One of my all-time favorite movies is Finding Nemo. I mean, what’s not to love? There is adventure and suspense. There are good and bad – people that want the good for you and some that just do not. Nemo has what most would consider a really difficult start to life – dis-ability and loss of his mom. Yet, he moves forward. And to top it all off – Nemo is orange (my favorite color). So it is all good. But one of the classic lines comes from Dory (the forgetful but adorable friend to all) – “Just keep swimming”. I think of this line often. I say this line in my mind often. Some days, I don’t want to keep swimming. I want to, instead, stay in bed and call it a day before it gets started. Some days I want to swim somewhere else for a vacation. But ultimately, I find the most value when I just keep swimming in the direction God is leading. It isn’t the easy way. But it is the right way.
Following God, for me, is the way of love. It is the way of showing kindness where there has been hatred. It is the way of encouraging rather than tearing down. It is the way of welcome rather than exclusion. But it is the difficult way all too often. I mess up. I get angry and frustrated. I have days when I go off and I should keep my mouth shut (ok – there may a lot of these days). I am not saying I get it right or that I am the example. I am saying Jesus is the example so I am doing my best to follow him. And in doing so, even on my worst days, I just keep swimming.
Which direction are you heading today? May you follow God in the way of love. May you find peace in the middle of the mess. May you find joy in the heap of sorrow. And may you just keep swimming with God as your guide. There is still so much ahead…and it is good.
Focus Scripture:
3 You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake lead me and guide me, 4 take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
It’s difficult to believe it can be this simple. We try to make it more difficult than it should be. We try to interject our opinions and our ways into it. We don’t allow what is there to speak for itself. It is loud and clear and yet we want to make it quiet and unnoticeable. God has spoken these words over and over and over – and too many times, we just ignore these are his words…or we choose other words we would rather hear or speak or believe. But these words are bold and bright and brilliant. They are challenging and they cause us to change if we take them seriously. We don’t get to live our lives the way we might want to if we follow these teachings. We don’t get to change the words around if we take God seriously. We take them as he says them, as he writes them, and as he shares them.
This morning, I am going to do something a little different. I want to read several scriptures in a row and then bring the message together in a way that I hope will lead us to the teachings of Jesus. So walk with me on this quick journey. It begins early in the Bible…
Leviticus 19:15-18
15 You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go around as a slandereramong your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the Lord.
17 You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
This is among many laws that God has given his people – these things separate them from all the others in the land. It doesn’t stop here, though. Jesus had some things to clarify for the people:
Matthew 5:43-44
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Love your neighbor…there it is again…
Matthew 22:34-40
34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Jesus clarifies this in the parable of the Good Samaritan…a story he teaches about who is our neighbor. He leaves this teaching with his disciples and thus, with us:
John13:34-35
34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Paul reiterates this to the church at Galatia which was having some issues:
Galatians 5:13-14
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. 14 For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
And I think John sums it up well:
1 John 3:11, 14-17
11 For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death.15 All who hate a brother or sisterare murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them.16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.17 How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sisterin need and yet refuses help?
So there are all these teachings about loving our neighbor. We are called, instructed, and directed to love one another. This teaching repeats itself over and over – love being the central theme of the Bible, in my opinion. Yet, this is one of the most challenging teachings we are called to follow. It is much easier to judge. It is easier to dismiss. It is easier to ignore. It is easier to not love. We even try to devise reasons for not loving. We do this by clumping people into groups so that we can just not love a whole group. It is, after all, easier to dismiss a group than it is to dismiss one person we see and know and talk with. But that isn’t the point…that isn’t the teaching…that isn’t the instruction. We are to love others.
Loving others requires us to push past our preconceived notions. Loving others requires us to reach from a place where we realize we are loved. Loving others comes from knowing that Jesus loves us – despite who we are and where we have been. Loving others is more than a command, it must be a part of who we are and how we live. It cannot be something we talk about – it must be something we live. It has to be how we are known. If it is not, we are missing something.
I understand the challenges of loving others, I do. I get why it can be so difficult. I hear how you struggle with this – so do I. I am not saying this is easy. I am not saying we will get this right all the time. But if we never try, how will we ever change? If we never begin to take this teaching seriously, how will we ever love? If we never really listen to God, how can we expect God to change us? We are loved beyond measure. We are loved, even despite the mess we are or the mess we may find ourselves. We are God’s beloved. God is just asking us to carry this love forward. He is asking us to take what we have been given and share it with others. He is asking us to take this amazing love and put it into action. Instead of ignoring this love or denying it, we begin with welcoming in the fact we are loved. It starts here. When we begin to sense how much we are loved, we have a wellspring of love to share. We can only love others when we sense how much we are loved. Maybe that’s where we start today. Maybe it begins with – YOU ARE GOD’S BELOVED. YOU ARE LOVED. Take it in. Live with it. Let it become a part of you. It will change us. And we just may find ourselves loving others. May it begin with me.
A walk outside provides me with clarity like nothing else. For you, it may be other things you like to do. But for me, being outdoors helps to clear my mind and allows me to breathe in God’s goodness while contemplating whatever it is I may be struggling to figure out. I often feel God’s messages most clearly when I am among his creation. It is a relief and a joy to simply be and to know that God has me no matter what it is I face. The rain reminds me of forgiveness and nurturing. The snow reminds me of new, fresh starts. The leaves falling remind me that today’s beauty must be admired, for it will be tomorrow’s landscape to rake. Sunrises and sunsets are more majestic some days – so don’t fail to pay attention to today. You may just miss it. God just speaks with such eloquence in his creation.
How do you sense God’s presence? Where is it that you find his love most evident? How is he showing you he is with you? Another place I sense his goodness is when I am spending time in the kitchen. It is, I guess, tapping into my creativity he has ingrained in me. To take simple ingredients and combine them in just the right way to make something delicious is just another reminder of creation. God takes simple things and creates something delectable. He has given us resources we take for granted. He has offered us to care for this earth in a way he would. We are given all we need if we just took the time to appreciate it. God’s presence is among us.
Today, my goal is to sense his presence in the ordinary. While I always try to do this, I will be spending a little more time focused on this today. I don’t want to miss his goodness, his majesty or his provision. Open my eyes, Lord, that I may see you today.
Focus Scripture:
1 Chronicles 16:26-27
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 27 Honor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
In the story of the Israelites traversing the wilderness, God made his presence known so they would know where to go. During the daytime, he led by a cloud. In the night, by fire. His presence was visible. It was intimidating yet reassuring. God had not left them even in their disobedience. He was not going to make them figure this out alone. He would be with them every moment and they would know it. They would not forget it. He was there.
Tonight I am doing something I rarely do. I am sitting around the fire pit, eating dinner, and enjoying the beauty of the flames. Honestly, this takes time and effort So I just don’t do this often enough. I am grateful for a few moments around the fire. Held in the pit, the flames are so majestic. They are dangerously beautiful. As I sit and watch, I am reminded of God. I am reminded that he is still leading and guiding our steps. He is still reminding me of his presence. It may not be in the same way – we, do, after all, have the Holy Spirit as our guide. Instead of the visible fire, God’s fire is living within us. He is guiding us from within. We should, in turn, be burning bright for him. How has God reminded you of his presence today?
Focus Scripture:
21 The Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
We can let our fear speak for us if we are not careful. It happens without notice. It isn’t as if we have chosen it. We don’t usually consider when we speak what is driving our words. We just speak. And sometimes when we speak, it is to the harm and detriment of others. This could be the case if our fears are speaking for us.
It is fall and many are thinking about pumpkins and Halloween. I am thinking about cooler weather, but that may be just me. When we think about October, fear is a part of the genre. Halloween is filled with masks and haunted houses. If we are honest, I am not sure that much could be more fearful than this year has been with masks and a frightening pandemic. Two things always come to mind when I think of Halloween – the video from Michael Jackson’s Thriller and the line, “I ain’t afraid of no ghosts” from Ghostbusters. This probably ages me some and I am sure says something about my personality. But my point is that this is a time when we are thinking about fear or the lack thereof. Yet, fear seems to rear its ugly head in so much of our everyday lives and we don’t even notice.
Fear happens when we can’t hear someone with a different view or belief. Fear happens when people bully (it is actually the bully that has the most fear ingrained deep inside). Fear is evident in the political world. It is a part of our decision making. It is a part of hatred or greed. We don’t realize it, though. It is hidden. It seem that the bully fears nothing. Yet, for that person to act like that and live to intimidate others, there is deep seated fear. For people to hate others, there is fear of someone or something different. When religious people spew hatred, it is usually because they are fearful something they believe will be challenged and they don’t know what to do with that. Fear is a part of so much of our lives, yet we rarely talk about it.
The Bible teaches us different. We are taught to live in love, not fear. We are taught real love casts out fear. We are taught that Jesus lived as he did out of love, not fear. We read how those who hated him were fearful because he challenged their beliefs. We hear the fear of those who wanted Jesus dead. There is fear in the Bible – but it wasn’t from Jesus. He lived rooted in love. How are you living? We should check our speech, posts, and thoughts – we may find a whole lot of fear and not much love, if we are willing to dig deep. May LOVE lead you today.
Focus Scripture:
1 John 4:18-19
18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because he first loved us.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
It’s likely happened to most of us. We are traveling down the road, listening to our music, and jamming along. We are minding our own business until all of a sudden, we see it. The police car is up ahead. We look down at our speedometer and immediately begin to slow down. It is almost instinctual. Some take it to the extreme and slam on brakes, almost causing an accident. Then, continue to travel at 50 mph thinking that will impress someone. Some slow down so much you wonder if their car has stalled and they are trying to re-crank it. Even funnier is how a few miles down the road, you will see the person who was traveling 50 now kicking it back up. Now, we all know that if we see the police car, the officer has probably already seen us as well. There is a really good chance it is too late to slow way down. And we just look ridiculous to go below the speed limit when you don’t do that at any other point in our lives. The deal is we know we are guilty. We know we were going too fast. We understand that the law has been broken. Our attempt to temporarily rectify the situation is really only a last minute “Hail Mary”. It isn’t an intent to change. There is no real idea of just going slower. It is temporary until the police car has passed and we are not in the “danger zone” any longer.
I wonder how many of us live our lives like this. We do what we want to until things are not going well. We get caught or we find ourselves in trouble. All of a sudden, we are angelic Christians calling on the Lord to help us. We are willing to sacrifice it all for him if he will be with us. That is, we will sacrifice until the danger passes. When it is all over, we go back to the way we were, with no real intention of change. We just don’t want to get caught. We are willing to slam on brakes for a moment if we can just avoid a ticket. What a way to live.
We could, instead, live acknowledging when we have done wrong and working to do what is right. We could follow Christ all the time and quit trying to pretend only when it is convenient. We could actually love like Christ without boundaries. We could…but most of us are just satisfied doing what we want and only slamming on the brakes when we think we are getting caught. How do you want to live?
Focus Scripture:
James 2:18
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
I woke up as usual, rolled out of bed and picked up my phone. It wasn’t to look at social media or check messages. I needed to know the weather before I headed out the door for my morning run/walk. The temp looked fine, just what I expected. But then those 3 little letters appeared again – FOG. Really? I get fog twice in one week. I thought that maybe it was a mistake but prepared for it anyway. I stepped out the door and sure enough, fog. I mentally wrapped my mind around running in the fog again and moved forward. It would be fine. The first mile was the normal – thick fog with no indication of it letting up. But soon after, there was a clearing.
It happened so quickly I almost didn’t realize it. I could, all of a sudden, see around me. The cars could see me. I was almost shocked at how I had hit a clearing. I looked up and noticed I could see the stars and constellations. As it turned out, it was actually an absolutely beautiful morning with stars shining bright. I just didn’t know it because the fog around me was so thick. It took a clearing for me to realize what was just beyond the fog.
Yesterday, I watched a story about a woman that was changing lives. She wasn’t famous. Most people had never heard of her. She was in a small, remote village where she was most happy. She was, though, pretty incredible. What was she doing? She was finding the good in young people and encouraging them. It really was this simple. If a child thought they were bad at math, she showed them where they could succeed. If they were struggling in any area, she wanted them to see all they were capable of accomplishing. She simply tried to find the good in them all. Everyone she encountered, it was a search for the good. That’s it. And that’s all it took. She was changing lives. For her, the good was always there, she just needed to look beyond what everyone else said and what they felt about themselves. She needed to find the clearing. It might not be at first sight, but it was there. She wanted to keep moving through the fog so she could show others the stars. They were there, she knew it. She just had to keep moving until she reached the clearing.
There is so much we miss because we are held in the fog by our own thoughts and judgments. The clearing is just ahead but we might not even notice if we just focus on where we are right now. God has given us so much – we need to see what he sees. It might change others. It might change us. The clearing is beautiful – keep moving until you reach it.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 147:3-5
3 He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. 4 He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. 5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
What does it mean to put something or someone first? When our lives are overcrowded and overrunning, how do even know what is first and what is just in the mix of it all? It can be difficult to know where we started or where we are going when we are just surviving. We may proclaim that we put our children first until we look at our hectic schedules overrun with other things. We may think we put our spouse first until we look at how our time is actually spent. The way we spend our time and our funds, our energies and our gifts all show us those things or people which we have chosen to put first.
And yet, those who choose to follow God are called to put him first. How is this even possible? We have those we love more than life itself. We have obligations which tend to cause us to lose sight of the important stuff in life. We have consumer goods telling us we have to work extra to obtain the pretty things. We have to look good and make sure everything is social media worthy. It can be confusing and distressing. So how do we sort it all out?
Putting God first really does help us to readjust our priorities and envision a different life. Putting God first actually enables us to take better care of our spouse and children. Putting God first encourages us to work giving it our all – because we are doing it as unto the Lord. Putting God first helps us to see those things which are truly valuable – and we might just be surprised where really value is found. We begin to see that love, peace, joy, and hope are way more important than the latest gadget or social media photo. We begin to care less about the things of this world and more about God’s good creation and living for him. We may just find our life really is a lot more joyful than we could have ever imagined. It just make take a new look – a look at what it means to put God first in all things.
How might our lives change today if we just take a few moments to readjust and begin to put God first? Will we find ourselves less judgmental, angry, and anxious?
Focus Scripture:
Mark 12:29-30
29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
Running in the dark is something I have adjusted to. It doesn’t get light until I am well on my way to getting ready for work. And although the time the sun rises and falls changes, my schedule doesn’t. So I put on my reflective gear and carry my flashlight (and sometimes my phone) and head out. It’s fine. It does add another layer of interesting when it is also foggy. I always go out with the attitude that no one will ever see me and I just run way off the road when a car comes. It is doable.
The most interesting part of the adventure is the change in the whole environment. The fog distorts my vision and creates a new way of experiencing the same route. The grouping of large trees sound as if it is part of the rain forest. The moisture has collected on the leaves and the breeze makes the trees sway with sounds of rain. I understand how this happens as it also collects on my beard. Lights that are usually visible far away are held to a small section of their world. The traffic that comes behind me creates a fascinating image. As they approach, a circle of light forms in front of me. It looks as if I am running in this circle. As the lights get closer, I can see my reflection in the circle. But if I pay really close attention, there are two of me – a shadow that is much more dim but noticeable beside my usual reflection. It looks as if I am running with someone.
I understand that this is part of how light works. But for just a moment I am also reminded that I am not alone. It signals to me that I do not travel this life by myself. We are made in the image of God – his image captured with mine in a way that is unexpected. I am often challenged to see God at work, to feel and sense his presence, and to follow his way. This morning, I have a visual reminder that he is with me. He is with you too. It may just be a matter of carefully looking for him. He may, in fact, be right beside you.
Focus Scripture:
Matthew 28:20b
And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
He is everywhere. He is here – he is there. He is with us, acknowledgement not needed. He goes with us. We sometimes notice, often we don’t. Sometimes we care and then there are times when we don’t seem to. We wonder if it is true but don’t dare talk about it. And yet, there is something comforting and reassuring to know we are not alone. We do not travel alone. We do not face life’s most difficult challenges by ourselves. We do not celebrate our accomplishments without him. Our lives are filled with his presence. We have a million opportunities to feel his love. Yet, most of the time, we just miss it. We are caught up in the other things which feel more real, which consume our minds, which fill our pockets. Yet, he is here. His name even tell us so. His name is Immanuel – God with us.
How might life look different if we realized that God is really with us? Would we make better choices? Would we hold our tongue? Would we more readily forgive? Would we become more bold or more quiet? Would we listen or would be rebel? Would we even care?
Today, we are taking just a glimpse into the life of Moses. Moses has had some pretty incredible experiences with God – probably more than many will realize. God was with him as he was born and as he was raised in a palace. God was with him when he fled to the countryside. God was with him as he married. And God reminded him very evidently as he approached him through a burning bush. God sent plagues, right before the eyes of Moses. God split a sea – right in his presence. Moses had felt God’s power in some small fraction as he held the rod. He had experienced his anger as the people did what they wanted and built a calf to worship. Moses had been in God’s presence enough to glow – actually change his countenance after being with God. Moses and God spoke often. And God showed Moses what to do and how to do it. This seems to be a unique relationship. This bond reminds Moses he doesn’t want to do this alone. After being with God all this time, he wants even more time with him. He wants more of a relationship. He wants even more of a deep experience. And he asks for it, even refuses to move forward without God.
Exodus 33:12-23 33:12 Moses said to the LORD, “See, you have said to me, ‘Bring up this people’; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 33:13 Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” 33:14 He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 33:15 And he said to him, “If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. 33:16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.” 33:17 The LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” 33:18 Moses said, “Show me your glory, I pray.” 33:19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The LORD’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 33:20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.” 33:21 And the LORD continued, “See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; 33:22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; 33:23 then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”
Moses essentially tells God that he cannot move forward without him. He doesn’t want to proceed unless God is there. He doesn’t want to take another step unless God is present. He has been with him enough to know in God’s presence is exactly where he needs to be. He doesn’t want to make it alone. He can’t make it alone.
Moses asks to experience God’s glory. He wants even more of God. He wants to embrace the goodness of God in all fullness. God realizes that Moses heart is to know he is known and loved. And God helps him to realize this. He helps him to experience, at least as much as he can, the goodness of God. He gives him a sense of his might and power in a moment. But that is all it takes, really. None else is needed. This is more than sufficient.
Do you believe God is with us – all the time? Most of us would say we do. We would want to believe it. We say it is true. But we don’t actually act like it. I mean, we get caught up in the day’s activities and forget it. We don’t audibly hear him so surely he can’t actually be there. How can he lead us without speaking to us? It must mean that God has given us more than just hearing – more than just speech to communicate. It seems to me that we have put God in a box and decided he can only communicate like us. But that isn’t at all how God shows Moses his glory. No words are needed for this moment. It is an experience. There are sights, sounds, feelings, emotions, smells all wrapped into a moment – words not needed. Experiencing God is often most noticed in silence.
If that is true – if God is most evident in silence – then why do we limit him to speech and to English for that matter? Why do we decide he isn’t near because we can’t hear him? Why do we feel like he can’t lead unless he is speaking? What about the subtle yet powerful things which happen all around us? Are they not enough? Do they not say something to us? Does God’s creation not speak to us if we simply stop and sense it? Sure, God doesn’t speak audibly – at least not in my experience. But God is not limited to speaking through words. And we shouldn’t put that binding on him. He created it all so we can experience him through it all.
That would mean God is evident all the time – always with us – if we pay attention. We may see the signs and smell the signals. We may sense the direction or feel the need for forgiveness. We may taste the bread of redemption. We may feel the waters of baptism. We may be cleansed of mistakes through the powerful winds that blow. It just might be God is speaking to us every so loudly without ever speaking a word in our language. It might be we have limited him so much that his voice has become indistinguishable. And that may just be what is wrong with us. God is near – we just don’t get it.
So maybe we start back at the beginning. God created and it was good. God created it all and uses all of his creation to lead, guide, and direct. God loves. He shows his love through so many ways that we need to acknowledge. The simplest things bring the greatest joys. His greatest love has already been given to us in Jesus. And he tells us his name is Immanuel – God with us.
May God’s presence overwhelm you. May his presence be sensed without any words needed. May he guide. May he show us love so we can love him and our neighbor. And may we be awakened to his presence. Show us your glory, Lord. Show us your glory.
SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY 
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