THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Friday, July 14, 2023

Lord, when we pray, we naturally ask for your blessings. It’s just what we do, and that’s okay. Believers and non-believers call upon your kindness for blessings. At times, we ask with selfish motives. To be honest, Lord, I am guilty of asking for your favor with self-centered intentions. Forgive me.

The psalmist recognized this trait in himself and changed his motive when asking for your blessings. He must have left his message especially for me.

“Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey your word. Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.”—Psalm 119:17–18 (NLT)

Lord, you are a good and loving heavenly Father who delights in blessing his children. You see how flawed we remain, how we daily stumble in faith. That’s me! Could it be you bless us because your grace and mercy poured out upon your imperfect—yet forgiven—followers demonstrate your goodness to a skeptical world? Your goodness is meant to bring you glory, not fulfill my wish list. Do your will, not mine. Bless me that I may bless others.

You opened the psalmist eyes all right. He found doing life your way and ordering his actions according to your precepts brought you honor, and also benefited him. When he did things your way, life was better. Even when he could not see it, in problems and trials, your grace sustained him as he waited for you to work all things for his good.

Lord, I should pray as the psalmist. Purify my prayer motives so I may see your hand in all I do. May your blessings in my life honor you so I may bless others.

Amen, Jesus.

Chatting with Jesus

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Lord, what did they say? What stories did Christ followers tell about the believers in Ephesus? Publicly claiming to be a Christ follower in that pagan city generated much persecution, so what did other believers say about the Ephesians when they caught up with the Apostle Paul?

Hearing the inspiring news of the Ephesian’s faith inspired Paul to write them a letter of encouragement.

“Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you.”—Ephesians 1:15–16 (NLT)

Surely, they boasted how the Ephesians were the “real deal,” and the persecution only increased their faith—and their numbers. Despite their oppression their joy remained nonstop. And even though they didn’t have the advantage of the New Testament as we have, they remained strong as they put the precepts Jesus taught into practice. They trusted you, God, completely, that you are who you say you are and will do what you say you will do.

Okay, Lord … I knew when you gave me this Scripture to meditate upon you would ask me these questions.

What do people say about me when i claim to follow you? Am I the “real deal” or just a wishy-washy, Sunday-only follower? Maybe I’m labeled a hypocrite? Do I represent you or create embarrassment to your cause? And may I never hear—he/she is a Christ follower? Really? I never knew that.

Lord, help us, your followers, to develop that Ephesian-strong faith that we might represent you well. All who follow you desire to be the “real deal,” so help us maintain our zeal for serving you.

Amen, Jesus.

Chatting with Jesus

Monday, July 10, 2023

Lord, how often do we find ourselves in a pickle? Usually, for me, I’ve done something dumb and got caught in a situation and embarrassed myself, or worse, embarrassed the cause of Christ. But why am i reluctant to come to you and talk it over? Shame? Guilt? And yes, embarrassment? But I am in “good” company.

The psalmist found himself in trouble more times than he could count. His psalms speak of trials, persecutions, and personal and spiritual attacks. But for someone who is noted for his wisdom, in his humanity, the psalmist made some poor choices. Problems of our own making. Like the psalmist, I often step in it.

Did he feel like God had closed his ears to his prayers and given up on him because of his frequent spiritual failures?

Lord, at one time, all who follow you probably felt the same. I have. With unbounded gratitude, when we fail you, what a relief that all is not lost. The psalmist found hope in you. He left us his message:

Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” — Psalm 27:7, 8 (NLT)

Lord, you stated plainly to the psalmist, “I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here. Come sit a while and let’s talk this over.” You didn’t have to invite him twice.

The psalmist humbled himself and ran to you to get the matter straightened out. I should do the same—every time.

Lord, I thank you and praise you for welcoming imperfect people, like us, to come talk to you. Save us a sit—we’re coming, Lord. Amen, Jesus.

Chatting with Jesus

Friday, July 7, 2023

Lord, our stories are different, yet your grace delivers the same glorious results.

For those raised in church and as a child, asked you into their hearts, your grace kept them from straying into an ungodly lifestyle. (1 Corinthians 1:8). As they grew in maturity, they understood the impact of their salvation, and again by your grace, live by your precepts.

Other Christ followers came to you via a more difficult road. Regardless of the extent of godlessness in which we once lived, we all had one thing in common: to some extent, our life devolved into a train wreck. Most only lost a few boxcars off the rails, while others completely derailed, rolled down the hillside and destroyed the surrounding villages.

Both the church-raised saint, and the train wrecked saint, when they came to you, found you are faithful, and you are trustworthy. What a joyful celebration! Our souls rejoiced to understand you delight in taking broken things, broken people, shattered lives, and redeeming them for your glory. We can’t stop talking about it.

The prophet Isaiah described your pleasure. You delight to give those you redeem “a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory,” (Isaiah 63:1 NIV).

It is you, Lord, who keeps us like a great oak. “He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says …” (1 Corinthians 1:8,9 NLT).  

I love being a Jesus oak. Amen.

Chatting with Jesus
Thursday, July 6, 2023

Lord, I confess. For a guy blessed with a speech impediment, I talk too much. Way too much. I’m sure my chatter annoys friend and foe alike. That being said, amid the constant noise and busyness going on around me, and the need to keep up on social media, there are times I just want silence. Quiet. Stillness of verbiage. No noise. The sound of crickets is a symphony to my ears.

But there is one silence my impatient self never likes hearing. Your silence.

Lord, your apparent silence is difficult for me to process. When I need you to speak to my inner man, and you remain silent, I get itchy and want to take the reins into my hands. Not good! Finding my identity in anything or anyone other than you leads to insecurity and doubts.

As a Christ follower, nothing happens concerning me in which you are not involved. The emotional psalmist cried repeatedly, Lord, hear my plea. Answer my prayer. In his weakness, how many times did he cup my hands around his mouth and cry out to Heaven, “Hey, is anyone listening up there?” My prayers have echoed the psalmist.

Does your silence drive me to seek and search your Word, the sacred Scriptures? Oh, Lord, that it would.

Previously, when I needed an answer, a scripture I’ve read numerous times, maybe even memorized, would miraculously leap out at me, giving me the answer I needed. Your Word indeed is alive and active. (Hebrews 4:12)

Other times, maybe it’s best for me to shut up and listen for your still, quiet voice. How many times have you tried to get my attention, “Be quiet and listen,” and I couldn’t hear you over my wordy prayers. (Psalm 46:10)

Lord, I can trust your silence since you know things I do not know. I can trust you will answer my prayer in your timing. Your Word is true: you do answer prayers.

Amen, Jesus.

Chatting with Jesus

Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Lord, I do not understand all your ways, why things happen as they do. No one is exempt from the consequences of living in this broken world. Uncertainty in the world, and particularly in our personal world, gives us another opportunity to trust you are in control.

Scripture teaches us our thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, and your ways are far beyond anything we can imagine, (Isaiah 55:8, 9). So true.

How you dealt with Philistia, a nation who constantly attacked and persecuted your people, is a classic how your ways are not my ways. The first time I read the story, I exclaimed, “No way!”

First Samuel, chapter Five, describes how the Philistines captured Israel’s Ark of the Covenant and carried it away to their land. How they gloated, laughed, and celebrated, mocking you, the God of Israel, over capturing Israel’s most treasured possession. You would have none of their foolishness.

My way of dealing with them? Rained down fire and brimstone upon those evil people.

Your way. Lord? So much worse. You afflicted everyone in that nation with “tumors,” or translated into English, hemorrhoids. Yes, hemorrhoids.

Lord, I love your humor. Did you say, “Hey, Philistia. Who’s laughing now?” I would have.

To demonstrate the extent of Philistine’s stubbornness and hatred against you, they suffered for seven months before admitting their transgression and returned the Ark to Israel. The sighs of relief from the entire nation of Philistia must have reached heaven.

Lord, your ways are not our ways, and your thoughts are not our thoughts. Therefore, we can trust you to deal with our problems however you choose whether we understand or not. You are God, and you will do what you say you will do.

Amen, Jesus.

Chatting with Jesus
Monday, July 3, 2023

Lord, you often spoke about the necessity to ‘remain’ in you. If we stay connected—remain—to you, you assured us we would live successfully as your follower and not be bulldozed by our circumstances. Also we’d be productive in furthering your kingdom here on Earth (John 15:1–17). And as a benefit, you give us an extraordinary eternal retirement package if we remain in you. I want to be a remainer.

So, Lord, why would anyone choose not to remain in you? You do everything you can to remain in us, but because You gave us the free will, we can remain in you or just walk away.

Observing the chaos in our nation and around the world, and so much is out of our control, gives us another opportunity to choose to remain in you and trust you will do what you say you will do, or throw our hands up and declare the situation hopeless.

Maybe social pressure and the fear of rejection by the woke culture causes many to separate from you. Perhaps some thought the surrender of their will to become a Christ follower wasn’t as easy as they thought it would be.

It’s a different story for remainers. The peace, love, and comfort you give cannot be measured in human terms. Nonbelievers fail to understand how remainers’ faith and your grace carry them as their world around them falls apart. Remainers learn to love as you love, especially those most difficult to love. Remainers see you working on their behalf while the world sees only doom and gloom.

Lord, help me be not only a believer, but also a remainer. Amen, Jesus

Chatting with Jesus

Friday, June 30, 2023

Lord Jesus, when you came to us, you set aside your deity and became fully human. You needed to experience everything we experience, so no one can say you don’t know what we go through. You exhibited every emotion we have—love, compassion, disgust, fear, sadness, loneliness—to name a few.

Jesus, you exhibited an emotion that some well-intentioned, but misguided. people advise us to avoid. Anger.

Understandably, your anger rose at the unscrupulous merchants cheating the worshipers as you drove them out of the Temple. No doubt your righteous anger flared at the hypocritical religious rulers misleading the people. However, some confusion about anger may exist in the Gospel of John, chapter eleven, when you raised Lazarus from the dead.

John recorded your anger (John 11:33, 38). Who were you angry with? Certainly not with the grieving. The sight of tearful mourners, their puffy eyes, quivering lips, hands trembling as they held one another, their profound sadness must have stirred your compassion. You cried.

Who were you angry with? You anger raged at Satan. You were angry at what the consequences of sin brought into the world.

Did Satan have the gall to gloat before you, saying, “Look what I did. This is my best work. I brought all this sadness and grief on humanity.”

Lord, I love how you slammed Satan’s taunts into the rock that once covered the tomb. You simply commanded, “Lazarus, come out!” I envision you turning to Satan and reminding him, “I AM the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.” (John 11:25)

I hope as a final dig at Satan, you casually mentioned, “By the way, this is my best work.”

Amen, Jesus!

Chatting with Jesus
Thursday, June 29, 2023

Lord, someone said when we read the Bible, the sacred Scriptures, the Bible is reading us. The psalmist recognized this phenomenon as he studied the Scriptures, and how your Word revealed his flawed state. His heart was in the right place. He was willing to be used in your kingdom, but your Word revealed his present state still had rough edges that needed divine sanding.

Many probably believed the psalmist had his act together, someone who made policy with God himself. He served as a religious leader, performing his duties in the sanctuary, but in his humanity, often he failed to live up to your values. As the psalmist grew deeper into your Word, he determined to turn his life around and order lifestyle to reflect living by your precepts. What he wrote probably describes all Christ followers’ struggle to live all-in for you.

“As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should. I will obey your decress. Please don’t give up on me”—Psalm 119:7–8 (NLT)

Lord, like the psalmist, studying your Word reveals your power, purity, and holiness are beyond human description. All Heaven and Earth adore you, our great Sovereign God Almighty. Studying your Word also reveals how my life, in comparison with your righteous, exposes my sinful state and how I need more of your mercy and grace. I’m trying. Please don’t give up on me.

Lord, I’m diving in headfirst, fully committing myself to you, but you know how human I am. Not intentionally, but I’m gonna make mistakes. I praise you for being the never-giving-up-on-me God.

Amen, Jesus.

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Lord, I find it hard to believe I’ve walked this planet over seven-and-a-half decades. The ancient sage of Ecclesiastes knew the brevity of life, and like him, I wonder where the years went. The psalmist also considered how quickly life fades and the importance of dedicating our lives to serving you.

Was the psalmist humming a happy tune while writing Psalm 103 about the benefits of serving you? Did he break out a big ole ear-to-ear grin when he penned verse five? “He fills my life with good things.  My youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (NLT)

As he aged, the psalmist found serving you and living by your precepts kept him healthy in body, soul, and spirit. He never lost his young-at-heart attitude. Even though the years slipped by at increased frequency, life still held meaning and purpose. Each day began a new adventure. When sickness and disease attacked his body, he still came out on top. Disease may have taken his body, but it never defeated his spirit. Your grace sustained him to the end.

In an earlier manuscript, the psalmist upheld the opinion that age is only a number. No need for AARP or AMAC to remain relevant. Writing from a thankful heart, he emphasized how you, still used him to influence the younger generation and encourage people to remain faithful to faith to you. He may have even been giddy when he wrote: “Even in old age they still produce fruit. They will remain vital and green.”—Psalm 92:14 (NLT)

For the believer, there is no such thing as retirement. Lord, may we be used to further your kingdom here until we take our first breath of the pure air of Heaven with you. Amen, Jesus.