CamDevo

I recently visited my childhood home. I hadn’t been there in decades, and a lot had changed. So much so that I didn’t really recognize the place. The meadows had turned into thick groves of trees. A few familiar big old trees had fallen or been removed. Small trees had grown large or been crowded out. The undergrowth had even changed from thick blackberry brambles to Virginia creepers.

There used to be path, a shortcut my sister and I would take to catch the school bus every morning. We were usually running late so we’d need to fly down the path that had been worn into the side of the hill. In rain or sun, thick greenery or deep snow, we knew exactly where to step and which trees to grab onto to keep from falling when careening down the steep slope.

During my recent visit, I tried to find that old path. I pushed through some thick vines and saplings, climbing unsteadily where I thought the path had started. I turned back and tried again a few times, but the landmark trees, roots, and cleared dirt patches were nowhere to be found.

I nearly gave up when I started to notice one element that remained unchanged. The rocks. Several boulders that we had used to mark our way were easily recognizable in the thick undergrowth. Like old friends, they remained unchanged and unmoved, ready to guide my way.

“Trust in the Lord forever, because in the Lord, the Lord himself, is an everlasting rock!” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭4‬, ‭CSB‬‬)

God is unchanging. Like a rock, He is unmoved by time or changed by seasons. He is the same today as He was when He created the earth. And He will be the same long after I am gone.

When I feel lost in this life, I can always turn to God to be reminded of the truth. He will guide me to the right path.

Dear God, thank you for being my solid rock. I so easily get distracted and confused by conflicting voices and blinded by worry. Teach me to return my mind to your unchanging word and anchoring promises. You are my rock.

I haven’t been to many funerals. Maybe two. Ever. But recently I was called upon to arrange my own father’s funeral. I had no idea what I was doing or what should happen or how.

Fortunately, there were people around me who did know. (Unfortunately for them, they had experienced many funerals.) When meeting with the pastor of my parents’ church, he recommended we select a hymn that my dad would appreciate.

It seemed to me, a hymn for a funeral should be a somber, contemplative song. But for some reason, a different kind of hymn kept popping into my head. The hymn, “In My Heart There Rings a Melody” is a joyful boisterous song. I kept picturing my dad leading our congregation in singing this song, which he did often when I was a child.

So I added that song to the service. As the day approached I kept wondering whether I had chosen poorly. Would it feel inappropriate?

When we all sang that song during my father’s funeral service, the joy of it brought tears to my eyes. I could see my dad smiling and singing with all his heart, and loving every minute of it.

“Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” ‭‭(1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18,‬ ‭CSB)‬‬

Although I miss my dad, there is nothing to be sad about with his passing. He would want me to rejoice always, even at his funeral.

God wants us to be always filled with joy and gratitude for His love and His promise of a beautiful eternity spent with Him.

Dear God, thank you for the hope I have because of your gracious salvation. I’m so glad death is not the end for those who put their faith in you. It is only the beginning of a beautiful and perfect new life. In my heart there rings a melody of love today.

I live in a resort area, a place known for its vacation homes used to escape the dark cold winters of the northern climes. It is a very strange place to call home. It’s comfortable most of the year, but the summer is brutally hot, which is why most people don’t stick around. “Snowbirds” return to their northern homes for the summer. Those of us who live here make our travel plans to visit friends and family in other parts of the country in the summer. So right now, in August, there are a lot of empty houses and quiet streets.

The problem is, houses like to be lived in. If you own a home and have left it vacant for any amount of time, you’ll know what I mean. Gaskets dry up and crack, causing leaks. Critters feel free to roam about making a mess. Cobwebs appear. Mold grows. Dust piles up. And sometimes thieves take the opportunity to break in and rob the empty houses.

Our spiritual lives are like these houses. If we stop inhabiting the space, things begin to break down. Bad ideas leak in, morals pile up with dust, integrity sags, and the devil seizes his opportunity to come in and start banging around, taking whatever he can.

“Be sober-minded, be alert.  Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” (1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬, ‭CSB)‬‬

Keeping a home running smoothly takes constant vigilance. Every day there are things to do to maintain its health. From simply taking the trash out and flushing the toilets to patching leaks and replacing the roof.

My spiritual life requires just as much attention. Every day I must come to God with humble repentance to eagerly seek forgiveness. I need to read the owners’ manual, the Bible, to make sure I’m doing it right. If I stay vigilant, I can enjoy the peace of a solid, secure spiritual home in the presence of a beautiful and loving God.

Dear God, thank you for the comfortable home you have blessed me with. Thank you for reminding me that my spiritual life needs just as much attention. Forgive me for the times I have let maintenance issues lapse. Heal me and restore me to a healthy relationship with you. Protect me from thieves and devils both.

God has been speaking to me pretty clearly through Bible verses lately. I’ve been going through some tough challenges with my father having passed away rather suddenly. I have spent a lot of time helping my mother make some serious adjustments in the aftermath. While trying to help her, I’ve been overwhelmed, confused, and often desperate. But each day, when I turn to God’s word, He has been there with amazing comfort. Sometimes the words I read have been so appropriate to what I was going through in that moment that it made my jaw drop. God is good, and He is always right here.

Most of my days have been spent working on problems that are not my own. I have been organizing finances, healthcare, house maintenance, funeral planning, and on and on. My own life with its needs have been pushed aside.

I was feeling distraught by this when I turned to today’s verse.

“In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts‬ ‭20‬:‭35,‬ ‭CSB)‬‬

This verse feels like God has sat down next to me, put His arm around my shoulders in comfort and encouragement, and told me to stop worrying and keep on working to help my mother get settled. She needs the help. And I have the time, resources, and expertise to give it. I can trust God to take care of my needs with promised blessings when all is said and done.

Dear God, thank you for your faithful and personal messages to me during this difficult time. You have declared your wise and loving presence to me clearly each time I turned to you, and I am gratefully in awe.

My mom used to wake my sister and I up for school when we were kids. She would enter our shared room and say, “Rise and shine!” This was very early in the morning because we lived in a rural area and had a long bus ride to school. In the winter, it was always dark when she told us to shine. And we would groan.

In the cold, dark winter of Wisconsin, the last thing I felt like doing was rising out of my warm bed. And I always wondered how I was supposed to shine.

The sun rises and shines due to the nuclear fusion blasting photons from its core. The moon rises and shines as well, but its light is only a reflection of the sun’s brilliance.

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the  Lord shines over you.” (Isaiah‬ ‭60‬:‭1,‬ ‭CSB)‬‬

I’m like the moon. I can’t shine on my own. God is the source of all goodness, love, and infinite power. By spending time with Him, soaking in His wisdom and accepting His generous grace, I can shine. I am called to reflect His glory to a hurting, dark world. By serving others with love, joy, and humility, I can shine with the brilliance of many suns.

Dear God, your love is too wonderful for me to comprehend fully. If there is any good I can shine on this world, it is only because you have generously shone your light on me. Teach me how to reflect your love on the people I interact with so that they turn to you with joy.

I live in a desert which is beautiful in a very special way. But I recently traveled to a much more lush, well-watered land. A land of rolling green hills, wildflower-filled valleys, billowing clouds, and verdant trees bulging with leaves. It’s a shocking contrast.

And yet, both climates were created by the same loving God.

I love thinking of God in His workshop at the start of creation. He designed each flower from seed to petal. He tested each of their fragrances. He told them when to bloom and where. He taught the bees and the hummingbirds the joy of their nectar. And He instructed the wind to spread their pollen far and wide.

“…The earth is full of the Lord’s unfailing love.” (Psalms‬ ‭33‬:‭5,‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

There is so much love in God’s created world. I am so grateful when I take the time to notice.

Dear God, I am in awe of your creation. From the simple to the complex, your world displays the joy of your creation and the love it required. Forgive me for focusing inward too often. Remind me to look around closely and often with gratitude and appreciation. I eagerly welcome the comfort of the love you imbued in all of your creation.

In the light of day, it’s easy to write off fatigue as a poor night’s sleep, malaise as a dietary imbalance, a series of disappointments as bad luck and coincidence.

But in the dark of night when all is quiet, I can sense the devil smiling. He has prevented me from accomplishing God’s plan for me for yet another day. Every time I pass up my Bible study or say I’m too busy to pray or too tired to call that friend who needs encouragement, the evil forces in this world throw a little victory party.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.” (Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭12,‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

God’s plan for His children is to do good in this world, to love each other with everything we have, until He returns. The devil’s plan is to mess that up in any way he can. He loves it when I ignore him, forget he’s there, and underestimate him. That’s a win for him.

Fortunately, God gives me all the tools I need to overcome everything evil. He gives me defensive and offensive tools to easily defeat the devil every day. But I have to remember the devil is there, working against me, so I remember to turn to God constantly for my shield and sword. Prayer, Bible study, communing with God, appreciating His creation. The devil hates all of that.

In the dead of night, I much prefer to see God smiling and the devil looking glum and defeated.

Dear God, I know your power is above anything in all of creation. The devil has already been defeated and cannot fight against the tools you provide. Remind me to put on your armor and take up your sword to fight the fight for love today.

Oprah Winfrey used to be fond of giving away valuable prizes to her studio audience during the run of her Oprah Winfrey Show. She would cry out delightedly, “You get a new car, and you get a new car, and you get a new car!” as she pointed to random members of the audience. On those days, everyone in attendance got a new car.

I remember seeing that on TV and thinking how nice that must be for those people. What an extravagant surprise gift! Unearned, unexpected, undeserved.

But only those folks in the studio audience got a car. The other fans, the millions watching, did not get a new car.

God delights in giving even more extravagant gifts. He gives out complete forgiveness, eternal life and love for any and all who ask.

Absolutely anyone.

“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭13,‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

I don’t have to be at church or ever have stepped foot in one. I don’t have to be in the United States. I don’t have to be a citizen of any particular country or have any particular kind of ID. There is nothing I can do to earn it. There is no one I have to persuade. I can be young or old, even on my death bed. I can be male, female, or consider myself someplace in between. I can be tall, short, beautiful by the world’s standards, or shunned by many for my appearance. I can be rich beyond counting or poor with nothing to offer.

God’s offer of love is the same for everyone. All you need to do is call out to His son Jesus to be saved. You get a new life, and you get a new life, and you get a new life!

Dear God, thank you for your generous and loving offer of freedom from sin and hope for the future. I don’t deserve it, but I gratefully and eagerly accept!

At one point in my career I became totally burned out. My work-life balance was so far off that I had no life. Only work. I was lonely and in pain.

One day during my Bible study (that I rarely afforded time for), I clearly heard God tell me to quit. He wanted me to have more time for Him.

I panicked. “I can’t quit,” I said. “I have rent to pay. How will I eat, buy gas, live?!”

“Trust me,” He said.

“Shouldn’t I find another job first?” I asked.

“No. Trust me.” God said.

It took a while, with more fearful complaints from me and more calm assurances from God, but I eventually did quit. Without another job to go to.

During my unemployment, I traveled some and began a photography hobby that turned into a vocation. And I had a lot more time to spend with God. He showed me the stories of His faithfulness in the Bible. As I watched my rent eat up my savings I wasn’t as panicked as before, but I asked God whether it was time to look for another job yet.

Mysteriously, He told me no. Still no.

Not long after that, a couple from my church offered me their house to live in. For free. Out of the blue. I was to be their caretaker while they took a job overseas.

God revealed His solution to my rent problem in miraculous fashion. I marveled at God’s creative solution.

“Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; proclaim his deeds among the peoples.” (Psalms‬ ‭105‬:‭1,‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

I am so grateful to God for the way He took care of me. He has shown up miraculously in my life because I trusted Him. That’s who He is.

My story of God’s faithfulness continues.

After a couple of years, the homeowners were returning to their home. My faith was stronger, but I was concerned. I asked God what He wanted me to do next. Was I to seek full-time employment now? Should I look for an apartment? I had a lot of questions.

The day of their return loomed close, and I was looking through apartment listings and want ads when a friend on my soccer team called. She said a friend of hers had taken a job in another state and needed someone to live in her house and care for it. This friend had heard that I did housesitting and passed my name along. I ended up in another house rent free for another year before I moved across the country (where I house sat again!) I was able to hand off that 2nd housesitting gig to another friend who was praying for housing answers.

God has proven Himself more than faithful to me, in very creative ways, when I have stepped out on a limb of trust and vulnerability. Over and over again. He has done it in the past. He will do it in the future. And He will do the same for you. It’s who He is.

Dear God, thank you for the wondrous deeds you have done in my life. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share the stories with others. I hope they encourage those who hear about your faithfulness to step out in a space of trusting you.

There shouldn’t be anything surprising about prayer.

Jesus was never surprised about the outcomes of His prayers. But His disciples were. And I think most of us are too. We are surprised when prayers are answered, when things turn out the way we asked. We are awed and call them miracles. Or more often, we ascribe any positive outcome to something else. We say it was a new medicine or luck or hard work or… anything other than God’s answer to our prayer.

When I lost something important recently, I looked all over but couldn’t find it. I prayed that God would show me where to look or find some way for it to be replaced. Later that same day, I did find it. But I forgot to thank God because it didn’t feel like a miracle. It didn’t feel like an answer to my prayer. I told myself that I had just kept looking and eventually looked in the right place.

God is rolling His eyes at me. I prayed to find it, and I did. Prayer answered, right? Why am I so reluctant to give God the credit?

When I look back at my prayer and the outcome, I still am too incredulous to call that a miracle because I wonder why Almighty God would care about my lost item. Why would He make the effort to turn my search toward its true hiding place? Isn’t He busy with more important prayers, like healing sick children or rescuing people from burning buildings?

“Therefore I tell you, everything you pray and ask for — believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark‬ ‭11‬:‭24,‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

One time Jesus prayed that a fig tree would die. His disciples took note of it. When they returned the next day, they were astonished to see the withered tree. Jesus was not at all surprised. That’s when He said the verse above.

The difference was faith. Jesus had faith in God. The disciples (and I) lack the faith to have prayers as effective as Jesus.

God says over and over in the Bible that He does care about me. He cares about every little thing. If it’s important to me, He wants me to bring it to Him. And He wants me to have faith and trust Him with the outcome. And He wouldn’t mind if I gave Him some credit when things turn out OK.

Dear God, I know I need more faith. Please help me to scrape up some faith so that my prayers can be more effective. I want to trust you. Keep my eyes open to the answers you provide when I do pray. Forgive me for explaining away your provision as something less than miraculous.