Crosswalk.com--The Devotional

[Judy Harder]

July 6, 2009

When You Can't Catch a Break... and You Want to Know Why
by Meghan Kleppinger

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
James 1:2-4

When it rains it pours; it is feast or famine; everything bad comes in threes; it always go from bad to worst; I can't seem to catch a break...

I don't have to ask if you've ever felt like a walking version of one of these clichés - if you're human, you have.

Just the other day, I had an unfortunate run-in with a Papasan Chair - I went to sit down and the top wasn't situated on the base correctly, so I sort of slid off with the top part, fell on my face, and twisted my ankle.

Normally, even I would have laughed at the ridiculousness of this scene, but it came at the end of a very bad day. Like any mature adult, I called my mother to complain about life in general... and that stupid chair. She said, "Well, isn't that the third thing to happen today?" It was - and I called her each time an unfortunate event had occurred that day. She finished with, "Remember things happen in threes, so you should be good now!"

That's not exactly how life works, but naming some rhyme or reason seems to help. The truth is that we can't always explain the "why," and thank goodness, our job isn't to solve the mystery behind our pain. If we embrace the reality of suffering in our lives, however, we can learn about ourselves, God, and how to mature in the Christian walk.

Now back to the Papasan Chair - I don't know why it attacked me, but I've learned and grown from the experience. I will never, ever, sit on that thing again! In life, with "real" suffering, we have a choice: to come out of bad circumstances the same as we were before, or to allow God to teach and mature through it.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Take a few moments to reflect on the various trials God has brought you through and what He's taught you through them.

Further Reading

Psalm 119:50
Suffering: A Chance to Grow
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[Judy Harder]

July 7, 2009

Got Meek?
by Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Entertainment Editor

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:5, NIV


In the early '90s, the "Got Milk?" advertising campaign was created to encourage the purchase of cow's milk and increase sales after a twenty-year slump in the dairy industry.

Over the years, various celebrities, sports figures and other famous folk have been featured in these creative and compelling print ads--always with a "milk moustache" and always with the headline: Got Milk?

I got to thinking about these ads earlier this year when pondering what it meant to be meek, and who would star in a "Got Meek?" campaign if there were such a thing. Perhaps the acquisition of some meekness needed to happen in my life so that I could appear in one of these ads.

Prior to this, I had often thought someone who is meek must be very quiet and without opinion.  Someone who would let anyone walk all over them. Someone with no backbone. Someone... unlike myself.

As I began seeing what the Scriptures had to say about it, I started realizing that this adjective was really describing a way of living and a state of mind--one that I was pretty sure I wasn't doing and didn't have. And pardon my poor grammar, but I didn't "got meek."

Jesus talks about those who are meek in the Beatitudes (part of the Sermon on the Mount in the gospel of Matthew). It's one in a list of attributes or attitudes defining how believers ought to live. If you read through all twelve verses (Matthew 5:1-12), you'll gulp, shake your head and admit that the standards are very high. How can anyone act in these ways all of the time? We can only live beatitude-ly with God's help through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Those who are meek are those who are humble before God. Submissive. They have a proper appreciation of their place and understand how they relate to their Creator. Basically, they understand that the world does not revolve around them, but God. He is the general manager of their universe, and they are not.

If you're like me, that's a hard way to live. No sooner am I done singing "It's all about you, Jesus," in my weekly Sunday morning church service, then I'm already hitting the prideful potholes ("It's all about me, Jesus") on my way driving home. 

Yes, it's hard to "get" what being meek is all about. But the more time we spend knowing God and studying who He is and His precepts for our lives, the more we understand our human condition and how desperately we need to bend the knee and submit our will to that of our heavenly Father.

When you get all that, that's when you've "got meek."

Intersecting Faith & Life: Is there an area of your life that you have not submitted to the Lord? Pray that He would help you become meek, as you humble yourself and give whatever you're holding onto so tightly to Him.

Further Reading

2 Corinthians 10:5
Journey with Jesus: Nothing of My Own
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[Judy Harder]

July 8, 2009

They Call Them Black Walnuts For A Reason
by Fred Alberti, Crosswalk.com Director of Social Media

"Although you wash yourself with soda and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me," declares the Sovereign Lord.
Jeremiah 2:22


I came outside one day to find one of my daughters sitting in a seat with a stick and what looked like a green ball.

"What are you doing honey?" I asked.

"I'm using this stick to make a hole in this walnut so it will dry out and turn black."

Being a "fixer", like many other dads I know, I sat down beside her and pulled out my trusty pocketknife and began to cut into the skin of a green colored black walnut.

As I started to carve away I took no heed of the greenish yellow juice that came out and ran down my hand. I just figured I would scrub it all off my knife when I was finished.

I finally got all the skin carved away and was down to a nice walnut. Ha... she was still poking away with a stick and would have to wait who knows how many days for the skin to turn black. Meanwhile, I had my nut.

I was victorious.

I had conquered with my trusty knife.

Me Man!

Now all I needed to do was head into the house and wash off my hands and my trusty knife.

Ummm... yeah.

Newly discovered trivia... black walnut juice stains hands and fabric.

Oh, at first it is a little greenish but it doesn't stay that way. Over the next few hours that stain will turn blacker and blacker.

For the next two days I scrubbed and scrubbed trying to get the stain off my hands and out from underneath my finger nails.

I can now report that black walnut stains takes about 5 days to come off.

Enter what God said to Jeremiah. We can wash and wash with cleaners of our own makings but we will not be successful in removing the stain from before the Lord.

Fortunately, God has provided the means by which we can be cleaned. He alone has the product that can cleanse us. Acts 3:19 says, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord..."

Intersecting Faith & Life: Have you recently experienced the stain of sin in your life? Now is the time to repent and experience the refreshing of the Lord.

Further Reading

1 Timothy 6:11-14
Acts 22:16
Hebrews 10:1-6
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[Judy Harder]

July 9, 2009

I'm Sure I Read that Somewhere
by Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

There are six things which the Lord hates... Proverbs 6:16


Ordinary day number 10,099, give or take, in my life as a born again Christian. Let's see what's on tap for me to do today...

Hmmm, probably not much need to pray; things are pretty good. I got it under control for now. Definitely don't need to read the Bible. 10,000 days into the journey a guy gets pretty tight with God. Knows his stuff. Remembers the Word fairly clearly. Gets pretty skilled at pointing out how others break the commandments and fail to trust the promises.

So I guess it'll be more of the same today.

Denounce political candidate without same convictions as me.
Complain about salary.
Build tower of righteous anger because the definition of marriage should be so obvious.
Get warm fuzzies while writing tithe check.
Tell sad friend I'm praying for him (but not really). Then, call other friend to disparage sad friend for the misery he's caused himself.
Rail against injustice. Stay firmly planted on seat.
Marvel at idiots who give in to sinful addictions. While doing, let out the buckle on that size 40 belt and relax a bit.
Bark at wife.
Write uplifting devotional.
Wow, full day. But feels a lot like yesterday. Kinda rote. Well, that's just the cross I carry. Because after all, I happen to know a few things about the Word of God.

I know that there are "six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him." And I'm pretty sure those are: gay people, terrorists, atheists, liberals, SUV drivers, and the French.

Likewise, I'm sure I read that it's best to be unwilling to listen, first to speak, and quick to get angry (or righteously indignant. Take your pick. Both are good).

I must have read those things because I seem to practice them so often as part of my Christianity. But, since I'm all about passing on the love, give me just a minute to dig up the ol' Bible here so I can find the references for you, so you can have the same joy I do.

Okay, here they are:

Proverbs 6:16-19: There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.

James 1:19-20: This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

Wait a minute.

That can't be right.

If those things are right, then I must be... wrong?

Haughty eyes? Come on, Father, haughty eyes? How else are my eyes supposed to look? And You're telling me my EYES bother you more than that guy's crime?

(In MY eyes, they both get you into trouble, keep you out of My will. One thing leads to another. Pride leads to destruction).

Okay, but what about taking a stand? You know, speak ye first?! Ignore the arguments of the infidels! Be unyielding!

(What do you want Me to say? Are you going to trust in your own righteousness, or believe My Word that you're not achieving MY righteousness?).

Wow, Lord. I got some thinking to do here. I was so sure I read those things somewhere, so sure You had my back. How do I know one of those things You hate isn't... me?

(I'm instructing and disciplining you, aren't I? Take a look at Proverbs 3:11-12).

Good point. Bring on day number 10,100. Give or take.

Intersecting Faith & Life: The balance between pursuing holiness and loving our enemies is tricky, but God is always faithful to instruct us, and shepherd us when we stray too far to either side. Ask Him to reveal to you places you've forgotten or neglected from the Word, so that you may accept His valued instruction.

Further Reading

Proverbs 15:32-33
James 2:14-20
James 4:17
James 1:26-27
The Perils of Pride, by C.J. Mahaney
Being Quick to Listen, by Cliff Young
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[Judy Harder]

July 10, 2009

Fearing the Father
by Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10, NIV).


Many of my best, deepest thoughts come as I'm just rousing from sleep. This morning was no exception, although I was no fan of the circumstances that were involved.

Young Jordan, as usual, got out of bed before anyone else was up. It was still dark. We're trying to teach him that he's not to leave his room until the clock reads 7:00, but he's very attached to his dad, and on most mornings I'm already gone to the gym by the time he wakes, and he doesn't really dig that. So sometimes he will wander out and see if I'm still home. If I am, he likes to crawl under the covers with me. And that's cool - good father/son bonding time and all (though his mother often shares her feelings about these times non-verbally with varying grunts and roll-overs).

This morning, however, Jordan did not lay there peacefully. Nor was he chatty, as he sometimes can be. No, instead, as I lay with my head propped up, somewhere between thinking about the shower and more snoozing, he began to roll around on me. Then pinch my cheeks. Eventually he moved on to tugging at my beard. About the time his fingers were in my nose I thought, "This boy hasn't yet begun his journey to wisdom; I'm about to crush him like a grape."

And immediately, a light bulb went off in my spirit. I always wondered about this concept of "fearing" God. I mean, doesn't He love us? So much? Doesn't He love to provide for me, and teach me? Why does he want us to fear Him? And how does that make me wise?

Well, it's like what Jordan was doing to me - a father who loves him. So much. Provides for him. And teaches him. But oh did I want him to fear me this morning. And oh did I know that doing so would help him grow in wisdom (and stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52)).

I knew that God doesn't like it when we don't take Him seriously. When we play inappropriate, unwise games with Him. Treat him like He is ours instead of like we are His. When we don't understand the might, power, and magnificence we are dealing with. He could crush us like grapes.

Of course He doesn't. Just like I did not crush my son. The lesson this morning was for me. Later - wisely - I will address this concept of waking time with my son firmly. But I gained insight into a concept that has always jangled around unfixed in my head. We all have our own questions about the nature of this wonderful God. Jordan himself is struggling right now with part of his own God-concept, because he doesn't much care for the song "Jesus Loves Me." You see, it says that we little ones "are weak," but "He is strong." Jordan doesn't like that. He informed me recently, "No - I am strong!" as he flexed his little muscles and made his "mean face."

But I have total faith he'll "get it" soon enough. Or maybe it will take him 37 years, like it took me to nail down this facet of what "fearing God" is about. "Knowledge of the Holy One is understanding," after all. Indeed, and Amen.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Compare and contrast your own deepest fear to the awe, might, and magnificence of the Holy Father. How does it stack up?

Further Reading

Deuteronomy 6:2,13,24
Bigger than Giants, Scarier than Fear, by Rebekah Montgomery
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[Judy Harder]

July 13, 2009

Friends for All Seasons
by Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Entertainment Editor

I thank my God every time I remember you.
Philippians 1:3 NIV


In different seasons, God brings friends into our lives who may not be in the form, shape or fashion that we expect. But they are always good for us (His definition of "good") when it is part of His plan. 

I am learning so much more from friends who are not my age in this current season of my life. Some are still in their summers and others are faring well in their winters. Those ahead of me are teaching me valuable life lessons. And those trailing a way's behind are causing me to step up to the plate and be a good example, while also humbling me with questions that many times lead to conviction.   

At the beginning of the church in Acts 2 (vv 42-47), I'm sure the friendships amongst believers came in all forms and fashions, too. And the Bible says they had a deep fellowship.

What the passage doesn't say is that the single people only mingled with the single people. That the young marrieds only spent time with other young marrieds. Or that the families with children only reached out and helped other parents and their kids.

The key point, I think, is that these believers were unified... regardless of their seasons in life. They didn't let their differences stand between them, and these days that type of unity and connection seems to be rare.

You may find yourself in a similar season of your life where you just aren't connecting with friends your age--whether at your church or your workplace or elsewhere. May you be encouraged to be bold and cross borders in search of meaningful friendships and connections with believers whether younger or older. Age really is just a number, and the Lord may be leading you to befriend someone who's not even in your current sphere of influence or peer group.

These types of "unlikely" friendships have challenged and grown me. The Lord has worked through me to reach out to others whose lives may look completely different than mine and vice versa.

This year, the Lord has brought me the friendship of a newlywed couple. They're in their 40s, and are enjoying this new season of marital bliss. While one might think newlyweds would be only spouse focused, they have reached out to me and have shown that they are interested and care about what God is doing in my life.

They have opened their home, and we have broken bread together. We've studied the Word, and we're praying for one another. A bridge has been built, and a connection has been made.

A few months ago, we even began serving meals together during the dinner shift at a local, inner-city mission. This monthly act of service has not only strengthened our friendship but is also ministering to others who are in need of a hot meal, a smiling face, and a loving Father.

I know that our efforts--and the Spirit working through us--will not only strengthen our friendship and fellowship, but will also help add to our number "those who are being saved."

Intersecting Faith & Life: What types of "unlikely" friends has God placed in your life? Open your heart and learn from the wisdom and experience of your older friends. Spend time sowing into the lives of those who are younger and look to you as an example.

Further Reading

Acts 2:42-47
Build Great Friendships
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[Judy Harder]

July 14, 2009

Too Late
by Fred Alberti, Crosswalk.com Director of Social Media

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
Mark 10:27


"No," she said, "it's too late for reconciliation. I've put up with this for close to twenty years and I can't do it any longer."

"Please seek the Lord's will first before you tell your husband to leave. The Lord will guide you if you let Him." I responded.

"Don't you understand? I don't even want God to fix it. I just don't care to be with him anymore. I don't want to make it work anymore." She replied.

"Maybe the Lord will use this time to change your husband's heart like a wake up call." I countered. But with a heavy heart I heard her say, "No, it's too late for that."

Ever encounter a situation where you just sit back and say, "No, it's too late?"

You know, Jesus heard this expression quite a few times.

In Luke 8 we meet Jairus, a man whose daughter is dying. Jesus decides to pay her a visit but is stopped along the way when a woman in the crowd is healed by touching Him. During this unexpected delay, the daughter dies and messengers are sent to tell the father it was too late. "Why bother the teacher anymore?"

But Jesus went anyway. There at the house He was laughed at as He stated, "The child is not dead. She is just sleeping."

Too late? Not hardly.

Nain... flip back to Luke chapter 7 and we find the widow woman and the funeral procession. The only son was being led to the tomb by his weeping widowed mother.

"Don't cry," Jesus said.

Now why in the world would you say that to a mother at her only son's funeral? Well, you would if you were Jesus and you had other plans.

"Young man, get up!"

Just imagine the body laying there suddenly gasp and sit up. The mourners are stunned and the mother's tears of sorrow are turned to tears of joy.

Tears... hmmm... "Jesus wept." That is what John records in chapter 11 of his gospel.

You know that Mary had to be thinking, "Jesus, you're too late," when she said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

Mary's grief so moved Jesus that we see His first tears ever recorded in the Gospels. It is then that the Son of God raises a man who had been dead for four days back to life.

Too late? No, it is never too late for Jesus to work miracles in the lives of those He loves. His power transcends all bounds of time. His love surpasses all understanding, transforming the hardest of hearts and the most decided of minds.

Oh, that reminds me... the lady who felt that it was too late for her marriage? It turns out that God agreed. He felt He needed to do some work on TWO hearts. After He completed that task, He gave them back to each other as a brand new marriage.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Seek someone who is in need... a situation where, to them, things seem too late. Help them meet that need.

Further Reading

Luke 8:40-56
Luke 7:11-16
John 11:17-44
Releasing Impossibilities
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[Judy Harder]

July 15, 2009

Life is Just Better with Jesus
by Meghan Kleppinger

He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us.
2 Corinthians 1:10


A new follower of Christ at eight-years-old, my first experience with true conviction was a powerful one. I was told to clean my room before going out to play. I tidied up everything as asked, but upon leaving, discovered a lone ballet slipper left on the floor. Instead of putting it where it belonged, I stuffed it somewhere and ran outside to play.

Guilt began to gnaw away at my conscience and I clearly recognized that this was different from feeling like I had done something "wrong" and fearing I would be caught and disciplined. My disobedience was sin and I knew I had let Jesus down. 

To backtrack a bit, the most attractive thing to me about entering into a relationship with Christ was the promise that He would always be with me. As a military kid, I was often the lonely new girl. The idea of having a "forever friend" meant everything to me.

So, when this wave of conviction occurred, it was a "Whoa - Jesus really is always there" moment.

Later that same year, I went on a field trip to a park with a petting zoo, streams and beautiful hiking trails. I was hopping across a small creek by way of well-placed stepping stones. I remember nearly missing a stone and then feeling like I had been caught before falling. It was another "Whoa!" moment.

The Holy Spirit used those experiences to show my young heart and mind that Jesus would always be there and that He would always catch me.

I had no idea how soon I would need a firm understanding of this concept. A year or so later some things happened in my life that no young child should have to go through. Even though it was a horribly painful and confusing time for me, I was confident that God was there and that He cared for and loved me.

Someone recently asked me how a person could really know whether or not they were "saved." What a wonderful question, and I enjoyed sharing passages about the assurance that can be found by entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ. As our conversation continued, I shared that life is simply better with Jesus. Life is hard regardless of whether you are a Christ follower or not, but a life with Jesus means we don't have to go through those tough times alone.

Jesus knows and understands our pain and our struggles, and He promises to use those experiences for our good and His glory. He also promises to save and deliver us. Unfortunately, He doesn't always protect us from pain on this earth... but we can cling to the promise to be delivered eternally. We are under His watchful eye and care while on earth and then delivered safely home into His loving arms.

Life is just better with Jesus.

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:3)

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:18)

Intersecting Faith & Life: Take time to count the many ways God has blessed, protected, and taught you in good times and during periods of suffering. I guarantee that you'll lose count!

Further Reading

Romans 12:2
Worship the Ever-Present Christ!
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[Judy Harder]

July 16, 2009

A Wilderness Experience
Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Entertainment Editor

Give us today our daily bread.
Matthew 6:11, NIV

Back in the early '90s, the contemporary Christian music husband-wife duo Out of the Grey released their debut, self-titled album. In the middle of the track listing is a song called "He Is Not Silent." The lyrics read:

The people said this desert never ends
We have no bread our throats are dry
Our heads are heavy and our feet need rest
Has He left us here to die?

And we've forgotten All His words
As if we never heard
We take our hearts and turn away

One might gather that the inspiration was the Israelites, who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years after the Exodus from Egypt. They were bound for The Promised Land, and along the way they were to learn about God's provision, about laws and worship.

Today, oftentimes life can feel like a wilderness experience as we make our way to "The Promised Land," a term some Christians use in reference to heaven. Like the Israelites in this scenario, we are a chosen people, redeemed from death by our Savior Jesus Christ. We, too, are on our way to The Promised Land.

But, also like the Israelites, we grumble and complain. We get tired of manna and want some meat instead. We question, and we turn our hearts away. We are not listening, and we resist the leading of our heavenly Father.

I don't know about you, but I have done my share of turning my nose up at the manna that the Lord has provided me this year. I want what I want, and I want it now! I think that I know what type of manna is best for me and when and where it should be given.

And that's when I get into trouble: I think that I can create my own manna that is much better than that of the Lord. But I quickly discover that if it is not from Him, then it is not good.

The Israelites had the same light bulb moment when they tried to store extra manna overnight. They had been instructed to only gather enough manna each morning for that day. The only exception was the sixth day when they were to gather two days' worth, so that they wouldn't have to gather on the Sabbath. The Lord was testing them to see if they would obey Him and trust in Him to provide.

Well, of course, there were some Israelites who paid no attention to this word (imagine that). And they kept part of the manna they had gathered until the morning of the next day. Needless to say, there was no grand-slam breakfast special for them--only maggot-infested, smelly manna for those who had little faith.

We can take a lesson from the Israelites and learn to trust the Lord for His providence. He IS the Bread of Life and will provide exactly what we need as we make our way through the wilderness of our lives.

Intersecting Faith & Life: What manna in your life have you not received with true thankfulness this past year? What manna are you tired of and what is the meat that you are now demanding from the Lord? Is it possible that the manna He has given you is exactly what you should be feeding on?

Further Reading

Philippians 4:19
Use Means, But Don't Trust in Means
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[Judy Harder]

July 17, 2009

Are You My Leader?
by Meghan Kleppinger

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
John 10:27

For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you
John 13:15

In the classic children's story Are You My Mother, a baby bird falls from his nest and spends the remainder of the book approaching various animals, from dogs to cows, asking if any of them are his mother. 

When asking the cow, her response is: "How could I be your mother? I am a cow."

Yes, this story about birds, cows, dogs, and so forth reminds me of human nature. By design, we humans desire someone who will step up and tell us what to do. We want someone to say "Don't worry, I have things under control." We crave leadership!

Children often look to athletes ...
Teens look to celebrities ...
Adults look to political and spiritual leaders. 

Unfortunately, and only too often, there is news about an athlete abusing and killing animals, a celebrity heavily involved in alcohol and illegal drugs, or a political leader using power for unscrupulous gain. Even more unfortunate, our Christian leaders aren't immune from earthly temptations and failings.

It's enough for us to cry out like that little birdie, "I want my mother!"

In a fallen world, humans will make mistakes, and leaders will fall. We all fall. It's not wrong to have role models and people to look to for leadership. I'm sure that bird learned a lot of interesting things in his travels, but he was not going to learn how to be bird from a cow, a dog, or a cat. 

Don't get me wrong. I'll be the first to admit that much of my spiritual growth has come under the mentorship of godly leaders, and that's a good thing. Paul was used as an example of Christ-likeness throughout scripture (2 Thessalonians 3:7; Philippians 3:17) to). We, too, are called to be examples (Titus 2:7; 1 Timothy 2:12). 

God uses leaders to point to Him, but we must never forget that they are not Him. He sent a Perfect Example to earth, not only to die for us, but to show us how to live for Him. We learn best to be like Christ from Christ himself.   

"For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps." (1 Peter 2:21)

Intersecting Faith & Life: Charles Spurgeon simply said, "You are saved--seek to be like your savior." Seek to know Him and become more like Him through prayer and by studying His Word.

Further Reading

1 Chronicles 16:11
Live Out those Red Words in Your Bible `