"And The Clock Ticks On"

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” -Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV)

I tend to suffer from insomnia quite a bit and the other night was no exception. I woke up around three o’clock in the morning to the sound of the clock ticking. It was really loud… louder than I could ever remember. I thought to myself: “Why has the ticking never sounded so loud before?” I got up to investigate and discovered that the clock in my son Matthew’s room and the clock in the living room were ticking…in unison. Right on the beat! With both rooms diagonally across from each other, it resulted in producing a kind of microphone effect, as the sound echoed in the hallway. Suddenly the title of my next devotion came to me: “And The Clock Ticks On”. And I was reminded that I only have so much time left on this earth. I only have so much time to make a difference in my boys’ lives, to make a difference in other people’s lives. I found myself asking myself: “Am I using that time wisely? Am I taking advantage of the opportunities that come my way to talk with my wife Valerie, my sons Matthew and Jonathan and others about God? Am I taking advantage of every opportunity to tell them that I love them?” I had to answer: “Not really. Not every opportunity.”

In the scripture reference above (Ephesians 5:15-16) Paul is speaking specifically about talking to others about God. However, I think it could apply to other things as well. Like how much I love them, asking them if they’re doing anything exciting, how they’re feeling, etc. If you’re like me, you get so busy these days doing your own thing. We get so busy with work, church, chores, our favorite television shows, etc. that it’s often hard for us to remember to pick up the phone, or sit down with someone we love and talk…really talk.

The Bible makes it very clear in several passages of scripture that time is running out. In fact, it will come to an end. One of these days Jesus will come back and time will be no more. As I end this devotion, my challenge to all of us is this: Let’s make a point, at least once a week, of calling or sitting down with that loved one in our family, whether it be our spouse, one of our children, one of our parents, etc. and talk to them. Ask them how they’re doing. Ask them if there’s something we can do for them. Talk with them about the latest news developments and how God and His Son Jesus play a part in them. Let’s do it while the clock ticks on, and before it stops!

"The Value Of Jesus"

“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord.” - Philippians 3:8 (NLT)

Lately there has been a series of commercials on television (all by the same bank) though I can’t remember their name, showing children doing some of the dumbest things with the money they were given. One of my favorites (from which this devotion was inspired) shows a dad asking his son where the bike, which the dad had just bought for him was. The son (while holding this enormous snow-cone) smiles and replies: “I traded it!” The dad displaying a look of shock on his face, asks the son: “You did…for what?!!!” The son’s smile immediately disappears as he sheepishly looks at the snow-cone. It sounds a lot like the story of Jacob and Esau, doesn’t it? The dad looks on with disappointment. The scene fades to white with the bank’s logo and the words: “The value of money” printed underneath. As I watched this commercial, I repeated in my mind the words: “The value of money”, replacing the word “money” with the name: “Jesus”. What a beautiful name. There are many things in the world today that people in general place a lot of value on. Things such as: gold, diamonds, cars, houses, etc. And they are valuable…by the world’s standards. But you know what? One of these days, Jesus is going to return and all those things that people thought were so valuable are not going to be worth anything. Jesus said in the Bible (Matthew, Mark and Luke): “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” WOW!

I often end my devotions with a challenge, and this time I’ll end it with two challenges. The first one is for you to look up the statement quoted by Jesus in all three books of the Bible: Matthew, Mark and Luke...“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”. See if it’s saying to you what it’s says to me. The second challenge is for all of us: to look at what we have in our own lives. And ask ourselves these questions: “What things do I have in my life that I would consider valuable? How valuable are they compared to the value of knowing Jesus?” I think we’ll see that they can’t compare. Jesus loves us like nobody else! He died for us! He will never leave us or forsake us! If we trust in Him… He will take us home.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.” Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus Helen H. Lemmel, 1922
Copyright: Public Domain

"Follow The Leader"

“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”
- 2nd Corinthians 11:3 (NIV)

Have you ever played the childhood game known as “Follow The Leader”? I have. As a child it was fun and it was harmless (usually). As an adult, that has not always been the case. Playing the game: “Follow The Leader” when you’re a kid can be fun and harmless. Playing that game when you’re an adult can be scary, even deadly! I was reminded of that fact the other day on the way to work. Let me explain.

I had accidently gotten off on the wrong exit and there was a lot of construction items present; cones, barrels, etc. It was very confusing. I didn’t know which way to turn to get me back on the freeway. Luckily (or so I thought), I was behind a car that had its left turn signal on and so naturally, I thought the driver had made the same mistake. “I’ll follow him. He’ll know the way to go” (I said to myself). Wrong! The light turned green and instead of turning left and going around the concrete island, he turned a sharp left and proceeded to lead me down the wrong lane…with traffic coming right at me…head on! I said “me” because I made the assumption that he knew what he was doing and blindly followed him. It almost got me killed! He was able to immediately swerve into the correct lane. I was not so fortunate. There was too much traffic.

In my opinion, three things kept me from dying that day: The oncoming traffic was stopped at a light down at the other end. An observant driver on the other side, the lane I was supposed to be in, saw the predicament I was in and let me get in front of him…just in the nick of time. And God’s grace…He wasn’t ready for me yet. It taught me a valuable lesson: I have to be careful in who I’m following! And so do you.

Following the wrong leader can get us into a heap of trouble…possibly even killed! Who are the wrong leaders? People like: Jim Jones…he convinced his followers into thinking that if they committed suicide (which they did by drinking poison), that they would immediately go to Heaven. I don’t believe they did.


Charles Manson…he convinced his followers to kill others, often in the most violent and horrendous way. David Koresh…he convinced his followers into believing he was Jesus Christ! He wasn’t! There have been others. Remember “9/11”? But the oldest, most famous, most dangerous leader of them all was, and still is: Satan, the devil, the “Father of lies”. (John 8:44)He convinced Adam and Eve into believing they could be just like God. (Genesis 3:4) He often convinces others of that today. The devil would love us to believe that he doesn’t exist. Or worse yet…that God doesn’t exist! That we can do whatever we want; murder, steal, lie, cheat, etc. and that there will be no punishment. There will be…If not in this lifetime, then certainly in the life to come. (Revelation 20:12) The Bible says: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (Galatians 6:7) It is my prayer that we all may follow the right leader: God, our Father in Heaven, the one who loves us and calls us by name. Let us follow Him on the narrow road, the road that leads to Heaven, that leads us to everlasting life. (Matthew 7:13-14)

"Heaven: Our Future Headquarters"

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)



The other night, I was transferring a load of laundry from the washer to the dryer when my nine year-old son Matthew from whom this devotion was inspired) came to me and started up a very interesting conversation with me. It went something like this:


Matthew: “Dad…I hear about you talking a lot about headquarters. There’s the ‘Nazarene headquarters’, the ‘RLDS headquarters’, the ‘Assembly of God headquarters’, and so on. But I got a question…where is our headquarters?”


Me: “Well our headquarters is our house.”

Matthew: “No. Our headquarters is our rooms. The house only holds the headquarters.”

Me: “I think you’re right Matthew”. (Sometimes it’s just easier to agree with him.)

Matthew: “But our rooms won’t always be our headquarters…will they?”

Me: “Well no…” I was about to tell Matthew that eventually he would grow up and move out and find his own headquarters, but before I could, he interrupted me.

Matthew: “I know…when I die, I’ll go to Heaven and then that will be my headquarters!”

Me: “Oh oh…I smell a devotion coming on!”

Matthew (sniffing the air): “I don’t smell anything.”

Me (laughing): “I don’t mean I actually smell it. I mean this would make for an excellent devotion. I’ll call it…‘Heaven… dot dot …Our Future Headquarters’. Thanks Matthew!”

Matthew just smiled.

The next day I decided to look up the word “Headquarters” in the dictionary to see what it actually means. Webster’s dictionary* describes it as: “a place from which a commander performs the functions of command”. In my opinion, If we call ourselves Christians, then we should be taking orders from the ultimate commander: God himself! And our Senior commander should be His Son: Jesus Christ!


So…Have you made Jesus the Lord of your life; your “Senior Commander” ? Then you have a headquarters. A future headquarters! A place to meet and greet and stay…for all eternity…when your time at this headquarters (earth) is done!

*Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition

"Because Jesus Said So!"

“I know that you always hear me, but I say this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called (said) in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ ” -John 11:42-43 (NIV)


I can remember as a kid several authority figures in my life asking, or rather telling me to do certain things. Things like: “Clean your room”, “Take out the trash”, “Sit down and be quiet.” (I heard that one a lot) etc. I might not always feel like it. It might be I was watching a show on television, or playing with a friend, or whatever. Often I would answer the request with a question: “Why?” The person would usually answer me with four little, but powerful words: “Because I said so!” As soon as I heard those words, I would immediately start doing what the person told me to do. You see, those four little words: “Because I said so” carry a lot of power depending on who the person is who is saying them. That person may be your mom or dad, your teacher, your boss, a police officer, etc. It’s a person you don’t say “No” to…not if you know what’s good for you.

Jesus is a person you don’t say “No” to…not if you know what’s good for you. When Jesus came to earth in human form, miraculous things happened. And they always happened because Jesus said for them to happen! Let me ask you a few questions:

Why, when Jesus’ disciples were on the boat and afraid they were going to die, did the waves and the storm suddenly decide to be still? (Matthew 8:27) Because Jesus said so!

Why did the dead girl suddenly decide to wake up? (Mark 5:41) Because Jesus said so!

Why did Lazarus, after being dead and in the tomb for four days, suddenly decide to come walking out? (John 11:43) Because Jesus said so! The list goes on and on.

Why can we be saved, and forgiven of our sins, and go to Heaven just by asking Jesus to come into our heart, forgive us for what we have done, and be our Lord and Savior? (John 10:7-11) Because Jesus said so!



*Devotion inspired by the song: “Cause Jesus Said So”
Michael Combs
Copyright 2006 Lamb Lover Music

"Safe In His Arms"

“I can lie down and sleep soundly, because you LORD, will keep me safe.”
-Psalm 4:8 (CEV)



A few nights ago, my wife Valerie (from whom this devotion was inspired) and I were lying in bed. There was a storm outside and the winds were tremendous! The room periodically was lit up as bright as day, due to all the lightning bolts occurring
right outside our window. We were both scared. Valerie asked me to hold her. I was actually kind of glad she did. You know I’m scared when I want to cuddle. I’m usually the “you stay on your side and I’ll stay on mine” kind of guy. So there we lay, cuddling together. Somehow we were finally able to drift off to sleep. I woke up with the house really quiet; sounding nothing like it sounded the night before.


A couple of days later, Valerie and I were talking about the storm, and what we both were feeling and thinking at the time. I told her that I was feeling scared and thinking to myself: “Is this what the disciples (of Jesus) were experiencing the night they were on a boat and afraid they were all going to die?” Valerie told me what she was feeling and thinking and it seems to be on a deeper and more positive level. She said that, as she was lying there, with me holding her, she was thinking to herself: “Wow…I actually feel safe, and I’m not scared anymore! If I feel this safe when my husband is holding me…how much more safe would I feel if the Lord was holding me? How much more safe would I feel, if on a regular basis, I would ask the Lord to hold me?”


“Wow!” I thought to myself. “I never thought of that. How many times have I gone through something absolutely terrifying, all alone, because I never asked the Lord ‘to hold me’?” How many have you? The next time I’m experiencing something that is so scary or difficult, that I don’t think I can handle it (on my own that is), I’m going to ask the Lord to be with me; to “hold me”, and see me through.



If we would do that, on a regular basis, maybe even before the storm comes, I think we would be able to say as the writer of Psalm 4 says: “I can lie down and sleepsoundly, because You, Lord, will keep me safe.”

"Are You Watching?"

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” -Matthew 24:42 (NIV)

Are you a “watcher”? Do you watch for specific things? We all are pretty much “watchers” when it comes down to it. We watch for things like: the new movie coming out, those Sunday ads, something we ordered through the mail, etc. We tend to watch for those things that are most important to us. My wife (who this devotion was inspired by), watches for a lot of things… especially around back-to-school time. She watches for fliers informing her of “the tax-free weekend”. She watches for notes, letters, emails, etc. coming home from teachers. She watches for the bus coming to pick our two boys up for school. She watches for the bus coming to drop them off at our house after school. She watches and watches. Then one day, in the midst of all this “watching”…Jesus spoke to her. This is what he said:

“Valerie…you’re watching for a lot of things. But what I want to know is…are you watching for ME?

She told me about this shortly afterwards. She told me what Jesus had said to her. And then she said: “Wow….I never really thought about that! I’m watching for a lot of things, but I haven’t really been watching for what was most important: Jesus!” When she told me that, I felt really convicted! I had to ask myself: “I also watch for a lot of things coming up: anniversaries (especially mine), birthdays, holidays, the next season of my favorite TV show, etc. But…am I watching for Him? Am I watching for what’s most important? Am I watching for The King of Kings and The Lord of Lords?” Are You?

The word “watch” (according to "Biblegateway.com") is mentioned over eighty-seven times in the Bible (“Genesis” to “Revelation”). If God, His Son Jesus, and His followers found it necessary to give the warning to “watch” that many times…it must be because they felt it was very important. And if it was important to them, then it ought to be important to us. Don’t you think so? I do. Let’s all try to get into the habit of watching. Not just for the little things in life, but also the big things. In fact…the BIGGEST thing: The Second Coming of Christ! Because He is!

"A House Of Hope And Healing"

“For this is what the LORD says: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.'”
- Isaiah 56:1, 7b (NIV)

There is a Church located in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, known as “The World Revival Church”. I love the sound of that: ”World Revival”. This world could use a revival! The church came out of a revival that was originally being held in Smithton, Missouri and was known as “The Smithton Revival”. This church has a small building next to it (and is run by the church) known as “The House of Hope and Healing”. This is a place where people can come at all hours to be ministered to, and receive prayer for, whatever it is that they are struggling with in their life. It could be physical, emotional, spiritual, you name it. It is a really nice place and the people there are real prayer warriors. I know about this place as a supervisor of mine attends this church, and has even volunteered from time to time there. It got me to thinking though: “What if people can’t get to ‘the House of Hope and Healing’ because they’re physically unable, or live in another state, or due to other circumstances? What then?” I felt the need to open up my Bible and turn to the book of “Isaiah”. There (according to the prophet Isaiah) the Lord says His house will be called: “a house of prayer”. What that scripture verse says to me is this: “any and every church can be ‘a house of hope and healing’…providing that they don’t just proclaim to believe in God and Jesus, and what they both say in the Bible…but actually do!” There is actually a church located in Grandview, Missouri that has those very words: “house of prayer” in its name. It is “The International House of Prayer”, or “IHOP” as referred to fondly by its members and people who have visited there.

There are a few other organizations that have the words “hope” and “house” in their name. Two that specifically come to mind are: “Hope House”, an organization that provides comprehensive services and shelter to victims of domestic violence. And the other one is “The House of Hope”, a non-denominational, not-for-profit organization established to minister to troubled teenagers, across the country and internationally. But neither one of them includes the words: “Healing” in their name. Only “The World Revival Church” has a “house” set up specifically for prayer and has the word “Healing” in its name, and that’s “The House of Hope and Healing”.

In writing about these various churches and organizations who all seem to have the words: “House”, “Prayer”, “Hope” and/or “Healing” in their names, it occurred to me that there is a spiritual equation at work here. It goes like this: A “House” (home) that has “Prayer” in it, will have “Hope” in it. A “House” that has “Hope” in it will have “Healing” in it. “House” plus “Prayer” plus “Hope” equals “Healing”.

Let us all strive to make our “house” (or home), one of “prayer”, “hope”…and “healing”.

"Satan: "He Always Attends"

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

- John 10:10 (NIV)



A few weeks ago on a Sunday night, I was praying with my nine year-old son Matthew before bed time. The Sunday before that, we had not gone to our own church due to the fact that we had been vacationing in Colorado. Evidently this was on Matthew’s mind because he said to me: “Dad, you know how we missed church last Sunday?” I nodded, knowing what he meant. We did go to church, just not our own. He went on: “Well that nasty Satan…he never misses church! Only he’s not there to learn about God! He’s there to try to keep me from learning about God! He says things to me like: ‘Matthew, don’t listen to what Pastor ______ is saying. You just make sure you’re the first one to get into the game room after this thing is over so that you’ll have more time to play the “Wii”!’ ”.

Matthew is actually pretty smart for a boy his age. He is also biblically correct in my opinion. I replied to him: “you’re right Matthew. Satan does attend church…every church…every Sunday…as long as they’re preaching the true word of God.” Matthew was right. That “nasty Satan”…He never misses. We come to worship and learn about God. Satan comes to try to distract us from doing that. Jesus came (to earth), that we might have life and have it to the full (John 10:10). Satan (the thief) comes to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). He comes to kill the hope we have in us through Christ Jesus. He comes to steal the time we have to spend with God, and replace it with time spent on other activities. They may be activities that are fun, and maybe even harmless, but have no eternal value. And his ultimate goal for coming is to try and destroy our soul. Let us not allow Satan to do that! Let us stay close to God and His Son Jesus.

We may have to miss church (the building) on Sundays from time-to-time for various reasons, but we can still have “church” (the Lord)…every day! We just have to try and learn as much as we can about God. We have to listen to what THE pastor (God) is saying. And we have to make sure that we’re the first one to get into “the Holy Place”…when our “thing” is over.

"Daddy... You're Rich!"

“Yes, God's riches are very great, and his wisdom and knowledge have no end! No one can explain the things God decides or understand his ways.”
- Romans 11:32 (NCV)

This last Fourth of July, I took my two boys, Matthew and Jonathan to a fireworks display that was being held at an area high school. We got there about 6:30 p.m. and the fireworks were not supposed to start until about 9:30 p.m. While we were sitting there waiting and listening to the band play, the boys just happened to look around and see that there was a concession stand nearby. The boys being bored, with nothing to do, immediately started asking me if we could get something. I said to them: “Why not? Sure, let’s go”. We went up to the counter, made our selections, got what we asked for, and as I was paying the bill, I heard Jonathan say to me: “Daddy…you’re rich!” I just smiled, not really thinking about just how much truth there was in what he was saying.

We went back to our seats, and as we were sitting there eating our snacks, Jonathan looked over at what I had bought and suddenly decided that my item looked better. With Jonathan, the other person’s selection always looks better. He asked me if he could have one too. I figured it didn’t cost that much and so I bought him one. I handed it to him, and after doing so, he repeated the words: Daddy…you’re rich!”

After I got home that night and was lying in bed, I kept repeating the words to myself that Jonathan had said to me: “Daddy, you’re rich”. I realized that Jonathan was right. I was rich. I may not have the best vehicle or the biggest house or the best paying job. But I do have an awesome wife, two wonderful boys, a van that runs (most of the time), and I work for a Christian publishing company whose main objective is getting the written word of the Lord in to the hands of those who desperately need it.

I remember a while back reading a story (I can’t remember all the details) about a man who was very rich but very godly, and was about to die. He was sitting with his lawyer writing up his will, and was dividing up all his wealth among his three children. None of them knew the Lord, or even wanted anything to do with God. They didn’t have Jesus in their lives. His lawyer commented on the fact that the man’s children would be very wealthy upon his passing. The man nodded and said: “That’s true. But you know…I can give them everything I have… but if they don’t have Jesus in their life, they don’t have anything!”

The man was right. All the riches in the world don’t amount to anything in light of eternity. We can’t take them with us when we die and pass from this life into the next. Jesus speaking in the book of Mark was right when he posed the question: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)

We may have nothing of value in our lives according to the world’s standards. But if we have Jesus in our life, by God’s standard we have the most valuable possession of all! And His standard is the only one that counts! I love praying to God, my Heavenly Father, and saying the words to Him: “Daddy…you’re rich!!!”

"Fire Works!"

“Then I said, ‘It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s armies.’Then one of the angels flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar. With a pair of tongs, he touched my lips with it and said,‘See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.’ ” - Isaiah 6:5-7 (paraphrased from the NLT)


This past Fourth of July, I took my two boys to a celebration that was being held at an area High School’s football stadium. The music that was being played by a band unfamiliar to me was good. So were the refreshments and the weather. Then the fireworks display started. It was beautiful…loud, but beautiful. The fireworks were a big success. After the boys and I got home and we all lay down to sleep, my mind began to think about the day, about how I had acted towards others, specifically one particular person. I thought about what I had said, and the way I had said it. I realized that on this and several other “Independence Day(s)” for that matter; I had exercised my own “independence”. I had said to others what I wanted to say, the way I wanted to say it, without realizing how it sounded and how it would make them feel. Suddenly, I felt very ashamed. Then this passage of scripture (the one paraphrased above) came to me. And I realized…fire works!

You see, fire can be used for a lot of different things; it can be used for cooking. It can be used for making art like pottery. And it can be used for cleaning…more specifically purifying. That’s what the angel did in the book of “Isaiah”. Using a pair of tongs, he took a burning coal (from the fire), and used it to remove the guilt and sins from Isaiah’s mouth and life. “Wow (I thought)! That’s what I need! I need an angel to touch my lips with a burning coal every time I say something that is out of line.” I would keep him really busy! I think a lot of us would. I think a lot of us say we love God and want to do His will, but then say and do things that would reflect just the opposite.

The apostle Paul struggled with that. Writing to the Romans, he says: “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7:15, 18, 24 NLT)

I think that’s exactly right. The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord, and have been struggling with trying to do that which is good, I urge you to get to know Him. If you’re like me and do know Jesus as your Lord, but still find yourself constantly struggling with trying to live and speak in a godly way, cry out to Him. He can send down a fire that will remove your guilt and forgive your sins. A fire…that works!

"A New Pair Of Glasses"

“And after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him,‘Do you see anything?’ The man looked up and said, ‘I see people; they look like trees walking around.’ Once more Jesus put His hands on the man’s eyes. The man’s eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.”
- Romans 8:23-25 (NIV)



If you have ever had trouble seeing, and then was able to put on a new pair of glasses, you probably realized just how bad your sight really was before you did it. If you’re like me, you may not have noticed that you weren’t seeing things clearly until after you put the glasses on. I think that’s how it is when we come to know Christ. We are looking at things one way, we ask Jesus to come in to our heart and life, and then we see things another way …a better way.


That’s how it was with the man in the scripture reference above. He was seeing things one way, in this case darkness. Jesus spits on the man’s eyes (yuck), and the man begins to see things in a new way. Jesus then touches his eyes and the man instantly sees things clearly!



And that’s how it was with me right after I got saved (asked Jesus to come in to my heart). Jesus had come in to my life in a very real way. I remember sitting down with a youth pastor, the one that led me to the Lord shortly afterwards and asking him: “Is it just me, or does the sky seem a lot more blue, the grass a lot greener, and the sun a lot brighter? Even the flowers seem to be a lot more colorful. It’s like I’ve put on a whole new pair of glasses.” The man just smiled and nodded knowingly.



You see, I had gone to church all my life, for as long as I could remember. I had attended many types of denominations; Community Of Christ (RLDS), Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Nazarene, you name it. If you were to ask me before this time if I was a Christian, I would have said “Yes”…because I had attended church all my life. But going to church does not make me a Christian. Just like going to “Starbucks” does not make me a cup of coffee.



It took me being put into a really tough situation, and almost losing everything that was important to me, to realize that I needed Jesus in my life…to realize I needed to see things from His perspective, and to ask the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, and the ultimate optometrist…for a new pair of glasses.

The Boomerang

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”
- Galatians 6:7 (NIV)





The Boomerang: A crude V shaped object, usually made out of wood, and used primarily for sport. Sometimes it is used for catching small animals. It’s primary purpose now days however is for sport. You throw it as hard as you can forwards, it circles around and then comes back to you…often at a speed that’s much faster than you threw it. I found that out the hard way when I was a kid.


I can’t remember how old I was exactly when my dad showed me for the first time how to throw one. I do remember that the thing was wooden, large, and heavy. He took me out in to this field. Doing as he instructed,I took the boomerang, grasped it by one of the ends, raised it above my head, and threw it just as hard as I could. The V shaped object went out, circled around…and came back at me with terrifying velocity.


I ducked just in the nick of time as the boomerang skimmed over the top of my head!
“Did I do it right?” I asked my dad. He nodded, smiled, and with a hint of laughter in his voice replied: “You got the right idea.”


This trip down memory lane came to me the other day. I don’t know why. But it got me to thinking: The art of boomerang throwing could be a metaphor for life; whatever you “throw forward”…will come back to you, and often with exciting or terrifying velocity. If you “throw” kindness (words, deeds, etc.) towards others, you’ll find kind words and deeds coming back at you. If you “throw” meanness (unkind words, unkind actions, etc.) towards others, you’ll find meanness coming back at you.


The apostle Paul writing to the Galatians was correct when he said: “A man reaps what he sows.” I think we all can take a lesson from that verse…and my harrowing boomerang experience. Let's work on sowing (and throwing) kindness, not evil.
We all know there’s enough of that going on in the world today.

"In A Bad Spot"

“We must pay more careful attention, therefore to what we have heard… How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?” Hebrews 2:1a, 3a

What do the words: Aggravation, Trouble, and Sorry all have in common? They are the names of board games. “Aggravation” is played using marbles and a dice. “Trouble” is played with a bubble that encases a dice and which you pop up and down to make the dice turn. “Sorry” is played using cards with numbers and instructions on them, telling you how many spaces to move around the board. However, “Aggravation”, “Trouble”, and “Sorry” is what we get, and what we are when we do things that are out of the will of God.

I don’t know about you, but those three words describe a vicious cycle that I have gone through numerous times. First I experience “aggravation” at someone or some things. Next, as a result of that “aggravation”, I find myself saying or doing things that get me into “trouble”. Afterwards, I am “sorry” for what I have said or done, and then try to make amends. Fortunately, I don’t go through those cycles quite as much anymore, probably because I’ve asked Jesus to come into my heart. I now have the Holy Spirit living inside of me, helping me to live as I ought to. I still have to keep my guard up however.

My two boys’ favorite game of this type is “Sorry”. Often as we are playing, Matthew or Jonathan will draw a card allowing them to put one of their pawns on “start”. What follows usually is that the brother whose turn it is next, will draw a card that has him moving the exact number of spaces that ends in him bumping his brother back to “start”. Almost every time, the brother doing the “bumping” has figured this out and says the words: “You’re in a bad spot!”

This was happening so often, that we made a rule that a person could not bump another player back to “start”, unless there was no other choice (it was the only pawn they had out). Well you know what? We all were in a “bad spot”. We were dead in our sins and destined to spend eternity without God. But glory to God, His son Jesus made a way to not let that happen. He died for us. He put himself in a bad spot… on purpose so that we could spend eternity with Him! He had to. There was… “no other choice”.

In John 14:6, Jesus is speaking and says: “No one comes to the Father, but through me.” There is… “no other choice.” If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, you’re in a “bad spot.” Call out to Him and He will rescue you. If you do know Jesus but you feel like you’re in a “bad spot”, spiritually, financially, etc…call out to Him. He will rescue you…and bring you “Home”… His Home.

Stand, Walk, or Run... But Also Have Fun

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
- Deuteronomy 6:5 (NIV)



There seems to be a lot of emphasis these days on exercise and our health in general. Just go in to any Wal-Mart and you'll see rows and rows of workout videos with various celebrities hosting them. My family did and ended up getting a few. We went home and put one in. The boys loved it. I kind of enjoyed it, except when the host or hostess smiled and said something to the effect of: “You just walked a mile and it doesn't even feel like it. Don't you feel great?” I said to myself: “It does too feel like it, and no...I don't feel great! I feel like I'm gonna pass out!”

After I sat down and was able to rest and put my heart back in to my chest, I remembered that the Bible is full of scriptures that contain exercise-like phrases. Phrases like (all from the NIV): “Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today”(Exodus 14:13),“Let us walk in the light of your presence” (Isaiah 2:5),“Run in such a way as to get the prize.” (1st Corinthians 9:24)

Now while exercise may or may not be fun to you, there are three things in those scripture verses that will be fun. It will be fun to see ourselves delivered from the evil one (Satan), once and for all, on the day that we see Jesus
in Heaven. It will be awesome to walk in the light of His presence… in Heaven… forever and ever. Lastly, it will be fun, not tiring, to run towards Jesus…the prize as we enter the beautiful gates of Heaven.
However, there is a catch (there’s always a catch, huh?):

We must do some spiritual exercises if we want to be able to do the three things listed above.

1. We must stand firm against the evil one and stand for what is right, what is Godly.

2. We must walk in righteousness and Holiness.

3. We must walk away when others are trying to get us to do things that Jesus would never do.

Finally, we must run to Jesus. In trouble we must run to Jesus. In temptation we must run to Jesus. Before our life has ended on this earth...we must run to Jesus. So stand, walk, and run, but also have fun. Jesus will help you to have more fun than you ever thought possible! All you have to do is ask!

"People Don't Talk Anymore"

“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.”
Proverbs 12:25 (NIV)

A couple of weeks ago, on a Sunday morning, I was in my six year-old son Jonathan's room. I had laid out his clothes for him to wear to church. As he was dressing, I sat down on the floor, pulled out my cell phone and started fiddling with it. I was deleting past calls, past messages, etc. Jonathan started saying something to me, but I didn't hear a word of it. I was too engrossed in what I was doing. I just kept saying something like: “Uh huh, uh huh, uh huh.” Well, that got Jonathan mad!
He came over, knelt down in front of me, took my face in his hands, and asked if I had heard what he had said. I replied that I actually had not. He then scrunched up his face, looked me right in the eyes and said (in a really loud voice): “Dad...people don't talk anymore!' ”


I asked him what he meant by that. He said something that I'll remember for a long time: “People don't talk anymore. You're always on your phone, Mom's always checking her email, and Matthew's always on his 'Leapster' (an electronic game). People don't talk anymore!”

“Wow!” I thought to myself. “He's right. People don't talk anymore...at least not as much as they used to. Pretty insightful for a six year-old”. I put my phone down, looked him right in the eye, and said: “Okay Jonathan...you got me. Now what did you want to talk to me about?” He started telling me, but to be honest, I can't remember what it was. I was too busy reflecting on what he had said before that:
“People don't talk anymore!”


It was hard coming up with a scripture verse to go along with this devotion. But I believe the one above fits. We live in a stressful world, and as a result, we often suffer from what I like to call “Anxious Heart Syndrome”. A “kind word” can cheer us up and make all the difference in the world. Jonathan was right. People are
(or at least they seem to be) always on the phone, or the computer, or an iPod, or whatever. We should talk more. And when I say “talk”, I mean… literally, with our voice. Not text, or email or Twitter (whatever that is), but with our voice.

Let's all try that. Let's all try to take ten minutes, put down our electronic devices, turn off the television, put down our books or magazines, and talk...really talk. Let's all try our best to give those special people in our lives the attention and “kind word” that they so desperately need.

"Using What Works"

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
James 1:19, 22 (NIV)



I was at work the other day, when I walked up to a group of people who were in the middle of a conversation. I don't know what they were talking about exactly, but I heard one of them say something that got my attention: “It won't work if you don't use it.” I don't know what the “it” was, that person was referring to. But as a co-worker of mine is always saying: “I smell a devotion coming on!”


I thought to myself that the statement: “It won't work if you don't use it” could apply to a lot of different items. Items such as lawn mowers, cars, tools...and Bibles. And it is the last item that I mentioned that I want to focus on. If you're like me, you probably have several Bibles in your home, and most of them
are collecting dust. There is some really good advice in them, but I know that none of it will work if I don't put it in to practice...if I don't use it. James, for whom the book of the Bible it was named after, knew that too.


There were a lot of people in Jesus' time that would sit and listen to Him. I'm sure some of them were nodding their head in agreement at what He was advising them to do. They might have even shouted out an “amen” ...but did they use the advice He had given them...“what works” ? The Bible seems to indicate that often times, they did not.


That's one of the reasons why I like writing devotions. It forces me to open up my Bible... “the word”, so that when I “speak”, I know what I'm talking about (or at least it sounds like I do). Often times at the end my devotions, I leave my readers (and myself) with a challenge. Here's another one: Let's open up our Bibles, look for all the places where Jesus is speaking, and pick out one thing He asks or advises His followers to do. Then let's try to do that one thing. To “use what works”. Then see if that doesn't make our day...just a little bit better.

If: What A Wonderful Word

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and will seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, will forgive them of their sins and will heal their land.”

- 2nd Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)



“If”...what a wonderful word. It usually is said in a statement, explaining what will happen after a particular action has taken place. Example: “If you (do so and so), then” (this will happen.) This can be good or bad depending on what exactly it is that you do. I ought to know, I've been on both sides of that equation. For example, it's been said to me once or twice (at work): “If you manage to get (x number of) orders out today and they're all correct, I'll take you out to lunch.” On the other hand, it was also said to me once (by my doctor) after consuming way too much caffeine: “Gerald, if you have one more cup of coffee or can of Coke...you're gonna find yourself having to have part of your stomach removed!”
In both cases the consequences were based on what would happen if I did those things. You could say the situations were “iffy”. 8-)


God explains in the scripture verse above, what will happen if we do the things He mentions. If we (who are called by His name "Christian" ), will humble ourselves and pray, if we will seek His face, if we will turn from our wicked ways, then He...will hear us from Heaven, He will forgive us of our sins, and He will heal our land. It's all based on “if”.


The title of this devotion begins with the word: “If”. There are two more words that are said together in the Bible, as well as this devotion. When said together in the Bible, they are usually comforting or exciting or both:
“I will”. It's usually by God and describes what He will do if we do certain things. The choice… is up to us. “If”...what a wonderful word.

Football and Faith

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
- Matthew 17:20 (NIV)

Several Weeks ago, on a lazy Sunday afternoon, my eight year-old son Matthew
and I were watching a Chiefs football game on television. Before the game even began, Matthew prayed that the Chiefs would win. He continued to do so all the way to the end. I smiled and thought to myself: “What a silly prayer”. But while I thought it was a silly prayer, I secretly hoped it would be answered. Not so much because I'm a Chiefs fan (which I am), but because I wanted Matthew to see that God is real, and that He does answer prayer. Guess what? The Chiefs won!

I don't know if Matthew's prayer played a role in the Chiefs' victory, but I do know that it encouraged his faith. It helped him to see that he could talk to God, ask Him for anything and that God would listen to him. The same is true for all of us…If we have asked God's Son: Jesus Christ to come in to our life. As believers in Christ, we can pray, asking Him for anything…and if we ask truly believing that He is capable of giving it to us, then He will… if it is His will. But that is the key. We have to believe and it has to be His will.

Is there something you have been asking for? Is there something you really need? Then pray to Jesus. Have faith that He is able. Ask that His will be done. And leave the rest up to Him.