Devotion for April 18

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field… Matthew 13:44

I found a treasure in the bookcase. Clothed in a plastic cover to protect the dust jacket, the old library markings inked out in black, the book doesn’t look like much. Seeing it, I remembered immediately where we got it.

Across from the Guthrie County Court House is the city library. I don’t recall why we were at the courthouse, but we saw the sign for the library sale and went in. I picked up this old novel by Chaim Potok, The Book of Lights. I put it in the bookcase at the lake. That was over two years ago. Last week I opened that book. What a treasure! As I recall, the book cost me fifty cents… for a treasure I’d stumbled on and hid in a bookcase, not really knowing its value.

I’ve been thinking about treasures ever since, especially the ones we so often find in the worn out binders or bookcases we take for granted.

This past weekend, I read a prayer card that said “Thank God for the treasure of our marriage.” Yes… that’s what I’m talking about. Somehow a couple had reconnected, opened the dust jacket of their relationship and discovered the treasure of love.

Watching my wife laboring over papers for the end of term, my heart swelled and I claimed another treasure. Seeing my grandchildren come across the church to hug me, smiling, donut in hand – another treasure.

Today I pray that you’ll discover a real treasure. If you do, take it to your heart and hold it close. I think you’ll find that the kingdom of heaven, the love of God, has just come near.

Devotion for November 23

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart… Psalm 9:1

The word “thanks” and its various forms are found nearly 170 times in the Bible. The call of faith is to a life of gratitude to God. But have you ever wondered why such thankfulness is so important? As we approach our national holiday of Thanksgiving I’ve begun to reflect on this essential element of our faith.

First, I have come to believe that a thankful heart is a humble heart. We cannot give thanks to God – or anyone else – without a humble heart. It is the humble heart that acknowledges what has been done for us… not what we have done for ourselves. Faith, an active trusting in God, creates humility – and that opens the door to thanksgiving.

Second, gratitude turns our attention outward. When we are thankful, we naturally look beyond ourselves to the one to whom we give thanks. Of all the human emotions, thankfulness shuts the door on sin. You simply cannot be thankful and still think “it’s all about me.”

Third, when we give thanks we see others. One of the best coping mechanisms we have, as human beings, is the power to see the little we have in comparison to the smaller portion of others. When we compare our “meager morsel” with that of the homeless or unemployed or the desperately poor, our portion seems so much more.

That leads to the greatest positive aspect of thanksgiving: when we are truly thankful, we cannot help but become generous. No wonder this time of the year more people will give more to charities and the needs of others than at any other time of the year – black Friday not withstanding. And when we are generous, we come close to reflecting the very nature or our Heavenly Father.

So, I pray for you a time of true Thanksgiving this week… and may your gratitude grow your faith and increase your generosity.

Devotion for November 9

We give thanks to you, O God… People tell of your wondrous deeds. Psalm 75:1

I had a great time on Beggars’ Night when my grandchildren, son-in-law and I joined the hordes of costumed children in the neighborhood behind our Urbandale home. With parents and grandparents, the children raced from one house to the next (as long as there was a porch light on) to get a treat. The payment for the treat was often the request for a joke – and the grandchildren had a couple at the ready! It was a great night… and my grandkids had been schooled by their parents and always said “Thank you.”

There is something powerful about gratitude. Psychologists tell us that it is a foundation stone for both a positive attitude and deep feelings of happiness. So, I am less thrilled with the current rush past Thanksgiving to the Christmas season. We have lost something in this pell-mell haste into the shopping, caroling and warm fuzzies of the Christmas season.

There was a time when the whole nation seemed to stop and give thanks to God – however we thought of God. This was a non-sectarian moment of gratitude. And, if my memory serves, even in the depths of economic down turns and hard times, there was always something to thank God for. There was a sacred feel to this national holiday because it was truly a Sabbath, a day of rest.

I wonder if the nation has adopted a Halloween attitude? I can’t help but feel like we are rushing from one holiday to the next like the kids ran from one house to the next. The problem is that we’ve forgotten who has provided for us. The children rushed from one house to the next and, in transit, compared who gave the biggest candy bar or let them have two treats instead of one.

As Christians, I think we ought to declare that we will not be pushed past the opportunity for Sabbath. Borrowing from “Occupy Wall Street,” I would suggest we take a position of faith and “Occupy Gratitude”. We’ll be better for it. Our families will surely be better for it. And our nation just might set aside anxiety and the never ending pursuit of things and give thanks. Amen

Devotion for January 21st

… let us hold fast to what we have attained. Philippians 3:16

Jeff, our primary custodian, and I were setting up in the new coffee area in our Worship Center. I stopped what I was doing and turned to Jeff saying, “Jeff, just stop for a moment and look around. This wasn’t here just a few months ago. I hope you take time to stop, now and then, and celebrate what God has done here – and especially your part in it.” Jeff smiled and replied, “Oh I do… I really do.”

I have spent much of my life sprinting from one thing to another. There has always been a sense that I shouldn’t take time and enjoy the success of the moment for a couple of reasons. The first is the awareness that it can change so quickly – be taken away in the blink of an eye. The second reason was that I was taught not to become prideful. Somehow, taking the time to savor and celebrate a success seemed too close to arrogance and pride.

I have learned to see things through the eyes of St. Paul in the quote above. This has come late to me, but I am grateful that I have finally come to a place in my life when I can stop and enjoy the blessings of success. First, I know that no real success is individually achieved. Second, I have come to the conclusion that St. Paul is telling us that we ought to take pride in the blessings God has worked in and through us. Of course we cannot ignore the challenges that are before us – and there are always more challenges aren’t there! Nor can we nurture the illusion that our success will always last – some do, some do not. But simple gratitude to God and others requires us to stop and enjoy (hold fast) what we have attained.

I hope you’ll do that: take time to savor and celebrate whatever accomplishments God has given you – then thank God and those who made them possible. You’ll find your soul growing if you will.

Devotion for November 18

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. James 3:13

Most of the people I have spoken to are grateful the recent elections are over – even if their preferred candidate didn’t win. Almost all of them report a growing disproval of the negative ads. My reply is agreement and the simple truth that they wouldn’t run those ads if we all turned them off. But, whether we turned them off or hit the mute button on the remote so we didn’t have to listen or not, the ads point to a larger issue in our country.

I think we are experiencing a loss of civility. My observations are that we do not see the courtesy or general regard for others we used to. Instead, it seems that we are growing impatient and self-involved as individuals. I have begun to wonder if we have lost our awareness of and gratitude for the blessings we have in this nation.

I am not one who likes to complain, so I have decided to make a holiday resolution: I will practice the art of civility and cultivate patience this holiday season. I will take to heart the admonition of St. James above. I will strive to show the good life God has given me with an attitude of gentleness born of the wisdom of Scripture. So, I am committed to giving thanks daily for the blessings I have received. I am pledging myself to slow down and try not to race by those moments of grace that are so abundantly available to each of us. And, when I find myself rushing from one thing to the next, I am going to go out of my way to slow down. Most of all, I want to be kind and respectful to all those I meet – especially those that irritate me!

I think I’ll have a much nicer holiday that way, don’t you? Why not join me? We just might help others along the way to be a bit more civil as well.

Lord, give me a dose of gentle wisdom today. Amen