New Year Devotion: Happy New You

Like everyone else, I try to make resolutions at the beginning of the new year. Like most people, I fail to live up to my own expectations. This year I'm going to try something different. I've written a new e-book called "Happy New You," which contains 31 short daily devotions for the month of January. My plan is to read and reflect on God's Word each day and try to get closer to Christ right at the beginning of the year.

I believe that if I do this, then I will make God the focus of my 2014 journey. Would you like to join me? If so, then you can also do this by getting the e-book for your kindle, PC, Mac, or mobile device. The link to the book is contained in the box below.

God bless you all. May 2014 be a year where your hopes and dreams are all fulfilled in Christ!

New Year Devotions: Happy New You!

I've just published my latest devotional e-book entitled "Happy New You." It contains 31 daily devotions for each day of January.

New Year is a time when we all try to make changes and do better things with our lives. This devotional book will help Christian folks deepen their relationship with God and get the year off to a great spiritual start.

Each day there is a Bible verse for mediation, a short devotion, questions for reflection, and a communal prayer. There is also one of my created images to help with the meditational aspect of the daily message.

The book costs only $1.49 and is available now. Click the box below to take you to the Amazon link.

Free Devotions: Fifteen Years of Grace - Isaiah 38:5

Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 38:1-8 and Matthew 18:1-9

Isaiah 38:5      “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.’” 

Last week, I wrote that Hezekiah was my favorite king in the Old Testament. This second incident from his life, which is recorded in the Bible, let’s you know why I like him. Hezekiah was given bad news from the prophet Isaiah about his impending death and so he did what his people had done for generations – he lay down and turned his head to the wall, surrendering himself to Death.

But Hezekiah was only human, so he also tearfully prayed to God for help, in the hope that things would be changed. It’s the same type of moving moment that Charles Dickens would use with his famous fictional character Ebenezer Scrooge. God sees Hezekiah’s humility and is moved by his tears. Events are changed and grace is given. In fact, Hezekiah is granted fifteen more additional years to his life and God confirms this with a miraculous sign involving the Sun and shadows.

One day in Heaven, I hope to walk with Hezekiah and ask him about that miraculous day. I want to hear how he felt and then give glory to God for such amazing grace. In my lifetime, I have seen similar events with people who are cancer survivors or heart surgery patients. They have a better understanding of what life is about and usually have a greater appreciation for the extension of their own lives. It’s a wonderful gift given by God through the skills and knowledge of surgeons, doctors, and nurses.

This week, we have each been given another year. We do not know what lies ahead of us but we all hope to experience God’s grace during it. If we place our lives into His hands at the beginning of this New Year, we will know one thing by the end of it: He is always in control.

Question for reflection:          What parts of my life do I truly have to give over to God and wait for His grace?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, at the beginning of this New Year, we have many hopes and dreams, issues and concerns. Grant us the courage and humility to hand them over to You. Help us to put You at the center of our lives, so that we may follow and serve You all the days of this year. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest winter drawing. It’s called “Snowmobile” and features a classic car in the snow under a winter moon. If you would like to view a larger version of this drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7149/6609941245_ec24cdb7a3_b.jpg

Best Devotions Books on Kindle

So far I've written 3 devotional e-books for Kindle. I'm now working on a fourth for the New Year based upon the Gospel of Mark. In the meantime, here are my 3 current books:

New Year Devotions: A Congregational Prayer - Philippians 1:9

Philippians 1: 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight.

If ever a prayer was written for a local congregation, it must certainly be this one of Paul’s. I love these words because of the encouragement and faith that is expressed in them. Our wee church at Erin has just completed some major renovation and expansion work on the building. Now it’s time to apply this verse and work on the people who congregate there.

Just recently someone was telling me about the welcoming love that they have experienced at Erin. I was proud to hear that the people I serve are embracing visitors and welcoming them as friends in Christ. To me, that is the main part of what a church should be doing. Whenever someone new walks through the doors of any church, they should be met with a sincere joy and delight that will make a good and lasting impression.

I also want that love to be spread into our local community. There are hundreds of people in our parish who do not know the love of God in Jesus Christ. If we can discern who these people are and make the right effort in reaching out to them, we can keep a light on and an open door for them to walk through when they need God most.

Paul’s prayer to the Philippian church was highly effective because it became a major base for the spreading of the Gospel all across the Mediterranean. My hope and my prayer is that with the right encouragement, vision, and faith, all of our local churches can begin to do the same throughout this New Year.

Prayer: Lord Jesus , we thank You for our churches and the congregations to which we are attached. In this New Year, we pray that You will equip and encourage us to undertake local outreach projects and missions that will enable us to embrace and welcome new visitors and new friends into our midst. Thank You for the power of the Gospel in our lives and for the potential that it has to spread across our community. In Your Sacred Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s drawing is one of John’s latest lighthouse prints. It’s called “Light Snow” and depicts the Portland Head Light in Maine during a snowstorm. You can view a larger version of the print here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/traqair57/5286516317/sizes/l/


All of John’s drawings can be found on the Web at his artsite at http://www.stushieart.wordpress.com/

Signed, numbered and matted prints are available for only $20 each (plus shipping if necessary).

New Year Devotions: A New Path for a New Year - Ephesians 4:26

Ephesians 4:26b         "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry”

At every wedding to which I have the privilege of conducting, I usually quote this verse from Ephesians. I say something like: “Each day do two important things – firstly say “I love you” to one another and secondly, never let the sun go down with anger or bitterness in your hearts because life is too short to hold grudges against each other.” After the wedding service a couple of guests usually come up and complement me on the practical advice that I’ve offered to the newly married couple.

There’s a lot of wisdom in what Paul had to write long ago. I try to practice what I preach, but sometimes I fail and allow grudges to ruin my week with my wife, my children or even my friends. I carry the burden of emotional pain and hold on to my hurt for too long. Instead of letting go of the trivial past, I nurse my troubles and pander to my bruised feelings.

With the coming of a New Year, there is always a golden opportunity to let go of past pain and instead to let God heal my hurts. I can begin again and throw off previous disappointments, broken promises, and harsh words. I can forgive myself and others through Christ, but only if I choose to let Him. I can start the New Year with an act of faith and allow myself and others a clean slate.

If I can do this, then surely you can too?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, at the threshold of this New Year there are many positive possibilities and fresh starts. Help us to embrace Your guidance and goodness, Your love and laughter, Your mercy and grace. Rid us of our anger and disappointment. Heal our hurts and subdue our hostilities. Grant us peace and a new path for a New Year. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s last drawings for the year. It’s called “Star Messiah” and depicts the baby Jesus in the Bethlehem manger. If you would like to view a larger version of this drawing, please visit the following link:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5167/5284738336_e85c5b850f_b.jpg

New Year Devotions: Fulfilling Our Calling - Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:1             As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 

As per our usual custom, our family went to the movies on Christmas Day. We’ve done this for several years because we enjoy the atmosphere at the picture house, as well as the blockbuster of a movie that we choose to see.

This year, we chose “The King’s Speech,” which is definitely not a blockbuster but it may win more than a few Oscars. It’s about the story of King George VI of Britain who suffered from a terrible stammer. Each time he was called upon to make a public speech, his stuttering took over and ruined his presentations. When his older brother abdicated the British throne, George was thrust into the forefront of the British Empire and had to make many broadcasts. When war came to Britain in 1939, King George had to rally the nation. Without the determination of his Australian Speech therapist, the new king would never have been able to do this and the encouragement that the British public needed in the darkest days of war would never have been accomplished.

The movie is fantastic and I heartily recommend it to everyone. There is some cussing involved but it’s used to express the utter frustration that the king experiences with his stammer.

King George fulfilled his calling to which he was appointed. He never chose to do this, but when called upon to lead his people, he put duty first and set aside his own preferences. He was one of the most beloved rulers that Britain has ever known and his own daughter Elizabeth epitomizes all that was best in him, as well as her devoted mother.

We are all given a calling in this life. We may not be called to be kings and queens of the nations, but are we expected to live our lives as heirs to God’s Eternal Kingdom. This means that as Christians our lives are meant to be significantly different from those around us. Our faithful calling is Christ’s vehicle to a fallen world and a faithless culture. If we set aside Christ’s desire for us in His work, then all that we accomplish in this life are our own preferences instead of the purposes that God has in store for us.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we are all different and individual. Our backgrounds, cultures and influences over our lives are as varied as we are. Yet with all of our differences, You call us to that one sameness in You. Help us to cast aside our preferences and to carry with us Your purposes each day. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send John an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest winter scenes. It’s of the famous Glade Creek Grist Mill in Babcock State park, West Virginia. You can view a larger version of this drawing here: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5205/5279354020_7a844bb3b2_b.jpg

(John’s images are available as signed, matted & numbered prints. If you would like one ($20 each, plus shipping) just send John an email.

Free Daily Devotions: Against the Tide - Zephaniah 3 v 16

Zephaniah 3:16                 On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.

I felt sorry for the Texas Longhorn quarterback last night. Five plays into the game, he was injured and had to be benched. He saw his team battle bravely from the sidelines, but the Alabama players were just too much for them. Without their leader, the Longhorns were no match for their Crimson Tide opponents. The whole team didn’t play well at all because their potential for success was diminished when McCoy was injured.

Today’s passage from Zephaniah is about restoring God’s people after many years of exile, oppression, and defeat. The prophet has been inspired by the Holy Spirit to lift up the hearts of the people and cheer them with good news about being rescued by God. Instead of being afraid and letting their hands hang limply by their sides, Zephaniah is encouraging his people to reclaim their hopes and lift up their arms in praise of God’s power and presence in the community. Instead of being hopeless, God’s people become hopeful. Rather than languishing in fear, they are being led back to their faith in God.

At the start of each New Year, we all have hopes and dreams mixed with some fears and worries. The promises of restoration and salvation are given to us so that we may rejoice in God’s grace and be assured of His care. We are not isolated or alone, forgotten or abandoned. God is still in our midst, battling for His people and bringing them back to Christ, His Holy Son.

So let’s raise our arms and voices to praise our God. Let’s fill our hearts with faith to overcome our fears and allow Jesus to joyfully lead us through another year of faith, hope, and love.

Prayer:                 Lord Jesus, You are our Leader and Savior, our Sovereign and Guide. Throughout our days, You are willing to show us God’s work in the world. You are the One who inspires our dreams and empowers us to fulfill our lives in meaningful and abundant ways. Thank You for Your words. Thank You for Your guidance. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

2010 Daily Devotions: If and Then - Galatians 3 v 22

Galatians 3:22            But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. 

What was promised…might be given.

Decades ago, I can remember purchasing my first computer. It was an Acorn computer with 32 kilobytes of memory. I felt as though I owned one of the most advanced personal computers in the world and I spent ages entering formulas and equations to make it work.

I remember on one occasion that I tried to set up a windows filing system which would help me with my pastoral work. It took me four days to enter the information correctly and when I was finished, I had a black & white screen filled with little boxes where I could put in names and addresses, some short information, and a calendar for visitation dates. I felt as though I was light years ahead of my pastor peers and couldn’t wait to show some of them what I had created.

The equations and the formulas that I had to enter were all built through key sentences of ‘if and then.’ If I pressed a button here, then a file would come up on the screen. If I entered a name here, then more information would be accessed somewhere else in the computer. So long as the ‘ifs and thens’ were entered correctly, then the system worked beautifully.

These days, computer already have these programs entered and filing is so much easier, but way back in the 1980s windows files were very rare.

Today’s verse reminded me of the ‘if and then’ process of salvation. Many people think that salvation is a given, but it’s not. This is why the apostle Paul reminds the young Corinthian church that what was promised through scripture might be given to those who believe. Belief in Christ, then, is a required component of salvation. If there’s no belief, then there is no salvation, no matter what the world would like to think.

That’s why Christianity is first and foremost a missionary faith. We do not minister to ourselves, we take the Gospel message out into the world. We take it to our families and friends, our neighbors and working colleagues. The promises of salvation can only be experienced through our belief in Jesus. There is no other way. There is no other person, there is no other faith.

If the ‘if and then’ of belief and salvation are not entered into our hearts and minds, then the good news of the Gospel remains inoperative. We will have wasted our whole lives by inputting the wrong spiritual formula and erroneously entering the wrong eternal equation.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we want to live forever in God’s Kingdom and to experience everlasting life. You are the only way to achieve this; You are the Only One who has the words of eternal life. Keep us faithfully focused on You and help us to attract and enable others to come to Your Cross. Make us missionaries of Your message. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

New Year Devotions: Holy Harmony - 2 Corinthians 6 v 15

2 Corinthians 6:15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

I’m struggling right now with my thoughts about other religions. I know that religion has been the source of major wars and disharmony throughout the world for thousands of years. I understand the need to get along and be good neighbors. I yearn for world peace, coexistence, and harmony, but I’m also a Christian first and foremost, so the question that I’m asking myself is this: did Jesus preach a message of peace at all costs or did He actually begin the Last Battle between humankind and God, which will end up with His Victory over all?

Decades ago, in my youthful arrogance, everything seemed to be perfectly clear: it was Christ’s way with everything or no way at all. Throughout the years, the world has changed and so have I. My sinfulness over the years has made me realize how much I depend upon Christ’s grace, but is that grace limited to those who believe, or is it freely given to all religious and non-religious people?

I keep returning to the focused faith of the First Christians. They were willing to die for Christ. Were they being truly faithful or just fanatical? Were their beliefs foundational and immovable? Did they die because they were stubborn and anti-establishment, or were they martyred because they couldn’t and wouldn’t compromise Christ?

In my heart, I know the answer: there is no harmony between belief and unbelief. Christ is the only way to salvation.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, sometimes we feel lost and disconnected to God. We want the world to be a beautiful, loving, and peaceful place. We want our planet to be totally united and focused on the welfare of humanity. But sometimes there is no peace and there will be no harmony because we cannot compromise our Christian beliefs. Help us to do what we can for the common good of our brothers and sisters in the world, but never at the cost of losing our faith in You. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s picture is taken from John’s Scottish Art series. It depicts Iona Abbey in Scotland at night, just after the Fall harvest. You can find a larger image of it at the following link: Scottish Art Series

New Year devotions: 2010 - A New Journey

Psalm 147:5    Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

I like to think about each New Year as a journey of faith, where my understanding about God and my beliefs in Jesus will grow deeper and stronger. I’ve tried to be a Christian for almost 33 years and throughout each year, I’ve learned more about God’s words and Christ’s ways. It doesn’t make me anymore holy or saintly, but rather as each year passes I am in awe of God’s patience, love, and grace.

Perhaps you are also wondering about this New Year and new decade that we’re about to enter. Maybe you have hopes and dreams for your life, or perhaps there are fears and worries on the horizon. Whatever is ahead, know this: God is still mighty and powerful, and His understanding of our lives and circumstances are limitless.

We all tend to make resolutions at this time of year, but perhaps this is the perfect time to ask God what He would wish to resolve in us. If we will let Christ guide us throughout this new journey of 2010, then I think that there will be all sorts of new opportunities and possibilities about growing in faith, getting nearer to God, and finding our purpose.

So may 2010 be a Happy and Prosperous New Year for all of us, but also a more meaningful and faithful journey in Christ.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, as we stand on the threshold of another new year, we pray that You will come to meet us and lead us onward in this amazing journey that we call life. Take us to where You would have us effectively do Your work, and empower us to minister to those who travel with us. In Your Holy Name, we expectantly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@presbyterian.org.

4 Minute Devotions: Beginnings

In the beginning, this New Year was made by God. His will sustained the Earth as it revolved on its axis and continued to orbit the Sun. As midnight struck across our planet in the different time zones, God’s Word and Will kept the Universe in being, whilst the people of our world celebrated the beginning of 2009.

In the midst of all our festivities, we may have been too preoccupied to thank the Founder of our feast. Some of us may have whispered short prayers for our families, our friends, our work, and our prosperity. We may have quietly voiced our fears and insecurities to God in a glancing thought; or we may have left words of grief, regret, and disappointment unspoken.

Genesis1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God

Whatever we may have felt at midnight, this morning sees the beginning of a new day. As the sun rises in the East, a new dawn is ushered in quietly, naturally, and routinely. At the start of this day, we are reminded that both in the Old Testament and New Testament light is given a prominent place. The darkness of a chaotic cosmos is enriched with the goodness of a star-filled universe. And the desolate darkness of fearful and finite humanity is given the faithful and everlasting light of Christ.

As we set aside 2008, we either gladly or reluctantly let go of the past, in order to begin a new journey. We place both our fears and faith into God’s Hands; we let in the light of Christ to heal our hearts and help our hopes. We step over the threshold of a New Year, looking for God to guide our way and let Jesus join us on this fragile, wondrous, and personal journey that we call Life. We pray that in the beginning of this year, God’s Word will continue to sustain the universe, this world, and our spirits.

Prayer: Lord God, we thank You for sustaining the Earth and for continuing life on this little planet. As we enter this New Year that we call 2009, we seek to place You at the center of our days, experiences, and events. Be with us in the midst of the blessings or banes that will come our way. Strengthen us for the ordeals and tasks that lie ahead. Grant us faith and patience, perseverance and fortitude throughout this holy and sacred, unique and unknown year. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Pace Yourself

We are all at the starting line of 2009, ready to begin a New Year. How will we pace ourselves for what we will encounter?

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

One winter, when I was in High School, I became a member of the Cross Country team. It was much harder than I anticipated. I usually practiced long distance races on the level playing fields at the school and easily outran my peers. For some reason, I could last longer running around the track about fifteen or twenty times.

My coach had taught me how to pace myself by breathing well and maintaining a regular rhythmic pace around the track. So long as I worked on those two things, I kept winning the long distance races at our school.

But cross country running was entirely different. I had high expectations for myself and when I joined other runners from Glasgow in a country park for a three mile race, I thought I would easily finish in the top ten. As soon as the starter fired the gun, I set off at my usual pace and then I encountered something that upset my breathing and rhythm: hills and valleys all across the park.

I was so used to running on a level track that it never crossed my mind to prepare for a different kind of track. Going down hill, my legs went faster than expected and broke my rhythm. I struggled to pound up the hills and it affected my breathing. About halfway around the course, I was totally winded and had to stop. Some of my school team mates, whom I had consistently beaten on the level track, galloped past me. By the time the race was over, I had come in 125th! So much for my own high expectations.

We all stand at the starting line of a New Year, anxiously waiting to see how it will turn out. We all have high expectations and make many resolutions to ensure that we will accomplish our goals and fulfill our ambitions. We expect a level track, but there will be hills and valleys, crests and troughs, highs and lows along the way. That’s when our perseverance, faith, and hope in the Lord will be crucial to our successes and failures.

This year, let’s take and make time to put Christ at the center of our lives and to give God the glory for all that we achieve. Let’s not take our blessings for granted; rather let us accept them humbly and apply them meaningfully in ways that will both honor and please the Lord.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we know that You are our Savior and Teacher; we ask that You become our Leader and Guide throughout 2009. No matter what we face or encounter, keep us safe in Your hands, and enable us to accomplish much in our homes, at our work, and through our churches, to the glory of God. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Simply Serving

Why do we, as Western Christians, feel entitled to God’s blessings? Are we meant to serve or be served by God?

Luke 2:39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

They could have felt divinely entitled and fully excused of their religious commitments. After all, Joseph and Mary were charged with the responsibility of protecting, raising, and rearing Jesus, the Son of God, so they could have been given some slack.

Instead, they chose to fulfill what the Law of the Lord required – offering a sacrifice, presenting Christ to the Lord in the Jerusalem temple, and having Him circumcised. They decided to show how dedicated they were and how honored they felt at being chosen for this holiest of callings. They would not claim any special bonuses or blessings from God. They would not demand that their wants be met or their commitment be recognized. They would simply submit to the Lord and remain grateful for the privilege they had been given.

Sadly, in our sophisticated Western Christianity, I see much of the reverse. Mega-church preachers and TV evangelists proclaim a Gospel of entitlement, success, and prosperity. Thousands of people turn up with their notebooks each week to glean words that will give them the scriptural secrets to making their dreams come true. Millions of viewers tune in to listen to this type of glossy Good news in order to make them feel better about their lives. There’s a sickness in their souls and a Gospel of greed possesses them. They want to be empowered, encouraged, and entertained, not confronted, challenged, or changed.

Joseph and Mary endured many hardships and experienced deep sorrows for accepting God’s call. They endured the scorn of their community when people first realized that Mary was pregnant. They experienced humiliation when they couldn’t find a place to have their baby born. They had to leave their country behind to go and become political refugees in Egypt. Even when they eventually returned to Nazareth, Joseph may have died young, leaving Mary to raise Jesus and the rest of the family. And finally Mary had to watch her grown Son die in a shameful, horrific, and painful way.

They accepted their calling and never felt entitled to health, wealth, or success. They served God fully and faithfully, doing what they were told and honoring Him. They sought service over success, sincerity over insecurity, and willingness over wealth. God chose them perfectly and wisely because they had the potential, character, and commitment to do what pleased Him.

There’s a lesson here for all of us and the challenge is this – are we willing to serve or be served? Is our faith all about God or about us? We know what the answers should be, but are we ready to let God make what could be with our lives?

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for the examples of faith, commitment, and service that Mary and Joseph showed in the past. Enable us to embrace that kind of holy calling and sacred service to You. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: In Limbo

Psalm 91:14 "Because He loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My Name.”

After Christmas, there is always that in-between time when we all reflect about what’s happened throughout the year, and then anxiously anticipate what lies ahead of us. We may get nostalgic or melancholy, depending upon what has occurred throughout the last twelve months; we may also be fearful and uncertain about the New Year.

Throughout this limbo of a time, I like to look at different Bible verses to see if I can come up with a motto for myself and the church that I serve. I was taught this by a ministerial friend in Scotland, who served his parish faithfully and pastorally. At the beginning of each year, he found a special verse and encouraged his congregation to embrace and apply throughout the New Year.

This morning, I came across one that might fit the bill, although I have not settled on it. Because I love the psalms, I tend to choose motto verses from the plethora of God’s promises that are contained in that precious part of the Bible. Today’s verse, Psalm 91 v 14, is all about reassurance which, during these uncertain times, we all need to read, hear, and experience.

I like the fact that the verse begins with God’s love, then continues with deliverance and protection, and ultimately ends with an acknowledgement of faith. It contains all of the elements that I personally have experienced from God over the many years that I have been a Christian.

I do not know what 2009 will bring, but I believe that God’s promises will accompany me, no matter what happens, where I go, or what I do. I guess that’s what faith really is – relying upon God throughout each present day and knowing that He holds the future in His hands. May you also experience the same.

Prayer: Lord God, we thank You for loving us, and for delivering us from all sorts of problems or troubles. We claim Your promises because we know that Your word is forever true. Lead us and carry us throughout the coming year, to the glory and honor of Christ’s Everlasting Name. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Faithful Love

Is God a Great Santa in the sky who laughs and lovingly indulges everything that we do? Or is there more to faith, love, and life?

Psalm 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.

Ever since the Beatles came out with the song, “All You Need is Love,” our church and society seem to have adopted that creed. It’s as if we’re meant to excuse everything under the sun that we do or don’t do, and cover it all under the umbrella of love.

Don’t get me wrong, love is the greatest of all things, but we’re talking about real love here, not the indulgent, narcissistic love that our society idolizes. This text is about the total love that involves faith and loyalty, and in this case, it is the faithful love that we give to God.

Sometimes I worry about my own generation and how casually we treat God. Maybe it’s nothing to some folk, but as a pastor with people under my spiritual care, it’s a very big deal to me. If I couldn’t care less about where people ended up eternally, then the way we narcissistically approach the throne of God’s grace wouldn’t bother me one bit. But because I do care, I express my concerns in my preaching, my writing, and even my blogging.

Maybe I’m a dogmatic dinosaur who has outlived my need to be here. Or perhaps I’m a joyless Jeremiah or preacher-prophet who is destined to cry out in the wilderness of the world. Whatever the case may be, my approach to faith is not to follow the popular or well traveled path; I follow God first and lean on Christ when I fail. I guess it could be called ‘old-time religion’ and, as the song boldly declares, ‘if it was good for Paul and Silas, then it’s good enough for me.’

We’re all heading into a New Year and we will soon make new resolutions. How about we all take on an old one: to love God with all of our heart, strength, body, and soul? Perhaps then we would be able to show the world that faithful love Christians keep talking about. Perhaps then we would put God first and realize that life, as Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church so simply stated it, is not about us. It’s all about God.

Prayer: Lord God, sometimes we take You for granted and we believe that anything we say, do, or write will be indulged by You. Forgive us for being so vain and for putting ourselves, our needs, wants, and desires, at the center of our lives. Re-teach us that the universe does not spin around us, and that we are all creatures created by You. In Christ’s Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.