In step

[RiverOL]

Burdens . . . Bad?

Count it all joy, my brothers—James 1:2-4

This age regards the burdens of struggle/hardship/pain as simply bad, to be avoided at all cost—the loss of a job, loss of a career, loss of financial stability, loss of an image, loss of a marriage. So we medicate, distract, deny—anything to make them go away. And, when we just can’t, we direct our frustration toward God: “Where are you?” “How could you allow this?” But . . . what if . . . these burdens are actually good things? Constructive things? What if they have a purpose? What if they’re not random things, but parts of a program to make us more mature, more focused, more rugged, more fruitful? Jesus taught that God prunes “every branch that does bear fruit,” so that “it may bear more fruit” (John 15:2). And, indeed, most men will concede that—while they’ve certainly not enjoyed the struggle/hardship/pain of the past—they do like the people they’ve become as a result. They prefer their post-burden selves to the men they were before. Maybe we’ve got this upside down. Maybe we need to think differently about struggle/hardship/pain? Maybe the words of James aren’t so crazy? “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).

Okay, so what do we do? Are you going through something tough, right now? If not, enjoy this time. If you are, recognize the pain. Talk about it with trusted friends. But don’t try to escape it. Let it do its work. And, trust that it will not last forever. Trust that, after a little while, it’ll go away and you’ll emerge a better version of you.

 

[RiverOL]

Hitting the Throttle

And we all . . . are being transformed . . . from one degree of glory to another—2 Corinthians 3:18

There’s a pattern to the lives of men trying to follow Jesus Christ: sin, confession, repentance, change . . . sin, confession, repentance, change. There are other aspects to these men’s lives, but this pattern is always present. It ensures that lives are transformed, over time—that sins change and lessen in severity through the cycles of the pattern. It is, in this way, an upward spiral of increasingly coming into the character of Jesus. The pattern ensures that no man gets stuck in sin, or worse, in a downward, ever more severe, spiral of sin. God the Holy Spirit—when and if we offer our lives to Jesus—will guide us into upward spirals. If we hold onto our lives, though, we’ll inevitably slip into downward ones. It may not be obvious at first, maybe not for years, until we can deny it no longer—until anger, anxiety, depression, despondency, loneliness, isolation, boredom, or rebellion take over. And, even then, we can still offer our lives to Jesus and begin upward spirals. The penitent thief, crucified next to Jesus, began one just minutes before his death (Luke 23:40-43). Now, being men, a question arises: can we hit the throttle of change? Can we speed the velocity of our upward spirals? Absolutely. The Spirit does most of the work—it’s called grace. But, we can couple more and more of our obedience to more and more of his grace and, thereby, crank up the speed of our transformations . . . and, in fact, the transformations of our faith communities.

Okay, so what do we do? Get into community with other men—even if it's just over Zoom for now. Create a safe place for authentic, raw confession. Encourage each other to turn from sin, from wrong beliefs about yourselves and about God. Pray expectantly for ever more change. Do just those . . . and things will get interesting quickly.

 

[RiverOL]

Which Type of Man Are You?

. . . my God, in whom I trust—Psalm 91:2

One type of Christian man trusts that what Jesus teaches is true . . . but only on an intellectual level. This man appreciates a good sermon, but then goes away and lives out the moments of his life in ways that make it indistinguishable from the lives of those who do not trust Jesus at all. This type of man doesn’t trust Jesus with his life, and so lives “like a shrub in the desert” (Jeremiah 17:6). There is another type of man, though, one who chooses to trust the truth of Jesus deeply, authentically, and practically. This type of man lives the moments of his life in ways that are markedly different than they’d be otherwise . . . because of his trust. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream . . .” (Jeremiah 17:7-8). When we trust Jesus—when we actually live like we trust him—we then come to life. When we live like we trust him, we become spiritually strong and healthy and fruitful, like trees planted by the water, and we begin to move into the full lives that God dreamed about so long ago (John 10:10; Ephesians 1:3-6).

Okay, so what do we do? Which type of man are you? What are you doing in your life that distinguishes you as a follower of Jesus? What are you doing that you’d never do, but for your trust in Jesus? If your answer is “nothing” or “not much,” then it’s time now, brother, to begin. Do something practical that demonstrates your trust. Whatever you do, it need not be clever or complex. Just use the two great commandments as your guide (Matthew 22:37-39) and do something . . . today.

 

[RiverOL]

Working or Watching?

We must work . . . while it is day; night is coming—John 9:4

Ever feel like you’re spending way too much of life watching? I mean, what’s your personal watching-to-working ratio? And, by “working,” I don’t mean work-work. I mean working on those specific things for which you were created—for example, those things mandated by the two great commandments (Matthew 22:37-39). “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Are you engaging in your good works? Or do you find that you're watching too many sermons about the Gospel, rather than living out the Gospel? Or watching too many movies and reading too many books about other people’s adventures, rather than living out the adventures God has for you? Or watching sports too much . . . watching others face their fears, face great odds, and push themselves beyond their supposed limits, rather than doing those things yourself? Don’t get me wrong, sermons, movies, books, and sports are good things. There’s nothing wrong with inspiration . . . but it’s got to be inspiration for something. “Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind . . .” (Ephesians 1:4 MSG). When God dreamt about you so long ago, did he dream of you watching others live out their great stories, but not you? Of course not. Of course he dreamt of a great story for you too. Of course he has a story he cannot wait to share with you, right now.

Okay, so what do we do? Search your heart, brother. What’s going on in there? Is it rising? Falling? Is it light? Heavy? Stop, now, and pray to God that he lead you into your story . . . your ancient story. That’s a good prayer. That’s one, I think, to which he’ll likely respond. So, you might buckle up.

 

[RiverOL]

Better Get Used to Mystery

. . . my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts—Isaiah 55:9

We men go through lengthy stretches of our lives with an “I’ve got this” posture. We convince ourselves we know what’s best in any particular situation or what’s right against any particular problem. We convince ourselves that we “get it.” We maintain this belief . . . until we can’t anymore . . . until we find we don’t actually know all that we think we know. We maintain it until we finally face the reality that God is God and we are not. “I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish” (Isaiah 44:24-25). Never can we have God’s knowledge or wisdom. Because of who he is, because of who we are, there’ll always be a tremendous amount of mystery in the relationship. We must be willing to accept and embrace it—and not let it become an impediment. We may “need” to know why something is the way it is or why something happened the way it did, but most times we simply cannot—and still we must believe, and still we must obey. To be in right relation to God we must instead adopt a posture of “I don’t know . . . and I’ll do what he asks nonetheless.”

Okay, so what do we do? Fill in the following blanks, brother, according to your story: I don’t know why ____________ happened, but I’ll trust God nonetheless. I don’t know why I had to experience ____________, but I’ll love him nonetheless. I don’t know why I am experiencing ____________ right now, but I’ll follow him nonetheless. I don’t know why he is pushing me out of what’s comfortable by ____________, but I’ll go nonetheless.

 

[RiverOL]

God Speaks . . . to You

I am the good shepherd . . . My sheep hear My voice—John 10:11, 27

God’s had direct, personal, reciprocally communicative relationships with a lot of men . . . Abraham, Moses, Gideon, David, Paul. What about you and me, though? Many of us men—to the extent we think about it at all—assume those guys were special, different from us. And so, we decide God probably wants with us a different type of relationship—more indirect, impersonal, and non-reciprocal—go to church, read the Bible a bit, get on with our lives. That would mean, though, that God’s purpose in bringing us stories of these men was to simply demonstrate something unattainable—a divine taunt, of sorts. It would reveal a desire to impress upon us how special were his Biblical supermen, so we'd gaze upon them and wonder why he created us so . . . un-super. Should we believe that? Or, could he have, through these stories, been showing us his heart, his father’s heart? Could it be that he wanted direct, personal, reciprocal relationships with Abraham, Moses, and an incalculable number of men since, and that he wants that kind of relationship with you and me too, right now? “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8) Sure sounds direct . . . personal . . . reciprocal.

Okay, so what do we do? Begin to open your mind, brother. God wants to speak to you—directly to you. In Scripture, he spoke with his own audible voice; through dreams and visions; through intermediaries, such as angels and other human beings; and directly into thoughts, using his “still, small voice.” While the others are admittedly rare, using people as his intermediaries and using his still, small voice are actually quite common.

 

[RiverOL]

Heard His Still, Small Voice?

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it”—Isaiah 30:21

Still, small voice—the words come from the First Book of Kings. The Prophet Elijah emerged from a cave on the mountain called Horeb: “ . . a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire . . .” (1 Kings 19:11-12). After the fire, Elijah heard a “still, small voice.” God’s voice. God taught Elijah something that day. He taught us. He demonstrated, in dramatic manner, a preferred method of communication. So, what is the “still, small voice”? Well, it’s more about our thoughts than about an audible voice. So, thoughts . . . they can be crystallized in many ways: in words—sort of an inner voice—or perhaps as pictures, feelings, or impulses. Originating them in the mind of another is neither complicated, nor difficult. We do it every day. Engaging in conversation with someone, we direct their thinking and they ours. There are limits, of course. We need some combination of physical media—ink on paper, pixels on screens, ones and zeros flowing over wires, vibrations of vocal cords, waves of electromagnetic radiation. Does God need physical media to originate thoughts in our minds? No, of course not. If we follow the King, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is there already—he dwells within us (Romans 8:9-11).

Okay, so what do we do? Could’ve God already been at work in your mind, originating thoughts? I’ll bet. Could it be that you didn’t notice, didn’t recognize it? Begin today, brother, to sift. Begin to note which thoughts are likely yours alone, which were clearly originated by others . . . and which just might’ve been originated by God.

 

[RiverOL]

Ignoring the Treasure
If you knew there was a priceless treasure on your property, what would you do? Excitedly hunt and hunt until you found it, right? You’d likely give up whatever you had to in order to get the tools and time you needed to find that treasure. Jonah’s story, then, might sound strange, but it’s all-too-often true.
You see, Jonah knew there was a treasure on his father’s property. His father had even given him a treasure map so he could find it.

Jonah was excited at first, but he easily gave up. He went through a phase where he got busy with playing games and having a good time, forgetting about the treasure.
There came a day, though, when Jonah realized he really needed money. And he had good reason! Some friends were hurting and he wanted to help them. He began occasionally asking his father for more money…all the while failing to dig for the treasure his father had already told him would be his if he just searched for it.
Funnily enough, he’d go to other fields and dig there for treasure, hoping to find something. But the only thing he found was counterfeit currency. He kept tiring himself out for nothing, all the while ignoring the treasure map his father had given him.

Jonah kept missing out…all because he didn’t listen to his father, following the treasure map and seeking the treasure his father had given him.
And you know what? We do the same whenever we ignore God’s Word, failing to follow the “treasure map” He’s given us in the Bible and neglecting to seek knowing Him/His wisdom like we would a hidden treasure.

“My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;” Proverbs 2:1-6 (ESV)

 

[RiverOL]

Heard God Through Others?

The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; his word is on my tongue—2 Samuel 23:2

God speaks through his people. He empowers us as agents to carry his messages—as Ananias did to Saul, as Cornelius did to Peter (and Peter did back to Cornelius). This method, human agency, is the second of God’s two preferred methods of communicating with us. Examples of it abound in Scripture. And, of course, Scripture itself is an example: the Biblical authors were his agents in communicating his precious words to us. How does it work? Well, while God uses his still, small voice to reach us directly, speaking into our minds, originating thoughts there instantly, he uses that very same voice to also reach us indirectly—that is, by speaking directly into the minds of others, directing a few of their thoughts, and then allowing them to use their spoken or written words to take his messages the rest of the way, to us. It may be that one of us, one in need of hearing from God, isn’t used to hearing from him, or doesn’t recognize his voice or just isn’t listening . . . or maybe doesn’t want to listen. Whatever the reason, it’s clear that God uses people who are listening and do want to hear to reach others who need to hear. It could be the inspired words of a pastor in the pulpit or the encouraging words of a friend at a coffee shop or the challenging words of brothers in a men’s group . . . or any one of many, many other possibilities.

Okay, so what do we do? Do you want to hear God’s voice? Does your busy calendar allow for it? Have you committed yourself to a group of men who are willing to speak his truth into your life? Think about these questions, brother—and commit today to figuring out how to begin to answer them affirmatively.

 

[RiverOL]

How the Heck Do We Know?

. . . show me a sign that it is you who speak with me—Judges 6:17

“That was God . . .” “I felt God nudging me . . .” “I got the sense that God wants me to . . .” We hear words like these. Sometimes we say them ourselves. But, how do we know it’s God? Well, rarely can we ever know conclusively; there’s mystery with God. There are times when we intuitively just know, down deep somewhere. And, often, this “just knowing” is enough. Other times, though, things are less clear and we must ask: Was that you, God? Or was that just me? In those situations, we need to be able to recognize his voice—to identify it. Fortunately, his voice is unique—whether it comes through his still, small voice or through the words of others. It’s something we can come to recognize. So, what we need to learn is to identify the unique characteristics. We do that by reading Scripture. Fortunately, not all methods of hearing God are equal. Scripture, the method by which we hear his voice indirectly through the Biblical authors, sits above all others in importance and authority. As such, we have something against which we can run tests. On a practical level, therefore, when we try to hear God by any other method, we simply need ask ourselves whether what we think we’ve heard fits within the principles set forth in Scripture. Indeed, that’s exactly what we are listening for when we listen for his voice—thoughts and words that fit within the principles of the Bible—not thoughts, nor words, by contrast, that contradict or add to Scripture.

Okay, so what do we do? Are you spending enough time reading Scripture, brother? Do you have a reading plan? If not, get one going, today. Do it with friends. For if you come to know him in Scripture, you’ll begin to identify God’s voice in other places too.

 

[RiverOL]

Have You Missed It?

. . . he rewards those who seek him—Hebrews 11:6

If God chose to speak to us using methods unmistakable, undeniable—a clearly audible voice or a conversation with an angel, perhaps—identifying his voice would be simple. Such encounters would be impossible to ignore, even for the distracted or dissenting among us. He employs methods like these, however, only but very rarely. Much more often, he uses methods any of us can mistake, or even deny—methods like his still, small voice and human agency. Identifying his voice when it comes through these latter methods is—by intentional design—more difficult. Note the story of Elijah on Mount Horeb, when God uses his still, small voice (1 Kings 19:9-18). He makes it clear the nature of this voice is not dramatic, nor the volume loud; it’s a gentle whisper. Unobtrusive. It’s not forced upon Elijah, nor upon us. The same is true of human agency. When he speaks through family, friends, acquaintances, his voice is likewise easy to mistake, easy to deny. Such people talk with us every day and the few words that are inspired can get lost among the many that are not. Again, unobtrusive. But, though unobtrusive, Elijah still heard God’s voice. And so can we. We can hear it—but we must listen determinedly. Otherwise it’ll fade into noise. Why? Why does God allow us to find him when we seek him earnestly and hide himself from us when we do not? To do differently would be coercion, or close to it. And that’s not how he works.

Okay, so what do we do? Get rid of distraction. Drop the skepticism. Drop the defiance, brother. He wants a two-way relationship with you, one in which you speak and are spoken to . . . by God Almighty. That’s an astounding offer. All he wants is for you to choose him, freely. Choose him.

 

[RiverOL]

Want to Get Stronger?

They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers—Acts 2:42

Want to get stronger? Want to be tougher? Get connected. When we face trials and challenges, those to whom we’re connected can support us—help us find courage we’d not find on our own. When we experience pain and loss, they can comfort us—help us back from places we’d not return from, on our own. When we’re hit by fear and anxiety, they can give us perspective—help us see things in ways we’d not see on our own. When we need truth, they can teach us—help us discover and understand what we we’d not grasp on our own. When we get stuck, they can call us out, speak truth, push us forward—help us stop (or start) what we’d be unable to, on our own. When we face complicated questions, they can listen and counsel us—help us process through problems that are too difficult on our own. When we mess up, make mistakes, they can correct us and have mercy—help remind us we’re loved, despite flaws and failures, something that’s hard to remember on our own. The Apostle Paul urged connectedness (Romans 12:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 3:13). The early Church demonstrated it—spending time together, knowing one another, eating, learning, and praying together. Why? Alone, we men are vulnerable; together, we’re stronger and more resilient toward the ups-and-downs of life (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). Connectedness ruggedizes us, restores us, fuels us for what’s ahead. And, brother, there’s important stuff ahead.

Okay, so what do we do? Go look at your weekly calendar. What are the major groupings, in terms of commitments and people? Work/Colleagues? Home/Family? Social/Friends? Others? Okay, now you need at least a couple people from each category who (1) know you, (2) understand the context too, and (3) who’ll make connectedness with you a priority.

 

[RiverOL]

Family Big Enough?

. . . a threefold cord is not quickly broken—Ecclesiastes 4:12

In the family context, building community means building expanded families around our existing, immediate families. These family “expanders” are trusted friends—followers of our King, Jesus Christ—who know us, know our kids (if we have them), know our wives (or girlfriends or fiancées), and know about our parents and siblings. They know the stories of our families and the stories of the individuals within our families. They connect long-term, across generations. They know the good and bad—and still choose to share our lives: meals, recreation, celebrations, holidays, traditions. Why do we need them? Well, life together is hard—hard for adults, hard for kids. We all need all the help we can get. And, if we’re not proactive and intentional in securing help, it either won’t come or it’ll come, but from places less-than-ideal. Parents can get isolated—or be too much influenced by prevailing culture. Kids can get too little direction—or be too much influenced by peers or unprincipled adults. No, it’s critical that we be proactive and intentional. The Apostle Paul wrote: “if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8). If we are proactive and intentional, though, we can influence just who’s going to influence our families—ensure the right people are supporting, encouraging, and challenging us as fathers, husbands, sons, brothers; and the right people are speaking truth into our kids.

Okay, so what do we do? Expanded families aren’t built without work. They take investment and reciprocity. No one will share our lives if we don’t share in theirs, too. Pray today, brother, about who should be in your expanded family. Reach out to them. Be explicit. If they buy-in, co-develop a practical plan to connect more closely.

 

[RiverOL]

The Shoe Man
"The Shoe Man" is an inspirational poem said to be credited to Leanne Freiberg; others believe the author to be unknown. It causes us to rethink how we judge and treat others. It also encourages us to connect with others. We never know what may be going on in their lives, but God does.

Will we take the risk and the time to connect so they will see Jesus? We may be the one whose soul is truly touched.

The Shoe Man Poem
My alarm went off
It was Sunday again.
I was sleepy and tired
My one day to sleep in.
But the guilt I would feel
The rest of the day
Would have been too much
So I'd go and I'd pray.



I showered and shaved

I adjusted my tie.
I got there and sat
In a pew just in time.
Bowing my head in prayer
As I closed my eyes.
I saw the shoe of the man next to me
Touching my own. I sighed.
With plenty of room on either side
I thought, "Why must our soles touch?"
It bothered me, his shoe touching mine
But it didn't bother him much.



A prayer began: "Our Father"...



I thought, "This man with the shoes
has no pride.
They're dusty, worn, and scratched
Even worse, there are holes on the side!"



"Thank You for blessings," the prayer went on.



The shoe man said
a quiet "Amen."
I tried to focus on the prayer
But my thoughts were on his shoes again.
Aren't we supposed to look our best
When walking through that door?
"Well, this certainly isn't it," I thought,
Glancing toward the floor.



Then the prayer was ended
And the songs of praise began.
The shoe man was certainly loud
Sounding proud as he sang.
His voice lifted the rafters
His hands were raised high.
The Lord could surely hear
The shoe man's voice from the sky.



It was time for the offering
And what I threw in was steep.
I watched as the shoe man reached
Into his pockets so deep.
I saw what was pulled out
What the shoe man put in.
Then I heard a soft "clink"
as when silver hits tin.



The sermon really bored me
To tears, and that's no lie
It was the same for the shoe man
For tears fell from his eyes.
At the end of the service
As is the custom here
We must greet new visitors
And show them all good cheer.



But I felt moved somehow
And wanted to meet the shoe man
So after the closing prayer
I reached over and shook his hand.
He was old and his skin was dark
And his hair was truly a mess
But I thanked him for coming
For being our guest.



He said, "My names' Charlie
I'm glad to meet you, my friend."
There were tears in his eyes
But he had a large, wide grin
"Let me explain," he said
Wiping tears from his eyes.
"I've been coming here for months
And you're the first to say 'Hi.'"



"I know that my appearance
Is not like all the rest
"But I really do try
To always look my best.
"I always clean and polish my shoes
Before my very long walk.
"But by the time I get here
They're dirty and dusty, like chalk."



My heart filled with pain
and I swallowed to hide my tears
As he continued to apologize
For daring to sit so near.
He said, "When I get here
I know I must look a sight.
"But I thought if I could touch you
Then maybe our souls might unite."



I was silent for a moment
Knowing whatever was said
Would pale in comparison
I spoke from my heart, not my head.



"Oh, you've touched me," I said,
"And taught me, in part;
"That the best of any man
Is what is found in his heart."



The rest, I thought,
This shoe man will never know.
Like just how thankful I really am
That his dirty old shoe touched my soul.

- Leanne Freiberg

 

[RiverOL]

Meditate
A hummingbird just zoomed past as I sit on our porch for my morning quiet time with the Lord. Sometimes I need that reminder of life being fleeting. It’s important to be aware of the moments which seem to zoom by us.

Being present in the present is truly a gift. It’s a gift we receive from our Father above as well as a gift we can give to those around us.

I am terrible about allowing my thoughts to wander even as I am listening to someone conversing with me…so much so that I catch myself glancing beyond them with both my eyes and thoughts. It’s really such a shame.

Focus.

Be aware.

Moments pass too quickly.

People pass too quickly.

My friend is beginning a journey of walking with their parent through the storm of cancer. Twenty-five years have now passed since my siblings and I walked that same path with our mom. She passed. In that journey though, God gave gifts – gifts of memories, gifts of time, gifts of being present, focused on her.

One of the gifts He gave was the gift of hummingbirds. We saw their shadows through the shades on the window behind her hospital bed. They drank from the flowers on her patio. God even sent one to drink from the roses placed on her casket at the graveside. Today, twenty-five years later, He still sends them to remind me. They remind me of her with sweet memories. They remind me to be present in the present.

Today.

This moment.

Each is a gift from God.

Who has He placed in front of us to share this moment with? Is it our toddler calling for attention? Is it a teenager needing a listening ear? Is it an elderly parent or friend wanting to share a bit of wisdom or a story? Is it our neighbor, coworker or even a stranger who needs to know they matter and are worthy of a moment of our time? Is it our spouse waiting to be reminded they are loved?

Today is passing.

This moment is passing.

People are passing.

Let’s make the most of this gift of the present.





“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God which is why we call it the present.”

– Author unknown



Christian Devotion - Scripture
“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

– Jesus (Matthew 6:27)



“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”

– Paul (Ephesians 5:15-16)



"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

- James (James 1:17)



Christian Devotion - Activate:

God gave me this reminder in a hummingbird this morning. I share it here with you. What will we do with it? Will we share it with others? Who will we give the gift of being present in the present to today? Take time today to look into someone's eyes and smile, listen intently, be generous with encouragement and see how God will use it to change a life...namely yours!

 

[RiverOL]

The fence story is a wonderful tool for teaching a child how to control their temper and also to use as a creative story to use with any Bible lesson on anger!

Anger leaves its mark on our lives and the lives of others. Learning to control anger is an essential tool to teach our children along with Bible verses on anger.

The Fence story - Author Unknown
There once was a young boy with a very bad temper. The boy's father wanted to teach him a lesson, so he gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper he must hammer a nail into their wooden fence.

On the first day of this lesson, the little boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. He was really mad!

Over the course of the next few weeks, the little boy began to control his anger, so the number of nails that were hammered into the fence dramatically decreased.

It wasn't long before the little boy discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Then, the day finally came when the little boy didn't lose his temper even once, and he became so proud of himself, he couldn't wait to tell his father.

Pleased, his father suggested that he now pull out one nail for each day that he could hold his temper.

Several weeks went by and the day finally came when the young boy was able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

Very gently, the father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.

"You have done very well, my son," he smiled, "but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same."

The little boy listened carefully as his father continued to speak.

"When you say things in anger, they leave permanent scars just like these. And no matter how many times you say you're sorry, the wounds will still be there."



A few object lessons on controlling temper...



Bible Verses on Anger

Use these verses along with the fence story to teach a wonderful lesson on the importance of controlling our anger and God's truth.

James 1:19-20 can be summed up in three words for quick recall - "Quick, Slow, Slow."

"This you know, my beloved brethren But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God."



Proverbs 16:32 -

"He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city."



Ephesians 4:6-10 -


"BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity."

 

[RiverOL]

Want Financial Freedom? [ 1 min read ★ ]

. . . as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything—2 Corinthians 6:10

We ache for financial freedom. We imagine being one day free from worry about money. We dream of security and peace. Mostly, we never experience any of that; mostly, we just experience financial stress. How come? Well, let’s back up. Financial freedom comes only with financial margin. Financial margin is the difference between (1) money coming in and (2) money going out—between income and expenses. Without margin of sufficient size, we’ll never achieve financial freedom. The problem is, when we men think about margin we usually focus only on the first part of the equation, on our income. We do this because we’ve come to trust money. We’ve come to believe it can solve all problems—if we get that job, that promotion, that bonus, then everything will be great. This trust is misplaced (Revelation 3:17). We should trust God. We should trust the one who can do all things, instead of hoping money will. When we broaden our focus, however, when we focus too on the second part of the margin equation, on our expenses, we find the key to financial freedom. Though we convince ourselves otherwise, there are always ways to reduce expenses to achieve margin. It’s the way God designed things. So, when we decide, finally, to apply downward pressure on our expenses—on our lifestyles—we find that financial freedom is not actually elusive, but available right here, right now, the way God intended (1 Timothy 6:7-8; Hebrews 13:5).

Okay, so what do we do? Do a review of your expenses. How much margin do you have? If you need to, find at least one or two significant items to cut . . . and commit to doing more such reviews, and on a regular basis. Trust God to give you everything you (and your family) will ever need.

 

[RiverOL]

A Bible Object Lesson - Cooking & Recipes

535Save
This Bible object lesson uses a recipe & cooking instructions to illustrate how we can trust God's Word.

Main Point: We can trust what the Bible says because God wrote it.

Object: an old family recipe or supplies & instructions to make instant pudding

Scriptures: 2 Timothy 1:12b "because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day."

Hebrews 13:6-7 "So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith."



Bible Object Lesson:

Ask listeners if they've ever used someone else's recipe. Show them a recipe that you have that belonged to a trusted family member or special friend. Tell them that you asked them to share the recipe because you had tasted the food before and enjoyed it. Share a little about what it's for and maybe even have some ingredients to mix in front of them or samples to taste.



Share that you were able to follow the recipe and believed that the outcome would be good not because of the ingredients or your own abilites, but because you trusted the one who gave it to you. But to experience what the recipe promises, you first must take a step of faith and actually do what it tells you to do.

The Bible is like a wonderful recipe for life. We can know that the outcome of believing and following it will be good not because of what it says or our own ability to follow it, but because of the One who wrote it. When we have "tasted" God's goodness and love through accepting His Son, Jesus, as our Lord and Savior, we can know the One in whom we have believed and know that His recipe can be trusted.

By actually participating in the Bible object lesson, children will retain so much more of the lesson.



There is an old saying, "the proof is in the pudding." Actually the original saying said: ""the proof of the pudding is in the eating" meaning that the quality or true value of something can only be judged when it has been put to use. In the same way, the proof or truth of God's Word in which we believe will be revealed as we actively put it to use in our lives.

In summary, we can know that what we believe is true because of the One in whom we have trusted. The truth of what we believe will be revealed in the results of us taking the steps to put His Word into use in our lives..."the proof of the pudding is in the eating!"



At this point, let them have a taste as proof that the recipe was true!

 

[RiverOL]

The Bible is Our GPS


Object lessons are designed to help us see God and know Him through connecting His Word with our everyday surroundings. This short & simple Bible lesson begins with an everyday object that can remind us of God's truth and His presence throughout our day.

God has placed His identifying marks all over our world and lives to point us to Him! These simple object lessons are hands-on applicable Bible teaching that help connect God's Word to our everyday lives in a real and personal way. They may be used for personal or family devotions or to use with small groups for a children's sermon or Sunday school lesson.

Topic: The Bible as our guide

Object Lesson Title: Getting Directions!

Object: GPS

Bible Verses: 2 Timothy 3:16

Key Takeaway: The Bible is our guide for life giving us directions to Heaven.

Object Lessons from a GPS
Ask if anyone knows what GPS stands for: Global Positioning System. Have they ever used one or seen anyone use one? When and for what?

What all does a GPS tell us? It tells us where we are, where our destination is, the best route to get there, if we make a wrong turn, etc. The Bible says Scripture does the same for us.

Read 2 Timothy 3:16 - "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

I love that the word “inspired” here literally means “breathed”. Have everyone take a big breath and then let it out. Ask if they have ever realized that whenever we talk, we are also breathing. Can you imagine if we had to hold our breath when we talked?!

All Scripture has been spoken or breathed by God Himself. Communication is key to any relationship; it’s the way we get to know each other. The Bible is one primary way God communicates to us about Who He is, His love for us, what’s best for us, etc.

2 Timothy 3:16 explains how the Bible can become God’s GPS for us in life. Write the words teaching, reproof, correcting and training on the board or sheets of paper for them to see. This verse says the Bible is profitable for:

1. teaching (telling us how to get to where we need to be),
2. reproof or rebuking (telling us when we have taken a wrong turn),
3. correcting (getting us back on track going the right direction), and
4. training in righteousness (continuing to guide us towards God’s best for us)!

Take out your GPS App on your phone and type in destination “Heaven”. Mine tells me “No results.” Only God’s Word of Truth can direct us there. Jesus said it very plain and simple in John 14:6 – “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes the the Father but through Me.” God not only told us the way, He came to earth to show us the way; He doesn’t want any of us to remain lost!

It's important to read God’s Word daily. And let’s not just read it and apply it in our own lives, but let’s share it with others so they can know the way back to the Father.

Even as believers in Christ though, we can sometimes lose our way and find ourselves on the wrong road or path. God has given us the Bible to show us the way back to Him and how to enjoy this life He's given us and find purpose in His plan for us.

Activities for Object Lessons:
Make Maps
Give each student a sheet of paper and something to draw and write with. Ask them to draw a map from where you are to their house. Reference that God wants us to know the way home to Him in Heaven. He gave us the Bible as a map or GPS, but He also sent His Son Jesus to show us and take us there.

Follow the Leader
Not your typical Follow the Leader game, for this you'll need blindfolds. We aren't able to see God with our eyes, but we can hear Him speak to us through the Bible. Jesus says in John 10:27-28 that His sheep know His voice.

Have students put on blindfolds and then follow your voice. Make note that the closer they are to you, the easier it is for them to follow.

Take a Drive
Program a destination into your GPS in your car or phone and take a drive (or this can be a walk if using your phone) with your family or group. Make a few wrong turns and hear the corrections made by your GPS trying to reroute you to the correct route. Take time to talk about how God's Holy Spirit uses the Bible to help direct us and correct us if needed to guide us along God's best for our life.

 

[RiverOL]

Bible Object Lesson Using a Sponge -
Responding to Times of Tribulation

Jesus often taught with parables. A Bible object lesson is similar in that it takes an earthly object like a sponge and uses it to teach a spiritual lesson like how we can respond to times of trials and tribulation in a way that will please and honor our Heavenly Father.

This Christian object lesson works well with all ages! I've used it with kids, youth and adult women! The women really were able to identify with being "squeezed"; it makes a great women's Bible devotional!



Bible Object Lesson: Responding to Trials & Tribulation



Lesson Title: When the squeeze is on!

Object: sponge

Primary Scriptures: John 16:33, Romans 5:1-5, Romans 15:13

Main Point: What comes out of us when the “squeeze” is on – clean, pure thoughts & actions that please God or something not so clean & pure?







Object Lesson:

Begin this Bible object lesson by giving each person a small piece of a clean, unused sponge. A regular size sponge can be cut into 10-12 nice size pieces and look like mini sponges for them to keep as a reminder of the lesson.



The "Squeeze" = Tribulations
A Bible Object Lesson
Ask what sponges are used for or what they do. Answers may include many things, but make sure it is mentioned that they soak up liquid and then release the liquid when squeezed. Another answer we received from our Awana kids that can be tied into this object lesson is sponges are used to clean, but if what is in them is dirty instead of clean, they can't do what they were created to do.

Ask – do we ever get “squeezed” in life? If so, how? Allow time for answers and thoughts; these will vary of course for different age groups, but may include - when others (friends, parents, children, teachers, spouse, etc.) pressure us to do something, when we let anger or frustration build up until we can’t hide it any longer, when we have too many obligations or responsibilities, when bad or unexpected things happen in our life, etc.

The Bible uses the term – “tribulation”, which comes from the idea of when grapes were squeezed under pressure to release the juice.

Jesus tells us that in this life we will have tribulation, but He also gives us hope:

John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

So if we get “squeezed”, what comes out? What comes out of a sponge when it’s squeezed? Tie in answers to eventually conclude that whatever is in the sponge or in us, that which has been soaked up, will be what comes out.



If we have bad attitudes and negative thoughts, “the squeeze” will bring out angry and hateful words and actions that do not bring God glory or honor. However, if we spend time being filled with His goodness and grace, “the squeeze” will bring out good things like love, joy, peace, patience, and other fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.

Squeeze the clean water from the sponge into the colored water and notice what happens. The clean water affects or dilutes the colored water. If we soak up the colored water and then squeeze into the clean water, it changes it. In the same way, whatever is being "squeezed" out of us whether good or bad, affects those around us. Think of some ways our actions & attitudes, good or bad, can affect those around us.

Examples: Our anger at someone can cause them to be angry or hurt. A younger sibling may be watching and copying what we do. Someone may see kindness and love in us and be drawn closer to God.






The “Soaking” or "Filling" = Bad vs. Good
A Bible Object Lesson

So what are some negative things we may be soaking up?



Ideas may include things like: negativity from others, anger or frustration, bad language, bad attitudes & ideas from TV, movies, music, etc.

Bible Object Lesson: [Place an empty sponge into a shallow amount of colored liquid such as grape juice, Koolaide, Coke, etc. and watch it disappear as the sponge soaks it up. Squeeze that back out and then place your sponge into clean water until it is full, next place it back in the shallow amount of colored liquid making note that this time it is not soaking up the colored liquid around it. ]

Point out that if a sponge is already filled with clean water, it won’t soak up other things. How can we soak up what is good and be so full that we won’t soak up what’s bad?

It begins and continues by trusting in God. Romans 15:13 has become one of my favorite verses about being "filled" :


"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."


Be filled with His Holy Spirit –

Ephesians 5:18

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”

Be filled with God’s Word–

Psalm 119:11

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Be filled with God’s presence through prayer -

Luke 6:12

“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”



When we are filled with His goodness and grace, we can rejoice when the “squeeze” or tribulation comes. It will make us stronger in Christ!

Look at the key verses in Romans 5:1-5 from the New Living Translation:

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials (tribulations), for we know that they are good for us -- they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

Another Danger

This Bible object lesson can be used to point out one other danger … becoming dry, hard and empty.

It’s good if we are staying away from soaking up negative thoughts and bad things, but if we’re still not being filled with His goodness, there will be no joy or peace. We will not be usable just like it's harder to use a dry, hard sponge.

Encourage each person to take their sponge with them and place it somewhere they will see it so that it will remind them of this Bible object lesson.



Prayer:
Take time to pray Paul’s prayer he prayed over the Philippians in Philippians 1:9-11:

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.”