[Weekly Digest] Galatians419 Devotionals for week of 11/20/2011

Just in case you missed something this week:

The Most Repeated Command in Scripture

By Allen White   

Often the line that stands out in this passage is “You of little faith,” yet the most used command in all of Scripture is “fear not.” Starting with the Lord telling Abraham not to fear (Genesis 15:1, KJV) to Jesus’ words to John in the Revelation, “Fear not; I am the first and the last” (Revelation 1:17, KJV), God tells us to “fear not” more than any other command in the Bible. We are only commanded to “not kill” three times. Read more...

Almost Giving Up on Prayer

By Allen White   

He was brand new in the world. All he knew was the uncertainty of new surroundings and the arms of his parents who loved him.

Sam was born a month premature with an esophagus that wasn’t fully formed. But, in those first 60 minutes, he was perfect. Read more...

Christmas is Not Your Birthday

By Allen White   

Black Friday starts at 10 pm on Thanksgiving Day at Wal-mart. What better reason to get away from the family than by buying their Christmas gifts. But, let me ask you a question: what did you give and get for Christmas last year? Are your kids still playing with those toys? Are the clothes still worn? How much is in your garage or attic? Read more...

Disappointed with Thanksgiving

By Allen White   

Think about your Thanksgiving table. The absence of what dish would spoil the whole meal for you? It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without – mashed potatoes? Real cranberry relish (not the jelly in the shape of the can)? Green bean casserole topped with fried onions? Pumpkin pie? The family gathered around the table? The family gathered around the TV? Read more...

Guest Post: Do Not Be Afraid!

By Marcia Colgar   

Believe it or not, the phrase, “do not be afraid” appears over 300 times in the Bible. Yet how often do we fear things in our daily lives? We worry about what others think of us, what might happen in the future, or what God might challenge us to do. In fact, so much of what happens in our world today is driven by fear – lying, greed, infidelity. Why are we so afraid? Read more...

Guest Post: Do Not Be Afraid!

By Marcia Colgar

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

Believe it or not, the phrase, “do not be afraid” appears over 300 times in the Bible. Yet how often do we fear things in our daily lives? We worry about what others think of us, what might happen in the future, or what God might challenge us to do. In fact, so much of what happens in our world today is driven by fear – lying, greed, infidelity. Why are we so afraid?

Our fear reflects the fact that we do not trust in God. Even though He is the Creator of the Universe who knows what was, is, and is to come, we seem to forget that so often. We think that we can take care of life on our own, but instead we end up doing very little because we fear the outcome.

Think of all the things you worry about each day. The economy. Our jobs. The comfort and safety of our families. Our reputation. Our health. Our happiness. Isn’t God’s love so much greater than all of these things? Isn’t He the ultimate source of comfort, security, and joy? The things we fear seem to pale in comparison. He will never abandon us, even if we face troubles and hardship. Best of all, we have an eternal place in Heaven with Him.

In Romans 8:37-39, Paul writes about the amazing power of God’s love.

^“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

We have nothing to fear because nothing can separate us from God’s love. He promised in the Bible that He would never leave us or forsake us. So no matter whether the economy crashes, our homes are hit by a natural disaster, or we face serious illness, God will be there to calm the raging storm in our lives and bring us comfort. Set your trust in Him rather than in the things of this world, and you will certainly have nothing to fear.

Marcia Colgar owns the site Online Christian Colleges. She writes various articles about faith-based education.

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Disappointed with Thanksgiving

By Allen White

There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked,  “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless— a miserable business! Ecclesiastes 4:8

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 1 Timothy 6:6-7

Think about your Thanksgiving table. The absence of what dish would spoil the whole meal for you? It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without – mashed potatoes? Real cranberry relish (not the jelly in the shape of the can)? Green bean casserole topped with fried onions? Pumpkin pie? The family gathered around the table? The family gathered around the TV?

We all have a sweet spot when it comes to Thanksgiving -- when we’ve had enough or slightly more than enough. If it’s just family, belts are loosened. If there’s company, we seek refuge in elastic waistbands. All of us reach the point where we’ve had enough. “I just couldn’t eat another bite.”

Think about the rest of your life. How do you know when you have enough? We live in a culture built on a marketing structure that emphasizes how much we lack. Advertising helps us fill in a blank – I would be happy if I had _________.

Our worries are fed with our lack. We stress over what we don’t have. But, for God’s children, things are different. God’s children are blessed. They’re not lucky. They’re blessed.

I went to breakfast this morning with a friend who asked how he could pray for me. I listed off all of the things I was concerned about – all of the things I lacked. I lack certainty. I lack tangible security for my family’s future. I need. I want.

He reminded me to focus on how God has blessed me. Could it be that he lacked some of what God had blessed me with? I imagine his prayer for me will focus on cultivating gratitude in my life.

Right now, you and I could rattle off a litany of lack. We should save our needs and greeds for Santa Claus. But, today, Thanksgiving Day, we should rattle off our abundance – we are surrounded by people who love us. We can watch as many games as we want in HD. We can relish our cranberry sauce (that was my must-have for Thanksgiving).

How has God blessed you on this Thanksgiving Day? Save your lack for another day. How has God blessed you abundantly today?

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Christmas is Not Your Birthday

By Allen White

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:10-12

Black Friday starts at 10 pm on Thanksgiving Day at Wal-mart. What better reason to get away from the family than by buying their Christmas gifts. But, let me ask you a question: what did you give and get for Christmas last year? Are your kids still playing with those toys? Are the clothes still worn? How much is in your garage or attic?

We live in a world of excess. I know, you need to do your part to stimulate the economy. And, don’t get me wrong. You and I can express the gift of Christmas through gifts. I’m not anti-gift. I am pro-gift. I will send a list upon request. But, so much of Christmas really has nothing to do with Christ.

One of the biggest problems of this Christmas 2011 is that it falls on Sunday. Many people don’t want to go to church on Christmas even though Christ is the reason for the “Christ Mass” and the reason we even go to church in the first place. Family traditions have overtaken a significant Christian holiday. (I get a double whammy – Easter falls on our wedding anniversary in 2012).

Will we go to Hell if we splurge on Black Friday or stay home and eat brunch on Christmas Sunday? Absolutely not. In fact, if we shopped every day and never went to church, we could still escape Hell. Salvation doesn’t rely on our works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

But, would you agree that Christmas has become excessive? And, for most of us, would you acknowledge that Christmas is not your birthday? What are you giving to Jesus on His birthday?

The Magi gave Jesus gold, frankincense and myrrh. No rattles. No Baby Einstein DVDs (for the record: Einstein didn’t have any DVDs. Jus’ sayin’).

Gold was a gift for royalty. Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Frankincense was burned as an offering to God. It expressed His divinity even as a newborn baby. Myrrh was a burial spice. This represented the fulfillment of His mission on this earth.

The heart of Christmas centers on God’s love for us. “God so loved the world that He gave…” (John 3:16). Jesus came to serve and to offer His life as a ransom for ours (Matthew 20:28). Mary and Joseph didn’t exchange gifts with the shepherds. Jesus was their gift.

Jesus’ gifts from the Magi represent His identity, His offering, and His sacrifice. Jesus gave His all to have a birthday. What are we giving Jesus for His birthday? You don’t need to scrap everyone’s Christmas gifts and give only to Jesus. But, if Jesus wrote a letter to Santa (that’s weird), what would He wish for?

Here are some things to think about this Christmas:

1.       Set a budget for your Christmas spending. Don’t presumptuously spend beyond your means because of the irresistibly deep discounts.

2.       Buy presents for your loved ones.

3.       Buy a present for Jesus. Join me in giving to Jesus through the ministry of Water of Life. [LINK] Water of Life provides fresh water in West Africa and India alongside church planting. People without fresh water and without Christ are receiving both. Let’s give Jesus a water well this Christmas. Water of Life will inscribe “A gift from Jesus Christ” on the well. To donate, click here: http://my.givefreshwater.org/fundraisers/touch-the-untouchables/

4.       Take time to reflect on the meaning of Christmas on December 25. Whether you venture out to a Christmas service or read the Christmas story with your family, take a few minutes on Christmas to reflect on God’s love for you in sending His Son.

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Almost Giving Up on Prayer

By Allen White

When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him. Matthew 14:34-35

Today is my son Sam’s tenth birthday. Ten years ago today, I got to hold him for an hour in intensive care before any IV’s or tubes or surgical scars.

He was brand new in the world. All he knew was the uncertainty of new surroundings and the arms of his parents who loved him.

Sam was born a month premature with an esophagus that wasn’t fully formed. But, in those first 60 minutes, he was perfect.

There was a time during his hospitalization when we didn’t know if he’d ever make it to Kindergarten. Today, he’s in fourth grade.

Sam suffered many complications from surgery. The more we prayed, the sicker he became. It’s not supposed to work that way. We have a good God who is compassionate and bears the power to heal. But, it wasn’t happening for Sam.

On the eve of Sam’s fourth major surgery in the first four weeks of his life, God woke a member of our church, Carol, in the middle of the night. She began to pray for Sam.

The next morning, the hospital sent their oldest and most experienced anesthesiologist to transport Sam to surgery. They weren’t sure he would survive the 12 floor elevator ride let alone the surgery. The parting words from this sage doctor were “And, you know, he might not make it.” Our hopes were dashed.

A few hours later, Sam arrived back from the OR. The staff was animated. Something happened to Sam that they couldn’t explain. They kept saying over and over, “He came back a different baby.”

If God had answered our first prayer to heal Sam’s infection, people would have written it off to good antibiotics. If God had answered our 46^th prayer, people might have chalked it up to stellar medical care. But, when we had reached the point of almost giving up on prayer, God came through – and everybody knew it.

God’s ways are not our ways. God’s timing is not our timing. But, we can trust God. He is worthy of our trust.

Sam’s complete condition wasn’t resolved that day. In fact, the last 10 years have been like shedding the layers of an onion. He had a feeding tube until he was three. At four, we discovered a profound hearing loss. Okay, that was it. No, there’s something else. Then another something, and then another. Today, we’re on a list for testing for yet something else.

Sam is exceptional. He’s intelligent. He’s curious. One day Sam will invent something or discover something. God has a purpose for Sam on this earth. Often I think, “Only God knows…” – usually when he’s driving me crazy.

My prayers over the years have gone from wanting a perfect baby to wanting a repaired baby to wanting him to have some relief from multiple layers of issues. Despite all of this, Sam delights in a recurring phrase, “Life is good.” Wow, really? Sometimes I think life rhymes with “bucks.”

When I look at Sam’s life, I don’t have much to complain about personally. Sam’s life is good. He challenges me to trust God more deeply.

How about you? Can you say, “Life is good?” What is difficult for you to trust God for? Do you feel God’s answer is on the way or do you feel forgotten? If you’re not sure how to trust God more deeply, ask Him. He’ll show you.

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The Most Repeated Command in Scripture

By Allen White

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:22-33

Often the line that stands out in this passage is “You of little faith,” yet the most used command in all of Scripture is “fear not.” Starting with the Lord telling Abraham not to fear (Genesis 15:1, KJV) to Jesus’ words to John in the Revelation, “Fear not; I am the first and the last” (Revelation 1:17, KJV), God tells us to “fear not” more than any other command in the Bible. We are only commanded to “not kill” three times.

Jesus is the only person alive who doesn’t live in fear. Fear comes from a lack of knowledge or a lack of experience. Anyone giving a speech for the first time understands fear. Anyone facing uncertainty experiences fear. Jesus is all-knowing. He is God. There is no knowledge that He lacks. Yet, as a person on earth, Jesus sought out solitude to spend with His Father.

You and I don’t know everything. (Go ahead, forward this to your mother-in-law). But, we know God, and God knows everything. And, His command to us is “Fear not.”

If the Son of God felt the need for solitude with His Heavenly Father, how much more do we, His little brothers and sisters, need time alone with the Father. He might not tell us everything we want to know, but He will give us all that we need to know.

Jesus has all knowledge. Jesus has a close connection to the Father. Jesus also knew His power over creation. He could walk on water.

I’m not sure which is the greater miracle: walking on water or catching up to the boat. Our impression is the boat is not anchored in the storm. They were progressing to the other side. Jesus with supernatural buoyancy, balance and speed crossed the sea and caught up with His disciples in the boat.

We like to look down on Peter. He was so flakey. He was so impetuous. Yet, Peter is the only one who asked to walk on the water. Peter was the only one who got out of the boat. He lacked the faith to sustain, but he certainly had the faith to start. The other disciples were huddled in the boat.

Calm in the storm comes from solitude with God. If our attention is drawn to the wind and the waves and away from Jesus, this is evidence that our time with the Father is lacking.

“But, I’m busy. But, I’ve got little kids who need my attention. But, but, but…” As John Maxwell says, “If if’s and but’s were candies and nuts, we’d all have a Merry Christmas.”

Lock yourself in your car, your closet, your bathroom – you pick the chair. You don’t need half a day. Try half an hour. When do you come out? When you hear “Fear not.”

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[Weekly Digest] Galatians419 Devotionals for week of 11/13/2011

Note: I had a little trouble posting this one. If you happen to receive it twice, my apologies. -- Allen

Just in case you missed one this week:

Are You All In?

By Allen White   

I don’t gamble. But, once in a while I will watch high stakes poker games on TV. Poker is part strategy, part psychology, and part dumb luck. Not very often, but every once in a while, a player gets a hand that can’t be beat. They go “all in.” They bet the farm, if they own one. Read more...

Cast Your Vote by 11/22: Help Water of Life   

  

Chase Community Giving is handing out $3,000,000 in the next week. Help Water of Life on our   mission to provide fresh water and the Gospel in Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Guinea and among the Untouchables in India.

Click this link:http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/200202488-water-of-life?src=vote_share

"Like" Chase Community Giving on Facebook

Vote for Water of Life (you get 10 votes). Voting ends on November 22, 2011.

Thanks for your help,

Allen

Winning People to Churchianity?

By Allen White   

Most people don’t write their memoirs at 25 years of age. As epic as their antics might seem to themselves, the rest of the world simply rolls their eyes and cynically waits for the rest of the story. At 25 years of age, most of us don’t know who we are, let alone have much to shout about. Read more...

How is Jesus Living Up to Your Expectations?

By Allen White   

My parents are still part of a church they joined in 1969. The folks in this church have known me since I was four-years-old. Dear saints like Alvin Andres, Lillian Reese, Ona Mae Price and so many others poured themselves into my life over the years. Read more...

Can You Handle the Truth?

By Allen White   

In my early days of ministry, I had many doubts about my effectiveness as a pastor and especially as a preacher or Bible study leader. A number of those doubts remain. Read more...

Jesus Cares About What You Need

By Allen White   

Often we race past the first two paragraphs of this account and head straight into the miracle. There is something very human and very divine about Jesus in this situation.

First, He retreated to a solitary place. Jesus was grieving the death of His friend and co-worker John the Baptist. The Son of God and Savior of the world needed some space to deal with His feelings over John’s cruel death. Even Jesus couldn’t just move on. Read more...