Be alert, be present! I’m about to do something brand new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? . . .    (Isaiah 43:19) The Message

One morning, I was feeling blue because I was wondering if the best part of my life was behind me. I put on my glasses and opened my Bible to the above verse. “No, I don’t see it,” I thought, realizing how ironic it was that my eyesight is gradually getting worse. I can hardly see the words of my Bible, much less see Jesus doing something new.
But the I read those words again. Jesus was speaking directly to me in my present situation through His word. I looked up verses about hope and came across Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (NIV). I could be blind and still have hope. I made a list of what I was hoping for, what would make my life feel purposeful. I prayed over this list and asked Jesus to help me see with new eyes. Just doing this revived my hope as I anticipated what the future holds rather than feeling sorry for myself or clinging to my past. Now, when I feel anxious or discouraged about my future, I “put on my glasses” with lenses that see with hope. I look to my future with anticipation, believing something new is about to burst out!

Faith Step:    Make a list of what you’re hoping for in the future that you don’t yet see. Pray over each item. Put your list away and set a reminder on your phone to re-read it a month from today.

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.        (John 16:24) NIV

Rather than choosing between the two, I’ve been both a coffee and a tea drinker, depending on the time of day and my mood. For years, I would only drink black coffee. Why would anyone want to ruin coffee with cream or anything else? But then, I discovered froth. The problem was, most of the coffee shops that could provide froth were an hour drive away. So when I discovered that I could purchase a small, hand-held, cute-as-a-bug’s-ear mini milk frother, I couldn’t wait to begin adding frothy foam to my traditional morning cup of coffee. But after 3 unsuccessful ties, I complained to my coffee-expert wife that the frother didn’t work. She asked, “Did you heat the milk up first?”    I had skipped a step. And it was an important step, it turns out.
Too many times, I confess, I have expected an outcome from the kind hand of Jesus but have skipped an important step. I may have complained, whined, tried to manufacture a homegrown solution, but neglected to ask in His name. Many theologians agree that we’re to ask not only in the power of Jesus’ name, but also in alignment with His will. When I ask that way, complete joy is the ultimate end product.

Faith Step:    What Jesus-honoring answer have you been longing to see? Just ask!

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10) NIV

There’s a classic children’s book entitled Millions of Cats by Wanda Ga’g. It’s about an older couple in search of a new pet. In the story, the old man finds a hill covered with millions of cats. How can he pick just one when all of them are exquisite? He decides to let the cats choose among themselves which is prettiest. But each one believes he is, and a huge squabble ensues. When the dust settles, they’ve all disappeared, except for a single scrawny kitten. The reason? He didn’t consider himself special, so the others left him alone. Through the love the old couple share with him, this little kitty truly becomes the most beautiful cat in the world.
Like those millions of cats, I’ve wasted time competing to be the best, the most creative, the fastest. I’ve discovered that sort of contest is impossible — and pointless — to win. Then I remember Jesus’ humility and see beauty as it’s meant to be.
As the scraggly kitten in the story, there is nothing outstanding about me. When people look at me, they don’t see a celebrity, a genius, or anyone special. But Jesus does. He seeks the treasure within me. To Him, I’m special — the most special me in the entire universe. And tat’s enough. Because like that little kitten in the story, I’ve found worth in His eyes, and my spirit flourishes under His care.

Faith Step:   Make a list of the ways Jesus has lifted you up and made you feel special.

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
                                    (Matthew 5:44) NKJV

Today, in our country, we celebrate the purposeful and impactful life of Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King. As a Baptist minister, Dr. King was no doubt inspired by this verse when he said, “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” Men have feet of clay, but Dr. King modeled Christ and exemplified the principle of this verse. He did so in a way most of us will never have a chance to — or could we?
A recent item led me to a Twitter string I wish I’d never read: people were making hateful comments about a celebrity, whom they didn’t know personally. Admirably, the celebrity responded with humor and kindness, and love won because she took the high ground. The vitriol lost its power.
The anonymity and reach of social media have made it possible for anyone to spread hatred without having to face their victim. People post impulsive insults, setting off an outpouring of like-minded enmity. Scathing tweets, bigoted Facebook posts, and the bitter commentaries that follow have stoked the culture of hatred and misunderstanding that Dr. King gave his life to mend.
Dr. King tried to live out Jesus’ commandment to love one’s neighbor and showed us what one person could achieve with a courageously loving response. Let’s all be inspired by Jesus Himself to love our enemies, real or perceived!

Faith Step:    Next time you see a hateful post, contribute a loving response — a                 Scripture verse or an encouraging quote — and see what happens.

The scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”            (Mark 2:16-17) ESV

When we first moved to our present house, it was so windy that the electric was constantly going out. It would happen all the time, but in the winter, since everything we had was electric, it was really cold. So we decided to invest in a gas fireplace. With the touch of a button, a cozy fire flared to life, sending out warmth and light. All winter we could pull a chair up beside the fireplace and stay warm. Eventually, spring & summer arrived. Temperatures would soar and the sun blazed. We wouldn’t need to sit by the fireplace. We wouldn’t need more warmth. I’m no fan of blizzards, but the frigid weather deepened my appreciation for the fireplace. I’m also no fan of the cold and bitter trials of life, but they remind me of my need for Jesus.
When my life is in a summer place, unclouded and still, I often forget to rely on Christ. The Pharisees also didn’t see their need for Him. They even scorned those who had obvious spiritual struggles. Yet Jesus invites us to acknowledge how cold and empty our lives are without Him. Confessing that we are among those “tax collectors and sinners” doesn’t disqualify us from His grace. In fact, we are the men and women He came to save!
Is your life in a winter season that wracks you with shivers? Jesus knows, and He cares. He invites us to draw near to the warmth and comfort of His love.

Faith Step:    Sit by a fireplace (or heating vent) and ponder the warmth and grace that                 Jesus offers.

If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
(2 Timothy 2:13) NKJV

I remember years ago, being a member of a certain organization. It was sort of a club that you paid dues to and then the organization would do service for the community. It was great being a part of this group but at some point, I decided I just didn’t have as much time as I needed to be an integral member of this organization. So, I quit paying my dues and just sort of dropped out.
After a while, my schedule eased and I felt like I could go back to this group. I contacted the leader and asked what I needed to do to re-establish myself. The leader said, “Nothing. Once your a part of this group, you’re always one of us!”

That got me to thinking. Once we belong to Jesus, we never need to re-qualify. He understands our faults and weaknesses; He knows we will sometimes struggle with doubts, be rebellious or complacent, and even sin sometimes. During such times, we may hide and miss blessings and fellowship with Him, but Jesus always stays faithful to us. He simply will not let us go!

Faith Step:     What can you do today to renew your joy in belonging to Jesus?

Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
(Matthew 28:20) NLT

Recently I began reading a story about an awkward young female character, and early in the story, she mentions she had gone an entire weekend without speaking to a single human being. She asks herself, “I exist, don’t I?” I think she was trying to be funny, but it hit too close to home.
In this past year, with the pandemic, and all of us having to alter our way of even being together as families, it’s not hard to imagine that we would fight against loneliness. All of us have had to spend a lot of time isolated. Staying separated on holidays and birthdays and sometimes being separated in the same house can take its toll. It even seems like we all have drifted in different directions. So, when we read those words from that female character about existing, we could think, “That could be me!”
I used to look forward to solitary time, but now that I have so much more, I dread it! Sometimes, I’ve found the ache of loneliness so intense that I find myself being immobilized and can even sink into self-pity. But I know that is not Jesus’ desire for me. He doesn’t want me to stay stuck in a slump, feeling forgotten or believing no one cares.
So, during this season of isolation, I’m going to strive to make a daily choice to spend time with Jesus. That’s the purpose of these devotionals. To urge me & you to grab our Bibles and spend time with Jesus every day because He is always there for me.

Faith Step: Write Matthew 28:20 in your notes on your phone or on a piece of paper                 and tape it on your mirror to remind you of His caring patience.

Being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.    (Philippians 2:8-9) NIV

My features resemble my late father. I look a lot like him. Our lips, our smiles, the way we walk & talk; in just about every way, I mimic my dad. I’m fascinated by how each of us, deep within our DNA, carry reflections of our forefathers. As I look at facts and photos of my family tree, I can see reflections of myself in my ancestors faces and hands and the way they sit or stand.
As I study Jesus’ lineage, I again and again notice foretastes of his holy character. Don’t Tamar’s boldness and Rahab’s cleverness point to their future descendent, Jesus? Then there’s David, alone in the fields, gathering his sheep. As he watched over them, he captured God’s heart. Consider Jesus’ closest tie to humanity: Mary, whose spirit defines humility and obedience. We see all those attributes in Jesus.
Researching my past has helped me understand who I am through who I was. It strengthens my sense of identity. But when I shut my laptop, none of those ancestors means as much to me as the One whose name is above every other name — Jesus. He represents my past, my present, and my future. Every attribute I glean from Him transforms me into something else, someone better.
While my dad was a wonderful man & father & example, it’s Jesus I really want to mirror. Can my words help heal a broken soul? Am I willing to serve others with obedience and humility? When others look at me, I hope they see an unmistakable resemblance of Christ. Above all, I am of the Family of God!

Faith Step – Trace your family tree back a few generations. Do you see likenesses?                 Now find ways you resemble the individuals in Jesus’ lineage.

Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.     (1 Chronicles 16:12) NKJV

There are many aspects of technology that I enjoy: my laptop, my smartphone, my smart-tv, my DVR, and the ability to FaceTime loved ones. But in some ways I’m still old school. I have friends who have almost completely replaced paper with apps, calendars, and alerts on their phone or computer. Not me — I still use paper a lot. I have wall calendars and a planner sitting on my desk. I have small notebooks for jotting down notes & ideas. A whiteboard on the fridge keeps a grocery list. If I want to remember something, I write it down on actual paper with a pencil or pen.
One day a thought struck me: Why not write down things I want to remember about Jesus? The Bible shares wonderful truths about Jesus and our relationship with Him. But sometimes I forget the exact truth I need to remember during trials, periods of loneliness, times of crisis, or just in the pressures of day-to-day living. So now I try to have a to-remember list: Jesus loves me unconditionally. His Holy Spirit lives inside of me. He’s promised to never leave me. He will work out every circumstance in my life for good. He’s prepared a perfect, eternal home for me.
Simply reading the first few items on this list is enough to brighten my day!

Faith Step – Keep a small notepad tucked inside your Bible. Each time you read a truth         about Jesus that you need to remember, jot it down on your notepad.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.
                                (1 Peter 1:8) NIV

I remember the excitement awaiting the birth of my 3 grandchildren; one, 10 years ago, the 2nd, 6 years ago and the 3rd, almost 4 months ago. I wasn’t even that excited when my kids were born! I guess I was too stupid or at least too ignorant to be excited. Most days I could manage my exuberance fairly well. Other days I couldn’t. I would get excited over the idea of holding that little one to my heart and whisper-singing “Jesus Loves Me” into their tiny little ears. I would even get excited about the cuteness of baby clothes! I remember popping open a bottle of baby lotion or baby bath and draw a deep whiff. It smells just like a baby! I remember thinking before they were even born, “I love these little creatures and I haven’t even seen them yet!
The joy is inexpressible. So, I have no trouble understanding the above verse, saying that even though we haven’t seen Jesus face to face yet, we can feel inexpressible joy at the thought of Him, His nearness, the “movement” of His Spirit within us, the certainty of His love, and the promise that we’ll see Him face to face one day.
Even as I remember the excitement & joy of being an expectant grandfather, I can confidently say that there’s no joy like Jesus!

Faith Step – Write a love letter to the Jesus whom you have yet to see. Express your                 current joy and your anticipation for what’s ahead.