Author: Scott

It’s that time of year when we’re beginning to celebrate Christmas. Parades, parties at work, shopping, cooking, etc. We ask our loved ones what is they would like to have for Christmas. We try to get them that perfect gift. Sometimes even have an unofficial contest seeing who buys the best gift. I admit, I like to watch my family open their presents. Especially the ones that I know they are going to truly be thankful for.

I don’t want to take anything away from the festivities of this time of year. I think they play a big role in making it special. After all, we are celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior. We should be doing special things. But I would like to suggest that we keep things in focus. The things that are really important. Let’s not forget that before Jesus, the world was enslaved to sin. Let’s not forget why he came to be human. Let’s not forget that our salvation should influence how we live. 

God will provide. The Bible tells us that he will give us all that we need. This Christmas, let’s remember that through Jesus we have already received the greatest gift: Being forgiven! And that gives us hope, peace, and joy. That gives us the promise of eternal life. Awesome! As we celebrate, let’s remember those things. To seek him first, and we will receive all we need. Let’s be thankful to have Christ’s love. And let’s let that guide us through this holiday.

Today’s devotion is difficult for me to explain. Please bear with me as I type out my thoughts. I find it interesting, the two different people can experience the exact same thing, even at the exact same time, but have a total different view of what it was. They can see things completely opposite of each other. How we see and view the world is very important. And that could actually impact our lives as Christians. As Christians, we should walk daily seeing the truth, hope, peace, and joy, that comes from the Lord. We should live day to day, having a clear view of our lives. Because we know that God is in control. Even in circumstances that we do not understand, we should see clearly that God is in control. Then we have the clear vision of the truth, hope, peace, and joy that I was talking about a minute ago. 

A dear friend of mine told me one time about watching his wife go through cancer. She battled it fiercely. Faced it head on. But in the end, she lost the battle. Cancer took her. At a young age. Here’s what’s interesting. She praised God the entire time. She grew closer to him the entire time. Thanking him for the suffering. Talk about a powerful testimony. But all the while, my friend was angry with God. Asking why? Why would he allow this to happen? Even to the point that he yelled at God. Saying he wouldn’t serve him anymore. Had no desire to praise him. 

Something amazing happened though. As he watched his wife grow stronger in her faith, it led him to do the same. He began to praise God with her while she was struggling. He prayed with her. Worshiped with her. Grew closer to our Lord and Savior. Serving him daily then, and serving him daily now. Even after ultimately losing her in the end, he saw truth, hope, peace, and joy that comes from Jesus. He saw clearly. Another powerful testimony. Two people living through the same nightmare. The same trial. And then the end, both came out stronger after they saw clearly. If we can do the same, we can be a light to those that don’t see clearly. To those that have on blinders. And maybe that will lead them to Jesus. Another powerful testimony.

Psalms 18:2-3 is the verse that I’m going to focus on this morning. It’s short. It’s clear. And it is spot on. Because it’s direct. And it has great wisdom in it. While I was reading it, I was trying to relate it to my life. As I try to do with all of my morning readings. Here are a couple of my thoughts on it. 

I have often said that the Lord is my rock. He is the foundation of my life. He should be the foundation of all of our lives. And I have also often said that he is my savior. He is my Lord and Savior. And there is no doubt in my mind that he is everyone’s Lord and Savior. Whether people believe it or not, he is the one way to eternal salvation. The only way. Therefore, he is everyone’s Lord and Savior.

The final part of the second verse stands out to me: “He saved me from my enemies.” There is so much truth to this. It’s hard to narrow it down for this short devotion. But I can say this, he has saved me from my enemies. I’m talking about my internal enemies. The things I have struggled with throughout my life. Often more than once. Things that I’m sure I will struggle with in the future. Anger, hatred, anxiety, and others. They are my enemies because they can lead to personal destruction. And they can do the same to you. But with Jesus as my rock, in whom I find protection, those things have no control over my life. and he will do the same for you. Because he is your Lord and Savior. He loves you. Always has. Always will.

Here are a couple of questions for you. First, what is it that causes you fear? Think about that for a minute. Secondly, how do you overcome fear? Think about that too. Here’s why: One of Satan‘s greatest weapons is fear. The snake that he is, he uses it every time he can to bring us down. To make us feel unworthy. On the other hand, probably the greatest weapon that God has is love. And that’s awesome. Because we can use God’s love to overcome our fears.

Here is something that I have read. “Love is something everyone wants. Fear is something everybody wants to get rid of. And there are four keys to overcome unhealthy fear in your life. Understand God’s Love. Experience God’s love. Believe God’s love. Complete God’s love.” When we understand that God’s love is limitless, we know fear has no power over us. When we truly experience God’s love, we feel the power it has over fear. When we believe in God’s love, we have the confidence to show others it’s power over fear. And completing God’s love is when we show others that fear can’t control us. 

Today let’s thank God for his love for us. Let’s live knowing that when fear comes after us, God’s love has us covered. And the victory has already been declared. The cross did that for us. And if you don’t know God’s love, maybe today is the day for you to receive it into your hearts. He’s waiting. He’s willing. Actually, he’s wanting you too. He wants us to live lives without fear. Because he loves us. Always has. Always will.

Our thoughts directly affect how we live. So it is important for us to know how to take control of our thoughts. Because like dominoes falling over, one thought can affect the next one, then the next one, and so on. When we look at like this, and we understand that we can choose what we are thinking, that means we know we can be in control. 

I know I’ve had times where I could feel my mind going the wrong way. Drifting the wrong way. I’m sure most of us have. Probably all of us. Recently, I had a time where I felt intense anger towards someone who had wronged my daughter. Even now, when I think about it I can feel myself getting “riled-up” over it. When I do I shift my focus to something else. And then I feel a peace. The peace that only comes from God. 

What an awesome gift God has given us. Control. We have control because we can shift our thoughts to Jesus. When distracted, we can shift to Jesus. When upset, we can shift to Jesus. When anxious or depressed, we can shift to Jesus. Trusting him, we have a peace and hope that surpasses all that we are facing. And that means that we do not need to be controlled by our thoughts. Actually, it’s the exact opposite. That’s incredible. So whenever you feel your thoughts going astray, work to shift them back to Jesus. Let him help you. And know that he loves you. Always has. Always will.

Everyone has some type of label to them. And these labels can change as we grow. As we age. As we learn. Some labels are carried like a badges of honor. Others not so much. Some we give ourselves. Others are given to us. Labels can, and often do, shape our identities.

If we don’t label ourselves, who is it that has the right to do this? Who do we allow to do this? Who is it that can shape our identities like this? Pretty powerful questions if you think about it. And I know that it’s easy for me to say this, but the only identity that should matter is the one we have within God.  I’m going to quote something that I read earlier. “God created us, designed us, and knit us together from the innermost to the outermost part of us. God knows us more deeply, intimately, and completely, more than we know ourselves. If anyone is qualified to properly label us and shape our identity, it’s God.” Go ahead and read that again. Let that sink in.

If we truly believe this, then only God is qualified or entitled to shape our identities. That means that society, people, not even ourselves, are qualified to do this. Only God is. So today, tomorrow, and in the future days, be sure to wear your labels with pride. Manager, father, mother, Coach, etc. Wear them with pride. But be sure to prioritize. Because being in God’s grace is the label that we should all strive for. Do that, and people will see his light through you. And then maybe, they will accept his grace as well. And just think about the label that they will then have. And that is awesome.

My accident was 33 years ago. November 28, 1990. I look back at the time of my life, and I remember how much I was living for myself. I was 19. Scholarship athlete. Had everything that a young man could want. Or thought he wanted. All the excesses that the world provides. Women, parties, popularity, etc. The things that I thought were important. The things that would ultimately lead to me being paralyzed.

Then I think about the first few days after my accident. Not sure whether I was going to live or not. Laying there while my neck swelled up. As it caused more paralysis. Then on the fourth day, my body stabilized to the point that they could perform surgery. Didn’t know it then, but God was stepping in. He knew my heart was turning towards him. He knew he could use me in my chair in ways he could never use me out of it. He showed me a grace that I never deserved. Never knew I wanted. Never knew I needed.

How fitting all this is today. Because the verse I read discusses this very thing. “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,” 1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬. 32 years ago, God took a life altering accident, and he altered my life forever by showing me grace. He came into my life even though I was undeserving. It still took me a little while to realize it. Now I live day-to-day, fully expecting God to work in my life. And you can too. You can live born again. And living knowing he is in control. Because he loves you. He loves me. Always has. Always will.

A few months ago, a veteran responded to one of our devotions that we did. He told me there was no heaven, no hell, no God. We just die and that is it. My response to him was pretty simple. I don’t remember it Word for Word. But it was along the lines of, “I’m not sure I agree. Jesus loves you. And so do I.”

The door opened up. We began regular dialogue through texting and email. Found out that he was in a tough spot. Going through divorce. Dealing with PTSD. Anxiety. Financial issues. And other things. He told me he was struggling with his faith. I just kept reassuring him. Letting him know that Jesus loves him. Jesus is our hope. He has our peace. If we follow him and trust him, he will show us the way. He will provide.

Since our conversation, he has attended a couple of our events. He has moved into a new home. This place is close to his family. Trying to find a church home. Told me that for the first time in a long time, he feels there is hope. How right he is. There’s always hope in Jesus. No matter what we are going through. No matter how dark it looks. No matter what the devil is telling us. There is always hope in Jesus. I always say, things may not end the way that we hope that they do. But Jesus will see us through. All of us. Including you. If you find yourself thinking that there is no hope, turn your eyes on Jesus and you will find that there is. There always has been. There always will be. Because he loves you.

We are in the middle of the season of being thankful and giving. Yesterday was Giving Tuesday. A day when people all across the country, if not the world, make financial donations to various charities. Charlie 22 Outdoors included. I read before, that in the United States, billions of dollars are donated every year. And that’s awesome. 

As I am writing this, a question comes to mind: What are you giving your hearts to? If you think about it, what you support, whether it’s financially, volunteering, praying for, etc., shows where your heart lies. So I ask again, what are you giving your hearts to? Ultimately, the answer should be Jesus. If we do that, then he will show us what we should give to. The Bible warns us to not give to others expecting to be recognized. We should be doing this just because we are called too. God will see what we are doing. He will know our hearts. He already does. 

The point of this devotion is not trying to encourage you or persuade you to make a financial contributions anywhere. I’m trying to encourage you to give your heart to Jesus. Give your whole heart to him. Then he will show you what to do. He will guide you. So maybe today is the day for you to make the decision to give your heart to him. To let him take hold. Remember, he loves us so much that he gave his life for us. The ultimate act of giving.