’s been thinking about you from before time began. You are His special child, the apple of His eye. You give “him great pleasure.”

Now Jan and Nan haven’t always done what Mom and Dad wanted them to do. Okay, I admit, neither have the rest of us. But, the thing is, no matter what we did, no matter how badly we hurt them; we never for a second doubted our parent’s love for us. We knew if we would just come back and say “I’m sorry” we’d be forgiven. We never stopped being their children, even when we messed up.

It’s the same for you. No matter what you’ve done, no matter how far you’ve strayed from the family of God, you are still a son or daughter of God. He still declares, “I have loved you…with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” Jeremiah 31:3

In fact, God loves you so much “He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16. If you will just come back to Him today and tell Him you’re sorry, He will forgive you and welcome you home with open arms.

Our family is scattered across the United States, but whenever we are able to get back together the air is filled with joy and laughter. We’re just so happy to be together again.

However, the joy we feel at those times pales in comparison to the joy God will feel when you come home to Him. What’s holding you back? You don’t need to stand out in the cold any longer. You’re still part of the family. You still have a seat at the table.

Just come home.

“Look! …I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:25 NKJV

Life can really be a pain sometimes! You do everything right, yet bills still pile up, spouses leave, loved ones die, jobs are lost. This is not what you signed on for when you accepted Christ.

God said He’d be with you wherever you go, but where is He now? The flames are rising higher, the smoke billows around, and you feel like you’re about to be consumed.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego must have felt this way, as Nebuchadnezzar’s soldiers hauled them towards the “burning, fiery furnace.” (Daniel 3:15).

Just moments before, they had stood in defiance, refusing to worship the king’s golden idol. God should have rewarded their good behavior, right? Yet, they can feel the heat on their faces, hear the roar of the flames, and they know this is probably it.

But it’s not it, for Jesus awaits them in the flames. The only things destroyed are the ropes which bind them and for a few short moments they walk with God.

James 1:2-4 tells us, “…count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”

Joy? Is he kidding? Why would I rejoice when I lose my job, get harassed by my boss, or suffer financial loss? Why? Because “…the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

God allow trials come your way not to punish you, but “…that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:7)

Trials burn away the ropes of sin and habit which bind you. The flames burn away the dross which holds you back. It refines you, helping you become the man or woman God made you to be.

So, when trials come your way, don’t fear the flames. Don’t pull back. Let them do their work. Let them refine you that you may come out shining like pure gold.

And don’t forget, you are not alone. Jesus awaits you in the flames. The same Jesus who stood with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego so long ago, stands by your side today. He promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  (Hebrews 13:5) It’s in life’s “burning, fiery furnace” we walk with God.

Today, when the flames arise and the smoke billows around, don’t be afraid…

Step into the fire and walk with God!

In his book, All In, Pastor Mark Batterson tells the story of Johann Sebastian Bach, one of history’s greatest composers. Before starting a new composition Bach would write at the top of the page these letters, “J.J.” – Jesu, juva – which means, Jesus help me. With this simple prayer Bach acknowledged his utter dependence on his Savior for all he did.

At the end of each composition Bach would write the letters SDG – Soli Deo Gloria – which means To the glory of God alone. Bach wanted everything he did, every note, every stanza, to be to the glory of God alone.

This is how I want to live my life. I want to start each day with Bach’s prayer, Jesu, juva – Jesus help me, and I want my every word and every action, throughout the day, to be stamped with the letters SDG – Soli Deo Gloria. Whether I eat or drink or whatever I do I want it all to be done to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Colossians 3:23 says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”

Imagine if the letters SDG were written on every paycheck, displayed on our bulletin boards, or hung above our computers at work. What a difference it would make if we every time we hammered a nail, wrote a report, or mopped a floor, we did it Soli Deo Gloria – to the glory of God alone.

Why not give this a try? Start your day with the simple prayer Jesu, juva – Jesus help me. Acknowledge your utter helplessness and God’s mighty power. Admit that apart from Christ you can do nothing (John 15:5), but “…with God everything is possible.” Matthew 19:26. Then determine in your heart that everything you do, everything you say, everything you eat or drink will be done Soli Deo Gloria – to the glory of God alone.

If you do this, your life will be a continual song of praise; a symphony of joy and love and peace, unaffected by circumstance; a glorious composition written by the hand of God, the Maestro of the Universe, your Savior and King.

If you will make SDG – Soli Deo Gloria – your motto from this day forward, God will transform your life into something beyond your wildest dreams. I know this is true, because He’s doing it for me. When you start with Jesu, juva and live Soli Deo Gloria anything’s possible!

So, God bless and have a wonderful day – Soli Deo Gloria!

“‘Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,’ said Philip.” John 1:46 NIV

Have you ever been in a store and just couldn’t find what you were looking for? I have – far too many times!

I will search aisle after aisle, to no avail, until I finally break down and do something which goes against the very essence of being male – I ask for help.

This is a major concession on my part, so I appreciate it when the person I ask, instead of just giving me directions, actually takes me to the correct aisle and points out the product I am looking for.

The Search

We human beings spend a good portion of our lives searching for something, many times with no real idea what we’re searching for. We just know something’s missing. What we don’t realize is what we’ve been searching for all along is God.

So we try this thing or that, read books, search the net, all in a vain attempt to fill that God-shaped emptiness inside. Finally, in desperation, we do something which goes against our very nature. We ask for help.

Assaulted by the Word

Unfortunately, when we do finally take this step and ask a Christian for help in finding God, they instead inundate us with information. Prophecy. Doctrinal arguments. Scriptural references.

I had a colleague once who, when describing his witnessing to an acquaintance, bragged, “I hit him with about 20 Scriptures in 10 minutes!” Ouch! That’s not witnessing! That’s assault!

At other times, in our search for God, all we get are directions. “Do this.” “Don’t do that.” “Eat this, not that.” “Go here, not there.” It’s not very helpful. In fact, it can be downright harmful!

Too often Christians’ approach to witness does nothing more than get the other person’s dander up. It causes them to get defensive and fight back with arguments of their own, pointing out inconsistencies in our arguments and even in our own lives.

Christianity, after all, has gotten a pretty bad reputation through the years because of the behavior of Christians. Is it any wonder then, that many, like Nathanael, are tempted to ask, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

Come and See

What we really need, in our search for God, is for someone to say, “Come and see.”

When I ask you where I can find God, don’t just tell me. Show me! Take my hand and say, “Come and see.” Like the woman at the well, say, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did!” “Come see what Jesus has done for me. Come see what He wants to do for you. Come and see.”

Everywhere you go today you will come in contact with people searching for a God to love. As you interact with them, remember, a caring touch speaks so much louder than words. Personal experience means far more than even the most eloquent argument. So, don’t tell someone what you believe, until you show them how you love. Don’t just tell them about Jesus. Show them Jesus!

Today, when someone asks you how to find God, don’t just give them directions. Instead, put your arm around them and say, “Come and see!”

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.” Luke 22:20-21 NIV

This morning, in preparation for Communion Sabbath at our church, I reread the story of the Last Supper in Luke 22. As I read I was struck by something remarkable.

Right after Jesus offers His disciples the cup of “the new covenant in my blood,” He says something unexpected. Looking around the table He says, “But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.”

In spite of the fact Jesus knew Judas was going to betray Him, He washed his feet, shared the bread with him, and drank from the same cup of wine. Right up to the last Jesus was doing all He could to woo Judas back to Him, offering Him friendship, love, and forgiveness. How Jesus’ heart must have ached as Judas turned his back on Him for the final time and went out into the night.

As tragic as this story is, it offers us hope. Jesus pulled out all the stops to save Judas. He does the same for you and I. No matter how awful our sins or how often we have rejected Him in the past, Jesus stands ready at this moment to wash away our sins. No matter how dark our past, He offers us the Bread of Life and the Cup of Forgiveness.

We, like Judas, have betrayed Him, yet today He stands with hand outstretched, pleading for us to come to Him.

Jesus longs for us to accept His free gift of eternal life in exchange for our “threescore years and ten.” Instead of a measly 30 pieces of silver, He offers us the riches of Heaven.

In the face of our overwhelming guilt, He promises, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18.

Today, the table is set. The bread is served. The wine is poured. Come and eat.

You need not wash your feet before you come, for He will wash your soul.

You need not cleanse your heart, for He will replace your heart of stone with a heart of flesh.

You need not change your clothes, for He will clothe you in the robe of His righteousness. You don’t need to change a thing, for He makes all things new.

Judas missed his chance. He left the table, choosing the night over the Light. Don’t you do the same.

Come, sit at the table. There’s always room for more. You need not bring a thing. Just come. Come today!

God bless and Happy Sabbath!

When we hear the story of Peter walking on the water we like to get on Peter’s case for his lack of faith. After all, even Jesus, as he pulled Peter out of the drink , said to him, “You of little faith…why did you doubt?”

I think we’re too hard on Peter, though. At least he had a little faith. At least he got out of the boat. And remember, he actually did walk on water, even if for only a few steps! How many of us can say the same? For that matter, how many of us would even have the courage to get out of the boat?

We beg Jesus to work a miracle for us, to get us that new job or help us leave our old job. We plead with Him to bring the right person into our lives, Mr. or Ms. Right. We ask Him to open doors, remove mountains, or make a way through the Jordan, and He says, “Sure, let’s do it.”

That’s when we hit “pause.” He reaches out His hand and says, “Come,” but we freeze. Glued to our seats, trembling in fear, we refuse to get out of the boat, refuse to take a chance on Him. Our focus is on the waves, rather than the One who calms the seas.

When Israel was preparing to cross the Jordan the waters didn’t stop flowing until the priests stepped into the waters. When God parted the Red Sea Moses first had to hold out his staff. And before Peter could walk on the waters he had to step out of the boat.

Today Jesus is inviting you on an adventure. To all your God-given hopes and dreams, the ambitions He’s put in your heart, He is saying, “Yes.” His hand is outstretched to you right now. His voice whispers, “Come.”

What will you do? Will you stay safe and secure in the leaky boat of your humdrum existence? Or will you show a little faith, climb over the side, and walk on water?

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather walk through the storm with Jesus then ride it out alone in the boat. I’d rather go over the side and maybe sink then stay “safe” and never really live.

This morning, when you hear Him say, “Come”, don’t hesitate. Jump over the side and into His arms!  Keep your eyes on Him and He’ll never let you down. Put your hand in His and prepare to be amazed!

Walking on water is just the beginning! So, get out of the boat and walk on the waves!