Weekly Devotions

“Blessed is the one…who meditates on [the Lord’s] law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3, NIV.

While recommended never to use clichés in writing, and since I already opened the devotion last week with one, I ask that you indulge me one more time to make a point. “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Now for a confession—many times I have chosen to read a book simply because the cover was appealing. Yes, I know, this philosophy is the wrong approach when seeking good literature; however, book publishers spend a lot of money to produce book covers that are attractive and will entice a potential reader to purchase their product. Clearly, the theory works with me and maybe it works with you too. Even still, though bright colors and artistic graphics on the front and back cover appeal to the senses, they do not always translate to the best stories inside.

Contrary to the clever and glitzy book cover philosophy, one book that needs no embellishments to promote its popularity and according to Guinness Book of World Records “as of 1995, the Bible is the best-selling book of all time with an estimated 5 billion copies sold and distributed.” The Bible is unique to the reader in that no matter how many times one opens and reads, the words within offer transforming power. For over 2000 years, the Bible has needed no revision to strengthen its appeal and grow its readership. The Scripture passage in Psalm 1indicates that whoever reads the Bible, God’s Word, is “blessed.” The printed words on each page have life-giving properties. Hebrews 4:12 states, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit” (NIV).

Every day, books are added to the “best seller list,” and then, eventually, they fall off and new books take their place. The Holy Bible will never lose its appeal because its Author is the Creator of words and Creator of all life. Take time to open your Bible today. I promise, that if you do, you will not be disappointed, you will never lose interest, and you will never be the same. 

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7, NKJV.

“Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.” This cliché is probably familiar to most of us and like most cliché’s needs little explanation; however, for the sake of this writing, I would like to dig a little deeper.

When a friend visited me recently, we sat around my dining room table as we chatted. The conversation drifted onto the Scripture verse in 2 Corinthians as my friend used the design of the table to expand on the meaning of the passage. You see, my dining room table is unique. The craftsman who designed the table thought to create it as three large layers of glass. With a tool and delicate, yet deliberate force striking the middle layer of glass, the impact caused only that layer of glass to shatter, being held together by the remaining, intact layers of glass. The result is beautiful! Instead of seeing the table as damaged, the broken glass catches the light, creating prisms of colored sparkles throughout the room.

Like the table, you and I bare the imprint of our Designer. God created human beings with a unique capacity to endure the blows that accompany living in an imperfect world, marred by human sin. Held together by His love and the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, our brokenness reflects the beauty of God’s presence. 

My table did not simply appear one day out of nowhere; it was created with much foresight by the craftsman who had its design in mind. Friend, you are not an accident or a “thought in hindsight.” God knew you before you were conceived (Psalm 139). An “earthen vessel,” like glass, is vulnerable to the elements, but in the hands of a craftsman the treasures of possibilities are endless. Let the Light of Jesus shine through you.      

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10, NKJV.

Every summer when I return to my home on the shore of Delaware, the pathway leading from the house to the beach is once again blocked by the weeds that have sprung up over the winter months. Of course, stabilizing the sand against storms is important and necessary, but out of control growth inhibits passage to the water’s edge.

After a walk on the beach and as I meandered over the stickers and thorns that had grown out of the weeds and bramble on the path, I began pulling up the stray grasses. With one yank, a root system several feet in length released and came up out of the sand easily, while other weeds were fully taking hold. As I continued in my effort to clear the path, the illustration and spiritual application also began to take hold of my thoughts…

Sherry, these weeds are like the sin that “so easily ensnares us…” Once the seed of sin is planted, it takes hold. The roots are hard to get rid of, even when we recognize the “fruit” of sin…anger, jealousy, bitterness, impatience, pride, lawlessness, deception, self-centeredness, laziness…and the list has no end!

Then, I began to wonder…

If I plant good seeds like the ones necessary on the sand dunes that protect the shoreline from washing away during storms, how powerful this would be.

According to Galatians 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit is “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…” Our world could certainly use more of these planted seeds! You and I have control over which “seeds” we plant. Today, what is the fruit of your planting?

Happy sowing!

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19

Recently, I had the privilege of learning about the “Shabbat” or Sabbath, as we more commonly know it. For the Jewish people, Shabbat began on Friday just before sunset and lasted until “the appearance of three stars in the sky” on Saturday evening. The command of Sabbath began by the lighting of two candles and the reciting of a blessing called the “Kiddish” (which means sanctification) by the father as he holds a cup of wine. 

“Blessed art Thou, Adonai our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and was pleased with us, and His holy Sabbath in love and in favor, He gave us a heritage, a memorial of the work of creation. For it is the day beginning for holy convocations, a memorial of the exodus from Egypt. For You chose us and sanctified us from all the nations. And Your holy Sabbath with love and favor you gave us a heritage. Blessed are You, Adonai, Who sanctifies the Sabbath.” [Respond: Amen.]

It is intriguing that the honor of lighting the candles is solely reserved for the mother. One rabbi stated the reason for this being, “the mother brings light and warmth into the home.” It is certainly an honor to bring both love and comfort to a family. 

Sabbath means “ceasing,” not merely “rest.” It is a time to cease our own work so we can ponder and stand in awe of the Living God’s hand at work. 

According to Scripture, Jesus healed 7 times on the Sabbath. This would have been considered absolutely scandalous in his day. However, as Lord of the Sabbath, the one who calls us to rest chose to RESTore. 

Mark 1:21-28     Man with wicked spirit

Matt. 8:14-15     Peter’s mother-in-law

Luke 6:6-11        Man with withered hand

John 5:1-17        Invalid at Bethesda

John 9:1-12        Blind man

Luke 13:10-17    Crippled woman

Luke 14:1-6        Man with dropsy

7 (the number representing “completion”) were healed, according to Scripture, on the Sabbath…2 women and 5 men. Of course, Jesus culturally would have observed Shabbat with his family and the disciples, but he also chose to demonstrate His goodness and Sovereignty at times…always prioritizing those in need. 

The Living God calls us to rest while He restores what is broken. Sweet sisters, I pray your hearts experience His light, warmth, comfort and rest in the fact that God is making ALL things new! 

“The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Have you ever had an itch you just can’t stop scratching?  

Here’s the picture of my summer vacation:

• my first case of poison ivy in the first week
• a slight infection 
• remedies set in place
• allergic reaction to an antibiotic
• full body hives that made me look like a dot to dot picture!
• 5 weeks of itching and little sleep
• 4 trips to Urgent Care and all this as I am visiting family far from my home.

Here’s another picture:

• at birth we are infected with a sin itch that infects our want, our will, our wishes
• we look for ways to scratch the itch
• it irritates, annoys, discourages us even when we try to resist
• remedies are short-lived and disappointing sometimes causing more reactions

Here’s another picture

• we were created with the eternal itch for relationship with God (Eccl. 3:11)
• while we were still ‘itching in our own way’, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8)
• His death and life became the Way for our sin itch to be remedied, satisfied, removed
• His life in us becomes the Way to walk with him, for him, to him in every step – no matter what itch may tempt or attack us.

I am still recovering from my summer itch. And I’m so thankful to tell you, I didn’t completely miss a lesson from the Father. Paul’s words came into fresh view  ‘…the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the One who loved me and gave himself for me.’ (Gal. 2:20b) So in my raging, itchy, sleepless moments, I tried to pray for those in deeper painful itches than mine

• for those whom I’m praying will invite Jesus to rescue from their sin itch
• for those who are in cancer treatments that bring enormous itching as a side effect
• for young parents and caregivers to loved ones who are exhausted 
• for refugees, war-trapped people, hunger-depleted bodies
• for cities and neighborhoods whose itch for justice, truth, refuge are spinning
• for fostering families, those waiting for adoption
• for ministers and lay folk who are shouldering heavy burdens because of their ministry to others
• for the enduring itch of anxiousness, loneliness, depression, doubt, fear of friends…our world.

Where does your itch find you today? Who is on your ‘itch list’. Who needs some relief? Maybe it is just a “sit and be quiet” moment on the phone, in a text, in person with a friend, co-worker, neighbor? Maybe it’s a rest with Jesus.  Take it all to Emmanuel, our with us God.

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12, NKJV

Several years ago, my then very young grandson came to me to confess he had broken something in my house. With tears and sobs, he said he was sorry. Of course, my grandmother heart began swirling in many emotional directions. Firstly, I was sad to see him so distraught; secondly, seeing his sweet little repentant demeanor touched me beyond measure. Not once was there any concern from me about the item broken, only this little “man” sitting before me who I loved more than life itself.

When we approach the throne of God broken over our sins and misgivings, I think we are afraid He waits, ready to punish us, when in reality He looks beyond our offense into the heart of repentance. The tender mercy of God through His Son, Jesus, meets us right where we are with love. Make no mistake. God is a just God, but His love toward His children forgives our greatest offenses when we come to Him in true repentance.

Even after coming into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we are still sinners no matter how hard we try not to be. Paul told his protégé, Timothy, “Fight the good fight of faith…” Every day presents people with challenges, and all we can do is “fight” to do our best, trusting God for the rest. God has given His Word as the “weapon” of choice with which to fight the battles with sin. His Word is tried and true. As we approach our heavenly Father in confession of our struggles, He waits, not with a whip but with a love so deep and wide, that His Son, Jesus gave His life that we should gain eternal life through Him.