Two years into a pastorate I find myself in hot water. All you-know-what breaks loose. Opposition huddles behind closed doors for months. I’ve no idea that denominational leaders are drawn alongside those wanting good old me out the door, and the most remote exit at that. Rumors fill the air like blood-sucking mosquitos on a hot, humid summer evening. The handwriting is on the wall.

I’ll be the first to admit that not only the disgruntled few were to blame, but that I’ve put myself in the wrong denomination, one that’s meandered far from the Bible. Thought I could have an impact there for the Lord. Wrong. Instead, I allow myself to drift, while developing no relationships with higher-ups, who make those final church decisions. Thought I was saving time by not attending boring meetings. Talk…talk…talk. Wrong…wrong…wrong.

So when the fur hits the fan, my hide is bare. Nowhere and no one to turn to. I was done, done in, and done for. So, I decide to quit and do something different. Figuring that God is furious with me, I somehow garner the guts to ask for His help– ‘How about some undeserved miracle, God? Please. I’m begging’. And you know what? He hears me only because of His kindness and mercy.

In God’s time, doors and windows gradually open up. In addition to growing a financial planning career, God positions me to serve Him. Sure it felt like He’d given me a swift kick you-know-where; which, I’ll be the first to admit, would have been a much-deserved boot. Sadly, it takes that kind of exertion to move the likes of me. Out one door, now in another. Finally, gradually, like a snail running a race, I’m where I should have been all along. U-turns righted. Dead-end streets open up into highways and byways for Jesus.

In what ways? Let me explain. I’m welcomed into a weekly pastor’s Bible study where fellow clergy comfort, accept, and encourage me. A salve of friendship I needed more than they realized. Then the call is issued to be a pastor’s assistant in a neighboring Bible-believing church. I also enjoyed a 5-year run on a local television station, hosting a weekly 30-minute evangelism/testimony program called ‘Person-to-Person’. I sang lead in the Gospel quartet ‘Livin’ Harmony’, aptly named by our tenor/baritone Dave Seymour.

Then I pastor another church for 14 years, the longest tenure of any minister in their 125-year history. And it’s just around the corner from the one that gave me the old heave-ho. Do you think God doesn’t have a sense of humor? And offer second chances? Or third and fourth? Think again. All this while working full-time as a financial advisor for a large investment firm.

There’s more. Can you believe that I was chosen as the ‘Best Clergy on Twin Harbors’ by our county’s newspaper as voted by the readers and subscribers? Me? Little old me? No, I was not the only pastor in the county that year, but thanks for asking wiseguy! Also, for over a decade, I’ve been writing these weekly devotionals for readers checking in from over 60 countries on every continent, having published two daily devotional books for good measure. Upside down? Yes. Then, thank the Lord, right-side up!

It’s still true. What is? Nehemiah 13: 2–‘…but hired Balaam against them (Israel) to curse them–yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.’ And from Genesis 50: 20–“But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not fear…As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive…'”

In my case, those few dissidents were wrong. But so was I. Even so, the Lord can turn the most difficult and disruptive situations into something closer to what He’s always wanted for me and you.

Today, if you are in a rough go or an uphill battle, turn to Jesus and pray. Wait on Him. Try to be patient, as best you can. And pray. Draw close to a few trusted Christian friends. And pray together. Hang in there with Jesus. When you think all the doors have been locked and shut, watch and see what God can and will do. If for me, then for anyone.

Get it? I’m still working on it. Still attending the school of Hard Knocks. Almost graduated. But not quite. By the way, I’m taking an advanced placement class entitled ‘Never Stop Praying. Never.’ Want to join me?

Thank you, Jesus, for being my best friend. Amen.

Have you read those few verses from Nehemiah yet? They’re amazing, aren’t they? It’s the story of a mass Bible study. Ezra and Nehemiah and a slew of trained Bible teachers fan out to instruct God’s people about the will and commands of the Lord. All the ten big ones and others are thrown in for good measure. The reaction? The people are floored. Shocked. Broken. Uncontrollably crying and grieving over their sins.

But those amazing Bible teachers don’t rub it in. Or add fuel to the fire. No adding insult to injury. Nor toss handfuls of salt in other’s wounds. Rather, they say this–“‘…do not mourn or weep’. For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law…’Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready. For this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength’…And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them” (Neh. 8: 9-12).

In other words, stop moping around. Cease constant looking in the rearview mirror of life. Trust your Lord. When He forgives, He does just that. Plus, He never marks the spot. Over and out. Kaput.

Take Him at His word for a change. Stop griping, already. Gaze forward with a big smile on your face. You’re forgiven. You’re loved. You’re free. Count on it. Not ‘it’. But on Jesus who loves to keep His Word with each of His own. That’s you, right? Me, too!

No doubt I’ll still look back once in a while, but unlike Lot’s wife who looked backward way too longingly, it’s time for me to laugh more and enjoy the life the Lord has given me. Good idea? You think?

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your gift of new life. Amen.

When trouble comes my way, I try to work through it. Not run away and hide. Neither shove it under the rug nor bury my head in the sand. But many things don’t budge easily, taking their sweet time getting resolved. I admire those who patiently approach tough times with trust in the Lord. Praying without fail. Leaning solely on Jesus. Here I struggle.

I’d like to be more trusting of my Lord. Watching confidently for His plans to unfold in His time and way. That’s my wish and prayer, which means I wrestle with quite the contrary. Someone has said that if you want to hear God laugh tell Him your plans. If that’s so, I’m sure mine have given Him many robust belly laughs!

A few verses in Psalm 31 help me to relax. Put my slippers on and cuddle up a little closer, knowing He’s got my whole world in His hands. Want to join me? There’s room.

Psalm 31: 14-15–“But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hand.” As I’ve memorized these verses, I notice a mistake I keep making. I’m saying ‘…your hands.’ Not so in Psalm 31. Mentions just one hand.

Now, I need to use both. To lift a package. Wash and wax our car. Do some cooking and cleaning. Write and edit these weekly devotionals on the computer. Both hands are required.

But not with our Lord. Only one of His is more than enough. As if to say that God’s power is unlimited. Not mine or yours, but His. We’re kept safe, close to His heart, in the palm of His hand. Whatever comes my way, God can handle it. Even if He had one hand tied behind His back, so to speak! Piece of cake for Him.

Picture Jesus drawing alongside you, taking care of whatever problem gets you down, using His one hand and it’s done. These two verses are what I need today. So, I remind myself whose hand my tough times remain in. Again, not mine. Or yours. Nor anyone else’s. But in His.

You’ve got to hand it to Him. Why not do just that?

Lord Jesus, thank you for all your strength and care that helps me every moment. Amen.

I’d like my life to mean something more than merely eating, working, sleeping, and a few hobbies thrown in for good measure. Wouldn’t it be nice to give something back to life? To make a contribution? Not just take up space? Here today, gone tomorrow?

I’m thinking of some good things to do. However, it’s best to move beyond the thinking stage. Like getting busy making dreams come true. Doing what your heart tells you to. Not just loads of hot air but action. Doing some good.

Today’s Bible reading recommends doing something good for God. For a change. Psalm 92: 1-2–“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night…’

To thank the Lord is very good, and what we can all do. But how often do I stop and thank Jesus for this or that? Praising Him for all He did while on earth those many years ago? His death on the cross and His resurrected life and glory? For giving so much to one so unworthy? Me! I could go on and on and should. But, no, I mosey on from morning till night without uttering much thanks to God, making me quite the unappreciative ingrate.

Maybe I’m imagining how lucky I am? Or enjoying good Karma, while grabbing a rabbit’s foot for more good luck? Checking out today’s horoscope influenced by my astral sign? All of which adds up to nothing good at all. For it’s all bunkum. Hooey. Nonsense and balderdash.

What’s better? You’re right– to thank the Lord. To focus on Him and His many gracious gifts, unearned by the likes of me. All those times when my messes get cleaned up by Jesus. For blessings that I can only shake my head at in gratefulness. To count them all? That would take all day. Well, get started, Fischer!

And to praise our Lord for whatever you can think of? Start considering all His wonderful character traits. His honesty. Generosity. Love and care. His power and knowledge. His ‘…steadfast love…and faithfulness…’ (v. 2). See? I can’t stop there. And shouldn’t. That would be good.

How about we pledge to thank and praise the One who deserves it all? All week long? What do you think? To start showing gratitude. Heartfelt appreciation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Don’t you wonder if giving God the credit He’s due won’t spill over to bless others you care about this week? Think so? Let’s see.

Thanks and praise to you, Lord Jesus, always. Amen.

Writing a new post for way off in the future, I pressed the wrong button. Not the first time either! The regular weekly post will come tomorrow unless I goof up one more time. Possible!

The funeral director couldn’t be clearer. He was most adamant that the deceased’s family demanded that I make no reference, passing or otherwise, to God, Jesus, or anything faintly religious. Without exception, they want nothing of that Almighty stuff. Neither prayers nor the 23rd Psalm. Forget Jesus. Leave Him home.

And this family wants me? A Christian pastor? Yes, because years before I had officiated at the service for some distant relative, some Uncle Carbunkle, that I had no memory of. Not a clue.

I’d known this funeral director for decades and always had a good working relationship with him. But these demands? What if I sneak in some off-handed reference and allusion to the Lord? What then? He said they would not be pleased and most offended, probably blowing their collective tops at him and me, while stopping payment on any well-earned honorarium. The gauntlet has been tossed my way. What to do?

Really didn’t take any thought on my part. I repeated what the funeral director had said about this family being displeased with me if I made any reference to God. Was that what they said? Really? Yes, totally.

My retort was just as clear-cut. I said the following–if I don’t mention the Lord during this funeral service, He’ll be unhappy with me. Whose displeasure should I be most concerned about? Huh? Them or my Lord Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life? Any guesses?

I told him to find someone else, which I’d hoped he couldn’t but he did. Shame on whoever. More for the almighty dollar than the Almighty? You think?

What’s going through my mind can be found in Acts 4. Peter and John are told point-blank by the religious leaders to shut up about Jesus. Keep quiet about that crucified One and His Easter resurrection. Shut your mouth. Would they? Could they? Let’s overhear what they said–‘…Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard’ (Acts 4: 19-20).

Now I’m no Peter or that other John. Not by any stretch of the imagination. But still, I can speak up for the Master. Gritting my teeth, being unphased by someone else’s rebuking, threatening, and bullying, not denying Him even when shaking in my boots. Trying to please my Lord. Him first. Even at a cost. To delight Him most of all.

You can too, can’t you? After all, He lives. Truly. Happy Easter!

Thank you, Jesus, that we can be bold for you. Amen.

Someone claims that there are 365 ‘fear not’ phrases in the Bible. One for every day of the year. This Leap Year you could’ve chewed your fingernails and pulled out whatever hair you have left all to your heart’s content!

I’m sure that one fear a day doesn’t come close to covering all my anxieties. Just little old me? Since surgery a few years ago, I notice that fear becomes more of a sidekick than I’d like. I’m on high alert for any tiny twitch, an ache here, a pain there that may mean something has gone terminally wacko within my aging body. Fears race to the surface. I imagine all the worst and then some.

So, I’ve decided to park some Bible verses in my peabrain. To oil my squeaky emotions with God’s Word. Smooth out some squeamish rough spots by slathering on some spiritual gel. As in what exactly? I’m memorizing some verses, though with limited success. But I’m trying. Who said ‘very’?!

Here’s what I’m working on this week. Psalm 31: 14-15–“But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hand…” Yes, I know. Only nineteen words to put into my craw. It should be a cinch and yet I stumble.

But isn’t that one aspect that’s taught here in Psalm 31? That it’s not about how clever I am. Or what a sharpwitted Einstein I wish I were. Or how on top of things I’m not. It’s more about leaning on Him. His everlasting arms with His helping hand when needed. God’s timing that I can trust. Whether I can recite each word verbatim or not, it’s not about me. Or you. Now there’s a novel thought!

Okay. Hold on a second. I know that there’s a lot to fear in this life. More at certain times than others. Yet, the Lord promises to be close by, as in your next breath, to lift us up and carry whatever burdens fall into our laps or onto our heads. Whenever with whatever. He’s given His Word.

Do you believe Him? If so, and I do for at least some of the time, you’ll begin to crowd out those pesky fears, replacing them with some good, old-fashioned faith and trust…in Jesus and the Father and the Holy Spirit with angels at your sleeve.

After all, with so much help, what’s to fear? That’s something to chew on this week.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for all your love and help. Amen.

Let’s not be too critical of the apostle called the ‘Doubting Thomas’. Kind of a nasty label, don’t you think? I had some nicknames as a kid. One was ‘Hunker’ as I carried around a bit of extra heft. Still do but no one calls me that at least not to my face. Another was ‘the fish’. Okay, not too bad really.

Reading John 20, we discover that Thomas has some questions about what the other disciples claim about Jesus. They say that He’s not dead. That He’s alive! And they’ve seen Him face-to-face! What? Are they all looney bins? On some vile head trip? Conspiring together with some cock and bull story?

Back to Thomas. He’s been out of town, otherwise occupied. He misses out on what the others experience. So, is he the only one to raise questions? The only doubter?

Not so. Earlier in John 20, some women report to the apostles that Jesus’ body is no longer in the tomb and, on top of that, that they’ve seen Him… alive! Can you believe it? Well, the men don’t. No way. For off go Peter and John to check out this fishy story. A bunch of cockamamie, hair-brained hogwash? Someone has stolen His body? Panic cascades through their emotions propelling them to the place where Jesus was buried.

Seems obvious to me that more than Thomas were doubters at one time or another. Questions would naturally arise, even with what they’d seen with their own eyes. The only ones?

Unfortunately, you can count me as one of them. Doubts about my salvation early on rob me of much joy in the Lord. Wasted energy as I go forward whenever an invitation for salvation is given. I helped some churches increase their number of conversions!

Later on, doubts about my abilities keep me running overheated with more steam than is needed. Spiritual wild goose chase, hoping to prove my worth to the Lord. Trying to earn His love. Am I the only one?

Doubts seem more like fighting city hall. Going around in circles while lacking trust in Jesus and His Word. Hitting my head against a brick wall of unbelief.

Notice something? Doubts often center on me, I, and myself. My feelings. My confidence. My gifts. Me…me…me. Enough already! Start focusing on Jesus. Stick my head more often in the Bible and less noshing on my old worn-out, flat-as-a-pancake feelings.

Rather, do as all the apostles eventually did (except Judas). Eat fully at the Father’s feast of promises made and promises kept, found on almost any page of your Bible. Stop spiritual starvation because you’ve gorged yourself on doubts that are just dustballs and lint, unsubstantial diddly-squat.

Time for less of me and more of Jesus and the Bible, which squeezes out many of those pesky doubts. Let them go. Shoo them far away. Give them a one-way ticket to oblivion, saying a hearty good riddance! At least, let’s give it a try. Are you with me? Am I the only one?

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being a promise keeper. Amen.

I’ve had a tough time figuring out Psalm 87. The opening verses are fine. No problems there. The Lord loves His holy city of Jerusalem and its Mount Zion where the Temple resides. Clear as a bell.

But it’s the next three verses that make me scratch my head, somewhat bemused and befuddled. There’s a list of old enemies of ancient Israel, who claim they were born in Zion, birthed in the sacred city of Jerusalem, in the holy land of Israel. What? How does that happen?

Verses 4-6 portray God as a census taker. As if He’s sitting at a table with a line of people standing before Him. Each one approaches the Lord telling Him where his birth occurred. Some say ‘Egypt’ and ‘Tyre’, others ‘Babylon’ and ‘Cush’, while more spout out ‘Philistia’. All from different parts of the ancient world.

What gives? None of them were born in Jerusalem. Not by a long shot. A bunch of liars? They shouldn’t be. As I’ve thought about it, it’s mainly in the New Testament where my fog lifts and the smoke clears. When you believe in Jesus, and welcome Him into your life, you become a new person (Eph. 2:15). With a new identity (Col. 3:10). Even with a new name (Rev. 2:17). As if you were born and raised as a lifelong citizen of God’s holy city and country. Now that’s amazing, isn’t it?

With Jesus, we’re brand new. Even newer than new. No longer stuck in the past. No longer labeled with a putdown nickname. We’re no longer carting heavy sins on our shoulders. No longer who we used to be. No longer. Thankfully.

So, let’s stop feeling sorry for ourselves. Get up. Show some faith. For a change, trust what Jesus says. Hang onto Him and His Word. After all, you’re brand new in Jesus. A child of the King! Now that’s something to shout about, isn’t it?

Lord Jesus, thank you for making me your own. Amen.