Do you ever notice that people who are true professionals and outstanding performers in their field embrace difficult challenges? Professional athletes enjoy a very difficult workout or practice, scientists and academics enjoy challenging and technical problems to solve, musicians enjoy the hours of work to master a piece of music. The opposite I am sure you have also seen, the people who are always trying to cut corners, cheat, and avoid facing up to the challenge.

In many ways, this is like James describes in James 1:2-4, where he writes, “Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.” TLB

To master our lives as Christians we need to face our difficulties and temptations the way Jesus taught us to with faith, prayer, and confidence; knowing God is right there with us and these tests are helping us master our Christian lives.

Dear Lord, it is hard to be happy during the difficulties and temptations we face, but help us remember to use the things you teach us, faith, prayer, and confidence in your love for us, to face our difficulties. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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There is a funny, but insightful perspective about success that goes, “you don’t wait for all the traffic lights to be green before leaving your driveway.” The point is that there will always be unknowns in our path that we cannot anticipate, but we need to begin anyway.

This concept may have originated with Solomon’s teaching in Ecclesiastes. He writes in Ecclesiastes 11:4-6 “Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.”

We need to have our plan, then get moving, and adapt, with God’s help, as we proceed.

Dear Lord, as Solomon says, you do all things, and we cannot understand the intricacies. We do know that you love us and with us through it all. Help us act with confidence in your care and live our lives as good examples for you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

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“I love my country.”

You don’t hear that often in the United States these days. It seems that people have no trouble finding things to complain and criticize about the US. However, there really has never been as extraordinary a country in history, founded on a set of moral principles and on a belief in God.

Saying “I love my country” is more than just words to the millions of men and women who have volunteered to serve in the military. It is a pledge to risk their lives to defend the people, and principles that make America. Beyond just pledging as millions have done, thousands have given their lives defending Americans and our principles. These people have left behind mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, children, other family and friends, because they believed it was that important.

Jesus told us in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this; to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

There is no greater expression of love for America than what those we honor and respect today, Memorial Day, have done. We are truly blessed by these people’s love.

Dear Lord, You gave us a special place worth loving in the United States of America. It began with you at its foundation. Millions have served and thousands have sacrificed to preserve it. We are grateful for their service and sacrifice. Help us to show our respect by doing our part to preserve the America You gave us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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By the grace of God, I have not experienced personal tragedies and turmoil that I know some of you may have, and I pray that God comforts and supports you in those very difficult times. There have been times in my life, however, where things have been so overwhelming and outside my control that I just finally throw my hands up and say, “God, I don’t know how this is going to work, but please take over.”

When I do, things seem to turn out fine. Things work out, and usually it doesn’t seem so overwhelming afterward.

My challenge for myself, and for you, is to do the same when things are going well. This is really how God wants us to live. He wants us to surrender to his power, and just as importantly, to his love, trusting in him rather than ourselves. When we do, we are giving him the opportunity to demonstrate himself in our lives.

Psalm 31:19 says, “How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.”

Dear Lord, If we truly believe you had the power to create the entire universe, how can we not live in awe of you. Help us surrender our will and plans to you in our thoughts, and trust that you will demonstrate your power and love in our lives, showing us the abundant good things you promise. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Occasionally we all have a problem that we have no idea how it can work out for the best; A situation that looks impossible to solve.

It is easy for us, Christians, to believe in our minds and in an academic way that God is all powerful, capable of doing anything. However, when things are difficult for us, especially when we have created our own problems, it is not so easy to believe in real and practical terms that God can and will resolve it for us.

At those times a great verse to remember is Psalms 46:10. He [God] says, “be still, and know that I am God….”

Solving our problems is easy for God. We don’t always know how he will do it, but we need to ask, and know, without doubt that he can.

Dear Lord, remind us of your power and help us live our lives truly knowing that you are almighty. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

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