Welcome to the August 2025 Archive. You are welcome to read the entire archive, or find a topic on the list below that is of interest to you. Just click the link, and you will be taken directly to the day it was written. Enjoy, and may you know God's peace as you read His Word.
    You are welcome to use these writings or pass them on. All we ask is that in all things you remember the Author and give Him the glory, and remember this vessel which He has used to bring them to you. Peggy Hoppes

A WORD FOR TODAY, August 2025

August 1, 2025

“[Jesus said,] ‘But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will tell those on his right hand, “Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.” Then the righteous will answer him, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?” The King will answer them, “Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Then he will say also to those on the left hand, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.” Then they will also answer, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?” Then he will answer them, saying, “Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.” These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’” Matthew 25:31-46, WEB

Mission trips can take on a different character depending on the people, places, and activities. Most short-term mission trips include some sort of service, like building or repair work. A group from our church went to North Carolina a few weeks ago to help rebuild some homes destroyed by Hurricane Helene. Thousands of people are traveling to Kerrville to do similar work. Other mission trips include providing medical care. There was a group in the same area we visited with doctors and dentists who were serving the local community. Many of those missionaries joined us in church. My children traveled south when they were younger to do Vacation Bible School with local children on the border. Christian missions always include some sort of evangelism.

My children slept on the floor in a church when they traveled. Other groups stay in hotels. We were housed in a building at the site where we did most of our work that was specifically set aside for visitors. It wasn’t a five-star hotel, but it was comfortable, and it gave us a place where we could host the families on the farm for dinner several nights during the week. We played with the children, visited with the moms, and shared devotions on the fruits of the Spirit. Our service work included renovating an old kitchen/dining hall, changing it into offices and space for a preschool. We did outreach evangelism at two places, serving over two hundred children and dozens of adults. Our time there included carnival games and treats, plus we all gave testimonies about our life with Jesus. We shared the Gospel in word and deed during our week with strangers and friends.

Mission trips are about being God’s hands in a world that needs to see Him at work. The thing to remember is that trips to other places, whether domestic or foreign, are not always possible for everyone. There are many reasons why some people can’t go out into the world, from health issues to financial constraints, documentation and family responsibilities often stand in the way. This does not mean that you can’t be God’s hands in the world. As a matter of fact, sometimes the greatest mission fields are right under your own nose. Does your neighbor need a helping hand with a construction project or a meal during a time of difficulty? Does the school down the street need someone to volunteer in the library or on the playground? Does the food bank need someone to pass out bags of groceries? Does the mom struggling with three children at the store need someone to open the door for her?

See, we don’t have to do anything spectacular to be God’s hands in the world. As a matter of fact, one of the most poignant moments for me last week was when I was walking to the playground with some of the children. Two of them reached out and grabbed my hands, walking with me, pulling me along so that we could play. It was in moments like that when I really felt like God was using my hands in a real, touching way. Was it that my hands were God’s? Or was God holding my hand in the form of those tiny fingers?

Whether we go out into the world to serve, or we are just going about our normal day, Jesus reminds us to keep our eyes open for opportunity to be God’s hands for our neighbors. It can be a simple as giving a glass of water to a thirsty person. God notices our kindness and our service. He sees every moment when we share His grace in word and in deed with our neighbors, whether they are strangers or friends. He also notices when we ignore the opportunities to share our time, talent, and treasures. Thankfully, He is a God of grace and forgiveness, but He calls us to do as much as we are able. We may have reasons why we cannot do what He is calling us to do, but He warns us not to make excuses. He is generous and gives us an overabundance of resources. Find some way to be God’s hands today. He doesn’t need you, but He has invited you to be part of His work in the world. He will be glorified by everything you do in His name, even the things you don’t realize you are doing for His sake.

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August 4, 2025

“Now on the next day as they were on their journey and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon. He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth, in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky. A voice came to him, ‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat!’ But Peter said, ‘Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.’ A voice came to him again the second time, ‘What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.’ This was done three times, and immediately the thing was received up into heaven. Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate, and called and asked whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was lodging there. While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Behold, three[c] men seek you. But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.’” Acts 10:9-20, WEB

Today’s story from the book of Acts is from a longer story about the first Pentecost experience for the non-Jewish Christians. It begins with a vision given to a man named Cornelius who was a centurion who feared God, gave generous gifts to the need and always prayed to God. A voice spoke to Cornelius, telling him that his prayers and gifts were seen by God and were a testament to his faith. The vision told him to send for Peter, who would have a special message for him. Cornelius immediately sent his men to Joppa to bring Peter to his home.

Peter would have rejected the request because according to his Jewish faith, he could not enter the home of a Gentile. Peter would not have shared the Gospel with Cornelius because he thought it was for God’s people. God knew Peter, and his deep faith, but sent a vision to him, too. In today’s story, Peter was praying on the rooftop. He became hungry and God sent food for him to eat. Unfortunately for Peter, the food was everything that was against the Jewish Law. “Get up and eat, Peter!” the voice said. Peter said, “No way. I have never let unclean food touch my lips.” The voice said, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.” This happened three times and as Peter pondered this vision, there was a knock on the door. The strangers arrived to take Peter to Cornelius, and Peter willingly went with them because God told him not to be afraid or doubt.

There is comfort in this story for us. We are sometimes sent to places we do not think we belong to share the Gospel with people we do not want to share it with. Peter always lived according to the Law of Moses, avoiding unclean food and the homes of Gentiles, but God said that He had made things right for Peter to do this thing. The Gentiles were cleansed, prepared to hear the Gospel. God made them ready to be saved. “Do not be afraid or doubt.” What is most interesting to me, however, is that God had patience with Peter. He argued with God, but God continued to show Peter that this was his plan and purpose. Ultimately, another (Paul) would be sent to share the Gospel with the nations, but God sent Peter as a Jew to establish that the Good News is for all people, not just the Jews. This opened the door for Paul’s ministry, and for the apostles and disciples to accept that the Gentiles could be saved by God’s grace.

Here's what’s most comforting: Peter argued and God had patience. Did you ever argue with God because you could not believe that He would send you to do something you did not want to do? “No, Lord!” I’ve done it, probably more often than I realize. Yet, God has had patience with me, too. He keeps showing me His plan, keeps calling me to His work, keeps giving me the opportunity to do what He is calling me to do. I hope I’m getting better and hearing, believing, and accepting without fear or doubt, but I know that I will try His patience again and again. Yet, this God who loves the whole world has a plan for you to help Him bring others to His grace. Will you answer, “No Lord!” or will you get up and go where He is sending you and open your mouth with confidence and courage that those whom God has chosen will believe?

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August 5, 2025

“Yahweh looks from heaven. He sees all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions all of their hearts; and he considers all of their works. There is no king saved by the multitude of an army. A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain thing for safety, neither does he deliver any by his great power. Behold, Yahweh’s eye is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his loving kindness, to deliver their soul from death, to keep them alive in famine. Our soul has waited for Yahweh. He is our help and our shield. For our heart rejoices in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let your loving kindness be on us, Yahweh, since we have hoped in you.” Psalm 33:13-22, WEB

The text in yesterday’s devotion was the focus verse for our first team devotion during our mission trip. We were certainly comforted by the idea that God has patience with us. I was the only team member who had never been there before, but it is still an adjustment for everyone to be in a place that is culturally so different than our comfort zone. We all had concerns. We did not have much experience hanging sheetrock or doing the other building work in our plan. We all were anxious about giving our testimonies, especially since most of us did not speak Spanish and we had little experience speaking about our faith in front of a crowd. On a personal note, despite my recent health advances, old age aches and pains made some of the activities more difficult than I’d hoped. I had a hard time keeping up with the younger folk on the trip. One morning during my personal prayer time, I asked God to help me be a helper and not a hindrance. Our concerns were understandable, that’s why we looked at the story of Peter.

There was another aspect to the story that helped us face our fears which encouraged us to trust in God. See, The story of Peter and Cornelius was not just a random coincidence that Peter had a vision that led him to an encounter to share the Gospel. It was a divine appointment which God had carefully planned every aspect. Look at the timing of the arrival of the men from Cornelius! They knocked on the door just as Peter came out of his vision. “Go with them,” God said, with his lesson about everything He cleansed being clean. Peter obeyed, not because he didn’t still have concerns, but because he realized that God was with him. We could go into our week with the same encouragement and faith. Our presence in that place at that time was a divine appointment.

I once attended a women’s retreat that focused on living a life worthy of our faith. The speaker talked about why and how to grow in our faith and live to glorify God, which is a life of obedience and trust. During our table conversation, we talked about the gut feelings we get once in a while that lead us to do the unexpected. We told stories about answering a call that seemed strange but turned into a divine appointment. God can do great things through our lives despite our concerns, worries, and fears, if we live in faith, trusting that God really does know what He is doing and that He has invited us to be a part of His work in the world.

Do we really trust God, especially when we are outside our comfort zone? We trust in so many things. We trust in our talents. We trust in our politicians. We trust in our strength. We trust in our financial institutions. We even trust in our generosity. Even in church, how often do we trust in the human aspects rather than God? We trust our pastor, the leadership, the programs, and the property. We are reminded in today’s psalm that a king is not saved by an army or man by great strength. Man is saved by God s grace, and God has no favorites. He sees all mankind, He watches all people of the earth. The psalmist describes Him as He, “who fashions all of their hearts; and he considers all of their works.” He is the one who plans all our moments, putting us in the right place at the right time to do His work in the world. We just have to be willing and obedient. Even so, He is patient.

We are called by the psalmist to be patient and to trust in God. He is our help and our shield. It is hard to go out of our comfort zone to do something we don’t think we are capable of doing. We all have moments when we think we will be more of a hindrance than a helper. Yet, God makes it possible for us to do the impossible, to do go beyond our perceived abilities, to get through our concerns and respond to every opportunity in ways that we never expect; He always ensures that our work will bear fruit for His kingdom. We are blessed to be a blessing, and though it seems beyond our ability to accomplish the things He sends us to do, we can go forth in faith, trusting that He is our help and our shield.

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August 6, 2025

Lectionary Scriptures for August 10, 2025, Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: Genesis 15:1-6; Psalm 33:12-22; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16; Luke 12:22-34 (35-40)

“Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1, WEB

We live in a world of instant gratification. We don’t write letters because it is faster to text or send an email. We have overnight delivery for products we buy online; we can even get things delivered within hours. We don’t have to go into a grocery store anymore because we can order our groceries online and they will have it waiting at a pick-up spot. A few clicks on an app, and our fast food will be ready when we arrive at the store. We still wait in lines, of course. There is a fast-food place that always has a line twenty cars deep, though the employees are fast and efficient so that you will have your food within minutes.

We don’t like to wait. We pick the shortest line at the grocery store. We follow recommendations at the theme parks to visit the busiest rides early in the day to avoid the crowds. We pay extra for expedited shipping. If we don’t get an answer to a text or email immediately, we think that the person is ignoring or rejecting us. We can have just about anything we want instantly, gratifying our deepest wants and our basic needs quickly so we can spend our time chasing after other wants and needs.

I’ve heard it said, “Don’t ask God for patience because He will give you opportunities to test it.” Patience is difficult for us all. Imagine what it must have been like for Abraham. When Abraham first arrived in Shechem after being sent away from his home and family in Genesis 12, God promised that his offspring would inherit that land. Abraham was already an old man, as was his wife Sarah. She was sixty-five, well beyond childbearing years. Yet, God promised him offspring. This was possible legally because Abraham could adopt a child as we hear in today’s lesson. We don’t know exactly who Eliezer of Damascus was to Abraham; he was obviously a very trusted member of Abraham’s household. Some suggest that he was a slave. God promised in Genesis 12, however, that the son would be flesh and blood, the fruit of Abraham’s loins. Abraham believed, although in Genesis 15 Abraham questioned the promise.

“Behold, to me you have given no children: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir,” said Abraham. Thankfully, God is not bothered by our doubts and questions. When we are uncertain about God’s plans for our lives, we aren’t called unfaithful when we ask Him to explain. As a matter of fact, despite the ridiculousness of the fulfillment of this long-awaited promise, Abraham “believed in Yahweh, who credited it to him for righteousness.” Faith in God means trusting Him, even when it seems like the promise will never be fulfilled.

Isaac was born when Abraham was 100 years old. Decades had passed between the promise and its fulfillment. We heard about the visit of the Lord to Abraham a few weeks ago, but today’s passage happened much earlier. Between the divine visit in Genesis 18 and our text from Genesis 15, Abraham and Sarah took God’s plan into their own hands. Sarah gave him to her maidservant Hagar and a child was born.

We don’t need to take God’s plan into our own hands, but we like to see results. The clock is constantly ticking in our world. God might not be limited by time or space, but we are. So, like Abraham and Sarah, we do whatever we think is best to make God’s will happen. We justify it with catchy little slogans like “God helps those who help themselves,” but by doing so we prove that we don’t really trust God to be faithful. There are those who blame Sarah, especially since we know that Abraham’s faith is extraordinary, but Abraham allowed himself to be swayed. He believed, but he also doubted.

We can look at Abraham as an example in holding out hope even when there appears to be none. Abraham had been promised a child for many years, but in this passage he was old enough to think there was no chance for it to happen. The LORD came to Abraham in a dream and said, “Fear not.” Abraham complained that he had waited so long, but the LORD reaffirmed the promise, “Your descendants will as many as the stars.” Abraham believed and it was credited to him as righteousness. He believed God’s Word and it gave him hope about tomorrow. He still did not have a child, but he knew that God would be faithful.

The writer of Hebrews wrote, “Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.” It’s all about faith. This is an easy statement to make, but it is much harder to live. After all, what is faith? How do we define something so intangible, so incomprehensible? The scriptures are filled with faith stories, and we all have our own stories to tell, but can we really define what it is? And what happens when our actions are faithless? What happens when we question God about how or when He will accomplish His promises? Does this mean we don’t have faith?

We won’t necessarily see the promises of God fulfilled as we want or expect. Think about the people in Jesus’ day who were expecting a military or political king. They didn’t get what they expected, they got something better, and yet most of them did not see the truth. There are many today who are still waiting for the Messiah to come to make Israel great again. They want God to make things happen in their time and in their way. The point of faith is to believe that God will do what He promises in His time and way.

That’s the hard part. We have a difficult time waiting and recognizing how God is fulfilling His promises. We really are impatient, but I don’t think that’s a quality that is missing just from those of us who live in this age of instant gratification. Abraham waited longer, but even so, he didn’t wait long enough. He believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness, and yet he didn’t trust God enough to wait. The people in Jesus’ day trusted that God would send His Messiah, but they didn’t trust Him enough to believe that He was doing it differently than they expected. Despite all their failures, God was still faithful. Despite all our questions and doubts, God is always faithful.

The Old Testament and Epistle lessons today remind us that Abraham had faith. He trusted God and followed Him out of the world He knew into a world he did not know. He left his home and his people to become a nomad, to journey to a strange and foreign land because a God he didn’t know called him. There is nothing reasonable about Abraham’s story, at least from our point of view. How do we react to those who say, “God told me to do this?” Usually we laugh or ridicule them, or we reject the notion that God might speak to an individual in such a specific way.

I wish God would talk to me with such clarity. I’ve been asking Him what He wants me to do for as long as I can remember. I’ve sought His will about career, family, and future. Sometimes I think I know what’s He’s saying, but most of the time I just muddle through. I’m not very patient, you see, and so when things don’t fall into place as soon as I think they should, I begin to second guess myself. Even now as I wander through each day with the faith I have, I wonder if I’m headed in the right direction. God does not always seem as clear to me as He seems to have been to Abraham. After my mission trip, I’ve wondered if there are other opportunities for ministry I should pursue. Could I leave my home and family like Abraham to follow God? I’d like to say “Yes, I have that much faith,” but I’m not quite that confident. Even with questions, I love the life God has given me and wonder if He would really ask me to give any of it up for His sake.

The point of our scriptures today is not about how much faith we have, but about trusting that God is faithful even when we feel like we are faithless. It is comforting to see this story of Abraham from Genesis 15, because even though this text lifts up Abraham for his faith, we also see Abraham’s faithlessness. He trusted God even while He doubted God. Abraham questioned how and when God would provide him the promised offspring because he didn’t see how any gift or blessing really made sense to His world view if he has no heir to which it can be passed.

We learn that we might have to wait, but that opens the question of what we should do while we wait. Our world of instant gratification means never having to wait, but that’s not how it works with matters of faith. God’s promises take time. Take the promise of eternal life, for instance. We know we have eternal life now, but it is a future promise that we won’t see fulfilled until we pass from this life into the next. We are not foolish enough to take that matter into our own hands, suicide is never the way to fulfill God’s promises.

I look forward to the end of my days because I have a hope in the eternity God has promised. I even cry out “Come, Lord Jesus” often as I struggle with the world I see around me. “I’m finished,” I think, but I’m not really. I know there is work to be done; there are people who need to be saved. Jesus will not come until, as Paul wrote to the Romans, “...the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” Christ will not come until everyone who is meant to believe does believe. How will they believe? Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. The way we wait is to share the Gospel with our neighbors so that they, too, might believe and be saved. Besides that, there are people to be fed and clothed, strangers to be befriended and prisoners to be freed. Living in faith means using every gift and blessing for God’s glory even while we wait for His promises to be fulfilled.

Living in that faith is not easy. Jesus told the disciples not to be anxious about their lives because God will provide whatever they need. Yet, He also told the disciples to be active in their faith. “Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys.” God is probably not calling us to leave our family and homeland to go to an unknown place, but He does want us to let go of the expectations that we think define us. He wants us to believe, not just in our hearts, but with obedient feet. That faith is credited to us as righteousness.

Jesus continued, “Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect him.” Abraham heard God’s voice and followed. We may not experience Him in that way, but we too can hear His voice. Have you ever experienced one of those moments when you knew you were exactly in the right place at the right time without knowing quite how you got there? Did you have a feeling, a thought, or possibly a compulsion? I’ve heard stories of people who have turned down the wrong street, only to find themselves face to face with someone in need. When it was over, those people knew without a doubt they had met the Lord in the eyes and heart of the person they helped.

Patience for God’s promises means waiting and watching and walking in faith. When our ultimate concern is our own selves, we miss those divine appointments. However, when our ultimate concern is God, we know that He will be faithful according to His good and perfect will. He will always provide for us as we wait so that we can share out of our abundance in faith and trust that He will be true to His Word.

There may be promises that we long to see fulfilled, promises about our lives and future that God has spoken into our hearts. We believe that God can and will provide for us in those ways, but as we wait we should always remember that God will fulfill all His promises as He plans. Blessed are those who trust in God because they know what truly matters. We have faith in something we will not see in this world, an eternal Kingdom where we will dwell in God’s presence forever. We have this hope by faith and this is what is credited to us as righteousness. God remains true even when we question and doubt. He watches from heaven above and knows all, into the very depths of their souls.

There was a movie called “The Rat Race” about a bunch of people who were racing toward a bag filled with money. The winner of the race kept it all. The film with filled with hysterical cliché experiences as the characters ended up in the craziest situations. They all suffered setbacks. In one scene a couple of women lost their way to the highway. They stopped at a roadside stand where a woman was selling squirrels. They didn’t want a squirrel, they just wanted directions to the highway. Despite their refusal, the lady described a shortcut to the highway. They expected that following her very detailed instructions would get their to where they wanted to go, and were more confident with every turn. They were excitedly expectant as they turned the last corner when they realized they had made a big mistake. As they were careening down a very steep hill, they passed a bunch of signs that said, “You,” “should,” “have,” “bought,” “a,” “squirrel.” Then their car fell over the cliff into a large pile of other vehicles whose owners refused to buy a squirrel.

It is easy to believe in something that we experience with our senses. Our mouths water in expectation when we smell banana bread baking in the oven. We experience real connection with others when we touch a hand, hear a voice, or see a face. Just as we are people who desire instant gratification, we also prefer tangible experience. It is much easier for us to have faith in people and situations when we experience them with our senses.

Would you believe someone if they told you that your great-great-great-granddaughter would be the president of the United States? Would you trust that person’s prediction? You would probably be skeptical. There is no way for you to know if you would even have a great- great-great-granddaughter. We can’t even know whether the United States will exist in a hundred years. We would like to believe it could happen, but we do not know what is going to happen tomorrow let alone in a century. We can’t rest our hope in someone that does not exist today or in something that might not exist tomorrow.

But the faith that trusts in God is not really faith if it is about things that we can see, feel, hear, taste, and touch. Faith, as the writer of Hebrews tells us, is the assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. Faith is believing in something we can’t experience with our senses. It is believing in something that is beyond this world. Faith is believing in the better, heavenly country which was promised to our forefathers. They believed and it was not even within their reach. They believed and never saw the fulfillment. It was a distant promise, one that was given to their descendants. It was given to us.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us of the people who came before, the faithful from every generation who believed in God’s promises even though they would not receive it during their lifetime. We have been given that which they desired – we dwell with the One to whom they committed their lives. We have received the promise. Is it something we can grasp? No, eternal life is not something we can touch or see or hear. However, we can be assured that it is true by faith. We are convicted by God’s Spirit and His grace of that which is real though unseen. We believe not because we have done anything to deserve that which is to come, but because God is faithful. We have Abraham as an example of faith, but even more so we have Jesus Christ who is our life and our hope and our peace. Everything else is like the squirrel lady, unreliable, unpredictable and perishable.

When we listen to Jesus speaking to the crowds in the Gospels, it is easy to assume that He isn’t speaking directly to us. After all, His examples and stories talk about aspects of life that do not match our modern daily lives. Most of us do not know anything about agriculture, we don’t understand their way of life. We have a much different point of view in our world, many different problems, and many different expectations. Our economic world is different. Our political world is different. Even our social world is different. How can Jesus expect us to fulfill the expectations He gave to people in a different time and a different place?

Yet, the scriptures have been given for us as much as for them. When Jesus says, “Do not be afraid, little flock” He means that we, in our time and place, should not be afraid. When Jesus says, “Do this” He calls us to do it. His expectations are sometimes outrageous. How can we possibly sell our possessions and give everything as alms to the poor? Do we really have to give up everything to go out into the mission field?

Jesus raises the bar on our behavior. We think that because we are Christian, we are called to be moral, or righteous, or just plain “good,” but Jesus calls us to be more. He teaches us how to be Christ-like. He has called us to be like Him, to turn away from the life of this world to live the life of faith in Him. We do have to live in this world, to live our lives in the culture into which we have been born, but God’s grace transforms us into something new. It is that new person, the person of faith, to whom Jesus is speaking.

So, is it any easier to follow Jesus’ directives? Can we, by our own power and might sell all our possessions and give the money to the poor? Should we stop working for a living and go live in a foreign country to share ? No, the bar to which Jesus has set the expectations in our lives is so high that we do not do very well achieving it. We fail, miserably. We fail, daily. We fail, desperately. So, we often look at those expectations as something that isn’t meant for us. We justify our failure because we live in a different world, a world in which Jesus can’t expect so much from us.

However, Jesus did not give us these expectations so that we could find loopholes. He gave them to us so that we might strive to be like Him. He knows we will fail. He knows we will make mistakes daily, but He also forgives us when we fail. We think that we have to be perfect to experience His grace, but Jesus doesn’t reward us because we are the best or most righteous people. Sadly, that’s what too many Christians believe when they think of faith, that if we are righteous enough, we will have the relationship with God that we desire. The truth is, we will never be strong enough. We will never be righteous enough. That’s why Jesus came. He came to overcome our failure, to stand before God in our stead.

He still calls us to live according to His expectations, to strive to be the best we can be. Thankfully, when we fail, He is there to forgive. He is there to encourage. He is there to continue building us up in faith and hope and peace so that on that glorious day when God’s promises are finally fulfilled, we’ll stand face to face with our Father for eternity. The rules are meant for us, just as much as they were meant for those who heard them from Jesus. They are meant to challenge us, but even more so they are meant to show us how big and wide and wonderful God’s grace is, even when we fail. His love is greater than our mistakes. Faith is not about our faithfulness, maturity, or morality. Faith is about trusting God, living obediently to His call on our life, and looking forward to that heavenly country which is ours by faith not according to our goodness.

The psalmist reminds us, “Our soul has waited for Yahweh. He is our help and our shield.” This is what it means to have faith. Patience may be one of the most difficult traits in our age of instant gratification, but we are called to live in faith trusting that God will be faithful. We might not understand His timing or His way, but faith means waiting and watching, using the gifts and blessings that God has provided for us in the meantime so that all might trust in the God who has promised all who believe a place in His Kingdom forever.

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August 7, 2025

“When I came to you, brothers, I didn’t come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith wouldn’t stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, WEB

We spent several months preparing for our trip to Honduras. Each meeting was designed to help us with cultural differences, plan what we should take, establish a plan for our week, and help us to be ready to share our story. We knew that we’d have to give a testimony (or more!). Some mission teams during previous trips had the experience of going into the homes of local people, but our schedule was a little different. We served the children of two communities with games, treats, and words. Though we were focused on the children, there were many adults in the background listening. Our testimonies reached not only the hearts of children, but also the minds of adults. Our words might even have made it home to the families of those children, who shared their experiences with them at the end of the day.

We do not feel qualified to share our testimony because we think that’s the work of an evangelist. Who am I to preach the Gospel? We’d rather let those who are trained to do the preaching and teaching about Jesus. We happily serve; we don’t mind standing at a carnival station or work at filling cups of lemonade for others, but we don’t want to talk to dozens of people about our faith.

To give us courage, our team time included two stories of people who were sent to tell their stories. Neither one knew the whole story of Jesus because His story was not yet complete. In John 4, Jesus met a woman at a well and touch her life in a way that made her go outside her comfort zone to tell others about what Jesus said. In Mark 5, Jesus cast an unclean spirit out of a man that was destroying his life. We are well familiar with these two stories, but we think more about their interaction with Jesus than the affect it had on their life after their encounter.

The woman at the well was an outcast. We don’t know exactly why she’d had five husbands or why she was living with the sixth, so we assume that she was a wanton woman. We don’t think about the other reasons why her marriages failed. Did she lose five husbands to death? She lived at a time when men could divorce a woman for any reason. A common reason for such divorce was barrenness. Did five husbands divorce her because she could not give them children? If she’d been a loose woman, she would have likely been stoned. These other reasons (five times widowed, barrenness) would have been reason enough to ostracize her: ff she was faithful, blessed by God, she would not have suffered such tragedy! We aren’t surprised by the ostracization of the man with a demon; he most certainly was far from God because a man of faith could not possibly become demon possessed.

When Jesus revealed to the woman at the well that He was the Messiah, she went back into the village and told the people her story. At that point she was not yet sure about Jesus. “I met a man who told me everything about myself. Could He be the Messiah?” The people who heard her testimony were curious. They went to meet Jesus for themselves. When they heard Jesus, they believed. When the demon possessed man was healed, he wanted to join Jesus, but Jesus sent him home. “Go tell people what God has done for you.” When others went into the Decapolis years later, a spark of faith already existed because that man told his story.

You may think, like Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, that your speech and preaching is not persuasive, but it doesn’t have to be. You are not sent to convert people. It is not your job to save people. Jesus simply sends you into the world to tell others what God has done for you. This may lead to questions about the Gospel but have no fear because God will give you the words. What it will do is open their eyes to the possibilities, make them curious enough to go and meet Jesus for themselves. It is God’s Word that will save them, but He has called you to invite them to hear Him speak. You don’t have to be trained; you just have to trust that God will open hearts and minds to receive Him. You may never see the impact of your stories. We certainly will not know how our testimonies will affect the lives of the children and adults who heard us, but we can trust that God put us in that time and place for a purpose and that He will make good things happen according to His promises.

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August 8, 2025

“Finally, all of you be like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous, 9 not rendering evil for evil or insult for insult; but instead blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For, ‘He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’ Now who will harm you if you become imitators of that which is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. ‘Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.’ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear, having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ. For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing what is right than for doing evil.” 1 Peter 3:8-17, WEB

We prepared for our trip in practical ways, but we also prepared spiritually. We were encouraged to prepare our testimony ahead of time, to practice it, perhaps even with friends or family. We tried our stories out with other team members at one of our team meetings before we left. This was incredibly hard for me, not because I didn’t have a testimony, but I didn’t know what to prepare.

I am a storyteller at heart. You know that if you have followed this devotional for any of the more than twenty-six years I’ve been writing. Sometimes the stories I tell are directly from the Bible, but I often tell stories about my life, my day, my observances of the world around me. I share stories I’ve read, seen on television, heard from others. The problem I had was not storytelling or even talking in front of a group of people. I struggled with what story to tell, because I like to tell stories that would mean something to the people who are listening. How could I possibly plan a testimony for a group of people completely blind? I did not really know their culture. I didn’t even know their language. What could I say that would have an impact on their life before I know at least something about their life? How could I speak to their hearts until I saw their faces?

We were in Honduras several days before I had the chance to give my testimony. I had the opportunity to watch the others share their stories. I spent time with the girls and moms on the farm. I’d shopped in their grocery store, eaten local food, and seen cities and country. I saw the impact of American culture, but also the reality of the poverty around us. There were beautiful homes that were like villas, but there were also shacks with corrugated metal roofs, with no heat, electricity, or running water. By the morning of my testimony, I had a better idea of what to say. I also had experiences that gave me a new story to share. God helped me through prayer to find a message that would touch the hearts of the people to whom I would speak.

One of the things we learned during our preparation is that the children love to hear visitors speak in their own language. Most of the girls on the farm know English, but the children and most of the adults we met during outreach were Spanish speakers. We had interpreters, but I wanted to use at least a little Spanish. I began by saying “Buenos dias, mi hombre is Peggy,” which means “Good day, my name is Peggy.” Then I told them I knew very little Spanish, but I would try. “Amo a Jesus porque me amo y me ve,” I said, which means “I love Jesus because He loves me and sees me.” I was told that my pronunciation was not quite right, but it was close enough that the children understood.

I used the story of Zacchaeus as my Bible story. See, I often feel like I am invisible, that I am not seen or heard. I have some good ideas, but sometimes people ignore my suggestions. I’m often interrupted mid-sentence as someone wants to share a thought they have. This has been true since childhood and even happened during the mission trip. I was not a popular kid, short and overweight. Memories of my childhood made me think about Zacchaeus who was also not very popular. He was short, but he was also disliked because of his job as a tax collector. He heard that Jesus was coming, so he went out to the road, but could not see beyond the crowd. He ran ahead and climbed a tree so that he could see.

Zacchaeus may have been disliked, ignored, and rejected by the people, but Jesus saw him. Jesus called up into the tree, “Zacchaeus, come down. I am going to your house today.” The encounter with Jesus changed Zacchaeus’ life. He repented for the way he treated people at his job. He restored the money he wrongly took from people. Jesus saw him, loved him, and changed his curiosity into faith. “Jesus te ama y te ve tambien,” which means “Jesus loves you and sees you, too.” This was a message I thought the people at our outreach needed to hear. Perhaps it is a message you need to hear, too.

Your story will be different. You might not even know what you need to say until you open your mouth, but God is with you. He equips those He calls, and He fills the mouths of His faithful and obedient people with words that will touch hearts and lives. It won’t always work out as well as we hope, but we can trust that God will make all things right in the end. We might suffer for doing God’s will, but God is with us through it all. Peter reminds us not to fear or be troubled, but know that the Lord is in your heart. “Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear, having a good conscience.” Tell your story. You may never know the impact you have, but you can know that you will have an impact because God’s grace always changes lives.

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August 11, 2025

“Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls.” Hebrews 12:1-3, WEB

I am not athletic in any sense of the word. Oh, I exercise regularly, like to hike (walk in the woods), and am a decent swimmer. I was never competitive in sports, either by desire or ability. I certainly never went out of my way to become a role model for other athletes, young or old. I am, however, inspired by those who have broken barriers in different sports fields.

One woman named Kathrine Switzer ran the Boston Marathon. In 2017, she was one of 27,221 people who began the race, one of 26,411 who finished and one of the 11,973 woman who made it to the finish line. The Boston Marathon is always filled with incredible stories. The race is filled with people making an impact in ways beyond the running world, including elderly and disabled runners. The marathon is also known for the kindness along the route as competitors help one another, volunteers cheer and encourage the runners and hand out water. Spectators hold up signs, give our treats, and joke with the runners to help them keep going.

Katherine first ran the marathon in 1967, although she was attacked on the course because women did not compete in races with men or participate in competitive sports. She signed up using on her initials, and they did not realize she was a woman until the second mile. Officials tried to forcibly remove her and rip off her number, but it did not stop her from finishing the race in four hours and twenty minutes. She ran in nine Boston Marathons and many other races. Most of all, however, her experience helped open the door for other women to join the running world. She created a circuit of races which helped pave the way for the women’s marathon in the Olympics, and she created an organization called 261 Fearless (her Boston Marathon bib number was 261 in 1967 and 2017, and the number has been retired in her honor), which was created to empower women, not only in racing, but in life. She used her challenges for the sake of others.

Another encouraging organization is called the “I Got This” Foundation. This group was started after Amy Bockerstette who was the first person with Down syndrome to both receive an athletic scholarship to attend college and also to compete in a national collegiate championship. The name of the organization came from a viral moment when Amy was playing in the Pro-Am at the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open with Gary Woodland and Matt Kuchar. On the 16th hole during a practice round, Amy was caught on camera saying, “I got this,” and she did. Many people did not think she was capable of doing well at the sport, but Amy made par on a very difficult hole. Many were surprised, but her family knew what she could achieve. They knew that people with intellectual disabilities are far more capable than we expect. They began the “I Got This” foundation to help inspire young golfers and educate the public about what’s possible for people with Down syndrome. Amy continues to encourage others to achieve their own “I got this” moments, not only on the golf course, but also in life.

Katherine and Amy were pioneers in their passions, and they went on to help and encourage others to follow in their footsteps. We could fill a library with similar stories of people who overcame a challenge, then shared their lives with others through organizations designed to educate and encourage others to overcome.

Hebrews 11 is called the “Hall of Faith” and tells the stories of the Old Testament saints who trusted God in incredible ways. Think of those names and their lives: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. The writer of Hebrews talked about people who subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee. Their lives were not always happy. They suffered persecution, imprisonment, death. They were all commended for their faith, trusting God despite the fact that they did not receive the promises of God.

We are recipients of their promises, and their stories are given to us in the Old Testament and Hebrews 11 as an example for the lives of faith we are called to live. There is more to it, though, than just good role models for us. The writer of Hebrews tells us that we are surrounded by this great cloud of witnesses, encouraging us to run the race. They are cheering us on. They remind us to set aside the things that keep us from moving forward, believing that we can finish the race. What is our goal? Jesus. They did not see the Savior as we have, but they ran with faith knowing that God is faithful to His promises. We have the promise, but we are still running the race. Look to their encouragement and live your faith in the same manner, even when things don’t seem to be going well. Katherine was attacked, Amy was ridiculed, but they believed they could do it. The Old Testament saints were not perfect, and they faced so much difficulty, but they believed, and it was credited to them as righteousness. They cheer us on so that we can live as they did, trusting that God will always make all things right in the end.

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August 12, 2025

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things which I say? Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words and does them, I will show you who he is like. He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock. But he who hears and doesn’t do, is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:46-49, WEB

A boy named Daniel is a street wise kid who moved from New Jersey to California in the movie “Karate Kid.” His family was poor but was surrounded by wealth. One day he was beaten by a bunch of rich punks but was saved by a man named Mr. Miyagi. He was a gardener who became his karate teacher because Daniel wanted revenge. Daniel faced the boys in a competition, beating them at their own game thanks to Miyagi’s teaching. The best part is that Daniel learned many lessons besides karate, especially that violence does not solve anything. He also learned to look beyond the surface to really know a person. He realized that our differences are not found in our wallets, but in the hearts of men.

When Mr. Miyagi began the karate lessons, Daniel only wanted to learn to fight. Mr. Miyagi wanted him to learn more. So, his first tasks seemed ridiculous. He painted a fence, waxed some cars, and raked the sand in a garden. Mr. Miyagi was very specific about the way Daniel was to perform these tasks. He was to paint up and down and Mr. Miyagi reprimanded him if he did it wrong. The wax was to be done a certain way, as was the raking. With each task Daniel grew tired. He finally went to Mr. Miyagi and complained. He wanted to know when he would learn to fight and felt he was being used as free slave labor.

Mr. Miyagi told him to do “paint the fence.” When he did, he showed Daniel how that was a karate stroke. He did the same with the other tasks; each movement was something Daniel could use in a fight. The repetition made it part of his natural movement, the tasks made learning karate much easier. If Daniel had ignored Mr. Miyagi’s instructions by painting the fence or waxing the cars the way he wanted, he would never have learned the skills he needed to do well in the competition. A good coach will teach athletes more than the skills they need to do well; they will use lessons

With the Olympics just around the corner, I wonder how many of those athletes have had coaches like Mr. Miyagi. I am sure that at some point in their career they have questioned the teachings of those who have been given to make them better. They have probably thought that an hour a day is enough or that they only have to practice a skill a few times to have it right. However, I’m sure that the coaches were not so lenient on them. And the more they obeyed their coach, the more skilled they became. It is good to listen to those who teach us and do what they say because they know the right way to accomplish the task.

Jesus has taught us how to live in this world, but not so that our obedience would earn His love or salvation. Some of the lessons do not make sense to us, but His way teaches us how we are meant to live: in grace as His witnesses. He is our rock, the foundation of our life, and through His teaching we learn about mercy, generosity, compassion, faith, hope and love, a life that glorifies God, a life that brings others into the light of Christ, and shows them the salvation found at the cross.

Daniel wanted to do things his own way, but Mr. Miyagi showed him why the lessons were so important. When Daniel faced the other kids on the battlefield of competition, he was very skilled and able to win. We face our own battlefields of this world, our enemy is sin, death, and the devil. We have been given the gifts to stand, gifts that come from God Himself. We have been given the lessons which will build us up for battle. Why do we call Jesus our Lord but try to build our houses our own ways? Jesus has the right way to build so that we can stand firm against all that comes at us throughout our lives.

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August 13, 2025

Lectionary Scriptures for August 17, 2025, Tenth Sunday after Pentecost: Jeremiah 23:16-29; Psalm 119:81-88; Hebrews 11:17-31, 12:1-3; Luke 12:49-53 (54-56)

“‘Am I a God at hand,’ says Yahweh, ‘and not a God afar off?’” Jeremiah 23:23, WEB

“Mom, how did you know?” a child asks. “I have eyes on the back of my head,” she answers. How many mothers have used this line to keep our children on the right path. Despite not being true, mothers do seem to have a sense of knowledge that goes beyond expectation, and children think it is true. We seem to know things we should not know and see things beyond the reasonable scope of our senses. We are not omniscient, but we hope they will think we are so that they will think twice before being disobedient. Mothers are not omniscient because we cannot be everywhere all the time, especially as our children grow older and gain their independence. They eventually grow up and move on. They test the limits of our omniscience during every stage of their growth.

Sadly, we do the same thing with our God. We think that He is like our parents, limited in scope and sight. Historically, cultures have always had gods that were more local with specific focus and abilities, and though they were called gods they were not much more than extraordinary beings that could do things that normal humans couldn’t do. Since we thought they were somehow greater, people looked to them for help and salvation. These local “gods” were convenient because they could be ignored if we were outside their influence. For example, they would not need to deal with a rain god if their weather was perfect.

The Lord God Almighty is greater than human beings, but we often give Him the same limited characteristics of those local gods. We think that we can ignore Him when we do not need anything or hide from Him when we are doing something wrong. However, God is not just a god who is near, like those local gods of the ancients. He is also not a god who is far away. He is not some disconnected being that set the world in motion and then disappeared. He is actively involved in the lives of His people.

When we discount the Lord God Almighty and make Him less than He is, we easily fall prey to those who would use and abuse His power for their own benefit. In Jeremiah’s days there were prophets on every corner, prophets who claimed to know God’s mind and His intensions. They cried, “I had a dream” and interpreted the dream to their advantage. By claiming to have received their message directly from God, they sought to gain power and influence over people. Yet, their message was lacking. It led people astray. It brought people to the altar of false gods and made people forget the Creator and Redeemer God.

How do we tell the difference? There are many people today who claim to be prophets and who say that they have been given a special message from God. These messages often come in the form of dreams, but they also say, “God told me.” While it is important to hear what they have to say, we are to always remember that God’s Word does not contradict itself. In the passage from Jeremiah, God asked, “What is the straw to the wheat?” Straw is part of the wheat; it is the stem that is left after the wheat kernels are taken. Straw has value. It can be used for bedding, for warmth, and for building. Yet, straw is limited. Wheat, on the other hand, is life giving. The kernels can be used for food, or they can be planted to grow more wheat. God’s Word is life giving, but that of the false prophets is not. God’s Word is forgiving, filled with grace and hope and peace. God’s word is demanding and powerful; it is like the hammer that breaks the rock into pieces, but it is also healing and transforming. Most of all, God’s Word reveals His faithfulness.

God isn’t hiding somewhere that He can’t see us. He isn’t so close that we can keep Him under our control. He isn’t so far away that He doesn’t know every hair on our head. God is with us. He is in our hearts and in our lives. We can know the difference between the false prophets and those who are faithfully speaking God’s message to the world. We can know because God’s word brings life and growth and hope.

There is an organization that helps young people develop strong character and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. The First Tee was founded in 1997 and is in partnership with the major golfing organizations. It was created to make golf more affordable and accessible for children. My son began with the First Tee when he was in Elementary School and continued well into his High School years as a coach. As the children progress through the different levels of learning, they become mentors to younger students. The First Tee helped my son grow both as a young man and an athlete. The best part of the program is that it is about more than golf. They learn life lessons that build well rounded lives in the children.

Golf skills are not the primary focus of the organization, but growth in the game is part of the expectation for the children. They are tested as they prepare to move to a new level about the core values and the rules of golf as well as performance in golf like driving, putting and chipping. They check the students for good form and appropriate results for their level. They don’t pass on automatically but are encouraged to continue trying until they accomplish the expectations. Sometimes it takes those extra tries for a student to realize what they are doing wrong. My son struggled to get through a level until he had a revelation about his grip, and then suddenly he was able to send the ball a greater distance with more consistency. It took him some time, through trial and error, to discover the problem, but he improved significantly after practice.

Our scriptures lately have focused on our trust in God and having patience to wait for His will to be clearly known in our life. We looked at Abram and Sarai whose faith in God’s promises gave them a vision of the future that they would never see during their lives. They saw the beginning - the birth of their son Isaac - but they would never see offspring as numerous as the stars in the sky during their lives. Still, they had faith. These stories of faith are amazing, yet we cannot help but wonder if they are historic stories or merely myths to give us confidence in our own spiritual and physical lives.

There is one thing that helps us believe that these saintly, divinely inspired, faithful people were real is that they were not perfect. They failed. They sinned. They even went their own way, sometimes. Abram was given the promise of offspring repeatedly, but he still went to Hagar for a child. In the Hall of Faith in the book of Hebrews, we see over and over again faith people who were less than perfect. Rahab’s morality was questionable. Gideon repeatedly demanded proof from God. Barak tried to do things his own way rather than according to God’s will. Samson fell to the temptress. Jephthah made a deal with God which meant the death of his beloved daughter. David’s indiscretion brought death. The people who crossed the Red Sea did not remain faithful to God. Samuel and the prophets failed in their own ways.

The story of Jericho shows us how patience might mean repetition, experiencing the same things over and over again until we reach the point of trusting God. Would the walls have come tumbling down if the Israelites had played the horns on the first day? No, though those days of marching around Jericho seemed unnecessary, it was a gift from God so they could see how patience and obedience led to great things. In the end, they believed, and the walls fell.

This is the life of faith. We don’t find the right golf grip without trial and error, without going to the driving range regularly to practice. By repetition we learn what we are doing wrong, and we learn how to do it right. Our life of faith is a growing, maturing journey that lasts our entire lifetime. We have an advantage over the Old Testament saints because we have seen the fulfillment of the promises that had been given to them made real in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, but we fail just like they do. We still forget God’s promises and need to be reminded. We still have doubts. We still have so much to learn. We go through the same problems over and over again until we get it right and then God will move us on to a new phase of our journey. He moves us to the next level.

My son was part of the First Tee for a long time, and though he struggled with some of the levels, he eventually reached beyond the last. The local club restructured their program for him, and eventually some other students. He was finished, but not really, because there were always new lessons to learn. He was a coach, but he was still a student, continuing to grow in the sport and in life. Sometimes we think we have reached our pinnacle, both in faith and in our everyday lives, but the reality is that God restructures for us, too. We are never done growing until the day He takes us home. We reach a new phase. We have new responsibilities. We might even become a “coach” or a leader of some sort, but that doesn’t mean we are done. There is always room to grow. Sadly, we will make the same mistakes. We’ll repeat old sins. We will forget that God is near as we go our own way.

There is an old saying that we’ve all heard once or twice: “God will not give you any more than you can handle.” We think this common refrain is scriptural and that it means God will keep us away from the hard moments of life. Ask Jeremiah if God gives people more than they can handle. His life was rough. It was lonely to be persecuted and rejected. Jeremiah remained faithful not because he thought God would take away the difficulty but because he knew that God would get him through. We believe the saying because we want our lives to be easy, but it doesn’t show that we trust in God. It is a claim that we can do everything by our own power. The truth is we can’t. We can never make things right on our own. That’s why we need Jesus. It would be better to say that God will not give you more than He can handle, because it is by His grace that we get through every moment of every day.

God said through Jeremiah that His Word is like fire and Jesus said in the Gospel that He came to bring fire upon the earth. We are uncomfortable with these images because we would much rather think of Jesus as coming to bring peace. However, we are reminded by the stories of the Old Testament saints that the peace of God does not necessarily mean the absence of conflict. Faith in Jesus causes division and brings tension. Those who are passionate about their faith and about Jesus, will stand up for their beliefs under any circumstance, even risking relationships with family and friends.

It is understandable that we wonder when we will know God’s peace when we experience conflict in our world, but this is not peace as God intends. We misunderstand the promises of God, or we put our own expectations on them. That’s what happened with Abram when he turned to Hagar for the promised child. We think we can make God’s peace happen in our way, in our time, not trusting God with patience and obedience. We think we will find peace by fulfilling God’s promises with our own hands, but true joy in God’s kingdom will be found only when we trust that He is the one who fulfills His promises.

Sometimes we will need to face more than we can handle. How did God test Abraham’s faith? He commanded the sacrifice of Isaac, but Abraham trusted God’s promises so much that he willingly took Issac to the altar, knowing that God would make it right in the end. Sometimes we need to parade around our problems over and over again like the people around Jericho until God finally says we can blow our horns that will knock down the walls. We are called by faith to risk the division that might be caused by the Gospel. True peace is found in trusting God and living according to His Word, whatever the risk. God’s peace is not without conflict; it comes to us when we live in trust and hope for God’s promises.

Trusting in God means allowing the fire that dwells within us to burn brightly to light the world in which we live. We are called to be faithful for God’s sake no matter the consequences. We might think that a martyr’s life was not blessed because they died in suffering and pain. Yet they are so often described as having had an unearthly joy and peace come over them in their final moments, even as they were being burned or beheaded. We might ask, “Where is God in their struggle?” He is everywhere. Close enough to know every detail of our flesh and far enough to be outside our control. Near or far, God is with us. He is in our hearts and in our lives. He fills the earth, constantly working in our world to make things right, to reconcile people to Himself and to one another, to heal and grant peace to those who believe.

Last week Jesus warned His disciples to be ready. Ready for what? The religious leaders were already pressing Jesus to catch Him in some crime so that they could be rid of Him. The inevitable end of Jesus’ ministry would be on the cross. Jesus certainly wanted the disciples to be ready for what was soon to come because His passion and death would be trying on them as well. But Jesus constantly reminded them not to be afraid. “They can’t kill you because your Father in Heaven promises to save you.” No matter how wonderful this message sounds to us, there are many who refuse to hear and believe.

This week Jesus told the disciples that He came to throw fire on the earth. This fire separates believers from unbelievers. Jesus divides hearts: some are inflamed with the divine love of God, but others are left cold. The fire is not a fire that destroys, but one that fills the hearts of God’s people with His love. Jesus wishes that it was already burning, but it would take something very radical for it to happen. Jesus had to die on the cross, and then after His resurrection, the Holy Spirit could be thrown upon God’s people, filling them with everything God has promised to those who believe.

Jesus presented the Kingdom of God to the crowds, but they could not see Him as He is. He showed them the signs that pointed to the truth so that they would turn back to God and follow Him as those who walked in faith throughout the ages. Even now too many do not recognize the signs because they expect God to fulfill their expectations rather than be faithful to His truth.

God’s Word is good, and it is the word upon which we can live and dwell in peace not only in this world but for life eternal. The Psalm for today is part of a hymn praising God’s Word. We cringe a little when we see Psalm 119. It is the longest book of the Bible, made up of twenty-two stanzas of law-talk. The same words are repeated over and over again: commandments, precepts, statutes, law, words, mandates, teaching, justice, decrees, testimony, verdict and others. If you compare different translations, they seem to use many of these words interchangeably. We wonder if David could have made his point in much fewer words.

This psalm is lengthy because it is an alphabetic acrostic poem that teaches the concept of the law as the Israelites understood it. Each stanza represents a letter of the alphabet, and each line of each stanza begins in Hebrew with the same letter. and though we can’t see it in English, we know that each line of each stanza begins in Hebrew with the same letter. This type of teaching tool helped children learn the psalm and God’s Word because it was written on their hearts. You can use Psalm 119 as a devotional practice, reading one stanza a day over and over again so that it is written on your heart, too.

We wonder, however, if the repetition and so much law talk is good. Why say the same thing over and over again? We don’t know the Hebrew language to benefit from the poetic form that makes it such a good learning tool. Each stanza has a unique meaning, but they all use the same eight words over and over again. It seems redundant, although each word has a unique meaning: law, words, statutes, promise, testimony, ordinance, judgment, commandments, ways. The biggest problem is that translators often use English translations interchangeably, so we don’t see the distinctions.

Understanding the difference between ordinance (which has to do with religious ritual) and promise (which is focused on God) helps us to see the depth of what the psalmist intends. It isn’t just about obeying some rules, it is about living according to God’s Word from the rules to the promise, all of which establish Him as the authority we are to trust. When we study the words, we realize that the psalm is really a comfort to those of us who trust God because they remind us that God’s Word is more than rules we must obey.

Despite the rain that we’ve had in Texas this year, our area is still suffering a significant drought. This week has been unusual because there have been scattered to isolated showers. The radar might suggest rain is coming, but the shower can disappear. On the other hand, unexpected showers can pop up out of nowhere. I’ve lived in Texas for more than twenty years, and I still do not really recognize the signs of impending weather. Some of it is obvious, but I can’t count on the old wife’s tales I knew when I grew up in Pennsylvania about cows lying down before a rain.

I’ve also noticed that the clouds sometimes look “wet” as if they are about to burst, but then the sun evaporates the water, and they disappear into the big beautiful blue sky. I’ve seen storm clouds that look like they might come our way, but they are miles away and disappear long before they reach our house. Sometimes the storms hit the “bubble” over our city and just fall apart. I am not very good at interpreting the signs.

In the Gospel lesson Jesus said, “You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you don’t interpret this time?” They knew what the temporal signs meant for their lives. Their agricultural livelihood depended on knowing the right time to plant and the right time to reap. The desert heat can be dangerous for travelers who might be on a dusty road for days at a time. Knowing the signs meant the difference between life and death.

We wonder how the people who listened to Jesus could have been so foolish. After all, Jesus did miraculous things; He made a difference in so many lives. How could they reject the Messiah that was standing right in front of them? Well, they had false prophets. They had people claiming to be the Messiah. They had become cynical because the false prophets were never right. Besides, Jesus did not fit into their expectations. He was not the Messiah they thought they were looking for. He was not the Savior they predicted. They couldn’t read the signs because they were looking for all the wrong things. They were like people trying to understand the weather in one place using the signs from another.

They did not know how to interpret the signs. He did many miraculous things, but there were others who seemed to do miraculous things. They missed, or refused to acknowledge, that Jesus did signs that no one else was able to do. Jesus’ miracles were more than supernatural events. His work pointed to the grace of God. He would be faithful to provide the salvation that He promised to those who recognized that Jesus was the One. Too many, even today, put their own spin on those signs, but they have a skewed understanding of God.

We trust in God’s salvation because He has promised that He will save us. When we are let down, we can look to God’s promises. When we struggle with the life we are living in this world, we can see how God’s boundaries will guard and protect us even from ourselves. When we are being persecuted, we can trust that God will provide justice against those who do us harm. Those who are against us are really against God, but God is faithful. Even when the world means to destroy us, we can look to God’s authority for peace. God’s testimony is worth obedience because He will protect us by His mercy.

We are called to live the life of faith in peace that might not seem peaceful. Our passion for Jesus Christ will bring discord, even among our families. The world will not approve of the choices we make. We might suffer, but we show that we trust God by living in faith and obedience to His Word no matter what happens. This means acting as Jesus taught us to act, doing what Jesus commanded us to do. We are to follow in His footsteps, even when the path seems too difficult. The world cannot take the peace we have in Jesus Christ. Persecution will come, perhaps even from those we love, but God provides everything we need to walk in the passion we have for Jesus, especially His presence.

God is always faithful, and His promises are true. He knows what the world is throwing at us, and He knows what we are trying to hide. He knows everything about the past, but He also knows the rest of the story. Despite our failures, He has promised joy and peace to those who trust in Him. So, let us live in faith. He will always be with us, so close that He knows us intimately, but big enough to provide everything we need. There may be many reasons for us to fear and doubt, but God is at hand to fill us with joy and peace.

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August 14, 2025

“Yahweh, how many are your works! In wisdom, you have made them all. The earth is full of your riches. There is the sea, great and wide, in which are innumerable living things, both small and large animals. There the ships go, and leviathan, whom you formed to play there. These all wait for you, that you may give them their food in due season. You give to them; they gather. You open your hand; they are satisfied with good. You hide your face; they are troubled. You take away their breath; they die and return to the dust. You send out your Spirit and they are created. You renew the face of the ground. Let Yahweh’s glory endure forever. Let Yahweh rejoice in his works. He looks at the earth, and it trembles. He touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to Yahweh as long as I live. I will sing praise to my God while I have any being. Let my meditation be sweet to him. I will rejoice in Yahweh. Let sinners be consumed out of the earth. Let the wicked be no more. Bless Yahweh, my soul. Praise Yah!” Psalm 104:24-35, WEB

When people we know are headed on vacation to Europe, especially England, they ask advice about what they should do and see. Several years ago, a friend sent me an itinerary she thought was appropriate for a two-week trip to England. She had so much she wanted to accomplish during her time, and I understood her need to fill every minute with activities. A trip like that is often once in a lifetime; you don’t want to waste any time. However, her schedule did not give her any time to relax. It didn’t give her time to enjoy the country or its people. It didn’t give her time to see anything, even though she planned to see everything.

She didn’t consider the time spent travelling from place to place. We were blessed because we lived in the country for four years, so we could take our time, but we learned that some of our best experiences were those side trips we didn’t plan as we were traveling to where we wanted to go. We loved taking those brief walks through country villages, visiting local churches, and eating lunch at the village pub. My friend didn’t plan time for meals. We met wonderful people and ate terrific food in those local pubs. By filling every minute with things she thought she had to do, she was not giving herself time to experience the surprises that she would find along the way.

On more than one occasion we planned to spend a few hours at a site but discovered something special was happening when we got there. Two hours easily became four hours when there was an event or exhibit that we didn’t expect. We often found ourselves in a cathedral at the right time to attend worship or hear a concert. So, I told my friend that she should try to do many things, but that she should not schedule every minute. By leaving time between activities, there was room for those moments. I told her that she would be exhausted and that she’d have so many regrets that she didn’t take the time necessary to really enjoy the places and people she visited. She’d get so much more out of the trip if she slowed down and smelled the roses.

We are getting ready for our own adventure beginning this weekend. We are going home to Pennsylvania for a visit. We have a number of things planned, and people we want to see, but I worry that we are overscheduling ourselves like my friend. I know from experience that it takes time to get from place to place. An hour conversation with an old friend can easily turn into two. We are planning to hike at a state park with waterfalls, but I’m sure we’ll never have time to see them all. We want to enjoy favorite foods, take time to pay our respects at our parents’ graves, and shop for some things that we can’t buy in Texas. Yet, we don’t want to fill every moment so that we have the time to stop and smell the roses. We especially want to remember that God is in the midst of it all, and that He might have a surprise planned for us along the way. If we are too busy rushing from one thing to another, we might miss that divine encounter that God has arranged to fill our hearts with joy and peace.

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August 15, 2025

“He stood before Yahweh’s altar in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands (for Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, and five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the middle of the court; and he stood on it, and knelt down on his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven) and he said, ‘Yahweh, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth; you who keep covenant and loving kindness with your servants who walk before you with all their heart; who have kept with your servant David my father that which you promised him. Yes, you spoke with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is today. Now therefore, Yahweh, the God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, saying, “There shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children take heed to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.” Now therefore, Yahweh, the God of Israel, let your word be verified, which you spoke to your servant David. But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain you; how much less this house which I have built! Yet have respect for the prayer of your servant, and to his supplication, Yahweh my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which your servant prays before you; that your eyes may be open toward this house day and night, even toward the place where you have said that you would put your name; to listen to the prayer which your servant will pray toward this place. Listen to the petitions of your servant, and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Yes, hear from your dwelling place, even from heaven; and when you hear, forgive.’” 2 Chronicles 6:12-21, WEB

You can’t go to Europe and not notice the churches. One town seemed to have a church on every corner; a steeple was visible down every alley or street. The cathedrals often tower over every other building. As a matter of fact, in England there was once a law that no building could be taller than the church. This made the cross at the top of the steeple always in people’s sight, a reminder that God dwelled among them. One friend posted a photo of a small town she saw during a river cruise. Her caption was “There is always a church.” I noticed that, too, on our river cruises. And the church always stands out.

We design our churches to stand out. There are many who struggle with the amount of money spent on the buildings, claiming that the church is not a building but the people. This is true, but churches give us a place to gather as the body of Christ, a place to join together in worship and prayer. Churches are meant to stand out, to be a place where people can look for the presence of God in the world. We the people of God do not always do a very good job standing out so others can see Jesus, but the church buildings can draw in the curious to meet Him and His people. God has chosen to dwell among His people, and though He is not confined to any building, He uses our buildings as a place to encourage faith and teach discipleship to His people.

God dwelt among us in a more personal way. He came in flesh in the body of our Lord Jesus through Mary. He dwelt in Mary’s womb and then dwelt among the people of Israel. He dwelt with His disciples and friends. He now dwells in our hearts.

Our scripture for today comes from the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem by King Solomon. King David wanted to give God a house, a place to dwell among His people, but it was his son Solomon who completed the building. It might seem odd that David would want to confine God to one place, but the reality is that even if God does dwell in that sacred space, He is never confined to it, just as He isn’t confined to our church buildings today.

We build these places to honor God, to give God’s people a place to gather, and to have a holy place where we can enter into the presence of our God. He is not just found in that place. We can find Him on the highest mountain and in the deepest sea. He is wherever His people meet to share His grace and mercy and forgiveness. He is in the faces of those who need our help, and He is in the hands of those willing to give themselves for the sake of others. He is everywhere; the places we build can’t contain God.

Solomon prayed, “But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth?” Today is the Feast of St. Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus. We remember Mary several times throughout the year, but why do we pay so much attention to this one woman? Some have raised her to near goddess status, but we are reminded that Mary needed Jesus as much as the rest of us. Dr. James Lee said of Martin Luther’s attitude about Mary, “I think Luther hit the nail on the head. He neither needs to improperly elevate Mary as co-redemptrix or the object of our intercession. But neither does he denigrate her. He honors her as the Mother of God. He sees her as an example for all in her humility, in her chastity, and most importantly in her faith.”

As we think of Mary today, we realize that even though God cannot be confined to the buildings we create to honor Him, He has found it pleasant to be in our presence, so much so that He sent His Son in flesh to dwell among us. Mary was just a lowly maid, but her body was a temple that held the living God. Our buildings might not be grand like the Temple of Solomon, but God does choose to dwell among His people, both in our buildings and in our lives.

***Please note, I will be going on vacation and will not post A WORD FOR TODAY for two weeks. You can visit www.awordfortoday.org to read the archives from the past twenty-five years. Thank you for your continued support and prayers. See you on September 1st.

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August 18, 2025

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