Tuesday Tidbits

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for me, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24

No matter how wonderful a trip or vacation, coming home to the Northern Virginia area can quickly become a test of patience, especially on Interstate 95 on a holiday weekend. This was the case for us on our return trip from North Carolina yesterday. In the bumper-to-bumper traffic, I had plenty of time to think about the upcoming week’s tasks and obligations. One of those tasks is, of course, laundry. Admittedly, laundry is not one of my favorite household chores. Mostly because I am rather picky about how my laundry is done, and I probably make it more complicated than it should be. I am very particular about what gets washed together, so sorting is a big deal. I wash different sorts on different cycles and temperatures. I do not put everything in the dryer; some must hang dry, and I like to get the clothes out of the dryer while they are still warm so the wrinkles can be smoothed out. Wow, just writing about my obsessive laundry habits makes me like it even less!

As I was thinking about and dreading the chores ahead, coupled with the traffic’s frustration, I picked up a recent gift from a dear friend to lighten my mood. It’s a small book called “gratitude prayers.” It only took a few page turns to land on “The Wash Prayer.” Sometimes, God just makes me laugh, and this was one of those times. Who would have ever thought in my dread of laundry that God would give me a prayer? But He did, and I will share it with you.

This prayer reminded me that I have the privilege of doing laundry because I am blessed with more than enough clothes to wear, a loving family that contributes to the haystacks of laundry, a fully functioning washer and dryer in my home with running water that washes the dirt and soil from the filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) just as Jesus, the Living Water washes our sins away (Zechariah 13;1). The next time you gaze into your swirling wash waters, give thanks for His cleansing blood and His provision of clothing. It can change your perspective about laundry; it does mine. There is much to be thankful for, even laundry. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.    

“For this is how God loved the world: For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NLT)

Happy Valentine’s Day! I admit I’m somewhat cynical when it comes to Valentine’s Day. I think flowers, candy, jewelry, and dining are overpriced, and feelings of loneliness and rejection are heightened on the Hallmark holiday. But my cynical heart was touched and softened last week by a devotional that reminded me that Valentine’s Day has origins in the church, and no one has more reasons to celebrate love than the Christian church. In doing some research on Saint Valentine of Rome, there are several versions of his death, questions as to if he was even the person Valentine’s Day is named for, and the many pagan celebrations associated with the creation of Valentine’s Day. But one story that seems to be the most consistent is that Valentine was a priest in Rome at the time of Emperor Claudius II. Claudius, the Cruel, was trying to build his army and believed Roman men were unwilling to join the military because of their attachment to their wives and families. He, therefore, banned all marriages and engagements in Rome. God’s design of marriage and the family has always been in the crosshairs of Satan. After realizing the decree’s injustice, Valentine defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages in secret. When his actions were discovered, he was beheaded on February 14, somewhere around A.D. 270.   He died trying to overcome evil with good, implementing God’s guidance for love and marriage.

With my renewed appreciation for Valentine’s Day, I began baking cookies for the occasion. After baking at least half a batch of delicious spritz butter cookies, I realized I had forgotten to add the red food coloring to the dough. In years past, I would dip the delicate, red-tinged cookies in white chocolate, but this time, I had to devise a plan B because a white coating on white cookies just would not do. As I dipped the white cookies in red-colored white chocolate (plan B), I realized they were a perfect visual of Christ’s love for us. “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). Because of Jesus’s love for us He covers our sins so we can come into the presence of our Holy God with clean hearts. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Celebrate today with those you love, and remember we have already been given the best gift, and He was never plan B. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.

The photo is my new and now favorite version of my spritz heart cookies.    

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (italics added)

The first two hundred and fifty-six pages of my current Bible study have been spent studying the mind-blowing list of kings of the divided Kingdom of Israel found in the Old Testament books, 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles. While there were a handful of faithful kings, the vast majority “did evil in the eyes of the Lord.” And most of the kings that were faithful to the Lord, like Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, fell short of ridding the land of idol worship. “In everything, he walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.” (1 Kings 22:43) Those high places were always the problem and the stumbling block for the people in both kingdoms. We call those high places idol worship today. The Bible doesn’t reveal exactly why the high places were overlooked or not considered a threat to the spiritual well-being of the people by even the faithful kings, and I suspect there were as many reasons as there were kings. But I submit one reason would be because the people had become cozy in the culture of pagan worship.

In Max Lucado’s book, “You were Made for this Moment,” he describes how the exiled Jews had become cozy in Persia. Far removed from their Jewish heritage and worship by years and miles, it was difficult to tell them apart from their idol-worshipping neighbors. One of my favorite quotes from the book is, “What if the glitz and glamour are only folly and foibles? What if the lure of lights is a hoax? All the red carpets. All the social media pictures. All the fancy parties and invitation-only clubs. What if all the whoop-de-do and la-di-da are one big field of winter wheat? Don’t romp in it. Don’t fall for it. Don’t buy the line. Don’t take the bait. Don’t take the bluff.  Don’t get cozy in Persia. Stay faithful to your call as a covenant people.”

Amid today’s culture, we sometimes forget our calling. The high places lie to us, whatever those are in our lives. They lure us into lifestyles or thought patterns that leave us wounded, weary, and empty. We were not made to blend in and assimilate into a godless society. We were created to serve the almighty God and only Him. And when we fall short or “romp in it,” and we will, we are redeemed through sincere repentance! And when we tear down the high places and live like redeemed people, worshipping the one true and faithful God and loving our neighbors, family, and friends like ourselves, we shine the light on Jesus. That is our calling, and that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.

The picture was taken in Megiddo, Israel. It is a pagan temple area with a view of the Jezreel Valley in the background.  

“He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure. His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall.”  Psalm 91:4

I was running on time for once as I left the house for evening Bible study. The streets in the neighborhood are dotted with stop signs, but folks largely ignore them, especially on dark evenings like this one; it’s easy to see that no headlights are coming. As I rolled up to the last stop sign, something caught my eye and made me come to a complete stop. As I searched the darkness, suddenly, I realized the tiny glint that had caught my eye was a child, no more than two years old, running as well as toddlers can run down the street, totally alone. In the seconds as my mind was trying to figure out what was going on, a frantic mother exploded out of her front door in search of the child. The closer she got to him, the further down the dark street he toddled. She was frantic, but to him, it was obviously a game. Finally, she safely scooped the child in her arms and waved for me to proceed. I sat there for a few seconds and thanked God for protecting the child and me. On the drive to church, my mind kept replaying the horrible scene that could have happened had God not provided the “little something” that caught my eye and caused me to stop completely. The thoughts made me physically ill, spiritually humbled, and grateful for God’s faithful hand of protection.  

1 Kings 18 introduces us to a man who faithfully worshipped the Lord amid great evil. This little passage, denoted only with parenthesis in some versions, can be easily overlooked because it is tucked within the wondrous story of Elijah. “Meanwhile, the famine had become very severe in Samaria. So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Obadiah was a devoted follower of the Lord. Once when Jezebel had tried to kill all the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had hidden 100 in two caves. He put fifty prophets in each cave and supplied them with food and water)” 1 Kings 18:2-4. Jezebel was King Ahab’s evil wife and was just as evil in her own right. She hated the people who worshipped Yahweh and endeavored to wipe out all avenues of worship and teaching by killing all the prophets of the Lord. But Obadiah took 100 prophets, hid them in two caves, and supplied them with food and water. God used Obadiah to protect His prophets. We don’t have a record of that protection’s impact or trickle-down effect. But one can only imagine the number of souls those prophets touched and how the faith was passed down through the generations. God’s protection always goes hand in hand with His providential plan.

Take some time to sit quietly with the Lord and focus your thoughts on the many times God has protected you and your people. Spend time praising God for His protection and providence over your lives and those you love. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.

The picture is of caves in southern Israel, most probably much like the caves where the 100 were hidden.

“And the peace which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:7

The contractor waved his arms in excitement as he exclaimed, “your choices are endless!” If you have ever remodeled or built a home, you have heard the same statement at some point in the process. I don’t know if he noticed the panic on my face, but it was there. I am not a person that is comfortable with infinite choices. An endless array of options is not a peaceful place for me, and I’m guessing it’s not for most people. It only took two days of appointments with contractors and being bombarded with decision after decision for my brain to be overwhelmed and exhausted.

Life is filled with endless decisions that have to be made daily. Some are critical and life-altering, and some are very basic.  But the most crucial life-changing decision any human being will ever make will be where they will spend eternity. In Acts 4:12, Peter declares to the Sanhedrin, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” There is only one option and only one choice. There is only one name in all of heaven and earth with the power to save. And that name is Jesus (Romans 10:13).

In a world filled with choice overload, I am abundantly grateful for the peace of my salvation. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). We who trust Christ are redeemed and declared righteous by faith. Our sins are forgiven, rebellion ceases, the war is over, and we have peace with God. Jesus says in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” Peace cannot be found in this world of endless choices. All the stuff this world has to offer is shallow and unfulfilling. No individual without Jesus Christ can ever have peace, and no world without God can ever know peace.

God’s peace comes to us when we can stop amid the swirling current of life’s choices and take the time to seek Him through studying His word and prayer. He commands us to “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). We must disconnect from life’s activity to know Him. But to know Him, we must first choose Him. And to those who make that decision and stay fixed on Him, He gives the gift of peace even in a world of endless choices. Praise the Lord today for His gift, and that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.

The picture of the grocery store aisle illustrates one place where we are faced with row after row of choices and decisions.  

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows my name.” Psalm 91:14

A friend reminded me recently that names have meaning. Many folks name babies based on the 100 hundred most popular names, after relatives, or they pick names with specific meanings. The Bible tells us in chapter twenty-five of Genesis that Isaac and Rebekah’s twins were named Esau and Jacob because “And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called him Esau. Afterward, his brother came out, and his hand told hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob.” In Hebrew, Esau means hairy, and Jacob means he takes by the heel or cheats, so both names were accordingly befitting.

In the Bible, names always had meaning to include the many names of God. Yahweh means “The Lord” and “God” and holds particular significance in Jewish tradition as the holiest of names and is held in the highest esteem. Derived from the Hebrew word “I am”. Elohim means “Father God/God the Creator” and reflects God’s sovereignty and absolute power. Abba Father is the name we utter when calling upon God for assurance, comfort, and protection. The name Jehovah Jireh is only found once in the Bible in the book of Genesis. Abraham uses it to name the place on Mount Moriah where God provided him with a ram to sacrifice as a replacement for his son, Isaac. It’s a beautiful name that reflects His faithfulness and how he keeps his promise to provide for us everything we need (Romans 8:32). These are just a few of the many names of God. They reveal His character and loving nature to us as we grow closer to Him. 

Names are important to God, so they should be important to us. The scriptures teach us that the Lord knows and calls us by name. “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (John 10:3). Names convey a sense of who we are and how others relate to us. How often do we encounter people that serve us, check out our groceries, or record our medical information and never bother to look at their name tags? Have you ever noticed how a conversation changes when you refer to a stranger wearing a name tag by name? Their countenance brightens, and the conversation takes a more amicable turn. What if we all endeavored to ask the name of all those we encountered? Using a person’s name helps us connect. Knowing their name gives meaning to them and to us. Through the mere bond of learning a person’s name, the door may open to sharing the Good News. The conversation that leads someone to call upon the name of the Lord can begin with “hello, what is your name”? And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.    

The picture is the name Yahweh written in Hebrew.  

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem” Matthew 2:1

This weekend was spent taking down and putting away Christmas decorations. Many folks prefer to undecorate as soon as December 26^th. Still, I adopted the tradition of waiting until at least January 6^th, also known as Three Kings Day or Epiphany, many years ago while living in Germany. In Germany, January 6^th is a public holiday signifying the end of the Christmas season and the day set aside to commemorate the Magi’s arrival in Bethlehem. Ironically, the scriptures tell us very little about these men, but the record of the Magi’s visit in the second chapter of Matthew leaves us with a beautiful example of how to walk with our Lord.

They walked in obedience by following the star over five hundred miles. They were committed to the truth of the prophecy and made an enormous journey all the way across the desert to find Him. Psalm 119:160 says, “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.” While we may not be asked to journey across a desert based solely on the truth of God’s Word, we will have many circumstances in our daily lives where we must rely on our commitment to the trustworthiness of God’s word. God’s word refreshes the soul, makes wise the simple, gives joy to the heart, enlightens the eyes, His decrees are firm and righteous, they are more precious than gold, and in keeping them is great reward (Psalm 19:7-11). Honestly, what more do we need to direct our paths? Whether life has us trudging through sinking sand or gliding along city streets, His Word is the only guide we need.

“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him” (Matt 2:11). Why did the Magi make that arduous journey? Was it merely to bring gifts? That answer is found at the very beginning of the story. When the Wisemen arrived in Jerusalem, they asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matt 2:2). The purpose of their entire quest was one of worship and of a God probably not their own. The Child had come for everyone. The gifts were secondary, a reflection of the givers and the recipient.

The journey’s purpose was to worship, which is our purpose.  “Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:1-3). He doesn’t need anything we have to offer; He desires our worship. We were created to worship; it is our supreme purpose and privilege (Philippians 2:9-11). My house looks and feels empty after all the Christmas décor is gone, just like our lives would be and are empty without Jesus. May your days overflow with worship and reliance on His holy Word, with no emptiness to be found.  And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.

The picture is of King Herod’s palace in Masada, Israel taken during my March 2022 trip.

Good Morning and Happy New Year,

But Jesus told him, “No! The scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4

Cross-stitching was the trend when I was younger. It is tedious, time-consuming, and detail-demanding, but it produces beautiful tapestries when completed. My Sister gave me a cross-stitch piece she had in her possession that I had made for my grandmother many years ago. It is a remarkably simple pattern but contains a profound question. Have I let God’s word reflect who I am and who I want to become today? It would have to be assumed that one would know God’s Word to answer the question. I humbly admit that I had limited Biblical knowledge when I crafted the gift for my grandmother some forty-plus years ago. 

This is the time of year when most people reflect on the past and make goals or resolutions for the upcoming year. I have entered the stage of life where I realize resolutions are unsuccessful if they are not accompanied by a genuine willingness to change. And the same is true of our Christian walk. Walking alongside the Lord in obedience requires the desire to be transformed according to His will. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” 

Simply put, this means interpreting life through the lens of God’s Word and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And for the renewal process to begin, God’s Word must be our source. There is truly no other way. The Bible is the inerrant word of God, and it is alive. It speaks to us in ways that no other person can. “All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17). We can only be whole when we spend time in the Word building a relationship with the Saviour of our souls. Nothing else completes us, especially anything this world has to offer.

The one simple question we started with reveals the need for a deeper level of spiritual commitment to reading God’s Word daily and allowing it to permeate our lives so that others can see the reflection of God’s Word in our lives. This is my New Year’s resolution; will you join me? And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit. 

Each Sunday morning of this Christmas season, after lighting the Advent candle, the congregation is invited to stand in worship and sing a very simple but powerful chorus from a song performed by Sovereign Grace Praise. The refrain “Prepare Him room, Prepare Him room,” sung without accompaniment, quietly raised in praise, brings me to tears every time. The unadorned simplicity of the chorus makes me ponder many questions. Jesus arrived, and his first bed was a manager, a feeding trough for animals because there was no room for them anywhere else in Bethlehem. After knocking on many doors, the answer was that we have no room. He arrived into a world that didn’t make room for Him because He was not the kind of King they were expecting. Over two thousand years later, do we still have problems finding a space for Jesus to occupy in this world He created? Do we make room for Him in our lives, homes, hearts, and everyday world? This is the true essence of Advent, to prepare Him room. When Christmas arrives, He is knocking at the door; open the door wide, invite the King of Glory to move in, and allow Him to take over our lives. I’ll close this tidbit with the words to the beautiful song “Prepare Him Room,” written by Stan Hinshaw, Dave Fournier and Rebecca Elliott. I pray you will ponder them in your heart this week.

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.”  Luke 2:8

Every year I look forward to decorating for Christmas; my Granny’s nativity set is my most precious decoration. Each year when I carefully bring it out of its special box to display on the tabletop, I ponder the events that unfolded for all the people involved. I always position the shepherds up front and center, closest to Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. And the three Kings further back. It’s almost a sub-conscience move these days based on the knowledge that the shepherds were the first to be invited and arrive to see the newborn King (Luke 2:15).

In his book “Good Tidings of Great Joy” William Barclay writes, “It’s a wonderful thing that the first announcement of God came to some shepherds. Shepherds were despised by the orthodox people of the day. They were unable to keep the details of the ceremonial law and they could not observe all the meticulous hand-washings and rules and regulations. Yet it was to these simple men of the fields that God’s first message came.” How ironic that the people so despicable and unaccepted by the Hebrews made it possible for them to offer animal sacrifices that made them acceptable to God. And, the flocks outside Bethlehem were not just ordinary sheep. According to Hebrew scholar Alfred Edersheim, they were the sheep to be used as sacrifices in the temple. Jesus came to earth to be the sacrificial Lamb, and the first humans to visit the newborn Christ were shepherds of the sacrificial lambs. Coincidence? I think not!  Jesus came to earth in the lowliest manner, and the announcement of His arrival was made first to the lowest of people of that time. He came that way so no one could ever say they were not worthy of His love and redemption. Revealing himself first to nameless, ordinary shepherds, He opened the door for all to walk through, regardless of their sin or position in life.

In Luke’s account of that first Christmas, the shepherds reveal to us as Christians what our response should be to the Good News. When the angels gave them instructions, they left for Bethlehem in obedience and faith. Luke 2:17 says, “Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this child.” They told everybody about their life-changing experience. They became the first witnesses for Christ. And then the Bible says, “Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them” (Luke 2:20). And they worshipped Him. Ordinary, simple, despised shepherds to most but not to God. And after that first Christmas, there was nothing ordinary about their lives ever again. I pray your experience has been the same since you first met Christ. Nothing is ordinary again. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.

The picture is of my Granny’s simple but precious nativity scene.