Is there a difference between living a life that is joy-full versus one that is a life accessorized by joy? Which one do you want: joyful or joy-full? 

Q:  What makes joy complete, joy-full as it were? 

A:  Fellowship.

Philippians 2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

We must be connected to Christ and connected to one another to have complete joy. Oddly though, sometimes other people can be the very ones who keep us from experiencing a joy-full life. I don’t know about you but I always hated team projects in school. It was inevitably a recipe for frustration in the making. I could resonate with the Peanuts comic character Linus who said, “I love mankind; it’s people I can’t stand.”

Group projects always seemed to bring out the worst in people. What characteristics do we hate about group projects?  Ah, they are Legion.

So what do we have in the Church? One big group project. Ugh. But the Apostle Paul makes it clear that we experience the most joy-full life by genuine fellowship.

Give it up for Lent: Hatred of “group projects” in the Church.

Questions from Philippians 2:1-4 which outlines ways to rekindle your joy:

1. How does being united with Christ (abiding with and in Him) translate over to being full of joy?
2. Paul’s complete joy came from seeing Jesus’ disciples behaving as Jesus would have them behave. What activities characterize that being “like-minded”?  How does that behavior look different than in other group projects you might have experienced?
3. What is the repeated theme of behavior for Christians to demonstrate? What must be rekindled in order to live like that? What is the relationship between you and others?
4. What is one thing you can do today to put others first in your life?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

Isolation can steal our joy. Many Americans know what it’s like to be lonely, to feel isolated, unwanted, unappreciated, and unloved. The ember to be rekindled—even if not smothered by sin or wrong priorities—can still go out if it is isolated. Take a burning ember and push it to a far corner of a fireplace by itself and it will go out. It needs the warmth of fellowship. It needs the fresh wind of the Spirit.

Jesus Christ will warm our fellowship and breathe life and fire into our souls. He makes us fruitful and gives us joy rekindled. But only if we abide in fellowship with Him.

Jesus said, John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

Give it up for Lent: Loner-style individualism that rejects fellowship with Christ.

Questions for John 15:1-8.

1. We’ve all seen a stick attached to a tree where the stick is dead even though the tree is full of life. There has formed an “abscission layer” which is kind of like a wall between the living tissue and that which is dead. What does our passage say happens with that dead branch (verses 2 and 6)?
2. Maybe you’ve also seen when a plant (maybe a tomato for example) has growth that’s out of control or where it’s mostly leaves when you want more flowers and more fruit. What does our passage say happens to that? (v.2)
3. How does going our own way, doing our own thing, act like forming an abscission layer between us and the vine? (vv. 4-6) What is the outcome of that?
4. What kind of activities can help us to remain, abide, or make our home with Christ?
5. What is the outcome of such abiding? How does God’s glory translate over to our joy?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

Few things in this old world can steal your joy like…uh… this old world.  It seems like a world of joy stealers, but is it really?  Is your joy dependent upon circumstances?

Of course, there are fears and terror. Apathy and anxiety. Pride and prejudice. Job losses. Bad economies at home and around the globe. Look over the horizon of your world and there’s a whole army of circumstances that–when turned inward–can become joy stealers. In my own life, I say, “Enough!”

How can we rekindle our joy?

By looking upward to find it, not horizontally. 

Today is Ash Wednesday. It’s a day when traditionally, we look square-in-the-eye those worldly priorities and our own materialism and see a need to repent. Find those joy stealers and “first world problems” that hold our minds captive. Identify whatever pulls our hearts away from Christ. And then make a conscious decision to stop letting them steal our joy.

You know what? In letting go of all that smothers our joy, we can find it rekindled.

An ember that is smothered by ash loses its ability to burn. A Christian smothered by sin and bad priorities loses the ability to have joy in the Lord.  Rekindle it. Or as the Apostle Paul writes: Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable– if anything is excellent or praiseworthy– think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me– put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Give it up for Lent: Anything that smothers your joy in the Lord

Questions for Philippians 4:4-9

1. How often are we supposed to rejoice in the Lord? (v. 4)
2. To have joy in place of anxiety, what are we supposed to do? (v. 5-6) What joy stealer is mentioned in verse 6? How does it steal our joy?
3. What happens when we present our requests to God? (v. 7). Why is it necessary to have our hearts and minds guarded? What assaults our minds every day?
4. How does our thought life (and ability to imitate what is good) become a key to peace and a rekindled joy?

ReKindle is the 2016 Lenten devotional series from Seminary Gal.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you!  Or log onto the SeminaryGal Facebook page and see them reprinted there.

Acknowledging that former years’ devotional series remain popular, Be Still and Know that I AM God can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014 and With Christ in the Upper Room  is archived beginning February 18, 2015.

I had occasion this week to be reminded of how many people suffer and yet will rejoice with those who rejoice.  Their lives are marked by terminal illness, family members who need round-the-clock care, job loss, inability to find work as they’ve reached a certain age, painful treatments for incurable diagnoses, children and grandchildren who have gone astray, and mental anguish from PTSD, depression and a host of other difficult things.  And yet, when the time comes to rejoice with others, they do.  They set their sadness aside long enough to rejoice in other people’s happiness.  Romans 12 says that’s a mark of true Christians.

Romans 12: 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

A shout-out today to all those true Christians who honor others.

By way of reminder, I’ve been busily writing even though you won’t see the fruit of my labor for another few days.  ReKindle begins on Ash Wednesday, February 10th, and will be my devotional series for Lent 2016.

Weary in our walk with God.  Many of us know what it feels like.  Rekindle for Lent this year.  I’d be lying to you if I said that I never get discouraged or weary.  My desire is to have a full tank of zeal every day but the truth is, I don’t.

When God asked me to step away from my preaching position in Racine (WI) to help in my hometown with stormwater and sewer issues, I was quick to obey.  But without a theological job, facing what everyone else faces in the secular world to live as a Christian–fully charged, fully devoted, and fully obedient–I began to get cold feet.  I don’t really like confrontation.

I was praying one morning about why I was getting cold feet.  Was it a sign I was missing the mark or was it general weariness?  Was it fear?  A growing cold?  Was my fire going out so quickly?  I asked God,

Do I need to rekindle my sense of outrage?”

God’s response:  “No.  You must rekindle your love.”

I began to think of friends who were being hurt and how outrage wouldn’t solve their pain. 

But love would.  And perfect love casts out fear. 

Outrage wasn’t the key.

I needed to rekindle my love.

Let’s walk together during Lent 2016 and ReKindle for the last days the Bible talks about–the last days time from Jesus’ Ascension to His Return–so that we’ll finish strong. 2 Timothy 3:1-17

2 Timothy 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

To receive these devotionals to your email inbox throughout Lent, please fill in your email address in the space provided on my Home Page in the sidebar (right) and respond to the verification email.  If you already receive devotionals and articles, no need to do anything else.  You’ll get them automatically.  Thank you! 

Bring it in 2016!  

* * *

That’s my resolution. 

Step up my game. 

Ramp up my efforts. 

Press into the calling!

What about you?

*  * *

Here are 16 biblical ways to Bring It in 2016 from Hebrews 12

#1 Let the past go.

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”  The past of distractions and failures, of sinful desires and reminders, and of fears and failures can be dropped at the end of 2015.  Nothing of 2015 can be undone, so just move along into 2016.  Leave that baggage back where it belongs.

#2 Focus on the right stuff.

Hebrews 12:2 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  If you look back over your shoulder, you’re not looking ahead to the end of the race.  If you look at your neighbor’s race, you’re not looking ahead.  If you look at your life with resentment because you’re comparing yourself to others, you’re not looking ahead!  Keep your focus and let that heavenward calling lift your sights and keep you on that path laid out for you in 2016.

#3 Keep encouraged.

Hebrews 12:3 “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  Surround yourself with encouragers who will inspire…even demand…that you be the best version of yourself.  Don’t listen to those voices who say you’ll never amount to anything, who put you down and tell you that you’ll never rise from your circumstances, or who tell you that it’s impossible. Mark 10:27 “Looking upon them, Jesus said, ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.'”  Gather those around you who will plant holiness in your days, coach you, and encourage you to do the right thing in 2016.

#4 Keep some perspective.

Hebrews 12:4 “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”  Drop the pity party.  Feeling sorry for yourself does two damaging things.  First, it causes you to focus on yourself instead of on God.  But even more importantly, it causes you to resent and despise God…where God has placed you, how God has gifted you, the calling God has on your life, and the work He wants to do with you ….exactly where you are!  Yup.  Even in poverty.  Yup.  Even in your skin color.  Yup.  Even in your dead-end job.  Yup.  Even without a job.  Yup. Even being discriminated against.  God is calling us to rise above it…in Him!

#5 Accept God’s course correction.

Hebrews 12:5 “And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.'”  OK, none of us likes to be corrected or disciplined.  We want to think we’ve got it all under control.  But we don’t.  Correction?  Discipline?  Unpleasant!  But it does us all good.  Just imagine how much better our world would be if we accepted God’s discipline, His course correction for our lives, and if we embraced His wisdom for our days.  From our government officials, law enforcement, all the way to the man or woman on the street…if we all accepted God’s course correction instead of rebelling and seeking the path of greatest selfishness.  Instead of looking for what’s in in for me, and if we actually loved our neighbor as ourselves.

#6 Endure hardship.

Hebrews 12:7 “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.”  Wow.  Who would have thought that godly discipline and accountability for right living would be signs of inclusion in the family…and not of exclusion, judgmentalism, intolerance, or holy-rolling?

#7 Discipline teaches respect.

Hebrews 12:9 “Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”  Don’t you find it curious how many people out there are demanding that we respect them…for who they are…and for what they do…even if it harms themselves and others?  Respect is earned.  And discipline–self and otherwise–is how we earn it.  It’s the outcome of holiness training.

#8 Become strong.

Hebrews 12:12 “Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.”  Arms are used for action of helping others.  Knees support the body for standing firm.  We don’t need to strengthen our fists or our stomachs.  And we become strong by knowing what God says in His Word to us.  We can strengthen ourselves by learning and serving.  Faith without works is dead.  Believe and do what God says.

#9 Become level-headed and able-bodied.

Hebrews 12:13 “‘Make level paths for your feet,’ so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.”  Look for stumbling blocks others put in your way and ones you’ve set up yourself.  A level-headed person will remove what will trip him up and for the ones which cannot be removed, he will find ways around them.  Able-bodied people will bring health and healing to others by removing obstacles that might be in their way.

#10 Find peace without compromising integrity.

Hebrews 12:14 “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”  Peace is only good if one doesn’t compromise God or personal integrity to get it.  Because genuine peace is with God and from God. Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable– if anything is excellent or praiseworthy– think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me– put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

#11 Grace trumps bitterness.

Hebrews 12:15 “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”  Are you a bitter-clinger to self-justification?  Are you holding a grudge or hating someone?  Maybe you’ve been mean to someone online through social media or sent electronic venom through an email.  Life’s too short for that stuff.  Learn to forgive and be forgiven.  This grudge is hurting you far more than whatever perceived-insult prompted it in the first place.

#12 Treasure today’s inheritance of godliness.

Hebrews 12:16 “See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.”  We cannot control what our brothers or sisters do, but we can encourage all of us–ourselves included–to treasure the inheritance of godliness.  I can control what I do and I can try my best to model my awareness of that kind of treasure.  You can too.  There will come a time when it will be too late, so treasure it today.

#13 Come to the right place.

Hebrews 12:18 “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”  We all need that come-to-Jesus moment when we realize that He is the right place to find love and forgiveness.  He is waiting with open arms now.  You can stop trying to earn heaven with all your hard work and checkboxes.  Jesus already did it for you.  You just need to come to the right place.

#14 Shaken not stirred.

Hebrews 12:25 “See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ 27 The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken– that is, created things– so that what cannot be shaken may remain.”  Your greatest peace in 2016 will be found in Christ Jesus.  Though the world and the heavens will be shaken–over and over again by wars and terror and disasters of every conceivable kind–and though everything feels like it’s falling apart, guess what?  In Christ, you will not be stirred.  You will have His perfect peace.

#15 Harbor gratitude.

Hebrews 12:28 “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful.”  When is the last time you harbored gratitude instead of resentment?  Gratitude instead of depression?  Gratitude instead of jealousy?  Gratitude instead of hatred?  Gratitude instead of protest?  Gratitude instead of anger?  It’s time to lay aside all that bad stuff.  Let it go.  Cultivate a heart of gratitude and let it harbor there as an anchor for your soul.

#16 Worship like you know He’s God.

Hebrews 12:28b “and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our ‘God is a consuming fire.'”  Reverence and fear (the true meaning of awe) are lost in our culture among so many things deemed awesome which really aren’t awesome or awe inspiring at all.  If God were to pop into your room right now, that would wake you up to what awesome really is.  It’d probably feel more like getting hit by lightning or having a heart attack.  But we don’t worship Him because God could nuke us without nukes, we worship Him because He’s God and we know it.  So worship God acceptably.  You’ll be glad you did.

Do you want to do more than ring in the New Year?  Bring it…in 2016!  Happy New Year!

It’s Christmas Eve and the miraculous hidden in the womb of a virgin named Mary would be a miracle revealed at His birth.

The Incarnation—beginning as a fertilized egg—would become visible to a watching world in His birth. Although if they’d had ultrasound back then, He would have been there: The Son of God visible at 12 weeks gestation, at 21 weeks;  the Son of God at 28 weeks; 32 weeks; and at 36 weeks. He was the Son of God while a fetus.  From fertilized egg to fetus to baby, He was someone to celebrate!

His birth was all joy to Mary when the angel told her…and all joy to shepherds who would hear the Good News pronounced by angels in His birth.  All joy to the magi who would see His star in the east and later would come to the house where the boy Jesus was with His mother Mary.

What began hidden in the womb and revealed in a manger would be the Good News to all mankind.

There are only a few corners of the earth where this baby Jesus is completely unknown. While many do not know Him as God Incarnate, they know enough to accept Him and learn… or turn to Him away and reject His offer of forgiveness.

The Incarnation has always been far more than just Jesus becoming fully human. Because He remains fully God through it all.

The graphic introducing this series depicts the Hebrew words, “Behold, your Savior comes!” This is the Word of God… made flesh, an idea originating in the mind of the Father, conceived through the Holy Spirit as the Incarnation of our Savior Jesus Christ—the perfect Lamb of God to be sacrificed for us. And that’s the whole reason He came.

Thought for the day: Christmas Eve means so much more than anything this world can give. John 3:16 “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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Questions for pondering:

1. How is this Gift better than anything in Santa’s bag or under a tree?
2. Imagine yourself as one of the shepherds in the field. How do you respond to the Good News of great joy?

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This is the final devotional in the Incarnation series of 26 lessons. I wish you and yours a very merry Christmas, full of all the kind of good news and great joy which truly ministers to all people. The Good Shepherd came for His flock and wise men….yeah. They still seek Him. Rejoice!