There’s No Problem-Free

By Allen White

The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. Genesis 39:2

Joseph is remarkable to me. His brothers threw him down a well (Genesis 37:23-24), faked his death (Genesis 37:31-33), sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:28, 36), then Joseph rises up to flourish in Potiphar’s household (Genesis 39:2-6). After Joseph flees from the advances of Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:6-15), he is falsely accused and thrown into prison (Genesis 39:16-20) where he prospered (Genesis 39:20-23). After Joseph had been forgotten for two years (Genesis 41:1), he is called upon to interpret Pharaoh’s dream (Genesis 41:15), and then becomes basically the Prime Minister of Egypt (Genesis 41:41-57).

Here’s the difference between me and Joseph: good things and bad things also happen to me, but my response tends to significantly less positive than Joseph’s. If Joseph had become bitter, depressed, questioned his faith, questioned the goodness of God, and wondered if he’d made a mistake at each juncture of his life, then we could be twins. This is one of many reasons why you don’t read about my life in the Bible.

The remarkable thing about Joseph is that he didn’t intentionally turn lemons into lemonade. He didn’t force himself to sing Bobby McFerrin (“Don’t worry. Be Happy.”) or listen to Tony Robbins tapes. While we don’t know what he did at the bottom of the well, other than just wait, we see at Potiphar’s house, in prison, and in Pharaoh’s administration, Joseph was available for God to use him. And, God caused him to prosper over and over again.

So often we think “Well, if I can just get through this, then I can focus on serving God.” But, here’s the deal: do we ever actually get through it? As Rick Warren says, we are always in one of three places: in a problem, exiting from a problem, or entering a new problem. There is no problem-free. (To borrow a phrase from my friend, Mark Howell). Life doesn’t stop because we have problems. Spiritual growth doesn’t stop either.

In fact, the problems that we’re facing can better reveal God’s glory and power in our lives than the peaceful times. We might think that there is no possible way that we can pour more effort in our relationship with God when our problems are sapping all of our strength. So, don’t. Don’t try harder to serve God. Let God work in you. Just lay it all out before Him: “God here I am in the middle of this problem. I feel like I’m at my brink. I can’t deal with it, and I certainly don’t feel like I can move forward spiritually. I need for You to work in me through this situation. Accomplish what You intend through these circumstances. I can’t. I give it to You.” Then, wait and see how God works.

God can bring unrealistic peace (Philippians 4:6-7). God can cause us to flourish. Our circumstances will never be perfect, and we certainly can’t afford to wait to grow spiritually.

Maybe you feel like you’ve been thrown down a well today. Maybe you’ve been falsely accused or mistreated. Maybe you feel forgotten. God wants to uniquely use this circumstance to develop His character in you and to show you His goodness.

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Thanks!

Thank you for faithfully reading and supporting these Galatians 4:19 devotionals. Your financial
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Happy Thanksgiving! and thanks for reading!

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Thanksgiving Memories

By Allen White

When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.”

Joshua 4:1-3

Thanksgiving has always been a special time of year for me. As a child, my family would travel out to Hayes, Kansas, where we would spend Thanksgiving with my Aunt Sally and Cousin Vhonda. This was one of the best things that my family did.

I remember eating plenty of food, putting on musical performances with my sister and my cousin – we had a lot of fun. The evening would usually involve watching The Wizard of Oz and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I still have nightmares of those flying monkeys.

My twelfth birthday fell on Thanksgiving Day. My aunt made a special Happy Birthday pumpkin pie for me that year. That’s still a special memory for me.

Your Thanksgiving may be filled with other things this year. I’m sure there’s food and football. Maybe a little family tension. Maybe a long walk on a cool Autumn day to work off the dinner.

Thanksgiving in November is a uniquely American holiday. Thanksgiving in Canada was last month (they get an extra month of Christmas shopping). In the Bible, thanksgiving is a heart attitude that goes beyond a single holiday.

In Joshua 3-4, we read how the people of Israel miraculously crossed the Jordan River. This was the final boundary into the Promised Land. After the tribes had passed through the river, Joshua instructed one man from each tribe to gather a stone. These twelve stones were placed in the river as a reminder of God’s work on their behalf. The intent was that years later when their children and grandchildren asked about the stones, parents and grandparents would stop and reflect on God’s goodness to them and His power to overcome an overwhelming obstacle.

As you celebrate Thanksgiving, stop for five minutes and think about how God has helped you to overcome obstacles in your life in the past year, five years or even your whole life. If it’s appropriate, share this with the others who are gathered with you.

Thanksgiving brings to mind the faithfulness of God, which gives us the confidence to face the future. Our memories may point us to monumental accomplishments of faith. Our memories may look back on the broken road that led us to Christ. Either way, God’s faithfulness is solid ground to build our futures on.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Extra Mile? What About the First Mile?

By Allen White

If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Matthew 5:41

Jesus is speaking to a common annoyance among the people of His time. Under Roman law, soldiers could commandeer ordinary citizens into carrying their burdens for the distance of one mile. They had no choice. One mile was the obligation. No more. No less.

Jesus challenged His followers to “go the extra mile.” That’s a term that has permeated the vernacular of our culture. “Extra mile service,” Extra Mile books, Extra Mile seminars, and Chevron even has “ExtraMile” stores.

The first mile was out of obligation. There was no choice. The second mile was unexpected. Just when the soldier would expect the citizen to carelessly drop the burden on the ground, the citizen takes the next step into the second mile and continues on. Maybe the soldier thought he had a dumb citizen who couldn’t calculate mileage. Would the soldier just have let this go or would he have reminded the citizen that he didn’t need to carry it further?

What is Mile One in your life? Working an eight-, ten-, twelve-hour day? Maintaining a home? Teaching lessons to a class? Reaching a quota? Writing five devotionals and a small group leaders’ blog? What is that first mile?

Now, where does the extra mile take you? Maybe it’s doubling your efforts. Maybe it’s not. Maybe the extra mile is not just putting in the hours and doing the work. The extra mile is caring about the work as if it was your own, as if you were working for God (Colossians 3:23). Maybe the extra mile is caring about your co-workers and your boss. How are they doing? Where do they need help?

Maybe the extra mile is giving when you have nothing to gain. Jesus’ followers weren’t going to become all buddy-buddy with Roman soldiers. But, Jesus directed them to help people and to expect nothing in return.

If you are completely irritated by this devotional today, then I would challenge you to take Jesus’ words right back to Jesus. “Jesus, You are telling me to go the extra mile when I don’t even feel like going the first mile. Do you know what I have to deal with at work, home, (fill in the blank)? If You want me to develop this extra mile attitude, then You need to do a work in me. I can’t do this on my own and maintain it.” Then, wait and see what happens next.

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The Devil + Moonshine = Trouble

By Allen White

In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26-27

I like to avoid conflict. Sometimes I like to pretend that there is no conflict and just go about life like normal. But, unresolved conflict doesn’t go away. It’s the elephant in the room. It’s the mound of dirt under the rug. It’s the source of passive-aggressive behavior. Avoiding conflict doesn’t make anything any better.

But, when we enter the danger of conflict, chances are that feelings will be hurt, particularly mine. Who wants to volunteer for that?

If you’ve been to Caesar’s Head State Park in South Carolina, then you’ve probably wondered down a small wooden staircase into a narrow passage called “The Devil’s Kitchen.” You walk through a gap that’s only about four feet wide where the granite has split.

 “The story goes that the devil himself used to brew moonshine on top of Caesars Head. He brewed a very potent brand of shine.  It was so potent that he spilled a single drop of the shine on the overlook and it split the rock. So the split became known as the Devil's Kitchen because this is where he cooked the strong brew that split the rock.” (Source: Southcarolinaparks.com http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/park-finder/parksfaq/whatname.aspx)

Now, I’m not sure whether the devil actually brews moonshine, but I can definitely see the connection.

Unresolved anger creates a split in a relationship that gives the devil a foothold. One disagreement might not be as powerful as the drop of moonshine that created the Devil’s Kitchen, but drop by drop relationships are fractured until they eventually split.

The solution is easy, and yet it’s not. Don’t let things go on forever. In fact, don’t let any conflict that happened today, go beyond today. Don’t let the sun go down.

While it’s easier said than done, we need to man up or woman up and face the conflict head-on, especially if we are the offender. Whatever the issue is nothing is more important than the relationship. If the other person won’t hear you, take someone with you (Matthew 18:16). Preferably take a wiser person or a counselor. This isn’t a matter of proving who’s right and who’s wrong. This is about preserving the relationship and growing.

What relationship do you need to resolve? God doesn’t allow us to just write people off. If they are willing to talk, then listen. If they are willing to reconcile, then consider it.

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Learning to Suffer Well

By Allen White

His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" Job 2:9

The difference between Job and us is that Job lost everything all at once: his family, his wealth, his health. You and I will also lose all of these things, but over a longer period of time. (This gets better. Don’t stop reading now.)

Suffering is not a fun topic, but it’s certainly a part of life. In fact, suffering is so costly to us, we need to grow from our suffering rather than just suffer for no good reason at all.

Life is a series of loses. We start out with great expectations, but often we lose some of those dreams. We suffer. We begin life with parents who love us, care for us, and meet our needs. Over time, we care for our parents, and then we lose them. These aren’t happy thoughts, but they are real.

In fact, out of everything that we have and everyone we know there is only one relationship that endures – our relationship with God. God is always with us. God shares in the “fellowship of suffering” (Philippians 3:10).

The Bible tells us, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13). At this point, you may be thinking that this is not what you signed up for. But, here’s the reality, with Christ or without Christ, everyone suffers. If we can learn to suffer well, then we will develop Christ-like character and a sensitivity to others that we’ve never had before.

This is not a popular message, but it is a necessary message. So often when people suffer, they think that God is mad at them or that they are being punished for something that they’ve done. If you have trusted Christ for your salvation, then all of the punishment for your sin has been erased (Romans 4:7-8). That’s not what suffering is about.

Here’s the big question: If you lost everything except for God, would He be enough? Job had plenty of reasons to curse. He was under an unreasonable amount of pressure. There was little reason to be happy. Maybe there was little reason to trust God at that point. Yet, Job chose to trust. The end result was “The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first” (Job 42:12-17). The reward, however, was not only material.

I believe that Job’s greatest blessing was the realization that sometimes things happen without a logical explanation. No one is at fault. There is no one to blame. Forty chapters of the book of Job exhaust every possible explanation. Job concludes, “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know” (Job 42:3).

How are you suffering today? How is God working to develop your character? How are you learning to trust God more deeply?

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Is Your Relationship with Jesus Too Personal?

By Allen White

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 1 John 3:14

We have focused so much on our “personal relationship” with Jesus Christ that I believe we have forgotten that our faith is always in the context of community. There is a place to talk about a personal relationship with Jesus. For people who are caught up in the religion of Christianity or who depend on the church for their salvation, we need to emphasize that following Jesus is not a religion, but a relationship. But, have we made our relationship with Christ too personal?

If I have a personal relationship with Christ, and yet it doesn’t affect the other relationships around me, something is awry. If I am a great Christian in my head, yet others see very little evidence of Christ in me, there is a problem.

According to John’s letter, the evidence of passing from death to life is that we love our brothers and sisters in Christ. That doesn’t mean that we like everything that they do, but that we love them no matter what. Our connection to Christ produces something far deeper than the conditional relationships of this world. When fellow believers hurt us or otherwise misbehave, we must remember that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

We have an enemy that wants to divide us and pit us against each other. He wants to create as much disunity as he possibly can. And, he will use every means possible, including our own selfishness, to keep us apart.

If you love Jesus, but you can’t stand His followers, then Jesus has a lot more work to do in you. Other people can do some pretty outrageous things in the name of Christ. I don’t like some of those things either. But, what’s going on in them? What’s their story? What do they misunderstand? What do they not know?

What fellow believer are you struggling with right now? I would encourage you to spend some time with them, not to take the issue head-on, but just to get to know them. The monster that you’ve created in your head is not the person who is sitting in front of you.

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Our Fear of Loneliness

By Allen White

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:15-16

Loneliness is almost a phobia these days. It’s not so much being alone. We do lots of things alone. We must don’t want to feel lonely.

In my single days, I often had dinner with Tom Brokaw. I would sit in my recliner with my TV tray right in front of the television and watch the news as I ate. I was alone, but I wasn’t lonely. There was a conversation going on, albeit, one-sided.

There is no end to things that can occupy us. Satellite radio, HD radio and regular radio are sources of constant conversation. Do radio stations play songs anymore? If we don’t get enough talk on the radio, then there’s even more talk on TV. We can just channel surf until we find someone who agrees with us. They talk so much that we don’t even need to think for ourselves. We certainly don’t need to feel lonely.

If we need a little human interaction, then there’s Facebook and Twitter. (Is MySpace even around anymore?) Someone always seems to be online.

We know that our avoidance of boredom and loneliness has reached a peak, when we begin to consider curling as our new Winter hobby or crave cakes decorate with fondant (Is that even edible? Good old butter cream frosting over here, please.) Now, I have you so distracted that loneliness is now a distant thought.

Jesus embraced loneliness. Jesus sought out loneliness. He was not energized by the crowd. He wasn’t tantalized by the miracles. He didn’t relish in the sound of His own voice. Jesus’ strength came from loneliness and prayer.

Some people dream of being alone. But, there are people everywhere: co-workers, neighbors, kids, coaches, small groups, ministries – people, people, people. It seems nearly impossible to be alone.

But, there is a strength that we derive from aloneness with God that we cannot gain anywhere else. There is a part of us that is meant to be disconnected from a screen and interfaced with our Creator.

I would encourage you to take the next commercial break or download time to step away from the screen. Go outside on your patio. Look up at the stars. Sit down for five minutes and be quiet. God has things that He wants to say to you, but He can’t until you are alone.

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God Never Wastes a Hurt

By Allen White

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:12-14 (NLT)

This psalm begins with “the heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1) and then goes on for the next six verses about how the brilliance of the sunrise and starry nights speak of God’s greatness. Then, the psalmist moves to extolling God’s Word in the next five verses as perfect, trustworthy, right, clear, insightful and true (Psalm 19:7-11).

After establishing that God is powerful and creative and that God’s Word is perceptive and true, the psalmist turns to the inner workings of his own life. “How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?” Even the apostle Paul admitted that “The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate” (Romans 7:14-15, NLT). We don’t always understand why we do what we do because we don’t really understand ourselves.

But, our all-powerful God has insight into us that we can only gain through Him. God doesn’t reveal our brokenness to give an excuse for bad behavior. God shows us our hurt so He can heal it. This isn’t an abracadabra, poof, you’re healed sort of deal. Often we have to work through the things that we’d rather forget about. And, we can get stuck on the smallest things.

“I’m never going to be like my mother.” “I’m not going to let their abusive words define me.” “I’m never going to let someone take advantage of me again.” “I can’t trust anyone except myself.” We can run, but we can’t hide. Until the light of God’s truth shines into these dark places in our minds, we cannot be healed.

Our pain can either be the greatest source of our sin and shame or it can be the greatest point of God’s grace and even ministry to others. Open wounds continue to bleed. The pain of our past continues to punish people for the sins of others. Their ungodly actions toward us fuel our ungodly actions and attitudes toward others.

But, when our wounds are healed, every scar is a testimony to God’s grace. What was once a source of shame is now an avenue of God’s grace to us and to others.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible (if that’s legal) is Genesis 50:20 – “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” God never wastes a hurt.

What part of you needs God’s healing touch? How have you received God’s grace? How can you offer comfort to others with the comfort you’ve received (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)?

Now, to avoid future sin, the psalmist closes with a prayer that I pray frequently: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be please, Lord to you.” That’s a good way to start the day.

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Disunity: That Was Easy

By Allen White

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! Psalm 133:1

We have two boys. They are loud. They yell. They hurt each other. They fight. For a while we wondered what was wrong with them. Then, it occurred to us that neither of us grew up in a house with two brothers.

Brothers love each other. It’s just that their love language is punching and wrestling. Brothers want to out-do each other. One will boldly proclaim that he is better than the other. It’s in their blood.

Disunity is easy. It comes naturally. Right now, think of any person that you know. Now, think of one thing that’s wrong with them. See how easy that was. Then, you mention that fault to another person. It gets repeated back to the person, and boom, you have disunity. It’s as easy as growing weeds in your yard. No effort. No attention.

Unity is hard work. Think about that same person. What’s one thing that’s good about them? Now, that’s a little more challenging. We tend to think about how much people irritate us. We don’t naturally go to what a blessing they are.

Unity says that when we have something against someone, we go to them (Matthew 18:15) and work it out. Unity says that when my preference is different from theirs, I learn to appreciate the differences. The whole is greater than just me.  In God’s economy, it’s not right for me to impose my will on everyone else just to prove how big I am.

What are you in a disagreement about right now? Can you see the other person’s side? Can you argue their case? Is there a middle ground? Can you agree to disagree? Does it really matter? Is it worth the fight?

How well do you know them? Have you heard their story? It might explain a lot about how they’re acting.

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You’re Not Worthless

By Allen White

He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30

This verse doesn’t say, “He must succeed, and I must suck.” There is nothing wrong with excellence and success, or initiative and innovation, unless it takes Jesus’ place in your life. We don’t need to fail to make Jesus a winner. He’s already won.

A little cat adopted us. I say, “adopted,” he’s really just freeloading on the cat food bowl in the backyard. He’s a cute little kitten, a nice gray Russian Manx. He stayed around this morning while I filled the bowl. His hunger overcame his fear of me.

Thinking that he was warming up to me, I moved the relationship forward a little too fast. I reached to pick him up. He arched his back, he hissed, he scratched, and he got me (somebody call Ted Nugent). That kitty was being as fierce as he possibly could be. It was just cute. It was laughable. He can scratch a little (I bear the wounds), but he didn’t leave me reeling in fear.

He was threatened. He was insecure. This was his natural instinct. It was all he had.

Following John the Baptist’s example, we are not encouraged to become less because God wants us to feel worthless. We are directed to become less because our tendency is to become more. We want to live large. We want to be bigger than who we are. We want to be admired and respected. We want to be sought out. Everyone on Facebook and Twitter is crying out to be acknowledged. I mean at least let me be the mayor of Something on Foursquare. (Good grief, that little Russian Manx is apparently mayor of my own house.)

So, here’s the deal: we are of great worth to God, because He paid a painful price for us. He gave His Own Son (John 3:16). We have Jesus, and that is enough. In success and in defeat, in triumph and in failure, Jesus is enough. He becomes greater, and we ride His coattails. We get out of the way, and others see Jesus in us. People will say, “You’ve changed. You’re more patient, polite or kind.” Our secret: it’s Jesus in us.

How does Jesus want your spouse to be loved? How does Jesus want your kids to be treated? How does Jesus want your boss (yes, that one) to be respected? Notice, I didn’t say, “What would Jesus do?” That’s fine. But, those thoughts tend to be moralistic and just place a heavy burden on us. The more important question is: What is Jesus doing through your life? How are you letting Him take the forefront of your life? How are you backing down?

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A Dangerous Prayer

By Allen White

Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 1 Thessalonians 5:19

On the first day of the church, the Day of Pentecost, 120 believers were gathered together to pray. Jesus had just ascended into Heaven 10 days before. They began to pray. The Holy Spirit came upon them in a visible and tangible way: tongues like fire, sounds like a rushing wind, and a spontaneous linguistic ability to communicate the Gospel (Acts 2:1-4).

This caused quite a stir among the crowd that day. Jews from the entire known world with different languages and dialects heard the Good News in their native tongue. Their assumption was that this was the result of intoxication (Acts 2:5-13). That’s funny to me. I’ve never seen a drunk master the Rosetta Stone language course.

Peter straightened things out (Acts 2:14-40). Flakey, unreliable Peter presented the Gospel with eloquence. Three thousand people trusted Christ as their Savior that day (Acts 2:41). What an amazing result. What an overwhelming result. It was a miracle.

If the 120 had attended a church planters conference, they would have been instructed to build their core team. They might have been told that 120 was too many to start with. Maybe they should narrow it down to 12 or so. Then, begin to gather small groups of folks to cast vision for their church. They would have advertised their church for months. Then, on kick off Sunday, they would hope for a good, manageable number, but not too many. Three thousand would have been quite unreasonable.

There’s the word: reason. Sometimes our reasoning and our low expectations block the Spirit’s work in our lives. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not encouraging us to turn off our brains and start acting crazy. God gave us a brain and a book, the Bible, and that is an integral part of our faith. But, how much of the Book do we truly believe?

We only believe the things that we do. We can say that we trust God, yet if we don’t turn to God first, do we truly trust Him or do we just trust ourselves? We can say that prayer is important, yet how often do we pray? (Notice, I didn’t say “how long.”) You get the point.

The Bible tells us that Elijah was “a man just like us” (James 5:17). Elijah prayed that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t rain for three and a half years. Elijah faced off with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. He prayed fire down from Heaven (1 Kings 18:16-39). Elijah was a man just like you and me.

Put yourself in Elijah’s shoes. (God did in James 5:17.) What has God directed you to pray? Have you seen much fire from Heaven?

Now, God is probably not directing you to heal the sick or raise the dead (but don’t shut that door). There are many ways that we can block the Spirit’s work. When we’re anxious, do we smoke or drink or eat or anesthetize ourselves with television or internet? The Bible says to “cast your anxiety on Him for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). He even wants to be a part of that.

Maybe there is a bad habit that you need to forsake or a good habit that you need to start. How have you asked God’s Spirit to help you? Maybe you are in the middle of a firestorm emotionally, you are paying a high price, what does the Spirit want to teach you? Even if it’s not your fault, suffering is much too costly to be wasted.

Maybe you just don’t know. Then, pray a dangerous prayer: “Lord, I am available to you.” Then, pay attention to what happens next. God, by His Spirit, wants to be involved in your life. Not as an add-on or another activity, but right in the middle of it. Your hand is on the dial. Let the Spirit flow.

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God Is With You: Good News or Bad News?

By Allen White

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. Psalm 139:7-8

This is either good news or bad news depending on your relationship with God. If you’re running from God, then His presence probably feels like the “hound of Heaven” who will track you down wherever you go. You can’t get away from Him.

As a teenager, this took on the connotation that I’d better behave, because God was watching everything that I did. Maybe this is how teenagers should feel. The implication, however, was that if I messed up, God would put that on my permanent record. If I didn’t confess my sin, then I’d better hope the rapture didn’t occur any time soon. Fortunately, I’m not this eternally insecure any more.

For those of us who belong to God and desire His presence, this verse gives a lot of comfort. When you are in a dark place, God is there. When you feel totally alone, God is there. He hasn’t forgotten you. He hasn’t made a mistake.

The Holy Spirit is a calming presence in our lives. John Ortberg says the Spirit is a “non-anxious presence” in our life. He’s like a friend who is easy to talk to. He is the Spirit of Peace (Romans 8:6).

The Spirit gives us peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). What is happening to you and around you is not an accident (1 Peter 4:12).  God knows your address. God knows your anxiety. God knows your fears. God is with you (Hebrews 13:5).

What are your anxious thoughts today? Take a moment right now to exhale your worries and fears and inhale the presence of God’s Spirit, if you will. God is with you no matter where you are right now.

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“Welcome to Walmart”

By Allen White

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. Ecclesiastes 9:10

In the more cynical chapter of his life, Solomon spouted a few positives out of the decay of a negative. “Work hard now, because when you’re pushing up daisies you won’t need to work, plan, know or understand.” Aren’t you glad he gave us so much to look forward to? Death and taxes, we get it.

But, think about this. What’s the sense of an unfriendly greeter at Walmart? Seriously. You don’t want to encounter Eeyore at the front door. They’ve brightened up the stores, but it still feels like the grapes of wrath in there. Greet with all of your might, man. America needs it.

Everyone wants their life to count. I’m not sure that most people know how to get there. It doesn’t seem to be a very direct path.

What are you doing these days that’s bearing fruit?

What has surprised me is that out of everything I do, I like writing these devotionals the most, and you, hopefully like reading them. People will stop me and tell me how a devotional has helped them. In fact, one night a guy told me, “I didn’t mean to read your devotional the other day. I was on another site and accidentally ended up on your blog. I started reading, and it was exactly what I needed to hear.” I think that was a compliment. I got a kick out of it anyway.

As a child, no one aspires to middle management. I’m not sure that most aspire to be greeters at Walmart. In my house, the aspirations are toward being spies, superheroes, pastors and forensic scientists. (I’m sure that superhero was just thrown in there to humor me).

So, here you are, however many years later. What are your hands finding to do? How can you be the best at what it is that you do? Your job, your marriage, your friendships, your family, your neighborhood – what would put you on top? Not for the sake of pride, but for the sake of truly living.

Maybe we just need to plaster a smile on our face and cheerfully say, “Welcome to Walmart. Would you like to have a buggy?” (See I’m catching on, even if it is a cart).

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Hope Floats

By Allen White

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

What have you ever deferred? It’s not a word that we use much. Many people defer their college loan payments until after they finish graduate school and/or find a job. That’s a good thing to defer. No payments. No interest. Makes you wonder why anyone would stop taking classes. Those loans could just be deferred into oblivion.

Hope is to the heart what oxygen is to the bloodstream. It’s interesting that the Bible doesn’t tell us that we need to give a reason for our faith, rather we are instructed to give a reason for our hope: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).

Our hope is not merely in hope. Otherwise, we could probably buy “hope on a rope” from Christian television. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist). Why do we have hope?

This is not just a hope that things will get better. Job learned these things the hard way: “Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness” (Job 30:26). The Bible promises that “No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame” (Psalm 25:3).

The Bible shows us a process for hope: “We know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:3-5). While it would seem easier to just buy a lottery ticket, the odds are better with the process.

Often we become discouraged because we hope for the wrong things. “I hope my kids will behave everyday, all day, for the rest of their childhood.” “I hope that my marriage, my job, my life would become problem-free.” “I hope that I can survive this day.” Hope anchored to circumstances is bound to drag us down. Hope anchored to God will lift us up despite our circumstances.

Rick Warren says, “You can live a week without food. You can live a few days without water. You can live a few minutes without oxygen. But, you can’t live a second without hope.”

How’s your hope level today? If it’s low, then surf over to Biblegateway.com and search the word “hope.” You won’t be disappointed.

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No One Loves You More Than God Does

By Allen White

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

My son, Timothy, is sometimes scared of the dark. But, he’s more scared of the dark of the dark, the shadows. The sunset casts shadows. The moon casts shadows. The nightlight, the hall light, his CD player – shadows, shadows, shadows.

I’m not sure how his fear of shadows began. Perhaps he watched Peter Pan one too many times. Now, he fears that the shadows in this room will also go rogue.

Movement causes shifting shadows. For old Tim, wrestling around in his bed, causes his shadows to move and plays into his fears. He’s five now, so fortunately this is fading. Plus I showed him how to use a shadow blaster: his flashlight.

God’s shadow doesn’t change. God is constant. One of my favorite hymns says, “There is no shadow of turning with thee” (Great Is Thy Faithfulness). Christ will always be the Head of the body. God will always be the Mayor of Heaven, despite any attempts from foursquare.com users. God is way ahead on check-ins.

Every good and perfect gift comes from God. Not every gift we receive is good or perfect. Thankfully some gifts come with a gift receipt, if not, there’s always ebay. But, a great gift-giver is a wonderful thing.

What makes a great gift? It’s not that they buy you something big or expensive. It’s that they know you well enough that they know exactly what you like. The relative who gives me a shake weight, just doesn’t have a clue. If they give me coffee or iTunes or a Kindle, then they’re speaking my love language. (Christmas is coming. Please feel free to forward this email.)

No one knows you more than God does. No one loves you more than God does. (REPEAT) No one knows you more than God does. No one loves you more than God does. (ALOUD THIS TIME) No one knows me more than God does. No one loves me more than God does.

What do you truly need today? God wants to give you good and perfect gifts.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no Shadow of turning with thee;
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
As thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.

Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided;
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto thee.

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God Wants a Satisfying Life for You

By Allen White

You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. Psalm 145:16

Do you really believe that God wants you to be satisfied? Trust me here, I’m not turning into one of those preachers who promises that you’ll be healthy, wealthy and wise. But the opposite of that tends to say: “Life on this earth is supposed to suck so we will long for Heaven.” Besides, if life wasn’t hard, how would we ever develop godly character? Yes, I sometimes tap into the gift of martyrdom. The trouble is that you can only use it once.

God opens His hand to us. He doesn’t hold back. God desires to give us every good thing (James 1:17). But, our Puritan ways dictate that if we get too much of what we want, then we’ll get fat and happy and forget about our need for God. I don’t know about you, but I tend to like people who give me stuff. If God will truly satisfy the desires of my heart (Psalm 37:4), I’m not going to hold that against Him. He certainly won’t hold that against me.

Now, at this point, I am obligated to say that there is a right way and a wrong way to fulfill your desires. Many people fall in love with someone or something. They become so enamored with that someone or something that this must be from God. As the great theologian, Barbara Mandrell, said “If loving you is wrong, I don’t want to be right.” The things that we depend on to satisfy our desires become idols and addictions.

For some, this is eating or vegging out in front of the TV (okay, those are mine). For others, it’s working or drinking or surfing into the darkness. For some, it’s a relationship, whether it’s love or hate. The problem is that we get stuck on these things and aren’t ever satisfied in the way that God intends.

Can you trust God with your desires? He actually gave them to you. Do you believe that God wants you to live a satisfying life? This is God’s vision for your life. Just like we want our kids to have a happy childhood, God wants you and me to have great lives. He really does.

This entire psalm is certainly a cure for a bad day.

It will even elevate a good day. Take a moment to read about what kind of Heavenly Father we have: Psalm 145.

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