March 2022

I was reading a devotion in “Today’s Light” and I want to share a concept found there. The part that caught my eye was this sentence:

A second grader once asked his science teacher, “where does the darkness go when I turn on the light?”

Interesting and kind of fun question. It hit home for my wife and I last Tuesday. About 4:00 am the power went out. When I got up at 5:30, it was pitch dark. Which begged the question… where did we put the flashlight…and why is it so far from where we are? It’s interesting that the fear of total darkness disappears the instant we turn on a flashlight, match, candle…..and eventually when the power comes on (4 1/2 hours later) at the flick of a switch. Jesus came into the world to overcome the darkness (of Satan, sin, death). And yet, Did He come to turn on a light switch? No! He is the Light!

John 8:12…When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

The reality is that through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior…Darkness, sin, Satan do not have control over us! We live in “The Light” we find in John 12:46…I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. Fantastic news!! Jesus overcomes the darkness of our fears, shame, and distress over our sins.

But what about Matthew 5:16…In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. What is that all about?

Once upon a time, a little candle stood in a room filled with other candles, most of them much larger and much more beautiful than she was. Some were ornate and some were rather simple, like herself. Some were white, some were blue, some were pink, some were green. She had no idea why she was there, and the other candles made her feel rather small and insignificant.

When the sun went down and the room began to get dark, she noticed a large man walking toward her with a ball of fire on a stick. She suddenly realized that the man was going to set her on fire. “No, no!” she cried, “Aaaaagghhh! Don’t burn me, please!” But she knew that she could not be heard and prepared for the pain that would surely follow.

To her surprise, the room filled with light. She wondered where it came from since the man had extinguished his fire stick. To her delight, she realized that the light came from herself.

Then the man struck another fire stick and, one by one lit the other candles in the room. Each one gave out the same light that she did.

During the next few hours, she noticed that, slowly, her wax began to flow. She became aware that she would soon die. With this realization came a sense of why she had been created. “Perhaps my purpose on earth is to give out light until I die,” she mused. And that’s exactly what she did.

God created you and I to produce light in a dark world.

Like that little candle, we all can produce the same amount of light, no matter how small or insignificant we may feel. But we can’t produce light until we receive it from an outside source. That source is Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Also, like the little candle, our job is to shine! If we try to preserve ourselves, our lives will be meaningless. But if we are willing to “lose our lives for Christ’s sake,” we will find our true purpose and meaning.

Reminds me of the classic children’s song…

This Little Light of Mine, I’m going to let it shine.

This little light of mine
I’m going to let it shine
Let it shine, all the time, let it shine

All around the neighborhood
I’m going to let it shine
All around the neighborhood
I’m going to let it shine
All around the neighborhood

I’m going to let it shine
Let it shine, all the time, let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I’m going to let it shine

How about you? Do you have the Light of Jesus? If not, get into His Word in the Bible.

Is your light shining the way for others to have that same light? Who can you let your shine so they will see and believe in Jesus…the Light of the world?

HUMOR FOR YOUR DAY:

• Two blondes fell down a well. One says to the other one, “Isn’t it dark down here?” She replies, “I don’t know. I can’t see.”
• Chuck Norris sleeps with the light on, not because he is afraid of the darkness, but because the darkness is afraid of him.
• What did God do after he created a 24 hour period of alternating light and darkness? Called it a day.
• When I was young I used to be afraid of the dark… now when I get my electric bill I’m afraid of the light.

A candidate for church membership was asked, “What part of the Bible do you like best?” The man said: “I like the New Testament best.” Then he was asked, “What Book in the New Testament is your favorite?” He answered, “The Book of the Parables, Sir.” They then asked him to relate one of the parables to the membership committee. And a bit uncertain, he began…

Once upon a time a man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, and the thorns grew up and choked the man. And he went on and met the Queen of Sheba, and she gave that man, Sir, a thousand talents of silver, and a hundred changes of raiment. And he got in his chariot and drove furiously, and as he was driving along under a big tree, his hair got caught in a limb and left him hanging there! And he hung there many days and many nights. The ravens brought him food to eat and water to drink. And one night while he was hanging there asleep, his wife Delilah came along and cut off his hair, and he fell on stony ground. And it began to rain and rained forty days and forty nights. And he hid in a cave. Later he went on and met a man who said, “Come in and take supper with me.” But he said, “I can’t come in, for I have married a wife.” And the man went out into the highways and hedges and compelled him to come in! He then came to Jerusalem and saw Queen Jezebel sitting high and lifted up in a window of the wall. When she saw him she laughed, and he said, “Throw her down out of there,” and they threw her down. And he said, “Throw her down again,” and they threw her down seventy-times-seven. And the fragments which they picked up filled twelve baskets full! NOW,” the man asked as he stared down the committee, “whose wife will she be in the day of the Judgment?”

The membership committee agreed that this was indeed a knowledgeable candidate!

I could not help but laugh as I read that! And yet, it may reflect the lack of Biblical knowledge that most of us have. If you have been reading my devotions or listened to me teach and preach…you would have heard me say over and over again to read God’s Word. (And to do it daily!) It’s God’s Word to guide you closer to Him and to His plan for your life. The Bible is God’s way of communicating with you…it has been called Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.

Psalm 119:105…Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

I know some will say:

• “it’s too hard to understand”
• “it’s so big I can never read it all” “where do I begin?”
• “it’s just there for the professionals to read”
• “I am so busy…and by the way, I go to worship at least once a month”

The God of the universe has written you a love letter…His Word to you!

2 Timothy 3:16-17…All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness,  so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Well, I suggest that you start by getting a good devotional book. (See me if you need help). A devotional book will take a section of scripture and unpack it, making it easy to apply to your daily lives. There are many to choose from.

I also use a study guide. I use “Today’s Light” from Concordia Publishing. It goes through the Bible in a 2-year cycle. I also suggest that you purchase a study Bible. I suggest the “The Lutheran Study Bible” from Concordia Publishing. Study Bibles have a lot of notes and study helps so you can better understand the verses. Another helpful tool is called a Parallel Bible. These have 2 different translations side by side on the page. I like the NIV / Message side by side. This can help you get 2-word choices for the same verse.

Most importantly….pray for God to speak to you as you read. Ask Him to speak into your life…seek His Wisdom for your day. The Holy Spirit works through the Word.

Isaiah 55:11…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

It’s your job to read His Word…and The Spirit’s job to impact your life! So, what’s a summary of the powerful story found in the Bible: Love!

The Bible paints a picture of a loving God who created all things from nothing! He made paradise…The Garden of Eden…and “it was good”. He put the man (Adam) into the garden to enjoy it and have a perfect relationship with Him. Sadly, he (and Eve) wanted to be their own God…they sinned…and the perfect relationship with God was destroyed. But God…still loved them (and us) in spite of our sinful rebellion and sinful nature. God sent His Son (Jesus) to live a sinless life in our place…to die (pay the price that you cannot pay for your sin)…and to restore your relationship with God. Now, we know that we still sin…and we know that God still loves us unconditionally. Because He Loves us and wants the best for us, He wants us to cast off the old self and put on His new self.

If you believe this to be true…then how can you not want to read the rest of the story as God writes to you in His Bible? Don’t put it off. Start in the book of John (New Testament) …read a chapter a day. Get to know more about your Lord and Savior.

HUMOR FOR YOUR DAY:

Why couldn’t Jonah trust the ocean? Because he knew there was something fishy about it.

Who was the greatest financier in the Bible? Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone was in liquidation.

Where was Solomon’s temple located? On the side of his head.

Where is the first tennis match mentioned in the Bible? When Joseph served in Pharaoh’s court.

What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden? Your mother ate us out of house and home.

Funny, but as I began to write this last Thursday, it was hot and very muggy, and yet, George and the worship teams are starting to make plans for Christmas. As much as I hate winter weather, this devotion came to mind.

It was a snowy Christmas Eve. Inside the warm house, the Christmas tree was cheerfully ablaze with lights and surrounded by dozens of presents. The man’s wife and children were dressed and ready to leave for church. “Come with us,” they urged, for they loved him. “Not me,” he snapped. “I don’t believe all that religion garbage.”

For many years the man’s wife had been trying to tell him about Jesus Christ and the salvation he offers. How God’s Son had become a human being in order to show us the way to heaven. “Nonsense,” the man always said.

The family left for church and the man was all alone in his cozy country home. He glanced out the window at the cold snowy scene outside. He turned to warm himself by the fire.

But as he turned, his eyes caught a movement in the snow outside. He looked. Cats! Three young cats walking slowly past his window.

“The fools,” he thought. “They’ll freeze for sure!” The man put on his hat and coat and opened the door. A blast of wintry air sent a shiver through his body.

“Come here, cats! Come inside where there’s warmth and food. You’ll die out there.” But the cats ran away, frightened by the stranger at the door.

He walked outside. “Come back! Don’t be afraid, I want to save you.”

But the cats were gone. It was too late.

“Well, I did everything I could for them,” the man muttered to himself. “What more could I do? I’d have to become a cat myself in order to reach them and save them. If I became a cat, I could tell them and show them. They would have to believe me then, unless they were fools.”

Just as he reached the door, the church bells rang in the distance. The man paused for a second and listened. Then he went in by the fire, got down on his knees, and wept.

So…I assume that I am the only person in the world with a devotion about Christmas as a heat spell covers the nation. So why talk about Christmas?

We all know and love John 3:16… For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

And that is what the Christmas story is all about. The Creator of the universe loved us so much that he came to earth to show us how to be saved. And if we listen to him and follow him, we will not perish, but instead will be given everlasting life.

Is His birth all that we need? NO! It involves His birth, sinless life, death, and resurrection….FOR YOU!

Philippians 2:6-8… Who, being in very nature God,did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

It’s Christmas, Good Friday, Easter together that makes us who we are…children of God, forgiven, renewed, saved!

• So…are like the man at the start of the story…”I don’t believe in all that religious garbage”…ignoring all that Jesus did for you?
• Or are you like the cats in the story? Wandering aimlessly…walking toward death…while God invites you to come in and be saved.
• Or are you like the man when he tried to invite those that are perishing to come in where it’s warm? Are you reaching out to the lost?
• Or are you like the man at the end of the story when he realized that Jesus is real and that He invites into the warmth of His Love and Mercy and Grace? Do you fall on your knees and acknowledge Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

I pray that you realize how much God loves you (personally)…and what He did to offer you eternal life.

I pray that you ask yourself: who of my friends, family, people in my circle of influence, are like the man in today’s story and who do not know about the Love of God?

How can you share His Love with them? What can you say or do to show His Love to them? Remember that Jesus came so that all would be saved!

Some Christmas in July (actually August) Humor!

What do snowmen eat for breakfast? Snowflakes.

What did Adam say on the day before Christmas? It’s Christmas, Eve!

Which of Santa’s reindeer needs to mind his manners the most? Rude Olph.

Why does Santa Claus go down the chimney on Christmas Eve? Because it soots him.

What did the English teacher call Santa’s helpers? Subordinate Clauses.

What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus? Claustrophobic.

What do you call a chicken at the North Pole? Lost.

How do the elves clean Santa’s sleigh on the day after Christmas? They use Santa-tizer.

Once upon a time there was a very strong woodcutter who asked for a job from a timber merchant, and he got it. The pay was really good and so were the working conditions. For that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his best. His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was supposed to work. The first day, the woodcutter brought down 18 trees! “Congratulations,” the boss said. “Carry on that way!”. Very motivated with the boss’s words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he could only bring 15 trees.

The third day he tried even harder but could bring 10 trees only. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees. “I must be losing my strength”, the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on. “When was the last time you sharpened your axe?” the boss asked. “Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut more trees for you.

Is your life like that woodcutter?

So busy that you don’t take time to “sharpen your axe”?

In today’s world, it seems that everyone is busier than ever, but less happy than ever. Why is that? Could it be that we have forgotten how to stay sharp? If we don’t take time to “sharpen our axe”, then we will all become dull and lose our effectiveness. There’s nothing wrong with activity and hard work. But it doesn’t mean that we get so busy that we neglect the truly important things in life, like, spending time with those you love, taking time to read and learn, to stop and smell the roses so to speak, to exercise our bodies and minds, to care for personal life, and of course most importantly….to connect with your Lord and Savior!

You hear me challenge you over and over again to spend time with the Lord. Quiet, focused, alone time with your Lord and Savior. Jesus did that often!

Mark 1:35-39…  Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.  Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”  So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Jesus went to a solitary place…all alone. He prayed. He sought His father’s directions, and then He accomplished His Father’s will….to go to all people in all of the towns. If He had not prayed, He would not have known it was time to move on.

If it was important for Jesus to do this, I figure that I should as well! I spend time with the Lord throughout the day…but first thing in the morning works best for me. Quiet, alone, and focused. Time to thank the Lord for His many blessings, confess my sinfulness and seek His transformation in my life, to pray for others (many of you), and to seek His plans for my day…..to be the best “Dave Timm” that I can be! This time is precious to me. It can not happen with the tv or radio on…it cannot happen in a crowd…it cannot happen if I try to control the conversation. I then do a devotion and some Bible time.

In addition to my alone time…. Most days my wife and I sharpen our axes by doing some devotions together as a couple.

SO….my challenge for you is to ask yourself “what would Jesus do” if He were me?  And then do it!     How??

• Find a regularly scheduled solitary place and time…all alone with Jesus.
• Use that time to pray, to talk and listen to the Lord, to thank Him.
• Seek God’s plans and directions for you. Ask for His Peace, strength, purpose, direction, and changes that you need to make….so that you can be the best “you” that you can be.
• And then make those changes needed to follow His lead in your life… accomplish all that he has equipped you to accomplish…to His Glory!
• Do it today…but not only today, make it part of your daily life.

Humor for your day:

Mr. Johnson wanted to get rid of a redwood tree in his backyard, so he put an ad in the paper asking for a lumberjack to get rid of the tree. Many lumberjacks tried to cut down the tree, but they all failed.

One day, a very skinny man with a plastic spoon knocked on Mr. Johnson’s door. “I would like to try to cut down your tree,” he said.

“With just that plastic spoon?” gasped Mr. Johnson.

“Yes,” said the skinny man. The two of them went to the backyard, and the skinny man tapped the redwood with the spoon. Immediately, the tree fell down.

Mr. Johnson was amazed. “Where did you learn to do that?” he asked.

“The Sahara Forest,” replied the skinny man.

“You mean the Sahara Desert?………….”Well, that’s what they call it now!”

I hope that these devotions have enhanced your spiritual journey, brought you closer to the Lord, brought you Peace, calmed the storms of life, as well as guided you to make healthy choices. Some have said that they are good, but they are too long. They say they are looking for something that can be read quickly but at the same time, could be focused on throughout the day. So, let’s see how this goes:

Years ago, in a small Midwestern town, one man’s job was to watch the railroad crossing. When a train would approach at night, he was to wave a lantern to warn those driving on the narrow road that a train was approaching and to stop until it passed by. One particular night, the train was coming down the tracks as usual and the man took his place to warn any oncoming cars. He could see a car in the distance approaching the railroad tracks, so he began to wave his lantern in the moonlit sky. The car continued to come, so the man waved a lantern even more briskly. The train was only seconds away from the crossing. The car was not even slowing down. The man could not believe it, so he waved the lantern even harder. Still the car came! The car was almost to the track and the train was about to pass. The man could not stand in the middle of the road any longer. Again, he frantically waved his lantern and the car continued to come at full speed. Finally, the man jumped out of the way of the car as it sped by and was hit by the train on the tracks. Everyone in the car was killed.

At the investigation, the grief-stricken man explained to the authorities how we tried to warn the oncoming vehicle, but it would not stop. The officer in charge said to the man at the crossing, “sir, you waved your lantern…but you forgot to light it!

Jesus calls all of us to be a light of the world. It is our job to take the good news of the gospel to everyone we can. (with our words and actions) But it does no good try to shine on our own…if the light within us is not shining. Without the light of Christ, we will have a little impact.

Ephesians 5:8-10…For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)  and find out what pleases the Lord.

Would those who know you describe you as being filled with God’s Light…would they use words like: goodness, righteousness, and truth? Who or what is the true light?

Jesus says… John 8:12… When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

So, Jesus is the light (and light always drowns out darkness)….His light shines into you and through you to others…as we reflect His light to the world.

Matthew 5:13-16… “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Bible uses images of Light versus dark…Good versus evil…God versus Satan.

We all love John 3:16…and yet the verses to follow (verses 19-21) speaks of both darkness…and the impact of the light of the Lord on us.

John 3:19-21…This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.  But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

Jesus did not come to turn on a light…but to be THE LIGHT! We don’t need to hide in the darkness of our sin…we can live in the Light of God’s Love, Mercy, Grace, and our forgiveness! And then shine for all to see!

How do we receive this light?

• Reading God’s Word daily, using devotionals, having regular scheduled quiet time alone with God for prayer and meditation, corporate worship at church….as well as avoiding and resisting the darkness that the world tries to lure you with.
• Take time everyday to bask in the Light of your Lord and Savior…. then be the light to those who are lost in darkness.
• Each time you turn on a light today…thank the Lord for being THE LIGHT…and then shine His Love to others!

SOME LIGHT HUMOR FOR YOUR DAY:

• One day, God was making a wooden stick to light on fire. Seeing it, an angel said, “That looks like a match made in heaven”.
• Light travels faster than sound. That’s why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
• There was a scientist who broke the speed of light while driving. He was then sent to prism.
• I tried to look for lighters on Amazon, and all they gave me was 13,749 matches.

With today’s devotion, I want to do a little teaching…leading to some challenges for you to apply.

Next time you fly in a commercial airline check out the safety instruction card that is usually found in the seat pocket in front of you. Here’s what one such United Airlines card says. “If you’re sitting in an exit row and you cannot understand this card or cannot see well enough to follow these instructions, please tell a crew member.”

Obviously, those directions present a slight problem. If people can’t understand the card or see the instructions, how can they be expected to tell a crew member about it? Sounds like a catch-22! Believe it or not, the Bible is a lot like that safety instruction card. Many people read scripture without understanding it. It makes absolutely no sense to them. Not because they lack eyesight or reading ability, but because they lack faith.

As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:18… For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.

In other words, unless you have faith you won’t understand the Bible. But unless you understand the Bible you won’t have faith. Sounds kind of like a catch-22…or is it?

Romans 10:17… Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

That’s why we have the Holy Spirit! When we turn to the Bible with a willingness to learn about God…the Holy Spirit will reveal what He is saying. Even the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10…. “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

Whenever you study God’s word with an open heart the Holy Spirit helps you understand it so that you can grow stronger in your faith.

If you read God’s Word and then think, “That was a waste of time, I got nothing out of it”, think again…it always enlightens!!!

Isaiah 55:11… so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

God also uses people like us to explain The Bible to unbelievers. When someone tells you, they don’t understand The Bible, that’s like an airplane passenger telling a flight attendant they don’t understand the safety instruction card….it’s the flight attendant’s job to help you understand it.

And the Holy Spirit will use you to make God’s Word clear to others.

Make what clear? The fact that God created paradise (it was good)…created man to enjoy His creation…and yet we see that man (and woman) wanted to be their own God and make their own rules, they sinned.

God was disappointed but still loved them and created a way to restore the broken relationship. He sent His sinless Son, Jesus to take our punishment.

Through faith, we are forgiven and have eternal life.

It’s the reality of the Law showing us our sin…and the good news of the Gospel showing us our Savior!!!!!

So, who is this Amazing God of the Bible…and how can I get to know Him better…as my Lord and Savior?

First of all, contrary to today’s culture, there is only one True God!.

What comes to mind when you think of God? Maybe love, mercy, all-knowing, servant, king, friend. Those are words commonly used. Another is a little harder word to wrap our minds around:

The Trinity…Father, Son, Holy Spirit…three distinct persons in one divine being.

Sounds confusing, but then, how could we (humans) fully understand God?

I find some understanding from Jesus’ baptism. Jesus stood in the water, the Father spoke from heaven, the Spirit of God descended upon Jesus.

A very weak way to think of 3 persons one God, would be using this illustration:

• I am Dave Timm….only one of me!
• But I am Dave Timm the father (to 4 wonderful children)
• But at the same time, I am Dave Timm the son (of a fantastic mom and dad…both deceased)
• But I am at the same time Dave Timm the pastor.
• There is only one me…but known as 3 distinct persons. I function differently with each hat I wear…and yet I am one.

Now, like I said, it’s a weak comparison to God’s perfect harmony within the God-head…but hopefully it puts a little perspective to who God is.

It seems easy to envision and understand God the Father…the creator.

As well as Jesus the Son…who would lay down His life for us.

But the Holy Spirit is a little harder to grasp. Some think of a Casper the ghost-type spirit. Not hardly!

So, what is the deal with the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit sanctifies you (makes you holy…more Christ-like) by inviting you and bringing you to faith in Christ through the Word…so that you will lead a godly life. He renews you so you can strive to overcome sin and do good works to God’s Glory.

The Holy Spirit also calls, gathers, and enlightens us to be the Church on earth….including Royal Redeemer where we gather around Word and Sacraments.

So, what’s the point of this devotion??

• If you want to know, trust, and have faith in God…read His Word!
• If you want to understand and apply His Word, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and point you to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior!
• If you want to see and experience Christian living, become active in the life of a Christian church!
• If you know someone who does not know Jesus…or is confused about God’s Word, invite them to worship with you…join a small group or Bible study with them, invite them to sit and talk with a pastor!

Humor for your day:

A priest is walking through the jungle when he comes upon a hungry lion. Just as the lion goes to attack, the priest crosses himself and says, “Lord, if you can hear me, please instill the Holy Spirit in this beast’s heart.”
The lion stops in his tracks as a bright light begins to glow around him. He looks to the sky, folds his paws in prayer, and says, “Thank you, Lord, for this meal.”

It has been said that life is a “rat race”…that everyone is chasing something! So…what or who are you chasing or following?…what is the goal or finish line that you are looking for?

Greyhound racing, a popular betting sport in some parts of the country, attracts crowds who enjoy watching incredibly sleek and beautiful dogs run as fast as they can around a track. Unlike racehorses, greyhounds run without the assistance of a jockey. To keep the dogs running in the right direction, they are trained to chase a mechanical rabbit made of fur as it zips along the track in front of them. A man in the press box electronically controls the speed of the rabbit, keeping the rabbit just out in front of the dogs. The dogs never catch up to it.

At a Florida track some years back, a big race was about to begin. The dogs crouched in their cages, ready to go, while betting spectators finished placing their wagers. At the proper moment, the gun went off. The man in the press box pushed his lever, starting the rabbit down the first stretch, while the cage doors flew open, releasing the dogs to take off after the little rabbit. As the rabbit made the first turn, however, an electrical short in the system caused the rabbit to come to a complete stop, to explode, and to go up in flames. Poof! All that was left was a bit of black stuff hanging on the end of a wire.

Their rabbit gone, the bewildered dogs didn’t know how to act. According to news reports, several dogs simply stopped running and laid down on the track, their tongues hanging out. Two dogs, still frenzied with the chase, ran into a wall, breaking several ribs. Another dog began chasing his tail, while the rest howled at the people in the stands.

Not even one dog finished the race!

Bet you did not see that one coming!

Those dogs were chasing a rabbit that is rigged so that they can never catch it…they are running aimlessly in circles! How about you? What is your rabbit? What is your goal, your purpose in life, your hope?

After you wrestle with that powerful question…What if it were taken away? Sadly, many people chase an illusion, a mechanical rabbit of sorts, that ultimately turns out to offer no hope at all. In a staff devotion I heard it put this way:

Our identity will affect our roles / goal / and our path…but our roles / goals / and path should not affect our identity!

If you call Jesus your Lord and Savior…your identity is that of a “child of God.” Your rabbit so to speak…what you follow…what sets your direction is the Lord! His will is that you:

Mark 12:30-31…Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Paul the apostle wrote what kept him motivated to run the race: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21). Jesus is the only one who can give us lasting purpose, meaning, and hope…and we do not have to chase an unattainable goal…we have a God who is always there for you!

Paul later wrote about running a race, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). To know Christ is the only lasting, eternal goal….and in any race, we need to keep our eyes on the goal. In this case, it is eternal life, face to face, with your Lord and Savior!

Just like the racing greyhounds, people pursue their chosen rabbit. We all need some reason for living—for running the race. So, what is your goal? Is it to get rich, be popular, gain power, have fun 24/7? Will those things bring you victory, joy, and happiness? Be careful —

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. (Romans1:25) And remember that even if you win the race to fun, fame, finance, thrills, pleasures, and the toys of life… it can (and probably will) go up in smoke…be taken away in a flash. (Like the rabbit in the opening story.)

Matthew 6:19-20…“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

The race for the greyhounds is fixed so that they never get to the rabbit that they are chasing. You on the other hand, already won, through faith in Jesus Christ! You have eternal life! Yes, it’s true! And the best part is that Jesus will be by your side during every other race you run in life. I want you to take the time to read this verse…slowly…2 or 3 times.

Romans 8:31-39 (msg)

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

Your God loves you unconditionally, and He has specific plans for you…a specific race for you to run. He will give you strength when you feel exhausted…purpose when you feel lost…Joy when your life has you feeling down…Love when you feel unloved…Peace when the storms are all around…and a road map for each day.

Take time to pray and seek His will for you. Then hang on for the race of your life! But, speaking of greyhound dogs…

HUMOR FOR YOUR DAY:

A man is walking down the street when he hears a voice, “Pssst, hey you, come over here!” He looks round and can see only an old mangy greyhound.

“Yes, over here!” Said the greyhound. “Look at me I’m tied up here, I should be racing, I won 14 races in my career you know?”

The man thought to himself “Oh my goodness a talking dog, I have to have it, it will make me rich, tv appearances, live shows, cabaret bookings” So he goes in search of the owner.

He found the owner and said, “I’d like to buy your dog, is he for sale??” The owner says, “No mate, you don’t want that old moth-eaten thing!”

“But I do!” Insisted the man “I’ll give you $1000 for him. “Ok said the owner but I think you’re making a big mistake!”

Handing over the money the man said, “Why do you think that?” The man replied, “Because that dog is a bloody liar…it’s never won a race in its life!”

Prayer is a great gift from God to you. Think about it, the creator of the universe wants to have a conversation with you, wants to know you intimately, wants you to know Him intimately, wants you to find Peace in Him!

Brennan Manning tells the powerful story of an old man who was dying of cancer:

The man’s daughter had asked the local priest to come and pray with her father. When the priest arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on 2 pillows…and an empty chair beside the bed. The priest assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit.

“I guess you were expecting me” he said. “No, who are you?” “I’m the new associate at your parish” the priest replied. “When I saw the empty chair, I figured you knew I was going to show up.” “Oh yeah, the chair” said the bed ridden man. “Would you mind closing the door?” Puzzled, the priest shut the door. “I’ve never told anyone this, not even my daughter,” said the man. “But all my life I have never known how to pray. At Sunday mass I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it always went right over my head. I abandoned any attempt of prayer” the old man continued, “until one day about 4 years ago my best friend said to me, “Joe, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here’s what I suggest. Sit down on a chair, place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair! It’s not spooky, because He promised “I’ll be with you always.” Then just speak to Him and listen in the same way you’re doing with me right now.”

“So, father, I tried it and I liked it so much that I do it a couple hours every day. I’m careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she would either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm!” The priest was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old guy to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the rectory. 2 nights later the daughter called to tell the priest that her daddy had died that afternoon. “Did he seem to die in peace” he asked. “Yes, when I left the house about 2 o’clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me one of his corny jokes and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store about an hour later, I found him dead. But there was something strange. In fact, beyond strange….it was kind of weird. Apparently just before daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed.”

God wants you to have that same type of relationship with Him….for you to have the same relationship with Him that His disciples had when He walked the earth physically. Sometimes that seems difficult since we can not see Him physically in front of us. And yet He promises to be with you 24/7. Here are a few of the many verses that assure us that He is always with you!

Isaiah 41:10… So do not fear, for I am with you;do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Joshua 1:9… Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Romans 8:38-39… For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It would have been great to have walked with Jesus…to talk with Jesus…to eat with Jesus…to travel and hang out with Jesus. In particular…I think of the relationship that John had with Jesus. For instance at the last supper:

John 13:23,25…One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him………….Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

John sat close enough to lean on Jesus. Later the story is mentioned again:

John 21:20… Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)

The incredible news is that the Jesus that we know as Lord and Savior is no less accessible to you than He was in the flesh to the disciples!

He is there for you to talk to on the good days! Take time to thank Him for the countless blessings in your life.

He is also available to you on the not so good days (or seasons)! Take time to share the hurts, needs, issues, and thoughts that plague you.

A fancy “church” word is Anthropomorphism. We attribute human characteristics to God. This story above brought the comfort of laying your head in His lap. This image can help us to envision God by our side. For instance:

Envisioning His arms hugging you on difficult days.

• His shoulder for you to cry on.
• His hands to hold on to you with His strength.
• His ears to listen to your most intimate words.
• His feet to walk with you as you pace the floor anxiously.
• His heart filled with Love for you…His child.

The questions for you to ponder are:

• Do you have that kind of relationship with Jesus? If not, He wants to hear from you!
• Are you and Jesus so close that you can talk with Him as you would a friend? Talk to Him throughout your day!
• Do you know that He loves you passionately? He sent His Son to die for you!
• Do you know that He is interested in you…wants to know all about your life situation? Oh sure, He knows everything, but wants you to share your thoughts, hopes, dreams, and struggles with Him!
• Can you lay your head in His lap…can you feel His heartbeat? The King of kings wants an intimate relationship with you!

He is just dying to have that kind of intimate relationship with you!

Zephaniah 3:17… The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Humor for the day:

A priest buys a lawn mower at a yard sale. Back home, he pulls on the starter rope a few times with no results. He storms back to the yard sale and tells the previous owner, “I can’t get the mower to start!” “That’s because you have to curse to get it started,” says the man. “I’m a man of the cloth. I don’t even remember how to curse.” “You keep pulling on that rope, and it’ll come back to you.”

There is a song that I find intriguing. It is called “Slow Fade.” The words go like this:

It’s a slow fade
When you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade
When black and white have turned to gray
And thoughts invade, choices made
A price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

That last line is so powerful! No one wakes up and says…I think I will become a drug addict…I think I will become a bank robber… I think I will start to destroy my marriage today. It was all a “slow fade” down a dark path. Satan loves to use this tactic. He gets into your mind and says…”it’s only a small sin…no one will care…you can stop whenever you want…it won’t lead to other more serious issues”… and the slow fade begins!

Right and wrong…good and bad…things that were seen as black and white…slowly become darker and darker shades of grey!

The story is told of a college campus that was located in a valley between two mountains. The water tower for their college was located up on one of the mountains. One morning while the guys were taking their showers, the water was turned off. They thought that the girls were playing a trick on them, so they quickly got dressed and ran to the girl’s dorm, only to find that the same thing happened to them.

When they realized that it was not a trick, they called the maintenance crew. When a maintenance crew arrived, they were perplexed. They could find no pipes that were burst or valves that were turned off, so they began a tedious job of following the pipe all the way back up the mountain. Piece by piece they took it apart to see if there was any blockage. Finally, they came to the last piece of pipe that went into the water tower. They opened it and found a big bullfrog stuck in the pipe.

They could not understand how a bullfrog could have gotten into the water tower. There was just no way. Then they realize that it hadn’t come in as a big bullfrog but as a tiny tadpole. It had worked its way in and lived off the algae in the water until one day it was swimming too close and it was sucked into the pipe, cutting off the water supply to the whole campus!

When you ignore the sin in your life, even when it’s a small, seemingly insignificant thing…..eventually that sin will grow and become second nature to you…. robbing you of your joy and fellowship with Christ.

James 1:13-15… When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

So…this tadpole story reminds us that we need to resist the “slow fade” of seemingly harmless thoughts, words, and actions! But what can we do about it?

 Let’s exchange the “slow fade” for a “slow growth!”

That happens as you grow closer to the Lord one day at a time…and watch it grow in positive ways.

It starts with a 5-minute daily prayer…and eventually it grows into conversations with the Lord throughout the day!

It starts by reading a chapter in the Bible a week…and it grows into a daily time in God’s Word!

It starts with worshiping once a month…and it grows to weekly worship!

It starts with worshiping online…and it grows to active participation in the mission of the church! Serving, giving, joining a small group!

It starts with a phone call to someone lonely or in need…and it grows to God using you to bring them His Love and Joy!

It starts with looking deep and assessing your temptations …and it grows to you asking God to guide you to healthy choices! And then avoiding places of temptation as well as resisting the temptations that you cannot avoid!

Each of us have our own struggles and weaknesses. God is aware of them, and yet He still loves you. He wants to offer you His forgiveness, Grace, and Mercy.

Psalm 32:5…Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

 Take time today, find a quiet place, all alone and talk to your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Seek His will for your life. Ask Him to help you to grow into the person He made you to be! Be the best “you” you can be, to His glory.

Humor For the day:

On the first Friday of Lent, John (who is a Baptist) was outside grilling a big juicy steak on his grill. Meanwhile all of his Catholic neighbors were eating cold tuna fish for supper. This went on each Friday during Lent.

On the last Friday of Lent the neighborhood men got together and decided that something just HAD to be done about John, he was just tempting them to eat meat each Friday of Lent and they couldn’t take it anymore. They decided to try and convert him to be Catholic. They went over and talked with him and were so happy that he decided to join all of his neighbors and become a Catholic.

They took him to church and the priest sprinkled some water over him and told him “You were born a Baptist, you were raised a Baptist and now you are a Catholic”. The men of the neighborhood were SO relieved, now their biggest Lent temptation was resolved.

The next year’s Lent rolled around. The first Friday of Lent came and just at supper time when the neighborhood was setting down to their fish dinners came the wafting smell of steak cooking on a grill. The neighborhood men could not believe their noses! What was going on? They called each other up and decided to meet over in John’s yard to see if he had forgotten it was a Friday in Lent.

The group arrived just in time to see John standing over his grill with a small pitcher of water. He was pouring small droplets over his steak on the grill and saying, “You were born a cow, you were raised a cow, and now you are a fish.”

My wife and I do devotions together most days. I am a great fan of devotions that give God’s Word and then apply it to our daily blessings, as well as our daily struggles. We use 5 different devotional books. When we get to the end of the book, we start over again, re-reading them.We find that they seem fresh and hit us in different ways…because we are in a different place than when we read them the first time. Here is one I wrote a year ago. (You can read lots of them at royred.org)

The children of a well-to-do family decided to give their father a book containing their family’s history for a birthday present.

 They commissioned a professional biographer to write the book, carefully cautioning him about the family’s “black sheep” – their Uncle George had been executed in the electric chair for murder, and they felt it would be best if the biographer left Uncle George out of the book.

“No need to do that,” said the biographer. “I can report the situation in such a way that there will be no embarrassment to your father or to you. I’ll merely write that Uncle George occupied a chair of applied electronics ………at an important government institution………. He was attached to his position by the strongest ties………, and his death came as a real shock.”

The Bible teaches us that when you die, there is nothing else you can do to get ready to meet God. It won’t matter what people write about you or say about you to make you look good.…. It’s all about faith in Jesus.

So…In case you don’t know…or haven’t thought about it lately:

• God hand made you…wanting to spend eternity with you.
• But there is a problem…you are a sinner! We all are! Romans 3:23…  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
• And yet, God still loves you! Romans 5:8… But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
• Our sin separates us from God (not His Love). Romans 6:23… For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• You are saved…and told to share the Gospel with others. 1 Peter 3:15…  But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect 

• Do you believe this? I mean really believe this. The truth is that you were on your way (and deserve) to spend eternity in hell…. but Jesus saved you so that you now will spend eternity in heaven!!!
• Do you believe that there is a heaven or hell in your future?
• Now…we hear phrases about heaven and hell in our daily conversations. Things like “these cookies taste heavenly…that guy irritates the hell out me…this campground is heaven on earth…it will be a cold day in hell before I vote for him”
• Those phrases can make us minimize an important fact.
• Here is my point… HEAVEN AND HELL ARE REAL…and therefore it follows that real people like you, and I are going there!!! How’s that for a heavy statement!!!

Matthew 25 talks about it (verse 34) …”Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. (verse 41) “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (verse 46) “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

• So why is it so awkward to talk about it to friends and family? Did you know Satan hopes you don’t talk about it?
• It is said that a long time ago there was a conference in hell, and ol’ Lucifer was plotting and scheming how he might catch the human race and keep them from God and heaven.
• One fiendish lieutenant came to the master of evil and said, “If you will send me to earth… I will tell the people that there is no heaven to be gained.”
• Lucifer said to him, “No, no! They’ll never believe it because there is a little bit of heaven in every heart.”
• Another fiend came forward, darker and fowler than the first, and he said to Lucifer, “If you would send me to earth, I would convince the people that they can sin with immunity. That God would continue to love and forgive. That He would never, ever, ever judge anyone – even if they didn’t repent. I will convince them of that.”
• The father of darkness said, “No! These humans must not be underestimated. They have a conscience ……and deep within the heart of every human is this sense of righteousness. They know that evil will be punished……. They know that good will triumph over evil.”
• A third lieutenant, from the very darkest pit, emerged into the shadow of Lucifer and said, “Master, if you would send me, I would tell them this:
• There is no hurry!…….YOU CAN TELL OTHERS TOMORROW”
• And Lucifer said, “Yes, go tell them that!”
• Many people think “let someone else tell them!”. Many people consider themselves too sophisticated to believe in the devil and hell. That’s dangerous because they are real. I doubt that the Hollywood version of a guy in a red suit with horns and a pitchfork is what we will find…but the bible speaks of the devil from Genesis 3 through Revelation!
• And hell is the end result of not trusting in Jesus as Lord and Savior…and living a life that shows that disrespect for His Word. Revelation 21:8… But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars ….(and have not trusted in Jesus’ for forgiveness of these sinful actions)– their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
• The worst part of hell is eternally separated from God and good.

• Heaven on the other hand is…Revelation 21:3-4… And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
• And the best part of this is that it is prepared for and purchased for you…John 3:16…”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
• This is where other religions differ from Christianity.
• Hindus believe that they need to reach salvation through their own efforts. (Following 1 of 4 paths…love, work, knowledge, psychology)
• Muslims need to earn favor with God through laws and works. (5 pillars)
• Buddhist reach peace through right thinking and living following the 8-fold path to Nirvana.
• The bible is very clear that salvation is a free gift from God to you through faith…Ephesians 2:8-9… For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith– and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.
• So…if we are saved by faith…where does faith come from? Romans 10:17…Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
• So…stop and think about…who shared Jesus with you? How did they do it? Why did they do it? Who is God wanting you to share Him with?
• I get a disturbing image in my head from time to time.
• It can’t happen since there is no sorrow in heaven but…
• What would it be like to get to heaven…start looking for “old so and so”? You cannot find them, so you ask. You are told “they are not here…no one took the time to tell them about Jesus!”

So…since heaven and hell are real…let’s get real!

• Who do you know that you are not sure of their relationship with Jesus? Who is God nudging you to reach out to?

Fill in the blanks:

• Who in your immediate family_________________
• Who in your extended family__________________
• Which of your friends________________________
• Who at work or school________________________
• Who at businesses you frequent_________________

What is the first step…be ready…Share your Hope…Let the Holy Spirit do the rest!

1 Peter 3:15-17… Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad.

Humor for the day:

Two old guys, Fred and Sam went to the movies.  A few minutes after it started, Fred heard Sam rustling around and he seemed to be searching on the floor under his seat.  “What are you doing?” asked Fred. Sam, a little grumpy by this time, replied “I had a caramel in my mouth, and it dropped out.  I can’t find it.” Fred told him to forget it because it would be too dirty by now.  “But I’ve got to”, said Sam, “my teeth are in it!”