“What Would Your Last Breath Be?”

NOTE: As I wrote this devotion, I could not help think of the tragic death of Eric Garner. This was not my first thought, however.  I was writing on praising the LORD and my first think was of Psalm 30:5 quoted below. As I wrote, Eric’s tragic death came to mind. Sorrow over this terrible situation engulf my heart as I thought about his family, especially his daughter. I in no way mean any disrespect to Eric or his family by this devotion. Although I have faced moments where I could not breath, these in no way compare to his loss. I cannot imagine the sorrow and grief his family is experiencing. Please join me in praying for his family, and please read this devotion in the light it is intended: to praise the LORD. Peace.

Devotion Title: “What Would Your Last Breath Be?”

Date: 12-09-14

Text: — Psalm 30:5 — For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.  [NKJV]

The Big Idea: What would my last words be, especially if I couldn’t breath.

My Thoughts: 

Growing up in a brand new suburb, the neighborhood kids would go down to the creek to play. One day we discovered some huge drainage pipes. I got up on top of them as we trying to separated two of them, let them roll back and, “Clang” together. Right before one “clang” I fell in between them and was being crushed. The guys said I was turning pretty blue; obviously I couldn’t breathe. Tom, an older boy we hung with, strained to push the pipes apart, as he called the others to help. Not sure what happened, except that he saved my life—obviously….

I have often thought about that incident and wonder know as a Christian, what would my last words be, especially if I couldn’t breath. Now this may seem oxymoronic because we need to breathe to speak, but do we need to breathe to praise? I suppose not.

Lifestyle worshipers, do you remember our Lord Jesus’ last breaths on the cross, as His chest crushed under the load of our sins? I believe His last words were praise to His Heavenly Father: The two last words I am most grateful for are: “Father, forgive them they know not what they do,” and “It is finished.”

What would your last words be? Have you thought about it before? Perhaps with a gush of Grace they will be praise. Your thoughts?

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

— Acts 7:59-60 (NIV84)

  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

— Psalm 150:6 (NASB95)

 Lord Jesus Christ, may words of my mouth and the mediations of my heart be pleasing to You. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

“Forgiveness Brings Hope”

Date: 12-04-14

Text: — Jeremiah 31:34 — No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD.“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”  [NIV84]

The Big Idea: Lifestyle worshipers, we understand that forgiveness is truly and solely a divine act, that is, only God can forgive sins.

My Thoughts: 

Have you heard statements like this: “God may forgive you, but I never will,” “Even God won’t forgive me,” and “God’s punishing me for my sin?” I know many struggle with the nuances of forgiveness, to be sure, especially the one that says, “To forgive is to forget,” but I’m sure if we honestly look at the above passage, we will see the clear connection between forgiveness and forgetfulness, at least from a divine perspective.

Lifestyle worshipers, if we understand that forgiveness is truly— dare I say—and solely a divine act, that is, only God can forgive sins, then it follows that He sets the standard for forgiveness—which is clearly beyond our feeble human ability. Bare with me a wee bit longer, please. I am saying that we cannot forgive anyone per se, but we can enter into the forgiveness that the Lord offers, especially that on the cross….

So when someone says, “I cannot forgive them,” they speak rightly, but when they say, “I will not forgive them,” we have an entirely different issue. (As one dear friend put it to me years ago, “Michael, you have a broken wanter.”) In order to forgive someone, anyone, including myself, I must enter into the Power of forgiveness the Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated and offered on the cross. (Thus, I frame forgiveness as expressed in the prayer below.)

Again, forgiveness is a very, very big subject, and I am barely scratching the surface here. Suffice it to say, however, for me, the offer of  forgiveness brings hope: hope of a new life, fresh start, new day, new beginning, second chance. Does this offer of forgiveness in the New Covenant do the same for you?

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

 Then He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, because this is My blood of the new covenant that is being poured out for many people for the forgiveness of sins.

— Matthew 26:27-28 (ISV)

  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

— Colossians 3:13 (NIV84)

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

— Ephesians 4:32 (NIV84)

 Heavenly Father, by the shed blood of Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and through His power, I forgive ________ for ________. I ask You Lord Jesus Christ, to bear the consequences of their actions. Remove the pain and shame they have caused me. Be that part of my Life that has been damaged by _______. I release ________ into your hands. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

“Keeping It Simple”

Date: 11-14-14

Text: — James 5:12 — Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned.   [NIV84]

The Big Idea:  The extended resume or any reinforcing words are only needless.

My Thoughts: 

Sadly, I have a vivid memory of starting out as my oldest daughter’s softball coach. As I introduced myself to the team, I offered my extended sports resume. I did this thinking I would impress the parents. But it didn’t take long to sense it was having a reverse effect. I had to do a lot of back peddling.

This is what happens, lifestyle worshipers, when we do not keep it simple. A simple “Yes,” or “No” is all that is needed. The extended resume or any reinforcing words (be they four letters or more, like “I swear this is true”) are not only needless, they could be far worse. James is only echoing our Lord Jesus, Who also said, “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Mt. 5:37 NIV84).

One way to keep it simple is to simply keep our word, be it a “Yes” or a “No.” Then we will be known as people of integrity and have no need to reinforce anything we say with any oath or resume.

What ways have you found best to keep it simple? Your thoughts?

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 
— Matthew 5:36 (NIV84)
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
 —Ephesians 4:29 (NIV84)
But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

—Colossians 3:8 (NIV84)

Lord Jesus Christ, keep me from becoming indignant as I put You on as my Shoes of the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace. May I be a peacemaker who sows in peace waiting on a harvest of Righteousness. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

“A Definition of Mature”

Date: 11-12-14

Text: — James 5:7-9 — Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!  [NIV84]

The Big Idea:  Delaying gratification is a very large component of growing up and maturing.

My Thoughts: 

In this series through the Book of James, we have been focusing on “Families growing up in Wisdom.” But, what does it mean to grow up?  What does it mean to mature? Well, adding years to our age is definitely not one definition of maturing or growing up.

But, lifestyle worshipers,  have you discovered that delaying gratification is a very large component of growing up and maturing? I have, and another way to put this in a word is: Patience. The more patient we are with people, circumstances and ‘things’ the more mature we are. So, to me, the more patient I get the more mature I become….

But what is “patience”? What does this look like? Does drumming our fingers, tapping our toes and clicking our tongues need to be eliminated? I think there is a necessary element of calm in patience, don’t you. Let’s talk about what patience really is, and then maybe we can capture a little more what growing up is, don’t you think? Your thoughts?

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls..

— Luke 21:17-19 (NKJV)

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

—Colossians 1:9-14 (NIV84)

 Lord Jesus Christ, I put You on as Slippers of Patience, In Your Name, Amen.

“The Healing of Confession”

Date: 11-01-14

Text: — James 5:16 — Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.  [NIV84]

The Big Idea: I have found that in the moment of confession followed with “I forgive you,” or “you are forgiven,” there is deep soul healing.

My Thoughts: 

I have found healing in  confessing to others my sin. And as a pastor/counselor I have found that in the moment of confession followed with “I forgive you,” or “you are forgiven,” there is deep soul healing. Have you found this to be so, too?

Lifestyle worshipers, do you connect the “powerful and effective” prayer of v. 16 above to “confess your sins to each other” in this healing process? I do. But to be so vulnerable seems to have its own set of factors and wounds and awkwardness. So as public the sin so public the confession and as private the sin so private the confession. This may dispel some fears and awkwardness, but alas confessing our sins  doesn’t appear to be free of such. Or do you think the promise of healing and freedom overcomes such?

Your thoughts?

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

— Matthew 5:23-24 (NIV84)

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

—Luke 19:8-10 (NIV84)

Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.

—Acts 19: 18 (NIV84)

Heavenly Father, by the shed blood of Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and through His power, I confess I have been fearful of confessing those sins that need to be confessed to my brothers and sisters. I have sinned against You and denied myself the healing and freedom that comes from this confession. I ask You, Lord Jesus Christ, to bear the consequences of my actions. Remove the pain and shame I have caused Your Name. Be that part of my life that has been disobedient and in bondage to fear. I release myself into Your hands. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

“Know it? Then do it!”

Date: 10-24-14
Text: — James 4:17 — Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. [NIV84]
The Big Idea: Are we living our Christian Confession?

My Thoughts:
This morning’s Heartwork devotion once again parallels the sermon series. James makes it clear in the passage they used (James 2:15-17) and then hammers the nail one last time in 4:17 above!
Lifestyle Worshipers, you and I both know that whatever we do, in word or in deed, we do it all for the glory of God. So whether are skill sets are to be primarily used on Sundays or Monday through Saturday, they are to be used to bring glory to God.

That being said, let us weave the Heartwork homework into this reality, and ask some hard questions: Are we living our Christian Confession? Are we living what we know is right and true? Given the basic truth that awareness is not obligation, what issues or concerns have you been made aware of by our Heavenly Father that He does desire you to address? I spoke with one young man this week and his concern was for the homeless and disenfranchised during the winter season. He wants to purchase and open up a warehouse, or some similar building, as a crash pad to get warm. It won’t be a homeless shelter, per se, but simply a place to remove the chill from their bones. He is taking baby steps to act on this concern.
Has the Lord prompted you to do something? What steps, baby though they may be, are you taking to act on it? Your thoughts?

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts
I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian. — Luke 4:25-27 (NIV84)

Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”
— John 5:19 (NIV84)

For I did not speak of My own accord, but the Father who sent Me commanded Me what to say and how to say it. I know that His command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told Me to say. — John 12:49-50 (NIV84)

Lord Jesus, as You always obey Your Father, obey the Father in and through me. Empowered me to meet those needs You have designed for me to meet. Let my footsteps faithfully follow You. In Your Name, Amen.

“A Big Influence”

Date: 10-18-14

Text: — James 3:5-6 — 9  With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. [NIV84]

The Big Idea: Our tongues have a big influence on others, whether they hear it or not.

My Thoughts: 

Our tongues have a big influence on others, whether they hear it or not. You know this. I’m not saying anything new. Further, James calls attention to the perplexing reality of the duplicity of this influence. And he asks us some sharply clarifying questions in vv. 11 & 12….

Lifestyle Worshipers, today’s Heartwork’s ‘homework’ is to make a list of the gifts, blessings, and/or skills the Lord has given us. To me, a part of this homework is using the gift of our tongues skillfully to bless others. So, to add to our homework today, let us go out of our way to make sure fresh water and delicious figs flow from our mouths that also praise our Lord for these wonderful gifts. We may never know how big an influence our tongues really have, but when we bless both the Creator & His creations, we will know it will be refreshing…. Your thoughts?

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

—  Proverbs 15:4 (NIV84)

The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

— Matthew 12:35-37 (ESV)

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

— Proverbs 18:21 (NIV84)

Heavenly Father, forgive me for blessing You while speaking ill of others. I have grievously sinned against You. I ask the Great Shepherd of my soul, the Lord Jesus Christ, by His shed blood to cleanse me from this unrighteousness. Create in me a pure heart so that I may walk in the Light as He is in the Light.  Empower me by Your Holy Spirit to only speak wholesome words of others while continuing to bless You from a cleansed heart . In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

“Letting Go of Our Agenda”

Sermon Title: “Can I Hear You Now?”

Series: Families Grow Up In Wisdom: The Book of James

Date: 10-02-14

Text: James 1:19  My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, [NIV84]

The Big Idea: To be an active listener I have to stay on their agenda.

My Thoughts: 

Those who are quick to listen have learned to let go of their agendas. I actually first heard this in a college class I taught on Active Listening. “To be an active listener I have to stay on their agenda,” one student offered. Excellent!

Lifestyle worshipers, this morning’s Heartwork focus verse in the devotion is, in part,  1 John 3:16 — “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” This is the letting go aspect of our own agendas, and trusting the Lord that His is the better agenda. Of course, laying down our lives is the extreme response to this, but at the very least, don’t you think, we can be active listeners who are eager to hear what others have to say, laying down our own agendas—as it were?

Let’s take some time today to practice this aspect of active listening, and stay on the other person’s agenda. Are you will to join me in this aspect of spending ourselves? I pray so….

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen

— Ephesians 4:29 (NIV84)

“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

— Matthew 20:26-28 (NIV84)

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

— Romans 12:10 (NIV84)

Lord Jesus Christ, be my Slippers of Patience and overflow in me with Joy as I eagerly listen to my brothers and sisters. In Your Name, Amen.

“This May Be A Reason”

Date: 8-21-14

Text: Proverbs 21:9, 19 Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. … Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife. [NIV]
The Big Idea: You get to extend the same grace the Lord Jesus extends to His Wife.

My Thoughts:
As we read through the Book of Proverbs for the third time this summer, I feel the need to talk about this topic, especially since it is mentioned twice in this chapter. Indeed, though it may not be the reason, it may well be a reason the husband is more in the garage, at the bar, in the bowling alley, or at the….
Lifestyle worshiper husbands, you may be blessed to have a wonderful wife who does not nag or quarrel with you, who truly respects you; or you may be blessed to have one that does nag, etc.…
A blessing? Yes, you get to extend the same grace the Lord Jesus extends to His Wife, the church. And I am most grateful He only spent 40 days in the desert, and this was just once, and He was led by the Spirit for a greater good. No, instead, He patiently, graciously hangs around His Bride until she learns to quit quarreling with Him and nagging Him….
So beyond man caves and garages, how’s it going, men? Ladies? Any thoughts?

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me. — Revelations 3:20 (ESV)

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.. — 1 Peter 3:1-2 (ESV)

In a similar way, you husbands must live with your wives in an understanding manner, as with a most delicate partner. Honor them as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing may interfere with your prayers.. — 1 Peter 3:7 (ISV)

Lord Jesus Christ, be the husband/wife in my Life my wife/husband needs right now. May I hear Your voice and obey Your promptings as You empower me by Your Holy Spirit. For Your Name’s Sake, Amen.
Pastor Mike