Deaf Devotion 2/26/2011

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. (John 15:4-6 NLT)

I do want to add a personal note to thank Officer Paul Green of the Flint Township Police Department, one of my friends at Starbucks on Miller Road, who is retiring in exactly 74 minutes after 32 years of service. He is moving to Tennessee. Thank you for your service and God Bless You!

As usual, it has been a week of ups and downs. We all have days, weeks, and even months like this. Last Saturday morning as I was preparing to leave for Louisville, KY for a Deaf Pastor’s Prayer meeting, I opened an email that, well, shocked me. Knowing I could not keep this from my wife, I had to wake her up and tell her some news I knew was going to upset her as well. It is something we cannot talk about right now, but we ask your prayers for our family.

Then we left for Louisville and experienced a unity of prayer and spirit joining with other Deaf Pastors and leaders for worship and prayer. It was a wonderful experience. Thank you to Pastor Steve Dye and the family at SECC Deaf Church in Louisville.

We flew home Sunday only to have 11 inches of snow after we arrived home which prevented me from going to work on Monday. Then Tuesday through Friday were rough days each one in their own way.

Through it all, though, I just looked to my Heavenly Father and thanked Him for His unending grace, mercy and love that are poured out for each one of us. I thanked God for the honor of Him allowing me to Pastor a Deaf church and work with Deaf to spread the Gospel. I thanked Him for a loving wife, good children, and all that He provides for us. I thanked Him for friends and the fellowship of other Pastors and believers.

Above all, I thanked God for His Son. This is because if we are without Jesus Christ, we are nothing. Today's passage encourages us to stay connected to Jesus.

The image of Him as the vine and believers as the branches helps us understand that apart from Him, we can do nothing. It is possible to accept His salvation yet still act out of the "flesh," not able to focus or even separated from His direction and power. All believers find their focus wandering at times, but some have strayed so far that it's hard to see their way back.

If someone finds their heart focused on something besides Christ, it is very important to admit that this has happened. The Holy Spirit will help us identify which attitudes or activities are drawing us away from Jesus. Then He will draw us to repent and get whatever help is necessary to set aside interruption, insecurity, worldly desires, or anything else that draws our attention away from the Lord.

Once the distraction is gone, we can refocus on Jesus by reading the Word, praying, learning from biblical messages, and spending time with godly friends who will encourage us. Sometimes it can be hard to obey as the Lord desires but He promises to walk by our side to strengthen us and supply all our needs. “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 NLT)

Hebrews 12:1 urges us to give up whatever may be slowing us down and continue the obedience to God for His plan that He planned for us before He created the universe.

Don't delay. Recognize any area, sin, or stronghold that is keeping us from living passionately and fully for Christ. We cannot do this for another person. We can join them in prayer, but what another person does, is between them and God. Following His plan—with His strength—is the only way to peace, joy, and contentment in life. Ask for His help and commit to action.

So, the question becomes, “Where are you right now? Are you connected to the vine, feeling the life of God flowing through you as you remain in Him? Or are you disconnected, slowly dying, trying to stay in control of life and manage things in your own strength? Keep in mind that there are seasons of pruning, where even some parts that seemed to be growing are cut off so that other parts can be more fruitful. There are times in our lives where maybe we are not seeing the fruit, but we know we are remaining in the vine. If that describes you, remain. Paul would say, stand firm. Hold fast, keep the connection, continue to let Jesus’ words dwell in you, allow the gardener to prune, and cling to the promise that you will bear much fruit.

Deaf Devotion 2/19/2011

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 NLT)

One day God will get our attention one way or another and will change our plans. It is only faith that can carry us through the change. God calls each of us to develop a faith that is exciting, energetic, alive, deep, and essential.

GOD KNOWS HOW TO GET OUR ATTENTION!

This happened to a man who was on his way to Damascus with one thing on his mind: Stop the spread of the Gospel.

God showed up and interrupted Saul’s plans. God shot a laser beam of light out of the throne room of Heaven and knocked Paul to the ground.

Suddenly all of the education, the plans, and the hatred that had been controlling Saul was erased in one quick flash and Saul became the guilty and the hopeless.

In his previous life Saul had not really heard the voice of God, he had listened only to the voice of religion and of the world.

But now he heard a different voice. This was a voice with power and authority that shook him to the core of his soul.

This same voice had spoken the world into existence.
This same voice had called to Adam in the Garden.
This same voice had spoken judgment upon Satan, the serpent and all of creation as a result of sin.
This same voice had spoken to Moses on Mt. Sinai and given the Law
This same voice had spoken to Lazarus and raised him from the dead
This same voice had cried out, “it is finished” as he paid the price of redemption on the cross
This same voice cries out to us today – follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
This same voice speaks to each of us – this is my will for your life, now do it.
This same voice will someday say to us “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

Paul had developed a strong faith commitment to know and serve Jesus Christ. His dedication and love for the Lord was obvious. Jesus was always central in his thinking, whether he was working as a tent maker, preaching to the crowd, or even sitting in chains at prison. What caused his love for the Lord to carry on?

When Jesus called out to Paul when he was on his way to Damascus his way of life changed forever. Grateful for the gift of grace he had received at salvation, Paul went and told as many people as possible about his encounter with the resurrected Christ and its impact on him. We, too, have a story to tell of God's mercy in saving us and of the new life we have in Him. How many people are waiting to hear our stories of salvation?

Paul's enthusiasm also came from his firm conviction that the gospel message was true and available to everyone. The more we understand what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf, the greater will be our desire to share the gospel.

Developing a faith that is exciting, energetic, alive, deep, and essential requires time and energy plus a commitment to obey God. Regularly studying the Bible will strengthen our faith and give us the courage to speak. Caring about the relationship others have with Jesus Christ as Savior moves us into action.

This may be the day of new beginnings for someone – if we are willing to pay attention.

Deaf Devotion 2/12/2011

“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT)

Okay…Yes, Monday is Valentine’s Day. Have you told those in your life that you love them? Have you told God you love HIM? For some Valentine’s Day is cheesy and silly. For some it is another chance for expressing one’s love. Yes I said, “ANOTHER CHANCE.” It is not the ONLY chance. For some it is very, very painful.

A good group game asks this question: "If you were told to leave your house immediately and given only one hour to pack only one suitcase to hold your belongings, what would you take?" The point of the game is to force people to think about priorities; answers usually include things like family photo albums, keepsake jewelry, a valued gift, important documents, and today one would probably include their laptop and cell phone!

Everything in life is not equally important, nor is everything in the kingdom of God on the same level. Of three important virtues, faith, hope, and love, Paul said that love is the "greatest." And Jesus pointed out that loving God and loving each other are the first and second most important commandments out of the hundreds of commandments in Israel's Law. Various influences have caused many people to think afresh about what is most important in their life.

When funds are limited, when things are not going right in our families or circle of friends, or the future looks scary, we begin to make choices: God, spouse, family, neighbors, health, savings. In truth, we tend to live differently when all things are not possible.

We need to constantly be on guard and aware of changes and choices we are making when things get challenging. It is then very difficult be true to ourselves and hold on to the priorities that God has for us: Faith, Hope, and Love.

“And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.” (Matthew 10:30 NLT) God sees us. God is with us in the Holy Spirit. God is with us in the Savior Jesus Christ. He knows all about us. He knows more about us than we know about ourselves. He knit us together in our mother’s womb. And I guarantee you on the authority of the Word of God, that He loves us.

This is amazing when we realize that we are just specks on a globe that’s about the size of a grain of sand or less compared to the size of the universe. And yet our Lord looks down and He sees us as cherished individuals that He loves one by one. The great God that runs the universe is concerned about us as though we are His only priority. Well, we are HIS top priority.

Paul lists fifteen characteristics of love in 1 Corinthians 13. But it’s what he says in 1 Corinthians 13:13 that seem to sum it up.

First, Love will never fail. When all the things in which men glory have passed away, love will still stand. “Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned. (Song of Solomon 8:7 NLT) The one thing which cannot be defeated is love.

Secondly, love perfects us. Love makes us complete. (I John 4:12-18) Love matures us. It allows us to see ourselves as we truly are and God for who He truly is. Love grows us: it keeps us from acting like children only concerned for our own desires. It is a process which will not be complete until Christ’s return.

And then, love is supreme. Great as faith and hope are, love is still greater. Faith without love is cold, and hope without love is lonely. Love is the fire which kindles faith and it is the light which turns hope into certainty.

Paul makes a rather bold statement when he says, "Love never fails." Paul is saying that on the stage of life, love is bound to win. It is certain to succeed. And those who would practice it will never be defeated no matter how poorly someone may appear to be playing their part on the stage of life.

O Lord our God, source of all blessing, in happiness and joy we thank you for the gift of love, which we celebrate today and every day. Give us the ability to rejoice always in your love for us. Open our eyes to the beauty and the mystery of the love you hold for us and which we hold for each other, every day as today. And may our lives embrace and value the promise of your love which does not know any limits. Then all will see we are your children and your name will be honored and exalted. Amen.