From Injustice to Justified by Grace

If you think racial, social and cultural injustice is a big deal only in the last couple of years and only in the USA, we need to have a history lesson. 

Far too many to list in this short devotional, these tensions go way back before the Pilgrims, Rwanda, Hitler, India and the Civil War. 

Every Easter, chances are good you've seen Charlton Heston play Moses in the epic film The Ten Commandments, which is the historic retelling of the Old Testament liberation of the enslaved and oppressed Israelites out of Egypt.

By the way, this movie was one of the first to be filmed in Technicolor. That's right, boys and girls, but only if you had a color TV could you enjoy this new technology! Otherwise, you could watch it in black and white.

Jumping to the the New Testament, we read the book of Romans which is a letter from the Apostle Paul, a Jewish-Roman elite and former persecutor of Christians, to the believers who met in house-churches. The early Christians were skeptical and untrusting of Paul's conversion...for good reason. This guy was a Jew who had killed Christians! Can you imagine him showing up to the secret Bible study group who met at your house?

Turns out, Paul's love for Jesus was the real deal. His loving "parentage" of the Christian church was true and thorough. He was a missionary wherever he traveled championing the Gospel and leaving no doubt. And, speaks of all mankind (no matter their race) being sinners, but "are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." In Romans Chapter 8, Paul notes his own freedom from sin through the power of Christ and identified himself with "Christian brothers" knowing even he could be killed for this very thing.

In the first of the last nine verses of the chapter, he instills hope and belonging in the believers, "Since God is for us, who can be against us?" Talk about injustice... persecution, imprisonment and death were a daily reality to these people. He went on to deliver God's message of love and promise:

"But we have power over all these things through Jesus Who loves us so much. For I know that nothing can keep us from the love of God. Death cannot! Life cannot! Angels cannot! Leaders cannot! Any other power cannot! Hard things now or in the future cannot! The world above or the world below cannot! Any other living thing cannot keep us away from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37-39).

It is still true, today! Anybody want to stand up and say, "Amen"?

~ "Sam"

Consider This

Consider this statement:

How you "see" your earthly father is how you "see" your Heavenly Father.

Based on your relationship with your dad or bio-dad, you'll probably have a very different reaction to that statement. If you had a great and loving relationship, you receive this message. On the other hand, a strained or even non-existent relationship may cause you to have mixed emotions. Don't worry. This is quite normal, but can be pivotal in your relationship with God.

Before you jump ship with the above statement, our Living and Loving Heavenly Father has a love note for you full of a love...

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).

Ok. Breathe. I encourage you to sit with that statement and the Bible verse to process your thoughts about it. Don't run away from any emotions which surface. Let your Father know your heart so you can know His.

~ "Sam"

Dig Deep, Athlete

At writing the Olympic Games are being held in China. Prior to these games, athletes competed in national and world trials to qualify for an earned position on their country's team.

The trials are an opportunity for the athlete to dig deep, trust their training and execute. It is not within the heart of an athlete to give up. In the ancient games of Greece an athlete who had won a contest would receive a laurel wreath for his head as a symbol of triumph.

It is certain you and I will face trials during our lifetime. Some of which will be the most difficult days of our lives. We will be tempted to throw up our hands in surrender and say, "That's it. I'm out," but we will not. Why? It's not within us to give up! We can trust our training in the Word and prayer! We have been strengthened by the refining fire of previous trials. We can trust our God who sticks beside us through every inch of the way! And, we have a promised crown waiting for us!

"God will bless you, if you don’t give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious crown of life, just as He rewards everyone who loves Him" (James 1:12).

Sister, get your chin off your chest. Don't be afraid. Raise your gaze. Square your shoulders. It's time for you to dig deep and move forward through this trial to victory!

~ "Sam"
 

Can You Imagine

Can you imagine someone offering you complete peace in this life? No worries. No burdens. No stress.

Can you imagine relief from being bone-weary of all the To Do's of each day and striving to wear all the hats to simply just be?

Can you imagine complete freedom from religion without relationship to live daily in the presence of the loving Heavenly Father hearing His whispers?


It is not an imaginary fairytale. It is the truth. Christ extends this invitation to you with promise.

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly" (Matthew 11:28-29).

This promise is not to wrap you in bubble wrap, but to learn a grace-filled way of living by giving Him your objections and questions and fears. The promise is to be living in this world, but knowing a better life full of abundant blessing, peace and wisdom. It's not a silly rainbows and unicorns dream. It's navigating your days with the wisdom of the Creator of the universe who desires to do life with you.

What part of your fist-clenched controlled life would you consider releasing into His hands?

~ "Sam"

A Great Love Story

What if you had grown up never reading of the literary love story of Romeo and Juliet and then, a friend introduces you to the Shakespearean play? Would your life have been changed forever?

What if you had grown up never knowing about the greatest love for mankind and, then, a trusted mentor wrote a letter detailing the events surrounding that great love? What if it did change your life forever?

The New Testament book of Luke was authored by its namesake to a new believer named Theophilus to strengthen his faith and give more knowledge of the life of Jesus Christ. This book was from Luke's personal and actual life as a doctor who hung out with Jesus. But, what if he had never written these accounts for Theo and ultimately for us to read centuries, later? Would we have known or even searched for this great and sacrificial love on our own? Would we have tried to fill the God-sized emptiness in our hearts with other things?

One thing is for certain, Christ was real and was on a mission of love for redeeming relationships to God our living and loving Heavenly Father. Through the sacrificial act of His great love, it became possible for God and man to walk and talk, together, again. Jesus was asked by the guys who walked with him to teach them how to pray to God. He did and, then, told a story on the subject of prayer which included the following verse:

"I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened" (Luke 11:9-10).

If you've never heard or read the story of Jesus as told through the eyes of Luke, you'll find details which capture Christ's love for a world in need of a great love ...still relevant for today. One thing is promised, your life will be changed forever.

~ "Sam"

It's O.K. to love yourself. It's O.K. to add yourself to the list of priorities without guilt. In reality, if we don't love and take care of ourselves, we won't be able to continue loving others with the great big hearts we have, because we'll be too worn out. Even if you activate these 5 Ways to Love You in the next 2 weeks, you'll experience a beautiful expression of His love for yourself and for others.

1. Accept a Compliment. Why is it so difficult for women to graciously say, "Thank you," and leave it there? Instead, we rebuff with some quick statement of self-deprecation or roll of the eyes. Next time, someone pays you a compliment, bite your tongue and, then, thank the person with a genuine smile. It'll make you and giver feel great!

2. Create a Space. We all need a place for space in our heads, hearts and homes. It's a place to refill our love tanks. It's a place to pull away and spend time with God in prayer, journaling, studying His Word and worship. You'll be surrounded inside and out with love!

3. Get Outside. The dark days of fall and winter can lead to dark days inside the mind. Taking a walk in the sunshine -even in your jacket and mittens- can lift the heart and stir up your Vitamin D.

4. Take Your Own Advice. The encouragement you give a friend-in-need is the encouragement you need. If you give others a break, take a break. If you give others grace, extend it to yourself. If you wouldn't say "that" to someone, don't say it to yourself.

5. Extend a Hand in Love. Studies show dopamine (feel-good hormone) is released within us when we help others. Volunteer for something your heart is drawn toward. Follow through on a commitment and get ready for the love flood!

It's your turn. After putting one or more of these into place for yourself, let me know how it turned out!

~"Sam"

Membership Benefits

There are benefits to membership which give belonging to a collective community of purpose on purpose. These benefits of association yield access to rights and representation. 

When we accept Jesus Christ into our lives as our Savior and ask forgiveness of our sins, immediately we are welcomed to His family as children of God with promised benefits! Let's just remind and encourage ourselves with this checklist of His benefits of love and promises:

"O my soul, bless God and don’t forget a single blessing (benefit)! 
He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a heavenly crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you’re always young in His presence."
(Psalm 103:2-5).

WOW! I became a member a long time ago and the benefits have never changed! My access to Him and His benefits was immediate and still apply! 

Take some time to thank our living and loving Heavenly Father for His list of benefits (listed above) in your life. Line by line, it's simple. For example: God, I thank you for the benefit of salvation. You forgave my sins and I can draw near to You daily for the rest of my earthly life and beyond.

Today is a good day to review your membership benefits!

~ "Sam"

Standing in the Middle of a Tornado

The day begins without any hint of the events to play out.

The phone dings with a text of a family in crisis. It won't be the last. Shortly after comes the call of someone who has died leaving his young wife with five kids. A notification pops up onscreen you have a private message, "Please pray...". One after the other they gust and your cup of coffee has long since gone cold. What is going on?

Throughout the day you feel the winds of chaos continue to carry bad news and updates of previous messages. You pray for answers. You pray for healing. You pray for peace. You pray for your own mind to stay focused at work. You pray for this crazy day of "storms" to end. 

It does, but not before you're slammed with a microburst that a member of your family received a potentially paralyzing report. God, I can't take any more!

Just as emotions are choking you making it hard to breathe, His voice whispers, "When the enemy comes in like a raging flood tide, the Lord will drive him back with His breath" (Isaiah 59:19)."

Then, awareness of His presence wraps around your battered mind as you stand in a place of calm. It doesn't make sense to be in perfect peace standing in the middle of a tornado while chaos howls around you. He countered the attack ...just like He promised.

You don't have to know all the answers or bear the force of the cyclone. It was never expected of you. Love people and pray for them in all earnestness. Trust in God who is all-knowing and all-powerful.

"Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track." (Proverbs 3:5-6).

~ "Sam"

Can You Hear Me, Now

Real-life stories of answered prayer and miracles told by people we feel are credible increase our faith to believe God will come through for us. There's nothing wrong with that! He came through for them, He will prove faithful to you! That answer you seek will probably look different, because God is increasing your faith in the way you need to experience it. Trust His wisdom and provision.

The Father wants us to draw closer in relationship to Him. As we do, we learn to hear His voice which instills peace knowing He has our best interest at His heart. Sometimes, the answer to our prayer may be in being the answer to someone else's prayer. We forget about ourselves and focus on another's need. We are His hands and become a river of blessing in His infinite supply as I AM (His own name for Himself). Hello!

Let's stop and think about that name: I AM. In the Old Testament account of Moses about to confront Pharaoh and liberate the Israelites, Moses timidly asks God, "Ummm...Who shall I say sent me?" That's when God throws His name out with authority. "Tell them, I AM WHO I AM has sent me to you...This is My name forever, and how I am to be remembered throughout all generations" (Exodus 3:14-15). WOAH! Powerful! That same authority is listening for you to call to Him!

"When God's people pray for help, He listens and rescues them from their troubles" (Psalm 34:17).

Can anyone say, "Thank You, God, for hearing my prayers"?

~ "Sam"

Military Focus

Unlike modern-day Greece, the ancient Grecian city of Philippi was of military force and significance.  The people would be familiar with military chains of command and communication. When a military leader spoke, the directive was not to be questioned, but to be carried out. The clarity of Apostle Paul's letter to the Philppians communicated from a point of authority which could easily be understood. 

Typically a general's message has historical or personal experience for a studied strategy of success in the current battle. The entire book of Philippians can be studied verse by verse for success in your daily movement through life as a believer in Jesus Christ! He will supply you with directives to take ground. You may lose a battle, but the war belongs to the Lord and His followers! 

"My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

What do you need? Wisdom. Direction. Healing. Answer to Prayer. Miracle. Peace. Read and believe His Word. He has an abundant supply. 

~ "Sam"