Category: Character

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Stay on Course

Recently we watched “Kon Tiki”. It’s a movie about the “real life” of Thor Heyerdahl and his crew who sailed from Peru across the Pacific to the Polynesian Islands in 1947 on a balsa wood raft. It was a 4300 mile trip and took over one hundred days. The courage of Heyerdahl and his crew is matched only by their determination. It’s definitely a “must” watch.

The raft’s only means of propulsion was its sail and the ocean’s currents and a rudder were its means of navigation. The rudder helped them hold their course as the current and the trade winds moved them on their journey. I was captivated by their story, after all, Heyerdahl is Norwegian and so am I.

The rudder – a long wooden pole with a flat piece of wood tied to the end of it – was the only thing they had to steer them through the waters. It would have been disastrous to have lost it.

We also need a rudder to stay on course and the Bible tells us what that rudder is.

“All of us do many wrong things. But if you can control your tongue, you are mature and able to control your whole body. 3 By putting a bit into the mouth of a horse, we can turn the horse in different directions. 4 It takes strong winds to move a large sailing ship, but the captain uses only a small rudder to make it go in any direction. 5 Our tongues are small too, and yet they brag about big things.” James 3:2-5a CEV

Our tongue, the words that we speak, are our rudder in life. The things we say to ourselves and the things we say to others will set our course in all our relationships. One of the best examples of controlling life’s circumstances with words comes from the life of Job. Job had lost all of his children, his animals and his crops. Physically he was suffering and this was his wife’s advice:

“Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes. 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.” Job 2:8-10 NLT

Job kept his words pure; they were his life’s rudder. He knew if he began complaining about the way things were going, he would lose the only thing he had left, his faith. He had faith that God would vindicate him and He did!

King David said this: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 NLT

Jesus said this: “I promise you that on the day of judgment, everyone will have to account for every careless word they have spoken. 37 On that day they will be told that they are either innocent or guilty because of the things they have said.” Matthew 12:36-37 CEV

And the Apostle Paul said this: “and never stop praying. 18 Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.” I Thessalonians 5:17-18 CEV

We don’t need to give thanks for the troubles we face but, like Job, we keep our focus on the One who will bring us through the troubles and stay with us in the troubles to keep us in His loving care.

“Whenever people are jealous or selfish, they cause trouble and do all sorts of cruel things. 17 But the wisdom that comes from above leads us to be pure, friendly, gentle, sensible, kind, helpful, genuine, and sincere. 18 When peacemakers plant seeds of peace, they will harvest justice.” James 3:16-18 CEV

When God’s words become our words they are a powerful rudder that will keep our lives on the right course, a course filled with gentleness, kindness, sincerity and peace.

Stay on course!

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Congratulations Class of 2020!

I want to take this morning to say congratulations to all who are graduating this year. You did it!

Each one of you are unique and have talents and abilities that no one else does. Your perspective, sense of humor, compassion, strength and skills have made you one-of-a-kind. As parents, grandparents, educators, family and friends we want to encourage you as you continue on this road of life.

God made you complete; an individual who will add to this world and not take away from it. The person you are now and in the process of becoming is as distinctive as your fingerprints. Without you we would all be missing out.

Parents, from the time our graduates were born we guided them in their development. It was our job to nurture them and help them see their God-given talents. As this door on their education closes and they step out into a waiting world we know there is nothing common about them. They have a calling, a plan and a purpose that is exclusively theirs.

“‘I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.’ This message is from the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you.'” Jeremiah 29:11-12 ERV

Trust God to direct your path; as you pursue His plan your lives will be filled with peace, protection and wisdom. He has designed this day from the beginning of time and He desires nothing but good for you.

Any plan that God designs is excellent. Trust Him with your future. You are valuable to your heavenly Father; it makes no difference your profession. We need you – trades persons, educators, first responders, professionals, ministers, musicians, bankers, clerks, artists, designers, homemakers – we need you all.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 8 Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8 NLT

We are celebrating you, the graduates, today. College, High School, Trade School, Junior High and yes, even kindergarten. God’s love and provision is never limited – not by age, class, race, gender or education. He has made a promise to each and everyone of us – He will never leave us or abandon us – never!

Go with God! Follow His path.

Congratulations!

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Have A Great Day!

What are you considering today? What we focus on effects our emotions and our actions. We can get up with our mind filled with thoughts of joy or thoughts of dread and those thoughts will dictate our day.

I plan to have a great day, I hope you do too.

Our most powerful adversary as Christians is not the devil. He was defeated when Jesus rose from the grave and we have been given authority over him and all his evil works. However, our greatest adversary is also our greatest ally – it just depends on how we use it. I’m talking about our minds!

God won’t force us to do things against our will. He won’t force us to accept His wonderful gift of salvation, even if it means we will eventually go to hell, and He won’t force us to accept the blessings that He is providing for us in this life either. We must willfully accept all of His provisions for them to work in our lives.

So, how do we move the mind from an adversary to an ally? The answer is simple. It’s by what we consider. Our mind is much like the computer I am using to message with right now. It can only produce on screen, or in memory, what I input.

It becomes our responsibility to input the correct information. The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:1-2 “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

When we let God’s word be our input our minds will have a better way of thinking. I love what I heard one pastor say, “Get rid of stinkin thinkin”.

It’s imperative that we guard our minds more than we guard our wallets. The damage caused by wrong thinking is more detrimental than losing our cash. In fact, it’s very similar to spiritual identity theft. Thinking like the world thinks will keep us from realizing all the wonderful blessings that God has provided. “We live in this world, but we don’t fight our battles in the same way the world does. 4 The weapons we use are not human ones. Our weapons have power from God and can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy people’s arguments, 5 and we tear down every proud idea that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We also capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.” II Corinthians 10:3-5

Counteract the world’s influence today and live this “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” II Timothy 1:7

We can make our day great by concentrating on all that God has done for us!

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Kindness & Peace

Some mornings when I get up I hesitate having any contact with the outside world. It’s not because I’m afraid of the reports on COVID-19. My heart gets grieved by the unkind words and actions that seem to be so prevalent.

Two things we can always use more of is kindness and peace. It would mean a great deal if people treated us nicer, right? I think we can get a hardy amen to having less drama in our lives. Here is the question: How can we be used to bring those two elements into the lives of those around us?

“This letter is to all of you in Rome. God loves you and has chosen you to be his very own people. I pray that God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!” Romans 1:7 CEV

Well, we can begin by praying for God to bless those we know with kindness and peace. And then we can follow through with being kind to those around us.

Kind to the other drivers on the roads, to the grocery store workers, our first responders, to truckers, neighbors and those we speak to on the phone and through electronic communication. To our kids and our spouses.

Kindness brings peace.

“Without wood, a fire goes out. Without gossip, arguments stop. 21 Charcoal keeps the coals glowing, wood keeps the fire burning, and troublemakers keep arguments alive.” Proverbs 26:20-21 MSG

“Don’t you know that the reason God is good to you is because he wants you to turn to him?” Romans 2:4 CEV

God’s goodness is what draws people to Him. When we emulate God’s character we are being used to bring others to Christ. We must never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit working through us.

“God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, 23 gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.” Galatians 5:22-23 CEV

Today I’m praying that God’s goodness and peace will overflow in our lives flooding all those around us.

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The Easter Ham

A newly wed bride was preparing ham for their first Easter dinner. She retrieved the 9×13 pan from the cupboard, placed a baking rack in the bottom, removed the ham from the refrigerator and then took a sharp butcher knife from the drawer and cut the butt end from the ham.

Her husband, who was standing there, politely stopped her and asked why she was cutting the end from the ham. The answer was clear, “That’s the way my mother always did it.”. To which he inquired further, “But, why?”. Unsure of the answer the bride called her mother.

“Mom, why do you always cut the end from the Easter ham?” Her mother replied, “Grama always did it that way so I did too.” “But why?” “I’m really not sure.”

So the bride phoned her grandmother. “Grama, why do you always cut off the end of the ham?” Grama thought for a moment and then with a chuckle she told her granddaughter “Sweetheart, it’s because my pan is too short.”

Oh my!

How many times do we do things just because we’ve seen someone else always do it that way? How many things are done out of tradition without a good solid basis and purpose?

“Jesus answered, “You are all hypocrites. Isaiah was right when he wrote these words from God about you: ‘These people honor me with their words, but I am not really important to them. 7 Their worship of me is worthless. The things they teach are only human rules.’ 8 You have stopped following God’s commands, preferring instead the man-made rules you got from others.” 9 Then he said, “You show great skill in avoiding the commands of God so that you can follow your own teachings!…13 So you are teaching that it is not important to do what God said. You think it is more important to follow those traditions you have, which you pass on to others. And you do many things like that.” Mark 7:6-13 ERV

So much in religion is done out of tradition instead of relationship. “That’s the way we’ve always done it”. While we have all this extra time in self-isolation may I suggest that we evaluate our relationship with the Lord. Get to know our Father. What are the things He likes, what brings Him pleasure? He tells us in His word.

The men Jesus was talking about in the verses above were so caught up in their traditions. The number of times they washed their hands and the cups they used were of utmost importance, more important than the way they treated their parents and other people. Their traditions were more important than what God said.

I remember one pastor that I worked with saying: “It is more important that we work with the Lord than for the Lord.” So many times we think we are working for God but the real motivation is for us to look good. When we work with God we’re not concerned about how we appear, we are concerned that what we do brings honor and glory to Him. He’s our sole focus.

Occasionally I have to evaluate the things I’m doing to make sure they honor the Lord.

“God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That’s why he sent Christ to make us what we are.” Ephesians 2:10 CEV

Let’s not be like that young bride. Let’s establish traditions that glorify and honor the Father!

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Big Hearts!

Bigger Buts – Bigger Boats – Bigger Hearts!

I’m developing a pattern here and I didn’t realize it. The crisis we are going through, and we are going to get through it, is causing some to lose their hope and their perspective. They have become short-sighted and self-centered.

We need to be big-hearted people.

I read about a tattoo parlor on the East Coast who took all their supply of masks and latex gloves to the local hospital and donated them. They said they felt there would be plenty of supply once they were able to start business again.

Locally, a resort restaurant had to close and they made food boxes for all their employees who were being laid off. A restaurant in Tucson donated all their food to the local food bank. Instead of thinking only about themselves they were thinking how they could benefit their communities, their neighbors.

Churches are creating teams to check on their members. First with phone calls and then with people to do odd-jobs and grocery shop.

They are thinking with big hearts.

We should be Christ-like in our actions. That is the true meaning of Christianity. Christ was selfless and we should be too. Let’s look around our neighborhood and ask “what can I do to help”. Maybe it’s something as simple as writing a note of encouragement and putting it in a mailbox. If someone can’t get out, ask if there’s something they need from the store and pick it up for them. A mother of small children may need some extra craft supplies, a plate of cookies or some game ideas. Thank a first responder, the mailman, the delivery truck driver and certainly those still working in the retail markets.

We mustn’t allow this situation to side line us. The Apostle Paul teaches us that we all have God-given talents and abilities that will benefit others. Let’s use them.

“I realize how kind God has been to me, and so I tell each of you not to think you are better than you really are. Use good sense and measure yourself by the amount of faith that God has given you. 4 A body is made up of many parts, and each of them has its own use. 5 That’s how it is with us. There are many of us, but we each are part of the body of Christ, as well as part of one another.

6 God has also given each of us different gifts to use. If we can prophesy, we should do it according to the amount of faith we have. 7 If we can serve others, we should serve. If we can teach, we should teach. 8 If we can encourage others, we should encourage them. If we can give, we should be generous. If we are leaders, we should do our best. If we are good to others, we should do it cheerfully.

Be sincere in your love for others. Hate everything that is evil and hold tight to everything that is good. 10 Love each other as brothers and sisters and honor others more than you do yourself.” Romans 12:3-10 CEV

Let’s make it our goal to help someone today. Right now the world needs big-hearted people!

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Life’s Programming Updates

Have you ever felt that your “programming” was going through an update? Things are changing and you have to wait for them to be completed.

Yesterday was that kind of day. My friend, Tom, who set up my blog website worked with me on some behind-the-scenes changes that I felt needed to be made. We worked to have my morning blog post automatically to the Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn sites at the same time the emails are generated and sent to your email addresses.

This might sound like a simple step but it was not without its challenges. I am so thankful for Tom’s knowledge and patience. We ran into a few roadblocks. Tom was able to track them down and successfully maneuver past them. We did a test post but this morning will be a full scale effort.

To make this change I had to set up a Facebook page, different from my personal News Feed page. I will be sending each of you who are my “friends” on Facebook an invitation to like and follow Kristi’s Morning Devotional. If you do you will be able to read the blog each morning as usual.

Why this change? I really don’t like change but Dave and I are going to be spending more time traveling this year and sometimes we are in areas that don’t have very good wifi. If I can write my blogs ahead of time and schedule the publication for a few days later it will prevent interruption of posting to social media. I want to make every effort to avoid any days of not posting.

The next few days may have some hiccups but we’ll work them through. Please be patient.

Isn’t that the way it is in life? We know that we are being changed on the inside; things are going on behind-the-scenes but those we love and work with aren’t always aware of the updates.

When the Lord begins to show us things about ourselves, things that need to be deleted, updated and reprogrammed, we begin to change. Sometimes the change is external but most often it is a change of attitude, action, purpose and functionality. The New Testament instructs us to put off the old man and take on the new. Our new life is in Christ and He has a way of changing us for the better.

“Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better…Yet Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. 12 God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. 13 Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you.” Colossians 3:10-13 CEV

Let’s be patient with one another – we are all going through changes. Updating is in Progress!

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What Is Sacrifice?

This morning we will have an interactive blog posting. I will ask you a couple of questions and hopefully you will answer. Of course I won’t be able to hear those answers unless you post them as comments but answer them in your heart just the same.

The definition of the word sacrifice is this: to offer up, surrender, or suffer the loss of something. The term has been used in a number of ways; the sacrificial hit of a batter, a service member giving the ultimate sacrifice, a parent sacrifices their material and emotional needs to provide for their children. In every one of these circumstances, the person is offering up or laying down their own well-being for the needs of another.

First question: What sacrifices have you made for those you love?

I’ve recently been reading in the book of Leviticus. It’s here that Moses gives the laws of living and instructions for sacrifice to the Israelites. They are in the desert, about to go into a new land. They need instruction to properly set up their governance and life as a nation. God gives them instruction on sacrifice; the kind of animals that are acceptable, oil, bread and wine offerings too. Each sacrifice was a reminder that the Lord was their God and He would go with them and protect them.

This morning I made a discovery about praise. In the Psalms, King David asked the Lord to consider his prayer as a sacrifice.

“Lord, I call to you for help. Listen to me as I pray. Please hurry and help me! 2 Accept my prayer like a gift of burning incense, the words I lift up like an evening sacrifice.” Psalm 141:1-2 ERV

Question Two: What did King David sacrifice?

He sacrificed his words. I believe, on more than one occasion, he sacrificed his words of fear, worry, and complaining to praise God for His faithfulness. Just like the Israelites, his sacrifice of words was a reminder that God was with him in all things.

Question Three: How do we offer sacrifice to the Lord and show Him our love?

“So through Jesus we should never stop offering our sacrifice to God. That sacrifice is our praise, coming from lips that speak his name. 16 And don’t forget to do good and to share what you have with others, because sacrifices like these are very pleasing to God.” Hebrews 13:15-16 ERV

Answer: We praise Him! We praise the Father that Jesus sacrificed His life for ours. We praise Him that He is in control, even when things seem to be completely out of control. We do good and share with others because God, our loving Father, has given us all we have need of and more.

The most effective form of sacrifice that we can give is praising God when we don’t feel like it and when it looks like there is nothing to be thankful for. It is then that we sacrifice our emotions and will to His safe keeping. A sacrifice of praise reminds us that God is in control and we can trust Him.

I hope you will join me and offer the Lord a sacrifice of praise.

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Hard Hearted

If we aren’t careful life has a way of making us calloused. Do you remember the days of three television networks? Those days when Ricky and Lucy and Rob and Laura slept in separate beds even though they were married. It was a time when the newscasters shielded us from the brutal graphics of war and harshness of life.

We were a more tender hearted people back then. We weren’t blinded to the situations of life; we felt compassion. Our hearts ached over injustice.

Tender hearted -> a condition where we can be easily touched by another’s adverse or favorable circumstances; an attitude that allows us to be open and accepting.

Hard hearted -> cynical, calloused, disbelieving, selfish and self-centered

Pharaoh was a hard hearted man. The plagues that came on Egypt were a result of his hard heartedness. He was unwilling to let the Israelites go and worship God. He was unyielding and stubborn. When Moses told him what plagues were coming, he actually had his magicians create the same plague just to prove he was in control. When Moses asked him when he would like one of the plagues to end his response was tomorrow.

“All right,” Moses answered. “You choose the time when I am to pray for the frogs to stop bothering you, your officials, and your people, and for them to leave your houses and be found only in the river.” 10 “Do it tomorrow!” the king replied.” Exodus 8:9-10 CEV

The Egyptians were suffering because their leader had a hard heart. He wasn’t willing to give in to the Lord. After several of the plagues had passed even his advisors encouraged him to let the Israelites go but he refused. A hard heart!

Jesus grieved over people with hard hearts when he was here on earth.

“Then he asked, “On the Sabbath should we do good deeds or evil deeds? Should we save someone’s life or destroy it?” But no one said a word. 5 Jesus was angry as he looked around at the people. Yet he felt sorry for them because they were so stubborn. Then he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his bad hand was healed. 6 The Pharisees left. And right away they started making plans with Herod’s followers to kill Jesus.” Mark 3:4-6 CEV

Verse 5 in the King James version says He was grieved because of the hardness of their hearts. The Pharisees were more concerned about keeping the law than they were about the man being healed. Their traditions meant more to them than the well-being of one of their neighbors.

Sad to say, we all go through times that our hearts are hardened. However, that can be remedied as we spend time in God’s word and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. The outer shell will crack and fall away revealing the tender heart that comes from the Father.

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 KJV

When we focus on what God has done in our lives we will be more tender hearted to others. A heart transplant.

If we have to be hard hearted it should be toward sin and evil. Resist the devil (be calloused) and he will flee from you. As Jesus was hard hearted to sin and resisted temptation we should be too. He hated sin and the enemy who brought its effects into the world but he loved the sinner and did all He could to set them free, that’s why He died for us.

So, let me encourage you today to be tenderhearted to others and hard hearted to evil. This is a Christ-like attitude.

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Life Lived Well

We all desire to have a good life but what does that mean? To some it brings images of wealth and nice things while others see health, physical well being and strength. Still others will envision a happy family and peaceful contentment.

What is the good life to you?

Each time I listen to my mother talk about her upbringing I know that she has experienced the “good life”. Her family wasn’t wealthy but they were rich in love. Her home was modest in furnishings but lavishly decorated with peace, kindness and caring. I can only hope that my children and grandchildren will speak of me with the same love and affection that my mother expresses for her parents and grandparents.

The book of Proverbs gives us many insightful verses on life. Verses on a life well lived and instruction on what is truly important.

“Any bragger you correct will only hate you. But if you correct someone who has common sense, you will be loved. 9 If you have good sense, instruction will help you to have even better sense. And if you live right, education will help you to know even more. 10 Respect and obey the Lord! This is the beginning of wisdom. To have understanding, you must know the Holy God. 11 I am Wisdom. If you follow me, you will live a long time. 12 Good sense is good for you, but if you brag, you hurt yourself.” Proverbs 9:8-12 CEV

If we follow wisdom we are promised a long life. A good life. Jesus said he came to give us an abundant life.

“I am Wisdom—Common Sense is my closest friend;  I possess knowledge  and sound judgment. 13 If you respect the Lord, you will hate evil. I hate pride and conceit and deceitful lies…What you receive from me is more valuable than even the finest gold or the purest silver. 20 I always do what is right, 21 and I give great riches to everyone who loves me…Pay attention, my children! Follow my advice, and you will be happy. 33 Listen carefully to my instructions,  and you will be wise. Come to my home each day and listen to me. You will find happiness.” Proverbs 8:12-13, 19-21, 32-34 CEV

There is much to learn by listening to and applying God’s word. Wisdom will be our constant companion and we will have joy. That truly is a life well lived!

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