This Sunday is Mother’s Day. My thoughts move towards memories of my mom, the incredible mother Kathy is, and the Holy Spirit. 

My mom was a comforter. My fondest memory is when she stayed up all night with me rubbing my tummy because I had appendicitis, and taking me to the doctor in the morning because the pain persisted. 

Kathy is a comforter, too. When things get crazy, she comes up with the right words at the right time. Many years ago, I confessed a horrible sin to her. I expected a frying pan to my head. Instead I received a kiss, a “Thank you for telling me that,” and an “I love you.”  

Lastly, I thank God for the Holy Spirit’s residence in my heart and His leading me into all truth. Many times when worry tries to enter my world, He says, “Trust Me. You can be certain, it’s all going to be okay.”  

Today thank God for the comforters in your life because thankfulness is the will of God for us. Make sure you call and/or write your mom on Mother’s Day. After all, without her, you wouldn’t be breathing today. 

PS. Kathy will be our preacher this Sunday. It’s going to be a great day starting with Jeremy’s baptism at 9:00am at the Camden Pool adjacent to L street. Then a word from a great mom. 

Matthew 1:20-21

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

God loves us so much. The cross of Jesus is the proof. And He loves us unconditionally. But He can withhold blessings so we can be delivered from wrong thinking. 

Take finances. When we spend more than He provides through our work, etc., we are saying in effect that we want something now that He wants us to wait for or not have at all. Often we buy these things on credit. 

Instead, His way to financial blessings is to live within our means and put Him first as our provider by giving our first fruits (tithes) to Him through the church we are committed to. 

This can be hard at first. It takes self-discipline and love for Him and others to be on a budget. When you are in debt or saving for something, it doesn’t square with logic to give money away. It takes faith.

Without faith it’s impossible to please God. He still loves you abundantly but blessings are withheld. So today commit your ways to your loving Father in heaven. Start living within your means and start giving.

By God’s grace, I’ve helped many people get out of debt and start giving, and I’ve heard them testify about amazing financial blessings from the Lord. They always say, Thank you, God!” at the end. He is the God of the impossible who wants your heart, not your money. 

Philippians 4:19

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:7-8

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

God is looking for people to multiply His message of love: He died to save us from our sins and to give us new life. We become successful multipliers of this life when we make spiritual issues our priority. As we wholeheartedly follow the ways of Jesus, we look like Him more each day. We spend time reading, meditating, and memorizing Scripture. We will have an active prayer life, and we will look forward to being with others who have the same commitment to excellence in following Jesus. We are known as givers because God’s heart is a giving heart. 

Are you in for this most rewarding life? Black holes along the journey will attempt to suck you in and rob you of life. Black holes of unbelief, pressures to conform to culture, worry, money, fear, pleasures, etc. will steal from God’s plan for you to have an abundant life in Him.

Producing good fruit that lasts is not an overnight exercise. It takes time and a dedication to excellence. We can do it with God. I want to hear “Well done!” from the Master. I hope you do, too. By God’s grace, let’s forsake all and follow Him. As we lose our life for the Good News, we will find it and produce a hundredfold return. 

Luke 8:4-8

4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable:

5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. 6 Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

When he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

How does sin steal abundant life? When we transgress God’s command to love Him and others, damage is done to our hearts. Fundamentally, transgression (or sin) is acting selfishly. It’s acting on thoughts that say, “I can get away with this.” “This won’t hurt anyone.” “My needs are greater than yours.” “God understands my heart, so it’s not that bad.” “I don’t really believe God cares about this.” And ultimately, it’s acting on the thought, “I don’t believe God.” 

When we sin, we believe a lie and we grieve the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth. We may feel guilty, or we may have grieved the Holy Spirit repeatedly so we don’t feel guilty at all. Our life of love is damaged. We forget our true identity as children of God. We may not even realize it, but we are becoming slaves of sin; the thief has stolen our joy and peace. 

Don’t let the enemy of your life steal the abundant life Christ purchased on the cross for you. Today let the Holy Spirt take inventory of your ways. Repent of sins as He brings them specifically to your mind. He will wash you of all sin. He has paid for them on the cross. Then ask Him to fill you and lead you down the path of righteousness and genuine joy, the way of abundant life. When tempted to act selfishly, ask God how you can bless your neighbor instead. Ask him and He will lead you. He will enable you to do it!

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Galatians 5:19-25

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Love is not a feeling, it’s an act of your will. Joyce Meyer shares a story about buying a home for her dad. Her dad had abused her as a child and Joyce had forgiven him; however, she still held on to some of the hurt and resentment. Much later, as Joyce prayed, God impressed upon her to buy a house for her elderly dad for his last days. She reluctantly obeyed, even though it cost her and her husband nearly everything they had. Later, Joyce’s dad asked her to come to the house, and with tears in his eyes he asked Joyce to forgive him and he prayed for Jesus to save him.

Joyce explains that our greatest spiritual weapon is love. Love keeps no records of wrongs. Love honors others. If it doesn’t cost you something (and usually it’s a lot), it’s not love. Love puts others’ interests in front of your own. While it doesn’t mean allowing for continued abuse, it does mean putting others first.

With the Holy Spirt’s help, let’s be selfless and self-sacrificing today. Let’s be like Jesus. We’ll live a life of love. We’ll live abundantly. We’ll hear, “Well Done!” from the Savior. 

Philippians 5:1-2

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Since we are made in the image of God and He is invisible, our goal is for people to see Jesus in us by the fruits of his Spirit working inside us.

Our “real” image has nothing to do with the image our culture messages us. Should we really highly value our style? Should we care a lot about our looks, our clothes, our car, our homes? God says that what is highly valued among men is detestable to Him. 

Let’s be wise. Let’s put off the old self and put on the new self with the Holy Spirt’s help. Let’s ask the Father through the power of the Holy Spirt to live holy—set apart for God’s purposes. Then people will see Jesus in us. We’ll do the same things that Jesus did. 

Galatians 5:19-24

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

At New Life NoMa we want to be known by our love, love for God and each other. We not there yet, but with the Spirit’s help we’re becoming more like Jesus every day. 

If we are becoming more like Jesus we must love unconditionally. If we cannot love another person without attaching stipulations, then it is not love at all—but deep-seated opportunism (making the most of an advantage, often unmindful of others). 

If our interest is not in the other person but how that person can enhance our experience of life, it is not unconditional. If we have no intention of improving that person’s life, or allowing that person to be themselves and accepting them as they are and not who we want them to be, then we are not striving to love them unconditionally.

We can love unconditionally. It’s God’s will for us. Let’s pray, asking the Spirit of God to help us. He will and we’ll be living abundantly and with purpose. 

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”  1 John 3:16-18

As followers of Jesus we are to be identified by our love. This is a tall order and this “love identity” can only be accomplished with the Spirit’s help. The good news is the Holy Spirit is also called the helper. 

Today let’s ask God to help us empathize. In other words, put yourself in someone else's shoes. Rather than imposing your own expectations, or attempting to control someone, understand how they feel, where they come from, and who they are. Sometimes we describe it as “walking a mile in another man’s shoes.” 

Remind yourself that Jesus loves them too and you are His instrument in demonstrating love. Let’s pray together that we would love God and anyone in our path more today than we did yesterday. Let’s empathize with others and ask for God’s help because He is ready, willing, and able to help us. He wants us to live life abundantly. 

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”  Galatians 5:13-14

Yesterday we discussed love and what love looks like. It's extremely important because as followers of Jesus we are to be known by our love (cf. John 13:34-35). 

The first part of being known by our love is saying, "I love you." Of course, we express love differently to different people. I express my love to my wife a lot differently than to those God puts in my path during the day. Also someone may think it’s weird to say you love them when you don't know them very well. If that is the case, maybe you can just say it to yourself. For example, you can just say to your co-worker that you love them silently while sitting at your desk. It is amazing how your heart remains tender towards others as you agree with the Lord and vocalize your love.

The key is knowing what love is. Love is not a feeling but an act of your will. The apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes that love is patient, kind, doesn't envy, doesn't boast, is not proud, rude, or self-seeking (selfish), keeps no records of wrongs, doesn't delight in evil, rejoices in the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and never fails (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)!

When we know what love is we can love those around us by being kind and humble and finding ways to bless them. So let's let everyone we know that God loves them through our love for them. Let's care about others and bless them, demonstrating love.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”  Romans 12:9-10

God really really loves you! Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and lead you today. 

John 14:15-17

"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever– the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."

"I thank my God every time I remember you" (Philippians 1:3).

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire" (I Thessalonians 5:18-19).

When we give thanks God is pleased. But when we are not thankful we "put out the Spirit's fire." We grieve Him when neglect to thank Him and thank others. We take God for granted and demonstrate a lack of love for Him and for others when we are unthankful.

May I challenge you today to find the good in people and praise it? It is counter cultural, but it is God’s will. You will sense God’s love, joy, and peace wherever you are, and you will carry God’s "attitude of gratitude" wherever you go. You will feel the Spirit's fire as you give thanks in all things!

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).

This morning as I prayed, I sensed the Lord sharing, "Give me your burdens." As I pondered that, I thought about all the troubling things we may be encountering: relationships, money, and health. 

I thought how these things rob us of peace. So if you are experiencing life storms or you see the storm clouds on the horizon, may I encourage you to hand them over to Jesus? Trust His goodness and love for you. We may experience turbulence, but He will rise and say, "Peace be still!" 

Mark 4:35-41

Jesus Calms the Storm

"That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

40 He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’

41 They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’"

Today let us exercise our faith in Him. He is able to calm every storm. Let us cast our burdens upon Him, trust Him even more, and experience His peace that passes all understanding. He cares!

Last Sunday I told a story about fasting and praying while seeking God for a business decision. In the morning, as I was reading through the book of Job, I stopped and pondered Job 28:28: "And he said to man, ‘The fear of the Lord–that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.’"

I thought, "That’s it!" The "fear of the Lord" is the key to success. So I prayed, "God give me wisdom; teach me to fear you." Soon after praying, my doorbell rang and I answered the door. A mailman stood on my porch with a special delivery. His eyes were very bright and clear, and he was smiling from ear to ear. I thanked him, closed the door and opened the envelope he had handed me. In the envelope was a check for $7200. I had received an early payoff of a loan.

I ran into my kitchen, opened the refrigerator door and guzzled milk straight from the carton, celebrating the end of my fast with newfound wisdom and money to go forward on the business idea. (By the way, I believe the mailman was actually an angel because the mail for our neighborhood doesn’t come until the afternoon and the mailman’s eyes and smile were otherworldly.)

What is the "fear of the Lord?" It is a child-like, reverential faith in God, knowing that He loves you and knowing that you have to obey Him. 

Let’s pray to live in the fear of the Lord today. Let’s live an abundant life—a life of wisdom and blessing that emanates from fearing the Lord.

Proverbs 9:10: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11 For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life."

Psalm 25: 12: "Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.

13 He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.

14 The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.

15 My eyes are ever on the Lord,

for only he will release my feet from the snare."

Freedom To Live Life Abundantly

Luke 12:24

Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!

A worry-free life is key to living life to the full. Jesus says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). By worrying we open a door for the thief to rob our peace. Jesus came to change that—to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).

We should make every effort by God’s grace to maintain our freedom from worry. Nelson Mandela said, "There is no such thing as part freedom." Consider the following:

Galatians 5:1

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

2 Corinthians 3:17

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

When Kathy and I followed God’s clear and abundant leading to plant New Life NoMa in DC, worry’s voice was heard. It said, "You’re too old, too white, and you don’t have enough support money. What if nobody comes? What if this is just a big mistake?"

I prayed, "God, I’m worried about this. Please forgive me for not trusting you and loving you. Please forgive me for leaning on my own understanding. Now God, help me to follow you and to trust in your love, your direction, and your forgiveness. Amen."

As you know, God is blessing and by His Spirit He has planted New Life NoMa. Although we’re an imperfect, wonderfully eclectic group, we are seeking to love God with all our hearts and to love our neighbor as we would want to be loved. I believe God is pleased.

I also believe God has anointed us to proclaim His Good News. Luke 4:18-19 says, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor." By God’s grace we will share the love of Christ as a church and we will bring His freedom to others. We will not worry, but we will trust Him, love Him, love others, and live life to the full.

Worry Poisons Your Well

If you have a worry problem, do these three things:

1. Ask yourself: "What is the worst that can possibly happen?"

2. Prepare to accept the worst if you have to. 

3. Then calmly proceed to improve on the worst.

Worry wears us out! Our fatigue is often caused not by work, but by worry, frustration and resentment.

Do you remember the things you were worrying about a year ago? How did they work out? Didn’t you waste a lot of fruitless energy on account of most of them? Didn’t most of them turn out all right after all?

About ninety percent of the things in our lives are right and about ten percent are wrong. If we want to be happy, all we have to do is to concentrate on the ninety percent that are right and ignore the ten percent that are wrong. If we want to be worried and bitter and have stomach ulcers, all we have to do is to concentrate on the ten percent that are wrong and ignore the ninety percent that are glorious.

In Luke 12:22-34 Jesus addresses worry:

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27 "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Remember the Holy Spirit wants you to overcome worry. First, agree with God that you worry. Next, ask Him to forgive you for not trusting Him. Then, ask Him to help you love and trust Him more each day. Finally, do the three things mentioned at the beginning of this article. 

God is good all the time. He loves you and has provided the pure and living water of Himself to drink, untainted by any poison we may put in our well through worry. He has provided the remedy.

I pray you have a blessed and worry-free day! 

Poisoning Your Blessings

I have long enjoyed the story of Elisha and the poisonous stew found in 2 Kings 4:38-41. In the early days of my lay ministry to inner city "bus kids" I called this passage "Stinky Stew," but it is a wonderful picture of how our blessings can be poisoned by worry or blessed by trusting Him.

2 Kings 4:38-41 says, "Elisha returned to Gilgal and there was a famine in that region. While the company of the prophets was meeting with him, he said to his servant, ‘Put on the large pot and cook some stew for these men.’ 

One of them went out into the fields to gather herbs and found a wild vine. He gathered some of its gourds and filled the fold of his cloak. When he returned, he cut them up into the pot of stew, though no one knew what they were. The stew was poured out for the men, but as they began to eat it, they cried out, ‘O man of God, there is death in the pot!’ And they could not eat it.

Elisha said, ‘Get some flour.’ He put it into the pot and said, ‘Serve it to the people to eat.’ And there was nothing harmful in the pot."

The poisonous stew can be likened to a pot of worry. It stinks! We take our eyes off of the Lord and onto our problems. But the Lord has solutions, like the flour in the story of Elisha and the poisonous stew.

First, we must agree with God that we worry. We must realize that worry ultimately is a lack of love for Him and trust in Him. Ask God to increase your love and faith (trust) in Him. It is His will and He will do it! (See 1 John 5:14.)

If you have hydrangeas in your yard, you may have heard of this. Some people swear that if you plant rusty nails with a pink-blooming hydrangea, the flowers will change to blue over time. Supposedly it has something to do with adding metal to the soil, but gardeners know that the hydrangea is the litmus test of the flower world--its color is affected by the pH level and the amount of aluminum in the soil. Like all plants, the hydrangea absorbs nutrients through its roots that, for these showy blooms, benefit the final outcome. 

Don’t let worry affect the roots (or foundation) of your life. Let’s pray that our lives are rooted in knowing God loves us and His ways are prefect. We will not worry but we will trust. We will grow in faith and be abundantly blessed by our loving Heavenly Father.

"You will keep in perfect peace

him whose mind is steadfast,

because he trusts in you" (Isaiah 26:3).

Develop Childlike Trust in God

85 Percent of What We Worry About Never Happens. Five hundred years ago, the philosopher Michel de Montaigne said: "My life has been filled with terrible misfortune; most of which never happened." 

Once our church was challenged to ask God for a sacrificial amount to give to missions. I had just started a residential building and development company and I heard the Lord speak to my heart to give $10,000, which represented my safety net for unexpected expenses. I worried a lot about whether I should give that amount. Eventually my wife and I decided to trust God—concluding that He loves us. Soon thereafter, I was presented a land deal that I sold about a year later for more than 100 times what we gave to missions. 

We are exhorted to trust God. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Trusting God for everything is living abundantly. This doesn't mean you don't work or strive for excellence, but you know God is in control of your life and He is loving and good all the time.

Jesus explained Matthew 18:2-3 that we can’t live life abundantly or in His Kingdom unless we develop childlike trust: "He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’"

Childlike trust allows us not to fear anyone or anything. It allows us not to worry about money, illness, or death. We are never alone because God is with us and for us.

Develop a trust with God by asking for His help to love Him and others more today than yesterday. Day by day, our hearts will be transformed into His likeness; our hearts will know God is love and that He is good and trustworthy. God keeps His promises!

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