Today is the day to… We could just wait until there is a better day. We could wait until tomorrow or the next day or the next. We could have done it yesterday. But we put it off. We put off whatever it is we have been wanting to accomplish. Maybe it is a chore we are putting off. We know the weeds aren’t going to disappear out of the flower bed on their own. We know they need to come up. But surely we can wait until… Maybe it is something fun we keep pushing off the calendar. I will go on that hike or visit that friend or take a day off when… It may be something as simple as deciding today is the day to be extra kind or spend more time listening and less time talking. Maybe today is the day to show a little more love to those we love the most. Maybe today is the day to simply find a moment to breathe. Today may just be the day to… (and you fill in the blank).
We hear all the time how tomorrow is not guaranteed. We understand that our time is limited. Yet we put off those things which may be important to us for whatever reason. It could be we are too busy or too tired or too behind or too – whatever. We can come up with more excuses than we even realize to not do the things we wish we were doing. Or we could decide – today is the day. This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it – as the Psalmist reminds us. Today is important and beautiful and an opportunity. Don’t waste your todays on thoughts of your tomorrows.
What will you do today? How will you show the love of God to your neighbor? How will you accomplish something new? How will you tackle that chore? This is the day to…
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 118:23-25
23 This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
“God, I thank you.” Those words seem so easy. They should be on the tip of our tongue at most any moment. We have so much to be thankful for. A day should not go by without taking account of all we are thankful. It should be part of our day to give thanks to the One who provides us more than we ever think, imagine, or realize. And when things are going well, thanks can roll right from our lips. When a prayer is answered the way we asked, we give thanks. When things come out the way we desired, we proclaim thanks. Those are given – or at least should be.
What about the times when thanks is not our first response? What about the times when our prayers are not answered the way we asked, requested and pleaded? What about the times when we didn’t get the test results we wanted? What happens when there is more work to do and it stares us in the face with such force? What do we do when our world, at least as we see it at the time, falls apart? I don’t know about you, but thankfulness is not automatic. Most of the time, thankfulness is the farthest from my thoughts. If I am honest, I often fail to see anything in which to give thanks. I can be mad or angry, disappointed or hurt. But to give thanks? The human in me says no thanks.
And yet, there are still so many things to give thanks for – so many beautiful gifts filling our world. While our own world may seem shattered at the time, this does not mean God has stopped working. It does not mean he is not with us. It does not mean he has forsaken us. It does not mean we are abandoned. There are still so many things in which to give thanks. It takes just a moment to realize all we have been given. It takes just a step back (or two or three) from our perspective. It takes just a word of thanks to help change the view which holds us hostage.
Giving thanks is not always easy or welcome or our first response. Sometimes it is our absolute last response. Today, maybe we make it our only response – God, I thank you. No matter what comes my way, I thank you. No matter what I may face today, I thank you. You are with me and I thank you.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 28:6-7
6 Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard the sound of my pleadings. 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
March is always one of those months we expect to see some stormy weather. It is as if Spring is trying to be birthed from Winter and it doesn’t always flow so well. This morning, as God began to turn on the lights on my part of the world, I noticed the sky. Sure, it is still really windy and stormy. But the sky looked so angry. It seemed to speak of its displeasure with all that was going on. It moved and shifted as if it had a message to speak.
We can certainly take this as a part of the progression of this season. Or we could see a sign, a message of sorts. Over the years of reading and studying the Bible, it has become really evident to me that God has an expectation of us we often overlook. I don’t remember hearing much about it growing up, if at all. I don’t remember this ever being a focus in the church. But God has given us a directive to care for his good creation. We are taught in Genesis that God created and it was good. He continued to create good things, including you and me. And when he created humanity, he gave us the responsibility for loving and caring for all he had created. It is our job – our high calling, so to speak. Yet, it seems to be the most overlooked.
We treat God’s creation as if it is expendable. We don’t worry about what we are doing because we will die and it will be someone else’s responsibility. We want what we want when we want it, regardless of the price there is to pay. We don’t want to sacrifice or do anything which may inconvenience us. We simply ignore all the signs, ignore God’s directive, and ignore anything which gets in our way. Yet, if we believe God created, how can we not be concerned for all he created? If we truly believe God provided, how can we be so irresponsible with the things which he has provided? It seems to be poor stewardship. It seems to go against our calling. It is wrong.
The good news is – it is never too late. As long as God continues to create, we have the opportunity to care for his creation. Take note of the things you do in a day. Think about the ways you impact – for good or bad – this good creation. Consider changes we can all begin to make to follow God’s directive and care for his goodness. May it begin with me.
Focus Scripture:
Genesis 1:28-31
28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” 29 God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
What do you look forward to? Are you waiting on Friday to get here? Is there a vacation you have in mind you can’t wait to happen? Are you looking forward to a special event or an important birthday? Are there milestones coming up you anxiously await?
We all want something to look forward to. We want something we can see ahead of us to keep us going through the mundane of daily work and life. We want a target, some goal ahead we can achieve to keep us focused. We may just want the week to be over – so we are looking for the end of it.
What if we looked forward to each new day? I know…it sounds a bit crazy. Not many of us wake up each morning excited about the day ahead – unless it is that special day or we are on vacation or we can sleep in for a change. But what if the mundane, normal daily life became something we were excited about? What if we woke up looking forward to our work or whatever we need to do that day? Could it change our perspective on what happens?
I am not saying every day will be great. But if we woke up seeking the good in each day, looking forward to what God has planned, I think it would help us to realize all we have been given. We may lead more thankful lives. Our lives may be filled with more hope and joy. We might begin to see the opportunities we had previously missed. We may find God is with us…even at work or the doctor’s office or the grocery store. We just might find there really is something to look forward to each and every day.
This is the day that the Lord has made. May we get excited about all he has planned. May we seek the good. May we see God.
Focus Scripture:
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
We all struggle in some way. We all find ourselves afraid at times. We all have issues we cannot seem to resolve. Many of us fight anxiety or loneliness. Some are riding the overwhelming waves of grief. Others are lashing out in anger for no apparent reason. We can hide all of these feelings deep inside, but they eventually show themselves in unexpected ways.
What if we approached our day with the understanding that everyone struggles. From the outwardly most confident to the completely humble, everyone has something they are dealing with. We don’t always talk about it – not everyone has earned the right to hear our story. We don’t always let people in on our issues – people can take advantage if placed in the hands of the wrong ones. So many put on a brave face and move forward.
If we start with the understanding that we are all struggling in some way, could it make us more understanding? Could it be we find ourselves more patient? I wonder if we could become more kind and loving – even to those who seem so angry and mean and harsh. Could it be the people who most drive us crazy could actually steer us to prayer? I think we could approach the world a lot differently if we simply realize no one is immune to difficulties. No one gets an easy ride in this life. Some struggle more than others – but no one gets to avoid difficulties altogether.
May we find ourselves more kind today. May we shine with the light of Christ, showing hope as we move through our world.
Focus Scripture:
Galatians 5:22-23
22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
One of the things that is most alarming is how we treat one another. It isn’t as if this is anything new. I have been reading about some of the Saints of the Church recently. In too many cases, the saints ended up being martyred. Why were they killed? They were killed because they refused to deny their faith. They held firm to their faith in God and this made someone in charge angry. So they were tortured or killed. This all happened because people with power thought they were so right that everyone who didn’t agree was wrong. The wrong was so wrong that death was the answer. Believe like me…or else – this was a clear statement.
While this does still occur in other countries, in the United States, this should not be the case. It does, however, show up in other ways. We have decided that everyone must believe like us or they are wrong – so wrong we can’t fellowship with them. If someone doesn’t act, vote, believe, speak and think like I do – they are out. Yet, this isn’t at all the teaching of the Bible.
I can’t help but think how self-absorbed and yet insecure the emperors and rulers must have been. They had to have people to tell them they were great and their ideas were perfect – probably because they didn’t even believe it themselves. They couldn’t even take it when someone disagreed with them – speaks of extreme insecurity to me. But too often, we can fall into similar traps. If someone doesn’t agree or believe like me, am I so insecure about what I believe that I cannot even hear them or want to be around them? Do they need to believe like me…or else? I don’t think so.
It seems to me we are taught a different way. We are taught the way of God’s love. We are taught the way of compassion and kindness. This way doesn’t have room to bully someone else into our beliefs. It doesn’t give space for belittling someone else for ideas and opinions different than our own. This way is one of giving. This way is one of praying for one another. This way is one of patience. This is the way of Jesus.
Consider how you treat those who do not believe like you. How might we show the love of Christ in ways that reach out rather than set ultimatums?
Focus Scripture:
Colossians 3:12
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
It isn’t always easy to seek the good. It is much easier to find the negative, the hurt, the difficulties. Pain is a steady reminder. The lack of pain we tend to ignore. We are aware when things are not going the way we would want them to go. We are afraid when we seem to have lost our footing. But when do we seek the good?
It seems to take more focus and attention to seek the good. We may be grateful things are going well. We may realize there is a lack of pain or fear. But mostly, we just go on with our daily lives – ignoring the good which surrounds us. It is so easy to do when we don’t constantly seek out the good. When the good is what we desire, we can forget to be thankful when it does happen. Since distress provides such hyper awareness, it could be we become lulled when the distress is gone. What if we made it a point to actually seek the good?
I admit this isn’t always easy. It can seem false. We can become so accustomed to our daily lives finding the good can feel impossible. We may have a tendency to just make up things so we can say we did it. But God has provided so many good things all around us. He has showered us with goodness. It may be we just haven’t spent the time or effort to seek it.
Today, seek the good. God has provided it. We simply need to recognize it.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 122:9
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
Things rarely turn out like we think they will. If nothing else, this past year has taught us this fact. We have so many events we mark in life. We mark anniversaries, birthdays, holidays and celebrations. We mark major events in our history. We remember during memorial day and veterans day, 4th of July and labor day. We remember tragic events such as 9/11. And in church life, we remember beautiful events such as Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. But this week marked yet another event. It was the one year anniversary of this virus we are facing being called a pandemic. It changed everything. And here we are, a year later, still trying to move forward in some way, shape and form. So it goes without saying that life doesn’t always turn out like we think it will or how we plan.
Today’s scripture is familiar. It is so familiar, in fact, that we tend to skip right to the part we know and forget what led us to it. We don’t think about the conversation which led to the outcome. We do this with scriptures we know – often without even thinking about it. We skip right to the “good parts” and forget what led this to be a part of a conversation. So today, we will spend a moment listening in on a conversation. It is a surprising conversation if you consider what all is going on. This was most unexpected.
It is dark, under the cover of night. No one knows he is there. He has snuck away, for whatever reason he needed to know. He had something gnawing deep inside him. There were unanswered questions. He had heard this teacher. He had been watching him from the sidelines. His fellow colleagues wanted this teacher to just stop. But he was intrigued. There was something about him. He couldn’t put his finger on it but this wasn’t just a fad, a trend of someone that simply needed to be silenced. There was something about the teaching. It was different. So as not to seem obvious, he comes in the dark of night – where he can ask the questions directly. And what he hears, he doesn’t expect. But then, when we ask Jesus questions…he rarely answers us like we think or expect.
John 3:1-18
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus[a] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”[b]4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.[c]7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You[d] must be born from above.’[e]8 The wind[f] blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
11“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you[g] do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.[h] 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.[i]
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Nicodemus – a leader of the Jews – comes to Jesus. Again, he gets there is something unique, very different about Jesus. He doesn’t so much ask a question but makes a statement. Jesus has come from God – the signs are apparent. If you want to see the kingdom of God – do you want to see – do you really want to experience the kingdom? Because if you do, you are to be born from above. How confusing must this have been?
To be born is to be created, birthed, a fresh new start. It is a beginning. So to start again seems not just odd, but impossible. So we can relate – someone can’t actually physically be born again. It just isn’t possible. So what is the deal? What is Jesus trying to say? This birth is a spiritual one. It is not an actual physical birth but one in which we get a new start, a fresh beginning, we become a new creation in God.
Jesus tells Nicodemus he should be getting this – and this is not to insult him or to belittle him. This is to say…it’s in the Word you know…it is part of the life you have taught and led. This is not new information if you really get what God has told you all along. This should not be a surprise because you really do get the Scriptures. This is your specialty.
And here is the deal…this is a part of God’s love story to Nicodemus. It is that God so loved Nicodemus that this renewal, this new birth, this impossible becomes possible. Nicodemus doesn’t have to understand it all. He simply has to trust – God’s story is big and wide and full of amazing love. The most astounding part of this story is it also applies to us – to you and to me. For God so loved… that’s how the verse begins, right? That is the scripture we know. That is the word we believe. This is what we have taken in. God loves. It is not because of us – our accolades or accomplishments. It is not because we have earned it or deserve it. It isn’t because there is something unique about us that God only does this for us. It is because God loves. And when God loves, God loves big – real big. God loves so big that he loves the world, the whole world, his wonderful, beautiful stained creation. He loves it all – gnats and flies, trees and mountains, flowers and weeds – and you and me. That’s the most amazing part of this all – God loves us. Because he loves us, Jesus. To believe is to become a part of the kingdom. To believe is to have a place at the table. To believe is to know that we are loved even when we feel quite unlovable.
That’s the hard part of it all, I think. We believe in God. We believe in Jesus. But to believe we are loved – that’s the hard part sometimes. We love conditionally in our lives. We can’t help it. We are human. So we love when…we love until…we love if. We love with a condition. God just loves. His love is so overwhelming we can’t understand it. His love washes over us when we feel so dry and parched. His love fills our every need when we are so empty. His love sets us free when we feel imprisoned and held down. God’s love is redemptive. It is a renewal. God’s love changes EVERYTHING.
That’s the story of the whole Bible – God’s love changes everything. God created. God redeems. God renews. God inspires and instills. God so loved – Jesus. It is the story of Christmas, it is the story of Easter, it is the story which fills the pages of this story we call the Bible. It is the story which fills our lives – whether we recognize it or not. God is LOVE. And God’s love is powerful – it changes things…and it changes us.
When we realize just how much we are loved, we are forever changed. We can’t help it. We have a love which is so poured into us it is overflowing. When Jesus challenges us to the hard things – and he really does that in nearly every verse and teaching – he is doing it with the knowledge that we have all we need to do it – and all we need is God’s love. That’s the foundation. It is not only the beginning, it is the necessary, required part of it all. If we don’t do what we do with love, it is useless and void. But when we do things with great love, God does amazing things with it. We are changed.
But let’s be honest. We don’t always feel all that changed, do we? Things don’t go as we expect. To be loved doesn’t mean we walk through this life as though we are living in some utopia of perfection. We mess up. We say mean things. We do wrong things. We hurt ourselves and others. We forget we are loved. We walk in directions we clearly should not. Life happens and it isn’t always good. Nicodemus walked away that day with a teaching – but it doesn’t say he immediately got it. We do know it changed him. But he went back to his life. He had been given a glimpse of the light but was not ready to live in it completely. It was just the beginning for him.
God’s love isn’t conditional on us – on who we are. He doesn’t stop loving us because we act ridiculous. He doesn’t stop loving us when we clearly make bad decisions. He loves us through it all. It simply takes us recognizing it. When God opens our eyes to his love, our heart begins to open as well. When we experience his love, the shell of our insecurities begins to crack. God so loved…and God so loves you.No matter where you may find yourself this day, hear this – God loves you. May you feel his redemptive power overtake you, overwhelm you, and begin to change you. May you experience his love in a new and amazing way. Also remember this…God loves you…but he also loves the person you hate. May he change our hearts to live in his love in a way that is life changing for us – and for others. May we love like him – love big and wide and open. For God so loved…even our enemies. May God show love through you and me today.
I woke up this morning to a pretty incredible surprise. I walked right by it the first time – I account this to the fact I had not consumed coffee yet. As I let Leo back into the house, it was right there – so bright and beautiful before me. It took me by such surprise.
Before the winter, our sweet friend Gale had left me with a flower pot with a plant in it. She knows how much I enjoy flowers and plants and the outdoors. She was moving and gifted this to us. I watered it and took care of it. But I must be honest – I thought I had killed it. It had no green anymore and just looked pitiful. When winter came, I brought it inside. I continued to look after it, even though it really had no signs of life. Leo was the only one to find it fascinating so I had to put it in a stand – out of his immediate reach. At some point over the last couple of months, it began to have little stems spring up. They looked promising and I was overjoyed I had not completely ruined it yet. It has continued to grow and develop buds on the ends of the stems. I had no idea what the blooms looked like, when they bloomed or what to expect. Last night, as we were fixing dinner, I pointed the plant out to Wendy. One of the blossoms looked as though it would open in the next few days or weeks. We decided we would send Gale a message the next day. I woke up this morning to the biggest, most beautiful bloom. I was shocked and amazed and overjoyed.
The Bloom
This may not sound like much to you – but for me, this was a gift I had not expected. It was a joyful surprise and reminded me of God’s goodness. The verse for today – which I have used several times just because of its meaning – immediately came to mind. God’s mercies are new every day. We just don’t always see them. We walk by them. We give up when we feel all is lost. It may be God is working beneath the surface to produce something pretty amazing. We simply have to watch, be patient, and wake up to God’s mercies. If we pay attention, they may just take our breath away. It sure did mine.
Focus Scripture:
Lamentations 3:22-23
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
This Photo included in today’s Devotion is captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
I am not a great singer. If I am honest, I am not really even a good singer. But I love music. I cannot begin to describe the way music moves and flows through our lives. There are so many times a song will become our words, a tune become the cries of our hearts. Music is definitely a gift from God.
It is no wonder the Psalmist in Psalm 100 writes and sings of making a joyful noise to the Lord. We are reminded to enter God’s presence with singing. There are no try outs for this choir. There are no specifications. You don’t need to be able to read music or know what a G sounds like. You only need to come into God’s presence with singing – full out, all you.
We may find when we are in distress, songs become our prayers. We sing the words our hearts cannot speak. We hum a tune of a familiar hymn which carries us back to a time of joy. We hear the exclamation of God’s creation singing to him in their own way and their own songs.
While we may detect if someone is way off key and even may distort our face at the lack of musical talent, God doesn’t. He welcomes our songs. He welcomes us to pour out our hearts with singing. He doesn’t score us based on our talents. He invites us based on our willingness to come into his presence.
Come into God’s presence with singing. May a tune fill your heart today. May your prayer be filled with a song. Sing to the Lord, he loves to hear us sing.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 100:1-2
1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY 
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