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HAPPINESS IS WHAT?… Luke 22: 14-23

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I was reading a book review about propoganda developed by the Communist Party in the Soviet Union.  The head of a trade-union committee says that happiness comes from materialism.  That made me stop-and-think.  Really?  You’ve got to be kidding.   Like those bumperstickers that say ‘He who dies with the most toys… Wins’!  Really?

As a financial planner for 20 years, I dealt with lots of people who had lots of money.  I can honestly say that any happiness they had could not be directly attributed to their net worth.  Not at all.   Having very little money is a terrible struggle.  Providing for a growing family increases the stress level dramatically, especially at a time of stagnant wages and increasing costs in most of the basic areas of life.  Because I have more money and things than I had 10 years ago, makes me none the happier.  Less stressed in some ways, yes.  Can take advantage of more  opportunities in life than I could when I had no extra money, of course.  But, happy?

In 1983 I found myself alone in life.  Brand new career, no guaranteed income,  on commission only.  I saw my sons every other weekend from Friday night until Sunday evening.  And then times in between, doing paper routes with both boys for many years.  Had to save for 5 years to take them back East to see my family.  We traveled to New Jersey or Florida as family couldn’t or wouldn’t travel West where we lived.

After a bit, I was making more money than I ever imagined.  Didn’t take much really to outdo a pastor’s salary!  I can tell you what gave me the most happiness in my life.  You can guess.  Being with those boys of mine.  Stocking up on food that I knew they loved.  Taping television shows we would watch together and laugh at uproariously!  I would relish looking back to the fun I had having some of their friends over to my apartment…with me the goofiest of all!  And looking forward to their next visit.

I always made it a hard-and-fast  rule to never, ever schedule anything, business or otherwise,  that would interfere with my time with my sons.  With them,  I was happy.  Can still remember the happy feelings I had then.

Reading Luke 22: 14- 15, I have a new understanding of what Jesus is talking about.  What makes Him happy?  ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you…’  The apostles with Him. We make Him happy!   What an honor!  Knowing that,  don’t you want to give Him more of your time?

Prayer:  Lord, we love being with You, especially knowing how happy that makes You.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A NEW LIFE… Genesis 38 and 44: 14-34

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I’ve given you quite a bit to read today.  Well worth the effort.  Genesis 37 begins a long section telling of the ups-and-downs of the life of Joseph.  Joseph is one of the rare characters in the Bible who is righteous through-and-through,  obeying the Lord in the face of temptions and obstacles.

Genesis 38–the story of  Joseph’s brother, Judah, the 4th son of Jacob and Leah.  Judah’s story is in stark contrast to that of his younger brother, Joseph.  Remember, the brothers sold Joseph into slavery while hatching a scheme eating dinner to make a few bucks off of Joseph.  And who is the one who hatches this money scheme?  Yes… Judah(Genesis 37: 26-28).  Why kill Joseph?  Let’s make a few shekels!

Now comes chapter 38.  Years later.  Judah is away from his family,  far away.  Living among pagans who worship gods other than the One true God.  His friends are unbelievers.  His wife is from a people that God warned them against.  ‘Who cares.  I’ll do what I want’.   Chapter 38.  It’s in your face… sin.  No candy-coating.  No excuses.  No shading or spinning of the truth.  The truth about Judah.  Lying, scheming, vengeance, excess sexual adventures way out of God’s plan for His people.  Judah is one bad dude!  No role model.

But this is not the end of the story.  Genesis 44.  Here is Judah years later, having had lots of time to examine his life.   But, miracle of miracles, the Lord has actually gotten through to him.  He’s a changed man.  Judah?  Did I hear right?  Yes,  standing before Joseph, who is now second in command to Pharaoh in Egypt, Judah begs for the lives of his family;  and is especially concerned for the well-being of his aged father, Jacob, who cannot take yet one more shock in his life.  Judah has compassion.  Judah exhibits repentance.  Judah  is a new man.

The same God exists today to do the same for us, who have strayed and wandered away, but who want to be the person God wants us to be.  We lack the inner strength and willpower.  We come to Him, asking for His help.  Regardless of your past, God can make you…and me a new person.  I’m no Joseph.  Somewhat like Judah.  But more like Jesus…because of His being in my life.  Praise God…new chance, new life, new everything!

Prayer:  Lord, there is a new name written down in glory, and it is mine!  Thank you in the name of the One who gives us our new names, Jesus the Christ.  Amen!

HOW ABOUT AN EARLY THANKSGIVING THIS YEAR?… Psalm 30

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Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  No, not because of all the food, though I will not deny that’s part of it!  But rather for the lack of Easter Bunnies, tinsel and Santa.  All the things that don’t make Christian holy-days special,  only excuses for a day off of work.  Think I’ve been reading Dicken’s Christmas Carol too many times!  Bah, humbug!   I want  to dig deeper, peeling back the layers to the actual event celebrated about our Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone.

Thanksgiving Day does that for me…a time to give thanks.  To the Lord, first and foremost–‘Sing praises to the  Lord, all you His saints, and give thanks to His holy name'(Psalm 30:4).  It doesn’t take a lot of concentration to discover what to thank the Lord for.  I think of those roosters crowing every morning when we were in Hawaii.  So early too!  Bright and early, for the sun has barely begun to shine.  Then we have breakfast of eggs… and thank the Lord for what chickens give us.  And the chicken dinner we had the other night.  The Lord’s creation for us to enjoy and be nourished by.  Told you it wasn’t all about the food!

Every night we’d go down to the beach to watch the whales that are spouting in the Pacific Ocean, jumping/twirling in the air making a big splash with their tales as they hit the water.  Thank you, Lord, for the whales.  We enjoy seeing them.  And the sunsets every night were glorious.  Different every one in some way.  Thank you, Lord, for the sunsets.

Or think of your family and thank the Lord for them.  For all His providing for us, thank the Lord.  For our friends, we thank the Lord.  For a wonderful and loving church family, we thank the Lord.  For the Bible that we can be nourished with daily unlike any other ‘food’, we thank the Lord.

I could go on and on, and probably should.  But I’ll do it on my own time.  Now it’s your turn to think of all that you would like to thank the Lord for in your life.  Have an early Thanksgiving.  Have it often.  How about all the time?  ‘…that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever'(Psalm 30: 12).  Forever seems like a long-ways off…think I’ll start right now!  You too?

Prayer:  Dear God, we could never thank you enough for all the blessings in our lives.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

LIFE CAN BE THE PITS!… Psalm 28 and Genesis 37

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Life can be the pits!  Think of Old Testament Joseph being placed into a pit.  Down you go, Joe!  Have a swell time in the well!   Then the brothers sit down for a nice meal in the desert.  After all,  getting rid of one’s bothersome family can really build quite an appetite… along with a killer thirst!  They were so famished they didn’t even hear his screams for help.  ‘Did you hear something, Simeon?   No?  Pass the camel jerky and mayo, please’!  Judah, has a better idea.  They see a band of Midianites and Ishmaelites passing by, teeming with spices for trade in far off Egypt.   These caring brothers decide to do what’s right…for them,  and sell the young lad to their distant cousins.  At least make a few shekels off the boy!

I wonder what Joseph thought when they pulled him out of the pit?  Maybe they’ve come to their senses?  God has convicted them of their sin?  No, now Joseph can see what his future holds…in shackles and slavery.  Except that the Lord was with Joseph.  The end of the story would not be in the pits but in a palace.

Psalm 28:1–‘To you, O Lord, I call;  my rock, be not deaf to me, lest if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.’  The pit. Can’t get out.  Panicky and claustrophobic.  How do you get out?  Irony of ironies,  the ones who help you out are the same ones who sell you off into slavery.  Isn’t that great?  That’s all I need.  With family like that…

I can remember when life was the pits, when my relationship with the Lord was less than it should have been.  I’m no Joseph.  No, the Lord seemed far away, but it was me who had turned aside.  It was me who had grown cold to the One who loved me and wanted me to be close to Him no matter what.  I had turned the other cheek… but not in a godly way.  More like ‘I’ll go my way and you…’

You get the picture.  Then, somehow, I started to sing old hymns that stirred me, singing them while I was alone in my apartment at night.   I began opening my Bible to hear from God, really hear from Him… and then to pray.  To talk with Him.   I was being lifted out of the pit I had fallen into on my own.  He was lifting me up and out.  ‘Love lifted Me’.  Not to sell me into slavery, but to free me up walking close to Him.  Didn’t take long.  Deliverance from a pit can be rather quick.  And I’m still freely singing His praises!  Join me?

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for being our Shepherd, looking for us, and caring for us.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

MY WISH… Psalm 27

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I wish I could have earned my salvation.  Now, don’t report me to the heresy squad quite yet!  I know that my salvation is from the Lord alone.  No works on my part had any effect on my salvation.  Believe in Him.  Receive Him into your heart.  The only way.

You see I do know what the Bible teaches.  Somewhere within me is a pocket of guilt that won’t go away.  I don’t deserve His salvation and His love.  I know it’s unconditional love.  Don’t you also know that you don’t deserve it?   Wish I could have earned it and know that it’s mine because of my own blood, sweat and tears.

Is there something to be done about this?  What can the Lord do to help?  Let me be frank(even though my name is John!).  It will take work, that four-letter word.  No short-cuts.  Believe me, I’ve tried.  Here it is:  it takes less listening to ourselves and more hearing Him from His Word.  Stop cultivating our fears.  Stop listening to our debilitating thoughts, letting them have free reign within our hearts and minds.  Listen to the promises of the Lord.

Psalm 27: 11– ‘Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path…’  Listen to the Lord as He leads us on level ground.  Not rocky or dangerous in any way.  Taking a big tumble is what can happen when we encourage our doubts and fears.  Heeding His Word levels life out with peace as He promised( Isaiah 26:3).  Verse 8– “You have said, ‘Seek my face.’  My heart says to you, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek”’.  His face…His voice…His Word…His heart to ours is the way out of what can be a life-long ditch and sinkhole.

Less listening to ourselves, and more from the Lord in His Bible.  That takes work.  Pick up our Bibles and start studying.  But how else will we know when the Lord is talking with us?  I know of no other effective short-cuts.  I’ve looked!  I’ve tried!  Save yourself wasted time and effort.  His Word…off to work we go!

Prayer:  Lord, infuse my mind and heart with your Word, the Bible.  Help me to feed on it…continually.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

EENY, MEENY, MINA, MOE… Luke 19: 11-27

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Did I get the words right in the title?   What about that word ‘mina’?   Jesus’ parable of the Ten Minas makes us wonder what it is?  .  A ‘mina’ was equal to three months wages.  A hundred ‘minas’  was a lot of money.  That’s one hundred days income when every single days wage was needed to survive.

Jesus says that a nobleman entrusted ten servants with a ‘mina’ to ‘engage in business until I come’ (verse 13).  We have all been entrusted with ‘minas’, valuable abilities to be put to work for the Master.  Use what God has given you for Him and His Kingdom.  The more useful, the more blessed.  The  more busy with God’s busy-ness, the more the blessed-ness flows to others.  Do what God puts on your heart to do.  You know what I mean.

By the way, that’s exactly what I’m doing right now.  My writing  today is my ‘mina’ at work within His workshop.  Don’t worry about how insignificant we feel with the ‘little’ we can do.  Don’t let Satan rob you of your eternal rewards.  I’m thinking today of some dear friends. The husband has been with the Lord for a number of years.  Both loved serving the Lord.   His wife, by herself now,  has not missed any opportunity to put her ‘mina’ to work for Him.  Both loved being in church.  Any opportunity to be in God’s house with God’s people found them right there in the midst.  He was even an honorary member of the Women’s Bible Study, of which I as pastor was not!  And he got to share all the delicious goodies the ladies brought week-by-week, which I as pastor did not!

They loved visiting  our church family in times of need,  sending cards out in great number no matter what the occasion.  Always encouraging, always supporting, always loving and giving.

‘Minas’…at work.  They’re not Billy Graham and Mother Teresa.  They’re ordinary folk.  He,  a retired garbage man;  she,  a retired nurse.  Both actively working their ‘minas’ for the Lord.  I can hear the Lord saying to them, ‘Well done, good servants!  Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority…'(verse 17).

How about you?  ‘Mina’ at work for others…for the Lord?  It’s not a children’s nursery rhyme…it’s God’s business we’re employed in.  Do the best job you can…He’ll help…!

Prayer:  Lord, to do your will and work is such a privilege and joy.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen.

WHAT IS AN ACROSTIC, ANYWAY?…Psalm 25

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What is an acrostic, anyway?  Some psalms are acrostics.  The most famous one is Psalm 119, where the entire psalm is separated into sections of 8 verses making up 22 stanzas.  Each of the 8 verses in each stanza begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  I think I’ve lost you.  Let me explain further.  For example, the first 8 verses all begin with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, ‘aleph’.  The next 8 begin with the Hebrew letter ‘bet’.  And so on for the entire length of the psalm covering all 22 Hebrew letters using each letter 8 times in each of the 22 sections.   The Word of God from A to Z, its perfection represented in the acrostic pattern.

The word ‘psalmos’ is from the Greek,  which translates the Hebrew ‘mizmor’ meaning ‘song’.   The Hebrew title for the psalms is ‘Tehillim’, meaning  ‘praises’.  Praise and singing… from beginning to end.  But I thought I asked you to read Psalm 25?

Psalm 25 is another acrostic–each verse begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  Unlike Psalm 119, this one is an irregular acrostic.  They don’t follow the A to Z pattern exactly.  Here the ‘w’ is missing, ‘r’ is where ‘q’ should be, 2 verses begin with the same letter ‘p’.  Irregular.  Far from perfect. Why?  Who knows?

Let me offer a couple of guesses.  David was a man after God’s own heart.  He loved the Lord… and the Lord was crazy about him!  He sought the Lord.  He poured out his heart to Him when his friends had forsaken him.  The Lord and David were close.  And yet…you know, David committed some horrible sins in his life.  Adultery, murder, lying to you-name-it.  His life in the Lord had many irregularities.   As imperfect as you can be, but lived for the Lord.  Like his acrostics.  Those poems he wrote to the Lord.

Their pattern was like the pattern of his life.  And my life.  Nothing worse than being around someone who is proud of how wonderful a Christian they are!  Who exudes their own self-righteousness.  Deliver me!

Anyone who knows me even for a few days will discover that I love the Lord, and genuinely want to serve Him.  But, I’m like David’s acrostic.  Imperfect as can be.  Surprisingly so, considering I’ve been a believer for over 50 years and a pastor almost as long.   I miss the mark of God’s standard every single day of my life.  Without exception.   Nothing to boast about.  I love Psalm 25:7–‘Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness’…

My sins make me imperfect,  but His forgiveness washes me as clean as new fallen snow.   And you too!

Prayer:  Lord, thank you that, as imperfect as I am, you love me just as I am.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

TALK ABOUT LIVING WATER!… John 4: 1-15

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On the Island of Kauai, Hawaii, the waves were at record height.  There were all kinds of warnings about surf and wave size.   Be careful!   Some waves, they estimated,  were as high as 100 feet!  They call them ‘monster waves’!  Surfers from all over the world came to Kauai to ride these monsters.

Not me!   I’m afraid of water.  Actually,  it’s swimming in it that’s not in my vocabulary.  Love to sail on the ocean…on a cruise ship.  Ride on it in a friend’s boat, or sit by it on beaches.  But swim in it?   No way.  Can’t.  Too Afraid.  Even took swimming classes at the YMCA, because  they guaranteed that they could teach me to swim. Guaranteed!   Took all of two sessions and they eagerly gave me all my money back.  All in my family were swimmers.  Me?  Forget it.  I don’t care if my tombstone says that ‘He Never Learned to Swim’.  Too bad, so sad!

Jesus said this to the woman at the well in John 4– “if you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink’, you would have asked him, and he would have given you  living water”.   What Jesus wants to give us as well.   He  invites us… to take of it, of Him.  The waves in Kauai arrive.  You come to them.  To ride them is to go with their flow.  To experience their power is to submit yourselves to them.  No manipulating, but a bowing to them under their crest to let them carry you wherever the waves will.  Try to fight them and down you go.  Under the water, drowning because you bucked their power and will.

I don’t think I’m reading too much into this.  It is like the ‘living water’ that Jesus wants to give us…who submit to Him, receive Him as God’s gift of grace and mercy.   Asking for His power and strength to make it through the rough waters of life, to ride with Him, over the deep waters that threaten to engulf us.

‘Living water’!  That’s what Jesus wants to share with us.  No swimming required. No lessons needed.   No surfboards allowed.  Just a willing, submissive and believing heart.  Is that you?  Then get ready for the ride of your life!

Prayer:  Lord, we submit to your Son Jesus the Messiah.  We’ll ride every wave of life with Him under us.  In His name.   Amen.

I SHALL NOT BE MOVED… Psalm 17: 6-8

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Life is always in flux.  Can’t put your foot in the old stream at the same place twice.  Awhile ago,  I changed my e-mail address with all the bother and frustration that entails.  Such a pain!  For me,  change means to plan ahead.  Like ending our land-line telephone.  Changing to a smart-phone, getting rid of our pay-as-you-go track phone!

Plan ahead–but does it really help?  Why am I going through all of this?   Why do I resist change?  Who knows and who cares!  What I do know are those words of comfort found in Psalm 17:6-8.  This is a prayer of King David, who confidently affirms that God both hears and answers our prayers.  Imagine someone actually listening to you,  because they care and are interested?  With both ears.   Not ready to jump in with their own story at your first pause.   Psalm 17: 6-7 says that the Lord inclines His ear to us to show us His wondrous, faithful and steadfast love.  And safety–‘O Savior of those who seek refuge…'(verse 7).

The Lord is my refuge, my shelter in the midst of the storms that rumble through life.  Verse 8 continues with the idea that God never, ever takes His loving eyes off of us–‘keep me as the apple of your eye’.  Meaning that the very center of His caring eye is always on us,  even when it seems that He’s as far away as far can be.  Like He’s not even in the neighborhood.   Think again.  He’s right here–the pupil of His eye never leaving us for one moment.

Psalm 17 says that I can even hide in Him.  I can be out of the spotlight.  Hidden away.  Life will keep changing.  But He won’t.  His love is steadfast– loyal,  devoted and reliable, constant and solid.  Never changing!

Prayer:  Great God, you are immovable, never changing.  In Jesus’ name.   Amen.

WHAT GOD OWES ME!… Luke 17: 7-10

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What does God owe me?  The answer is obvious…but not to lots of people.  A few years ago, we heard a masterful sermon by one of our favorite preachers.  He spoke about the uses of the word ‘deserve’ in our modern world,  especially in advertising.  We deserve this… we deserve that.  We deserve it all!

And we do,  but not in the sense that the world means it.   How many times have we caught ourselves thinking that I want something because I deserve it.  I’ve worked hard…I’ve saved for so long…I’m a good person…there’s room on my credit card…I may not be here next year…I deserve it!

Luke 17.   Jesus’ story of the ‘Unworthy Servants’, which goes against the grain of the ‘I deserve it’ mentality.  What does God owe me?  Nothing…absolutely nothing.  Really?  So, why tell this parable?  What’s it all about?

The Bible is clear that when mankind sinned in Adam and Eve, they forfeited what they had.  They had been warned.  Given advanced notice…but went their own way anyway.  They were ushered out of Eden, to the east, often the direction away from the Lord.  They deserved worse.  Death entered the picture,  but would not be the final word in their lives.  The Lord still  wanted the best for them.

So, He sent His Son as an offering for our sin,  that through Him we would receive all the best He has for us who deserve nothing.  The reaction of most people?  Pride…selfishness…one-upmanship?   Those are from the east…away from the Lord.

How about trying some gratitude for a change,  some humility…sharing…forgiving…even loving.  I deserve nothing.  I’ve been given so much from the Lord.  I deserve none of it…but He gives anyway.  He lives to give.  That’s our Lord.  I’m glad to be His servant.  He’s the Master…we serve Him.  I’m glad to be but a piece of clay in the hands of the Potter.  Aren’t you?

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord, for your gifts of life and love.  All from you to us.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.