My thoughts (Ben Lamb):

The writer of today’s Psalm seems to feel alone in the world. It was as if God was a million miles away, not checking Heaven’s Inbox for urgent messages.

“Why, God? Why have You forsaken me?!” Do you ever find yourself saying the same thing?

These words were also spoken by Jesus on the cross (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34), so I’m hard-pressed to believe that it’s inappropriate for us to ask the same question as well.

Some moments in life are easy to get through, and it can be tempting to think, “Life is good. I can certainly feel God’s presence. Yay-rah-rah for me.”

But, what about those gut-wrenching experiences during which it seems the sun will never shine again within our hearts or lives? Has God really ditched us like a worn out toy whose usefulness is gone?

The Psalmist continues on and acknowledges God’s holiness and offers praise anyway, despite feeling abandoned. The writer then remembers the example set by his ancestors. Those previous generations had continued on in faith and continued to rely on God and ultimately “. . .were not disappointed.”

As I think back to Jesus on the cross and his wondering why God seemed to have forsaken him, something comes to mind. Yes, Jesus expressed those honest and sincere feelings to God. Yet he, too, continued to show faith in God, through his own decision to not exercise the option of being rescued from his plight. I’m eternally grateful for Jesus’ decision.

Jesus’ depth of faith in God is mighty impressive. I’m encouraged to maintain faith when things aren’t easy-going in my own life and I, too, feel alone.

Thought for the day: “. . .he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’ (Hebrews 13:5-6)

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.

Are you in the process of learning to live healthier? Maybe your New Year’s resolution was to eat better, exercise, or in some other way improve your physical health? Join us for the next few days as we offer scripture, insight, and encouragement to help on that journey.

Today’s scripture: Galatians 5:22-23 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?

My thoughts (Ben Lamb):

This passage reminded me of the so-called “Golden Rule” — treat others the same way that you want them to treat you (Matthew 7:9-12; Luke 6:31). Why should these niceties apply exclusively to other people? You and I are people, as well, even to our own selves.

The beginning of a new year is a nifty time to start something brand new. Why not start to treat yourself the same way that you want (and hopefully try) to treat others? I’d imagine that sharing the manifestations of the Holy Spirit’s presence within yourself is one way that you try to treat others. But, do you display these same manifestations to your own self?

If you have low self-esteem, try this. Stand in front of your mirror and say, “God claims to love me. If God loves me, it can’t be a sinful crime, nor stupid idea, for me to love myself as well.”

How do you show kindness to others? Is it through acts of kindness, or maybe taking time to listen? Take the time and effort to be kind to yourself, or have a quiet time of honest reflection with yourself.

Then there’s patience to think about. Did you know that 100% of humans who are alive today are not 100% perfect? Nope, not a one of us happens to be. If this is a bit of shocking revelation to you, perhaps you’re someone who needs to show patience to your own self in addition to showing it to others.

A friend of mine years ago used to talk about the goodness part. She’d say, “Be sure to be good to Ben, too.” At the time, I thought it sounded rather corny, but I eventually understood what she meant. She was saying that it’s important for us to remember to take an honest assessment of how we’re dealing with all aspects of our lives, and to make healthy modifications when needed.

The word faithfulness can be more encompassing than thinking of it in terms of relationship fidelity. Are you being fully faithful about how you’re treating your whole body in order for it to be in its best condition? If not, what steps — no matter how small — can you take to begin being a newly-found friend to yourself this year?

Thought for the day: Friendships (particularly long-term ones) are valuable. Add yourself to your own list.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.

This is the fourth week of Advent, the Christian season of preparation for Christmas. We’re looking at some of the traditional themes of the season. This week: Revelation, Birthing, Love, and Rejoicing.

Today’s scripture: John 13:34-35 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?

My thoughts (Ben Lamb):

Years ago, actress Barbara Eden hosted a television special which focused on love. She began it with a tenderly-worded monologue about love and included a thought on how special the word is and mustn’t be used lightly. Her talk ended with, “Now, sit back and enjoy the show; you’re gonna LOVE it!” Clearly, she said the last part as a joke related to her monologue.

Yet, she touched on a valid point. The word love is, indeed, used lightly many times. How can a person have pure and genuine love for an inanimate object — a cookie, house, jewelry, or currency? I believe it’s impossible to have actual love for something unless the object of our affection is capable of loving us in return. I’m not saying the other being actually will return love; just that the other being is capable of it.

I’ve searched for the perfect definition of love, and believe Paul states it very well in 1 Corinthians 13. At the first Christmas, God gave to the world the gift of personified love and named that gift Jesus.

Throughout his recorded life, Jesus continually showed love to others. He exhibited the qualities of love found in 1 Corinthians, and even showed love as he was dying on the cross. I don’t know about you, but I would have a difficult time expressing any amount of love if I were unjustly being executed in a horrifically painful manner. However, Jesus managed to do it. (Luke 23:34, 42-43; John 19: 26-27)

When I ponder the mystery of why the Creator of all existence decided to give to humanity the ultimate love gift, I’m totally and indescribably overwhelmed internally with the sensation of love. It feels so wonderful that I want others to receive and experience this kind of love, too.

Thought for the day: Christmas can live within us every day of the year!

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.

This is the third week of Advent, the Christian season of preparation for Christmas. We’re looking at some of the traditional themes of the season. This week: Hope and Joy.

Today’s scripture: Psalm 126 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?

My thoughts (Ben Lamb):

As a child, my parents had a garden in the back yard. Each year, they enlarged it more and more until it seemed like a plantation to my young eyes.  I remember “getting” to help plant the seeds. We even had a ritual of all the necessary steps, which included me dreaming about a do-it-yourself cornucopia.

When it came time to perform the actual planting, though, that’s when I was, um, less than enthusiastic.  I mean, how much fun is it to take a spade and break up hard clods of dirt? Exactly how exciting is it to fiddle around with a hoe and take great pains to make sure a row is super-straight and at exactly the correct depth? Who wants to crawl around, or bend over, and ever-so carefully plant just the right number of seeds at precisely the right distances?

But, when it was time to start watching the plants grow, I felt sort of happy that I’d had a chance to be a part of the process; I could see results! Soon, it was kind of fun to start watering the little soil-bound critters.

The best part was when it was time to harvest something. Finally, the hard work that I’d put into the gardening process seemed worth the effort (except for the Brussels sprouts!) As I picked, pulled or cut something and put it into a basket, I was working hard again; but the happiness factor was higher than it had been when I was merely parking a flat seed into dry dirt and not seeing instant results.

As I go through life, I often have to find encouragement in the fact that what I am doing at a particular moment is not what I’d actually prefer to do, but that the reason I’m doing it is to enjoy the end results. I’m planting seeds, and the harvest — though it may be far off in the future — will be worth the work.

Thought for the day: Hope can be the fuel that propels us to the end.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.

This is the first week of Advent, the Christian season of preparation for Christmas. We will look at some of the traditional themes of the season over the next four weeks. This week: Anticipation, Expectation, and Waiting.

Today’s scripture: Luke 21:25-36 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?

My thoughts (Ben Lamb):

I thought my editor had gone crazy for assigning me this scripture passage for the first week of Advent. No snoozin’ kid in a feed trough. No pretty angels singing and flying around. Not even any dudes sheep-sittin’ out yonder. But, since Advent is about anticipation, expectation, and waiting, I’m beginning to see a connection. Okay then, my editor ain’t nuts. On we go now…

The Christmas story points out the fact that Jesus came to Earth. What anticipation Mary and Joseph must have experienced as they waited for the Son of God to appear. That had to have been an overwhelming exciting nine months for them!

Today’s passage quotes the grown-up Jesus as stating that he will be returning to Earth. What type of anticipation do we have about this impending event?

Speaking of anticipation… how do we daily face future events in our own lives? Do we look to the future with:

• Dread?
• Fear?
• Curiosity?
• Excitement?
• Determination?
• Lack of interest?
• Other?

There was a period in my life when I experienced a large number of stressful events in a short time (i.e., deaths, illnesses, betrayals, financial changes, etc.). There didn’t seem to be an end to the vicious cycle. But, I kept saying to myself, “There’s got to be light at the end of this tunnel somewhere!” Even when I couldn’t really see it with my heart, I remained determined to see it eventually. Sure enough, one day the light truly did begin to shine at the end of the tunnel!

I know that however trying the experiences happen to be that I now have, or will ever go through, definitely pale in comparison to what Jesus went through. But he got through everything, and — with him alongside us via the Holy Spirit — we, too, can get through anything.

Thought for the day: Hey, Future, come on, ’cause we (Jesus and me) are ready for you!

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.

My thoughts (Ben Lamb):

“Oh man! I have to be nice to people I really don’t like, ’cause Jesus says I must. It’s there in the Scriptures, plain as day. Where’s a big ol’ eraser when I want one?”

Sadly, the above approach is what I’ve used when thinking about this passage in previous times. Yet, God hasn’t given up on helping me to try and have a change of attitude toward people, including the needlessly- inflated opinion I often have of myself.

As I try to look at these words through the eyes of Jesus, they take on a much different sense. Here’s a memory refresher: Jesus was without sin and humans are with sin; let’s now look again at some instances regarding his words.

• Verse 33: “If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ” Jesus (sinless) did good for everyone (sinners) with whom he had an encounter.
• Verse 35: “But love your enemies, do good. . . expecting nothing in return. . .”  Jesus (sinless) showed love for everyone (sinners) with whom he had an encounter.

If I’m a follower of Jesus — and, hence, trying to be more like him every day — how can I not try to act as Jesus did?

The last half of verse 35 made me stop in my tracks and give thanks: “. . .he [the Most High] is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.” Instead of having that previous mindset of “It’s everyone else who is ungrateful and wicked,” I now admit that I fall somewhere on the Ungrateful-and-Wicked continuum along with everyone else. Yet, God is willing to be kind to me, too.

Happy Thanksgiving to me!

Thought for today: Every day is a day to give thanks to God for somethin’-or-other.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.