DECEMBER 5 – UNFAILING KINDNESS

(In my despair and anguish) Yet I go back to this – and so I have hope. It is because of the Lord, God – His unfailing love that we have not been killed. His kind mercy comes every morning – always. So, I know the Lord, He is where I live. In Him alone will I hope. The Lord, God cares for each one – each of the people who follow Him. (Lamentations 3:21-25)

                   Are you ready to put this together? Will you try? God is faithful! Place all your hopes and dreams – all your life – in His hands.

                   Lamentations is a unique book. It shows what happens when people rebel against God. This book chronicles the pain and depravity of sin. In the middle of this description of evil and hopelessness, the writer points to the one and only hope; the Lord, God. Apart from His continuing, unfailing, vast reservoir of love, caring, and kindness, there is no hope. Because of that love – while you still have breath – there is hope and opportunity. God created you. He is calling you to enjoy the peace and joy of finding purpose in each moment – not tomorrow, nor when you die – today! God has made you uniquely. He has a plan – a vision – for your life. He has created you to grasp His truth in unique ways, and He will share that values framework with you! He has prepared others to partner with you in the work you will do.

                   Recognize the unfailing kindness of Jesus Christ. Place all your hope in His love today.

DECEMBER 4 – PATIENT PERSEVERANCE

So, my beloved people, as you await Christ’s return, do everything you can to pursue a close relationship with Him. Persevere in pursuing His way. Be patient, knowing that His patience means opportunity for other people to know His love, just as our beloved brother Paul wrote you from the wisdom that God gave Him. (2 Peter 3:15)

                   Do you ever feel that you are all alone in the battle? Do you get weary and tire of seeking to do the right thing when it is so hard? Do you long for Jesus to return, and bring end to the struggles you face? Should your supply of patience be greater? When you consider Peter’s explanation, does it make you more willing to persevere?

                   Peter has written two letters. Both have urged personal holiness; obedience to the leadership of God’s Holy Spirit – consistently. He has provided the reasons for such faith and he has recited the benefits of that obedience. He has also warned of the dangers and problems that come when people turn away from God defiantly. As Peter closes this second letter, he has come to value perseverance. Interestingly, he includes Paul in his words. Maybe he was reminded of how hard it was for him to keep dealing with Paul, patiently asking God to show them the way to unity. Maybe he is reminding the readers, “I have had struggles too, but with God’s help, I have made it through to my end.”

                   When you are ready to give up, ask God to give you the love for others that will help you to patiently persevere.

NOVEMBER 23–DECEIVERS USE THEIR WISDOM

The person who is sure his intellect and emotions will tell him the right thing to do – that person is stupid. But, the person who follows the Lord’s path finds wisdom, and that person will be rescued. (Proverbs 28:26)

                   How do you make decisions? Are you confident that your experience, intellect, and intuition are going to render sound decisions? The Bible repeatedly says that this state of self-reliance is foolish pride. The world tells you that it is the way to be wise. Who will you believe?

                   The statements in this passage assume that life is filled with challenges beyond the capacity of human intellect and rational thought. The passage argues for a relationship of dependence on God for your decisions each day. The greatest deception of Satan is found here; the one that we call “original sin” (Genesis 3:15) shows it clearly. The root decision of your personal life is, “will you trust in God or trust in yourself?” You cannot carve out segments of your life where you are in charge. You cannot give God the big issues, and you handle the details because that would imply you can determine which issues are big.

                   Don’t deceive yourself on this point. Then, help your people to see and live in truth with you. You nor your people are competent to live a prosperous life without God’s constant involvement. Give all your decisions to Him.

OCTOBER 1 – COMMUNITIES CELEBRATE

The Lord, God took this man Adam, and He placed him at rest in the place that would be his workplace, Eden’s garden, so that he could work it and make it be what God had planned for it to become. (Genesis 2:15)

   Do you see your work each day as worship? Do you celebrate what the Lord, God is doing through you and your people? If you do this; working as God’s word tells you is His way for you to live, you’ll find that even the smallest details of your work will have real and lasting meaning.

   Adam was placed in the garden with a specific purpose. He and his work were an essential part of God’s plan for the world He had created, and for mankind. Notice too, the work was to be such that he could rest in it. God’s plan was to do the work that would accomplish His plan in and through Adam. Work was not intended to be hard or oppressive. It was because of sin that work is harsh (Genesis 3:17-19). Because of Jesus, work can again be restful and joyful. If you work with Him; do only what He plans for you, each day can be a day of celebration and worship as He uses you for His purposes.

   Embrace the rest Jesus offers. Pursue only His plan as your life and work has always been intended. Lead your community in celebration as you see God’s work being done.

SEPTEMBER 23 – LEARN THE STORY

To your revealing – showing your will and desire – we have looked and waited on Lord, God. As we have struggle and suffer we wait on you. All night long my soul wants you; my spirit seeks you. Because your arrival will bring the world to right-living. (Isaiah 26:8-9)

                   Augustine said, “You (God) have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Do you now recognize this in your life; that your proper role in life is to be that part of God’s story which He made you to fulfill? Do you live in that reality, explaining life to your people in those terms, and encouraging them to find their place in God’s plan – their story?

                   Isaiah has relayed God’s promise to His people. He explained that God’s day of judgment is coming. A day when he reveals Himself to all mankind as God, making everything right and justice becomes reality on the earth. Here, he explains the emptiness that each man and woman feel when they are separated from God. Isaiah speaks of a knowing sense in each person that longs for God, and that hasn’t changed. What has changed is that Jesus’ atonement made it possible for men and women to relate to God again. God will show you your part of His story. He will make clear to you the role you are to play in that story.

                   Learn your story. Live in and teach from that place and encourage your people to join you in it.

SEPTEMBER 15 – FOLLOW-NEVER WALK ALONE

He who lives where the Lord, God shelters him, lives in His very shadow all day. I will live there and say, “He is my safety. He is my strength and my protection. My God is my only hope, and he is who I will always be trusting.” (Psalm 91:1-2)

                   Do you find that the old axiom, “It’s lonely at the top” Is true for your life? Does it get lonelier, the higher you go; the bigger your responsibility? Loneliness is an experience shared by many leaders. It seems harder to connect with other people as many subordinates are intimidated, and the leader may struggle to be transparent or authentic with others, feeling he or she must be nearly perfect.

                   The author of this Psalm recognized that the Lord, God is the true friend. He is the one who accepts you as you are, loves you, and helps you to grow to be the person and do the work he created you to do. Jesus is the best friend for any person; every person, not only the isolated leader. So, the logical, reasonable decision for each person who follows Christ should be to “live where the Lord, God shelters him.”

                   Live in God’s shadow, all day, every day. Allow him to work through your life to love others into that relationship of intimacy with yourself and Him. Never walk alone.

AUGUST 26 – STUCK IN THE MIDDLE

From there (Shechem), Abram broke camp and moved to a mountain east of Beth-El. He set up his home and there built an altar to the Lord, God between Beth-El and Hai to the east. There he preached in the name of God. (Genesis 12:8)

                   Which is more important to you; living and working, resting and waiting, or giving God praise in worship? If you are going to lead your people effectively; God’s way, your answer must be, “Yes. All of the above.”

                   Understanding that Bethel symbolizes communion with God, and that Ai is symbolic of the world, may help you understand the importance of this event in Abram’s life. As God led him to live there, He reminded Abram that He must always be influenced by both the time he spent meditating and waiting for the Lord’s word, and by the events of the world where he lived and worked. The altar reminded him to always worship and give thanks, whatever his circumstances with God and with people.

                   You are in that place as well. Each of your decisions and actions will be determined in this same, complex environment. Live embracing all God gives you as you are between Him and His world. Worship Him there.

AUGUST 7 – WHO CAN REST?

From Solomon: If the Lord God does not build a house, the workers are wasting their time. If He does not protect a city, no defense will protect it. Your long days, working through meals; from early morning to late at night – all unnecessary.

The Father gives to those He loves rest and peace. (Psalm 127:1-2)

                   Do you trust God enough to rest? Do you realize that it will be much harder for your people to trust him if you act like it is all up to you? There is work you must do, but if you are doing the work the Lord wants you to do, you will have time for rest and peace.

                   Solomon asked (2 Chronicles 1:8-12) for and received wisdom from God; wisdom to rule – to lead. The advice of this passage reflects the truth of a very important, underlying precept. God’s will is not going to be frustrated, avoided or suppressed. Work not based on His plan is meaningless in the life of one of God’s children. He will bring about the end He desires in and through your life. Your responsibility ends at obedience.

                   Live this truth, modeling it for those you lead, and teaching them to work profitably and rest well. With their resulting grateful and obedient hearts, the work will be completed – God’s way.

AUGUST 1 – NEVER TIRED

The apostles came back and reported everything to Jesus. Jesus, seeing all the people around them, and all the activity, said, “get away with Me and rest. You haven’t even refreshed yourselves.” So, they went away together to a quiet place across the lake. (Mark 6:30-32)

                   Do you rest in Jesus? Or, are you stressed, worn out, tired of trying to do something that matters; something that will please Him? Worry and constant anxiety reveal fear. Perpetual busy-ness betrays that same emotion. Do your actions reveal your fear? How about your people?

  

The disciples had just returned from a work Jesus asked them to do. They were excited. No doubt they were concerned as to His view of their work, and - apparently - they came back to a busy, noisy, active scene around Jesus. Notice that Jesus didn’t feel compelled to address every person and every issue. The disciples were who He had called, and who He was given to lead. So, He focused on them.

   Jesus left the crowds, and the demands of His work to spend time with His people. He refreshed Himself, and in so doing, He refreshed them. Shouldn’t you do the same?