In the Strangest of Circumstances

Last night a group of us celebrated a dear friend's birthday. It was a surprise party, but this event had more than one eye-opener. After much prodding from my persuasive wife, I volunteered to impersonate the one and only - Elvis. I initially said yes believing that I would also be able to sing one of my own Christian songs. But it turned out that there was not room in the program for one of my compositions. Buy this time, I had already committed to the performance.

About a year ago, my wife, Lou, and I purchased an Elvis costume for a senior's costume party, where we sang. The outfit came with a colorful top and bottom, sunglasses, and a puffy wig. Lou dressed as a cat. Those in attendance seemed to truly enjoy the performance. The outfit still fits me, in fact I've lost some weight since I last put it on.

But yesterday's performance was not to seniors, it was to my peers, and I felt a bit nervous. I also knew the audience was composed of people with a mix of spiritual backgrounds, and I wanted the Lord to use me to somehow glorify Him, even as Elvis. I practiced my singing and guitar playing and I prayed. Lou also prepared for a Filipino song that she was to sing.

As I prayed, God began to give me an idea. The performance went as follows....

The MC announced my arrival, I grabbed my guitar and the microphone. I explained to the crowd that my home is now in heaven, or as I like to call it - Graceland. I told them I just got my hair done at the heavenly salon. I told them the Lord allowed me to come down to sing one song. I also said that while I was on the earth people called me the king. Now I worship the true King of Kings – Jesus Christ! Then I led the group in singing happy birthday to the celebrant, and I sang“Blue Swede Shoes”. Praise God, the crowd loved it.

I learned that we can glorify Jesus in the strangest of circumstances. If He can use a donkey to preach His word, He can surely use an amateur Elvis impersonator to shine some light in the dark. Let's look for creative ways to reach our world. Let's be all things to all men. Let's use the opportunities He gives us to bring Him glory. I hope you enjoyed this true story. If you were to tell me you did, I would say, “Thank you, thank you very much!”

Link for CBN Devotional

Here is the link for my devotional at CBN.com: http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/Devotions/toya_suffering.aspx

CBN stands for The Christian Broadcasting Network. Their TV show, the 700 Club, is well known and has proved to be a blessing to many. Pat Robertson is the founder and chairman of CBN.

I hope you enjoy the devotional.

Many Blessings,

Tom

Devotional to Be Found on CBN.com

This Saturday, January 29th a devotional of mine entitled "Suffering Transformed" will be displayed on CBN.com. All you have to do is to go to the website and click on Daily Devotional. Enjoy! I welcome your feedback.

Tom

Loving as God Loves

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16

We are called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, but our love for Him is only a response to His immeasurable love for us. God the Father gave His only Son to be treated as a criminal and to die on a cruel instrument of torture - a wooden cross. Jesus willingly yielded Himself to the Father's will. His obedience meant that Christ would suffer physically, emotionally, and spiritually. God's love for us is amazing.

The Scripture says that we love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Just as the moon reflects the light of the sun, our love for God and others is initiated and sustained by God's great love for us. When we are born into the family of God, we receive a new nature - God's nature - which is love. 1 John 4:16 says, "God is love." At the new birth, we receive within us the ability to love as God loves. We are only able to do this as we depend on the Holy Spirit to flow through us.

The love of God within us is like a fruit that must be cultivated and nurtured. God desires for this fruit to flourish. When we meditate upon and obey the commands of Scripture, we grow in love (See 1 John 5:2). As we obey the truth found in the word of God, we are acting in love. Also, when we choose to look after the needs of others, we love as Jesus loves.

It is also important to recognize that love is not a feeling but a choice. We do not always feel loving or kind; therefore, we cannot be led by our emotions in this matter. When we obey the Lord, our feelings will usually follow, but our feelings are not to be the focus. Instead, our obedience is what matters.

Let's follow our Lord's example. Let's learn to deny ourselves to benefit others. God the Father offered His Son so that we could be saved. And God the Son laid down His life for us. Our Lord's great love teaches us to love others, and His nature within us enables us - with the help of the Holy Spirit - to reach out even to those that are difficult to love.

Dear Precious Lord,

Help us to grow in love. Teach us to be sensitive to the needs of those around us. Enable us to obey your word so that we can love as You love. Lord, show each of us one person who needs Your love and compassion, and help us make a difference in his or her life. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

An Ever-Present Help

God is an ever-present help
In time of need
A refuge for the weary
A stronghold for those under attack
Our Peace, our Protection

He is our mighty deliverer
We shall not fear
Though the earth give way
And fall into the heart of the sea

His joy will forever be our strength
We will trust in Him
And stand upon His word
He will not fail us
The Lion of Judah is forever with us
We will not be ashamed

When we are weak
He is strong
Our everlasting Powerhouse

Our Lord is an ever-present help
In time of need
Let us rejoice
We will always be
Safe in His arms

Work - A Gift from God

Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work - this is a gift of God. Ecclesiastes 5:19

I enjoy my days off from work, whether on the weekends or during a vacation. I am grateful for these times for rest and recharging. I also use this time to get projects done at home and to complete items on my wife's current honey-do-list.

A new desire has been building in me over the years, however. It is a fire that has not always burned so brightly. I am referring to a love and a passion for work. Yes, work! Solomon said it is a gift from God that we could find delight in, and Paul said we should work as unto the Lord. We can taste fulfillment in a day done well. We also receive God's blessings as we diligently apply ourselves to the work He has given us.

I am grateful to have a job. I work as a Director of Marketing for a Caregiving agency. If you are unemployed at this time, know that the Lord will enable you to find work. Looking for a place of employment must now become your full-time endeavor. God will reward you for your diligence and faith in His promise to meet your needs.

I am learning to delight in hard work. I am not always as diligent as I would like to be, but the Lord is transforming me. He is teaching me to use my time wisely. He is helping me to achieve daily goals for His glory. I take joy in the work He has given me. How about you? Are you allowing Jesus to fill you with a passion for productivity? Let's invite Him to work alongside us. Let's endeavor to give Him our very best every day. The Lord will satisfy us with contentment as He blesses us with His rewards. "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might (Ecclesiastes 9:10)."

Joseph

Joseph is a fruitful vine
Near a spring
Whose branches climb over a wall

High are the walls about you
Oh Joseph
Your brothers sold you as a slave

You served Potiphar faithfully
The Lord brought you success

Then Potiphar's wife seduced you
But you ran away
Into the arms of God

Yet into the confines of prison
But the Lord was with you
Even there
You prospered by His hand

Time passed in that dank, dark place
Then Pharoah found you
You interpreted his dream
God brought you to a place of honor
The place He had ordained

God granted you wisdom and skill
You saved a nation from famine

You blessed those that cursed you
Even your brothers

Your years of suffering
Gave way to blessing
To you, your family,
To multitudes

Joseph is a fruitful vine
Near a spring
Whose branches climb over a wall

A Fresh Word for a New Year

But when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is to come. John 16:13

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12

With the new year comes the promise of new terrain – a roadway for us to trod on. God definitely has new and great things in store for each of us. He has promised to bless us; He longs to equip us and use us for His kingdom pursuits. But we must slow down enough to hear Him. We must listen to the stirrings of the Holy Spirit.

The Lord promises to show us things to come. He will enlighten us. He will set borders about the pathway He has for us. He will lead and guide us in the right direction. One thing the Lord will not do, however, is to outline every detail to us. He will not write out our future like the penning of a novel. No, we see through a glass dimly. We only know in part. God desires to reveal to us just enough to stir us on to obedience, but not so much that we forget to trust Him. God is teaching us to walk by faith, and He knows that we will not need to depend on Him if we know every inch of the terrain He has laid out for us.

So let us seek the mind of God, let us get alone with Him and receive all He has for us. But let us also learn to trust Him when we do not have all the answers so we can forge ahead as we follow the One who knows everything.