How like the snow is the miracle of God forgiving our sins through Jesus Christ. Like the falling snow, Jesus’ trials, scourging and sacrifice on the cross took hours. Yet at the moment we wake up to new life in Him by faith in that sacrifice, suddenly God sees us covered in a pristine layer of pure, dazzling white — the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Like the footprints covered by the snow, Jesus’ perfect life and perfect sacrifice cover yesterday’s dingy sins. And when the morning of new life by faith in Jesus dawns for each individual, God the Father sees each of us as beautiful to look upon because we bear the righteous image of His obedient and beloved Son.

It’s January, 2010. Have you put on the dazzling white covering of Jesus’ righteousness by believing that His death on the cross is for you and your sins? Who in your life needs to hear that a fresh start, a sparkling snow-covered morning awaits them if they will put their trust in Jesus and allow His purity to transform their lives?

Scripture to ponder…
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” — from Isaiah 1:18

I thought the season in which we celebrate the birth of Christ would be a good time to share what new work He has been doing in my life — thus the lapse in devotionals from Life-Changing Words. God has called me to share His Word with women through  an international Bible study called Bible Study Fellowship.  (www.BSFinternational.org) This involves studying a Bible passage, preparing weekly training meetings for our leaders and weekly  lectures for our ladies. It is a joy and a privilege, as well as a huge responsibility. I always want to be diligent to handle God’s Word with care.

So what does this mean to Life-Changing Words? With 3 studies published, I have decided not to write another one this year so I can focus on learning this new responsibility. (All studies are still available to your families at www.Life-ChangingWords.com.) Much of my creative energy has gone into preparing lectures lately and I am still learning to balance BSF and family responsibilities — which is why there has been a lapse in monthly online devotionals. I hope to soon have a system where I can get them up and running again!

So in short, the Life-Changing Words haven’t gone away, most of them are just being spoken at BSF on Monday nights. I believe that this is all part of God’s plan and preparation for whatever lies ahead — and I remain willing to serve Him in any way He calls.

Total availability and obedience is is the spirit in which Jesus Christ came to earth as a baby. This is the spirit with which His children serve Him best. May your Christmas celebration be filled with His Presence!

Passing  on His Grace,
Cheryl

Disappointment isn’t only for the birds. In a broken world, we humans often end up saying, “I can’t believe it,” too. I can’t believe they fired me. I can’t believe he’d destroy our marriage. I can’t believe it’s cancer. Sometimes life sticks us with old tire rubber, too.

But what I didn’t tell you about that bird is that he lives in a place of abundance, a large wooded area I pass daily where his next meal is never more than a swoop or two away. Oh, the next meal may not come in exactly the form he wants. He may get rabbit instead of squirrel, but God always has the right thing prepared for him.

The same is true for us. If we’ve chosen to follow Jesus as Savior, we live in a place of abundance, too. He always has the right thing prepared for us. God does provide faithfully for His children. The next job may not be exactly what we envisioned. The marriage may have to undergo counseling and transformation. And even if the cancer is unbeatable, God promises His children the perfect joy of heaven. There’s no doubt about it. We live in a broken world. Sometimes it’s rabbit instead of squirrel. But even if God’s only provision in a moment of trial is His Presence, it is — after all — the Presence of the God who loved us enough to die for us so that we might be with Him forever. We can trust Him when He says, “My grace is sufficient.”

The next time you find yourself stuck with tire rubber, I hope you are filled to overflowing with His Presence!

VERSES TO PONDER…

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.  Matthew 10:29-31

Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish will give him a snake? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him?  Matthew 7:9-11

And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
1 Peter 5:10

Broken lives, while not always so obvious, are often just as painful as that tooth. Poor choices, bad habits and outright mistakes tear apart our relationships. Cruel words wound us and others deeply. Shattered relationships and dreams rend our hearts. Yet like the jagged tooth, these are just symptoms of a balance problem; the true cause of a crumbling life is an off-kilter relationship with God. (He is to be first in our lives, with everything else second.)

The good news is God’s office is always open and He can fix anything. Like Rebekah’s tooth, the fixing process isn’t always fun, but the results are wondeful and well worth it! The broken tooth was made hole, even stronger than it was before because of the dentist’s special bonding material. (Just like God’s supernatural power and love heals and strengthens our lives.) The black driveway grime was polished away leaving a sparkling, white tooth. (Just like spending time in God’s Presence and Word slowly polishes away sin and dysfunction, leaving a brighter life that can reflect His love to the world.) The end result for Rebekah was a more beautiful smile than before the tooth was broken. (She had already had one front tooth longer than the other from a previous Leap Frog incident and the dentist fixed that, too!) God can have the same amazing effect on our lives — and offer us the exciting promise of spending forever with Him in the perfection of Heaven, too.

Where are you broken and when will you sit in God’s chair (through prayer) to ask Him to fix it? When will you give Him permission to do whatever it takes to make you whole, strong and more beautiful — and then cooperate in the process?

By faith in the name of Jesus this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. (Acts 3:16)

Dear Friends,

Please understand that, though God is able to to heal every physical ailment, He does not always choose to. He knows what it takes in every life to create a heart totally devoted to Him — which, since He is amazing, Almighty God is what He deserves. God knows and wants what is best for each of us, so He is right in being more concerned with our closeness to Him than our merely having a life of ease and comfort.

A more beautiful smile than before!

Procrastinating the next set  in my Monday morning exercise routine, I looked out the window into a crystal blue sky. Suddenly a brilliant flash grabbed my attention. It wasn’t a star, but a bird! This bird in flight actually appeared to sparkle against the backdrop of a clear, blue daytime sky. The phrase from Philippians 2:15 about “shining like the stars” came to mind.

I’ve often focused on “without complaining or arguing” in that verse (as is fitting given my slight bend toward impatience.) Today the words that hit me were, “Do everything.” It doesn’t say, “Do grand things.” It doesn’t say, “Do important things.” God’s Word tells us, “Do everything” in a way that He can use to make us shine like the stars.

That bird wasn’t becoming President, curing cancer, preaching a great sermon or doing anything else spectacular. It was doing what birds were made to do — fly. How ordinary. It was our extraordinary God Who had ordained the sun’s exact position, the trajectory and timing of my glance and the complete lack of clouds to obscure my vision.

God doesn’t necessarily ask us to do spectacular things either. Maybe if we just do the ordinary things He made us to do and then rely on Him to orchestrate surrounding variables, we will shine like the stars, too. By the way, that bird wasn’t creating light, just reflecting it. God doesn’t ask us to glow with our own glory, but to reflect His. Now, if God can make that bird sparkle against a brilliant, daytime sky, how much more can He cause us who are made in His image to radiate His glory against the backdrop of a dark world?

What has God made you to do?

And what ordinary thing is God asking you to do in a way that He can use to shine His glory?

What happens when a 6 ft, 185-pound 16 year old (Ben) and a 4-ft-something, 75-pound 9 year old (we’ll call him Little Joe) try to occupy the same space on a ski slope simultaneously? Read on…Ben was slaloming back and forth down the icy hill, nearing the bottom. Out of nowhere — and out of control — came Little Joe. He was barreling across on a collision course with Ben, who was suddenly faced with the impossibility of stopping on ice. In a split second, Ben had to choose: self-preservation or self-sacrifice. He made his choice, changed his own course and crashed straight into a bank of ice. Glasses shattered. Bones broke. Blood flowed. Ben was laid on a stretcher and taken down the hill. Little Joe was oblivious. Whether or not he knew what had transpired, he continued on at breakneck speed to his final destination — paying no attention to the sacrifice that had just been made on his behalf. At the end of the day, Ben was left bruised, swollen, in pain and with a broken nose. For days his eye was swollen completely shut. For weeks he dealt with pain. Today he still bears a scar. Ben put his own life on the line for Little Joe, whom he didn’t even know.

Thankfully this did not turn out to be the ultimate sacrifice. But there was One 2,000 years ago who did make the ultimate sacrifice. In a moment of agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus Christ had that same choice: self-preservation or self-sacrifice. As perfect man and perfect God, He was the only One in all eternity who could fully pay the price with His life for the sins of mankind. Without His sacrifice, His human body would be spared, but all humanity would be forever condemned to suffering and separation from a loving God. With His sacrifice, His own flesh would be torn, but so would the temple curtain that symbolically separated the people from the Presence of God.

Jesus chose to lay down His life for us. He, too, was bruised and bloody — left nailed to a cross. After His death, His scarred and swollen body was taken down the hill of Golgotha and laid in a tomb. A few mourned His death, but many — like Little Joe — hurried on to wherever they were going, paying little attention to the sacrifice that had just been made on their behalf.

Yet the story doesn’t end there. Three days after Jesus died, He proved His deity and His power over death — appearing to over 500 people in a new glorified body. He was alive! His one sacrifice was accepted for the sins of all. His death made a way to God the Father for all who accept it today. This is why we can say,”HAPPY Easter!”

Have you embraced this great Love who laid down His life for you? Or are you hurrying about your busy schedule paying little attention to the sacrifice that has been made on your behalf?

Easter is a wonderful time to decide to love Jesus back for loving us first. He loved us with all His life. He only asks us to love Him with all our heart.

HAPPY EASTER!

It’s the same for us, if we choose to plant our lives firmly on the Rock of Jesus Christ and His Word. We’re surrounded by bad weeds in the world, but sit on the rock of God’s Word each morning and we can see  more clearly thoughout our day. We, too, will see sources of spiritual nourishment — opportunities for fellowship, applications of God’s Word, moments of prayer or experiences of His Presence — that build us up to face the day. Standing high atop the rock we, too, are better equipped to watch for predators desiring to thwart the work to which  God calls us and take appropriate evasive action.

God puts the Rock there — available to all of us. That wise old bird was taking time in his morning to sit still in the Presence of the Rock. How often have I been so intent on flying off into the busyness of my day that I acted like a birdbrain and refused to take time to sit still in the Presence of the Rock?

Verses to Ponder:

Be still and know that I am God… (Psalm 46:10)

Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than the birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Luke 12:24-25)

When answers don’t come quickly and it seems like I’m repeatedly heaping piles of prayer on with no results, maybe I’m focused on the wrong wheelbarrow. Am I praying for someone else to change to suit me? Am I more focused on filling their wheelbarrow than mine? What I must remember is that my prayers fill my wheelbarrow. I am the one my prayers are most likely to change. And that’s as it should be.

As Oswald Chambers puts it, “Take care lest you play the hypocrite by spending all your time trying to get others right before you worship God yourself.” As we pray let’s be willing to be changed. Am I praying for a friend to come to know Jesus as Savior? Perhaps prayer will change me so that my increasingly Christlike behavior will draw this dear one to the Lord. Am I praying that some annoying person will stop irritating me? Perhaps ongoing, humble prayer will change me into someone who is so in awe of what God has done for me, that I am no longer bothered by another’s annoyances or by not having every creature comfort on the planet.

James 5:16 says, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” Effective to do what? Effective for God’s purposes, not our own. Oh, He is gracious to plant in us godly desires as we follow Him and then give us the desires of our hearts, but He is also merciful to refrain from giving us desires misaligned with His will and our good.

Perhaps the way it works is this: day after day we load onto our wheelbarrow shovels full of prayer. The process makes us spiritually strong as we persevere. Then one day, when the wheelbarrow is full to overflowing, God allows it to tip. As its contents spill out upon us, they cover the old self we needed to leave behind and a new creature of faith peeks out from the mound like a Spring daffodil.

The prayer of a righteous man is indeed powerful and effective.

Light makes all the difference, doesn’t it? Ever wonder why bars are so dimly lit?
Insufficient light hides inconvenient details. And aren’t you glad your surgeon has
that brilliant light above him as he strives to do everything exactly according to
procedure during your surgery?

Is it coincidence that God’s Word, the Bible, is called “a lamp to my feet and a  light
for my path”? No, only the perfect Light of God in His Word can reveal the “substandard
technique” in our lives. When we view ourselves in the world’s light, we seem fine.
The culture’s dime light casts shadows on self-gratifying, self-glorifying thoughts
and actions; we come to think they look normal. Yet, bathe a life in God’s perfect truth
and suddenly the mediocre brush strokes of wrong motives, harsh words and impure
relationships rise to the surface.

The good news is that just like the brilliant light that enables the surgeon’s hands to
improve our physical health, God’s Word  can make us spiritually healthy — giving us new,
restored life. We need only soak it in. Its power to warm the heart is unlimited and the reach
of its rays knows no bounds. Amazingly, if we look long enough in the Light of God’s Word,
He can transform even the most mediocre life into a stunning work of art.

Questions…
How often do you open the shutters of your heart and intentionally soak in the Light
of God’s Word?
What “mediocre brush strokes” might be hidden in your life right now because there’s
too little divine light shed upon it?

God’s Word to ponder….

Psalm 107:20  He sent forth His Word and healed them; He rescued them from the grave.

Psalm 119:105  Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

1 Peter 2:9  But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of
darkness into His wonderful light.

For two weeks the on ramp to Interstate 75 near my home had been blocked by orange barrels with flashing yellow lights. Like a maze-savvy lab rat, I had grown accustomed to passing the direct entrance to the highway, following a circular detour and taking the long way onto I-75. This path made perfect sense as it was the most efficient way to enter the highway – until last Saturday.

Last Saturday morning I left the house early anticipating the usual detour on my way to I-75. As if on auto pilot, I drove my car right past the newly opened entrance ramp, freshly paved and prepared for traffic. I missed my direct access opportunity, my chance to take the shortest route. My detour habit was so engrained that I overlooked the brilliantly lit sign directing me to the open ramp. My expectations of a blocked entrance were so concrete, that I missed the real concrete before me offering access to my desired destination.

How like spiritual life! Jesus has prepared a direct-access on ramp to take us to our ultimate destination, eternity in heaven. Yet we often drive right by the cross, thinking there must be another way. How many unnecessary circular detours do we take in our everyday lives? The Bible’s brilliant messages announce Jesus as Savior and spell out the attitudes and actions that will bring us joy because they were written by our Creator. Yet, we often miss the messages because we aren’t looking for them. We read God’s Word on auto pilot, missing His fresh lessons for us. Or we leave the Book on the shelf altogether because of an inaccurate expectation that it’s too hard to read.

As we embark on the journey of 2009, please know that the construction of our salvation is complete. Jesus’ final words on the cross were, “It is finished.” The on ramp to heaven is open and waiting for you. Will you accept Jesus’ death and resurrection to bring you into life-giving relationship with Him?

If you’ve already accepted Jesus as Savior, won’t you pick up the Bible with open eyes? Look for the messages God has for you. Instead of letting predetermined human expectations dictate the reality by which you navigate life, how about relying on the life-changing truth of God’s Word? The Bible is spiritual MapQuest! Check it daily before you hit the road.

As I learned last Saturday, sometimes going the way we’re accustomed to isn’t the best route. When God wants to grow us spiritually, the routine that has been most efficient may no longer be the best path.

May God grant you direct access to more of His truth in 2009!

SCRIPTURE TO PONDER

He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. (Psalm 107:7)

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. (Psalm 119:18)

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe… (Ephesians 1:18-19)

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