Category Archives: Devotions

Devotions

March 13

My light is to shine.

Matthew 21:21 “Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, Go, throw yourself into the sea, and it will be done.’”

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There always have been cynics and scoffers.  Those who would rather tear down than build up.  Those who would see others in groups with little to do with themselves. Some would try to separate me from my faith. A few more would rather dwell in darkness and curse it than get up and look for the good, the true, the faithful, the light.  What is a miracle, if not the revelation of a small light in total darkness? What is a miracle if not the manifestation of light where only darkness is expected?  Let there be light! Push out the expected darkness with a grand illuminating brightness. And this small light is mine to show.

# Just Larry

Devotions

Miracles are in Jesus

Mark 9:23 “If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

A distraught father was at the end of himself. The love of his family his first born son was continually falling to the ground in convulsions.  The young son had burns from falling in the fire. The child had been afflicted since he was born and all the available medical resources had been exhausted. The love and care of his family had never wavered.  The disciples had failed in their efforts to help and had suggested their Rabbi as a possibility.  The reputation of Jesus drove the father to seek help. Could the young rabbi have pity in this constant tragedy? “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us” was the plea of the father. Jesus replied, “Everything is possible”. A miracle was needed.

Walking on water or feeding 5,000 with a few loaves and a couple of fish was a miracle.   Raising a friend from the dead after three days is a miracle. There are two ways to live life. One way is to perceive the wondrous world around me without acknowledging the miraculous; a life full of insane reality, using words like coincidence, myth, story, or exaggeration. I have chosen a second and hugely different perception.  A perception that sees miracles and the possibilities of miracles. I use words like faith, hope, love, forgiveness, kindness, peace, and wonder.  When I stop believing in miracles, I have forgotten that I am one.

Jesus healed the boy.

# Just Larry

Devotions

All Things

Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

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Paul, in his writing to the Romans disturbs me. How do I know that God is causing the infinite and the totality of things to become good?  War, pain, pandemic, unrest, in the large, and in the weakness of my life, the small, become good? I live a life of gradual delegation to inactivity and frailty, how can these things become good?  Ministry seems so far off.  I struggle to be all that God wants of me.  I must take the voice of Paul who faced terribleness and trust God to be within my imperfect world. I must love God and acknowledge his purpose. I must keep making one step at a time. I well understand the happenings of my life are to make me different. To make me better.  I already have received the greatest miracle of all, which is eternal life. I will continually keep crying out to God knowing His Word is true. All things transformed into good.  It is a miracle.

Devotions

God is still there

Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

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My bones tell me daily I am not as young as my heart would tell me.  My emotions are dimly lit and well under control.  My heart jumps and leaps for joy when I get through the latest turmoil in life. I am struck by the pain of others but I have committed to staying the course of understanding.  I experience the pathos and praise of others.  But my nature is not one to express these emotions and feelings for all to see.  To most, I am seen as a stoic, pragmatist. I seem calm when passing through tough times. Nevertheless, I struggle in high waters and sometimes stumble in the fire of life. I am who I am because I have discovered the God in my life and He is a God of peace. He is a God that cares for me and I am assured that He gathers me up in the tough times and protects me.  I may not run up and down shouting about this inner peace.  But that peace is the foundation of my life. God is still there for those who pass through high waters and those who walk through the fire.  Please pray for me as I pray for you.

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Devotions

Until morale improves!

Jeremiah 32:27 “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

There are three stages of the work of God: the impossible, the difficult, and the done. Miracles still happen. Just because we do not see people raised from the dead regularly does not mean God is not in the miracle business. The Lord receives glory from the miracles He does every day in our lives. We must continue to bring our cares and concerns to Him in prayer for the miraculous and not settle so quickly into doubt, anxiety, or fear. Miracles will continue until morale improves.

Just Larry

Devotions

5,000 miracles

Thought for March 3– Miracle March

Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.”

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This prayer of Paul reminds me of the feeding of the 5,000 by Jesus. The people had listened intently to Jesus’ teaching. But the mind can comprehend only as long as the body can endure. The dinner stomach rumble had begun. The faithful leadership wanted to send them away. However, Jesus had something else in mind and He did it with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Many times, we look around at our meager resources and wonder how we are going to make it. Yet our Lord will meet all of our needs according to His miraculous abilities even using our puny provisions.  Look into your cupboards they are full.  Full of miracles waiting to happen.

# Just Larry

Devotions

Miracle March

Mark 10:27 “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man, this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

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Those who would call themselves Christian have clamored for miracles. Pleading for God to push His way in to repair something. By my will, I want to bend God’s schedule to do something that is beyond my might and measure. I pray for a miracle of relief from pain when we writhe in agony.  We pray and expect God to change the world but it does not improve and seems to be getting worse.  My prayers seem to bounce off some stone wall between God and me.  And yet, the miracle I seek might well have already been provided. I have endured one more day. The miracle I am praying for, which does not come as I had planned, does not mean that God has forgotten me or that He does not hear my heart’s cry. He does!

# Just Larry

Devotions

Transformed by guarantee

2 Corinthians 5:1-5 “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

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As I rise from my slumber this morning wondering about the glory which God has for me, a smile comes to my face. God is more than good. Jesus, in his sacrifice, provides for me a promise. A promise of an eternal future.  A future greater than I can ever imagine. That I could be an object of perfect love astounds me. As Paul here writing to the church in Corinth states, “Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed in our heavenly dwelling,” I long for the day in which my groans will turn to heavenly leaps of joy.  And who is it to say it is not possible with God?

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God, there is no dread of my life here on earth being over.  You gave it to me.  You clothed me in my present circumstances, and you will clothe me again.  I shout with joy unspeakable and full of Glory in the mercy you bestow.

Devotions

Seek First…

Psalm 86:5 “You, LORD, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.”

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The best place to be is where you are at peace with God, with yourself, and with all those around you. So how do I find it? From where can I find help for my troubled soul? Where can I expect help to get to this peaceful place? If my expectations for help come from my culture, then I will certainly be disappointed. Can I find peace in the new normal as proclaimed by the government? I think not. Can I depend on my neighbor to be there at any time and at any place? Again, the possibilities are less than my need. Can I find this place of peace in my marriage? Can I find this place in the latest gadget? Maybe for a moment, but as the price of my continued, sustaining peace, each would come with disappointment.

I find my peace, true peace in my creator, my God, and my king. Peace is attained because He is forgiving, He is good, and He is abounding in love. So now, I call on Him for peace. Will you join me?

# Just Larry

Devotions

Flag or healing?

Proverbs 17:9 “He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raises high his gate seeks destruction”

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If you have been in any group of people there will flag thrown, as if there has been some infraction of an written social norm.  They want to throw out the victim flag like a referee at a ball game.  I am a victim, “throw the flag.”  Somebody used a word that made them uncomfortable, “throw the flag.”  I have it worse than you, “throw the flag.” I also have my own flag ready to throw it any time I need a warm fuzzy “Aaaw”.  With a glee to get sympathy, the red flag flies upward and outward. It was a flag I could throw with distinction.

But more likely the walking wounded would like to be left alone with their pain.  I have been there. I have been so filled with feelings of hurt that I did not want to be around anyone. My hurt becomes almost pleasurable because it was caused by someone else. I justify myself into believing that this enduring internal pain was good for me. It was the old, “no pain, no gain” mantra. Pride in pain. I raised it for all to see. “Look at me, I am well on my way to martyrdom.”

But then I realized, in this self-induced misery of pain, is not worth it. It is not enough to be a victim. It was not enough to hold my red flag of martyrdom at bay. I had to let it go. The better option was to forsake the walking wounded and join the forgiven and the victorious. Healing!