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Jesus got angry, or so every angry person would have you believe. Folks who make this statement are usually trying to justify their own anger. After all if Jesus got angry, then no one can blame me for being angry. The problem is that this statement is grossly overstated.

 To prove their point, angry people use the story of Jesus driving the money changers out of the temple (Mark 11, Matthew 21, Luke 19, John 2). Before anyone accuses Jesus of anger in that story, he or she ought to read the story again. Nowhere do the Scriptures say that Jesus was angry. Jesus was bothered. Jesus was troubled. Jesus was determined to stop unrighteousness. Jesus was not angry.

 This is easily seen when a person looks at what anger does. Anger puts a person in an impaired mental state and reduces one’s ability to grasp ambiguity or see any nuance in a situation. Anger gives us an adrenalin rush which clouds our ability to make judgments.  This is not the emotion that Jesus was experiencing when he drove the crooked merchants out of the temple. Jesus did not “lose it.” With a clear mind, Jesus removed scam artists from the temple area.

 There is one time in the Bible that says Jesus experienced anger. In Mark 3, the Bible says that Jesus “look around…in anger.” Read the text and you will find that the only way you know Jesus felt anger is that the Scriptures tells us so. He did not hit anyone. He did not call anyone a name. He did not shout at anyone. He did not get red-faced. He was angry, but he dealt with it quietly and then he helped a man.

 If you want to be angry like Jesus, that is your example.

 ~Lonnie Davis

Why do you read the Bible?

The other day I was reading some old notes about why we ought to read the Bible. The notes were the usual things that preachers share:

(1) It is the inspired Word of God,

(2) It tells us about God,

(3) It contains the answers to life’s question.

To that list I want to add another. “Appetite comes with eating.”

The full text of this old French proverb says, “Appetite comes with eating; the more one has, the more one would have.”

That may not seem like a reason to read the Bible, but after you think about it, it will make sense.

When I first read this proverb I too raced through it and did not see the great truth in it. Later I began to reflect on it and realized the life principle in it. Its meaning is simple.

Appetite comes with eating. If you are watching your weight and want to avoid eating a donut tomorrow, do not eat one today.

If you want to avoid eating a second piece of cake, do not eat the first piece.

“Appetite comes with eating; the more one has, the more one would have.”

There is a spiritual application to this.

If you want to be more spiritual, start acting spiritual.

If you want to build a great prayer life, start a small prayer life. It will grow.

If you want to get into the habit of worshipping God faithfully, go to church next Sunday, then go the next and the next.

In time it will all seem normal to you. Appetite comes from eating.

Once I was teaching Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” One of the class members asked, “How can you develop a hunger for righteousness?” It was then that my mind ran back to this old proverb, “Appetite comes with eating.”

If you want to become more spiritual tomorrow, practice spiritual things today. One does not become a great prayer warrior in one day. One does not go from casual acquaintance with the Bible to deep knowledge in one week. Begin today to make small spiritual things. It will make the big spiritual things feel more natural tomorrow.

Appetite comes with eating.

~Lonnie Davis

When my youngest daughter was barely a teenager, she was very afraid of the dark. One night she was upstairs and in the middle of the night heard a sound downstairs. She grabbed the phone, pulled the cover over both her and the phone. She then dialed 9-1. After that she held her finger over the last “1.” She was prepared to call for help!

 In my own private time, I love long prayers. I love public prayer at church. Prayers around the beds of the sick are special to me. All of these are wonderful, but I especially love those who’s prayer life includes keeping the finger over the “1” button of prayer.

 David was such a man. Read the Psalms and you will be convinced of that fact. Often the Psalms will speak about wonderful things or even troubling things and then out of nowhere will be a one-sentence prayer. Nehemiah also had this skill. His enemies would attack him and he would suddenly and abruptly prayer. His prayer was always short and to the point. It did not have all the fancy beginnings and endings. He prayed like a man who knew that God was right beside him and would hear him.

 I think this is what the Holy Spirit had in mind when he exhorted us to be “instant in prayer.” (Rom 12:12 KJV)  Instant in prayer does not mean that with each step we take we say another prayer. It means that we live with our finger over the last button of the “phone” to God. It means that we do push that button many times.

 Go ahead and push call God with a brief prayer, a one-sentence prayer.

God is ready to hear you.

~Lonnie Davis

 The story is told of one man who was called to bail his son out of jail. As he left for the jail, a nosey neighbor said, “If he were my kid, I’d leave him in jail.” The father answered, ““If he were your kid, I’d leave him in jail too.”

One of the curses of being the oldest child is having kids before your siblings and listening to them tell you how to raise your child. You hear famous words like, “When I have kids, they will not…”

One of the joys of being the oldest child is watching your younger siblings have children and seeing those children do exactly what their parents said they would never do. It is easier to discipline and control other people’s children better than you can your own.

To understand the principle behind this, one needs to read 1 Peter 4:8, “Love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” The reason my kid’s sins are not as bad as your kid’’s sins is because I love my kids and “love covers a multitude of sins.” It is the way of love to look past faults and imperfections.

 Mothers and fathers succeed or fail as parents because of this principle. Without this principle, the imperfections of those with whom we live nearly 24-7 becomes so glaring that the faults will drown out the good.

 Husbands and wives succeed or fail as life-mates because of this principle. Without this principle of love, the wonder of marriage changes to “I wonder what went wrong.”

 Look one more time at that great text, 1 Peter 4:8, “Love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” Now read it again and this time stop after the word “covers.” It now reads ““Love each other deeply, because love covers…”

Yes it does. Love covers…whatever. That is the secret of living together in happiness.

Lonnie Davis

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.

 But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. “God, how could you do this to me!” he cried. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn’t lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God. For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it.

~Author Unknown

What would you do if you were sick and God sent word to you that it was over for you? You would never get well. Today’s article is about just such a time.

2 Kings 20 tells us the amazing story of King Hezekiah’s illness. He lay on his sick bed when God sent word to him that he would die. Hezekiah wept before God and asked for more time. The prophet of God came back and gave him good news. 2 Kings 20:5-6

5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says:I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. 6 I will add fifteen years to your life.

When you are  teenager or even in your early adult years, this verse seems like just another Bible verse. When you get past middle age, this verse is thought provoking, especially the words, “I will add 15 years to your life “

Suppose God came to you and said you have 15 more years to live, what would you do?

Seriously, what would this provoke you to do?  Here is my response.

First, I would be grateful. None of us is guaranteed another day, but to be assured of 15 years ought to provoke us to dream dreams and set goals. I know that is wrong thinking because we ought to live each day as though it is to be our last and dream dreams like we will live forever. Nevertheless it might give us reasons to dream about the next 15 years.

Second, I would turn my mind toward legacy. I would want to know what I could leave behind. Solomon left the book of Proverbs for his children and his his children’s children. Ever person needs to plan for and think about their legacy. Wander through a cemetery and you always stumble upon the words written in granite “Gone but not forgotten.” That which really is not forgotten is your legacy.

Finally, I would resolve to enjoy the days God has given me. Every day of your life draws you closer to eternity, but while you are here, enjoy this day. It is God’s gift to you.

God has another life planned for you, but use the next 15 years wisely.

Lonnie Davis

You go to school for the opportunity of a great life. You set the alarm and go to work so that you might have a chance at a great life. These things are wonderful, but there are also four rules which are necessary for a great and happy life.

Four Rules for a Great Life

1. You Need Someone to Love.

When God created the world, after each act He said, “It is good.” The first thing he ever identified “as not good” was, “it is not good for man to be alone.” When He said this, there was only Adam. Adam needed Eve and in time the two of them needed their children and their friends. They all needed God. We were not made to be alone. We all need someone to love and need someone to love us.

2. You Need Something to Do.

Work was not a curse for man’s disobedience. Before Adam sinned he was working. He tended the Garden of Eden and did the work of naming all the animals. We were made to do work.

3. You Need Something to believe In.

James says a man who does not know what he believes is “doubled minded” and then adds, “A double-minded man, is unstable in all he does.” (James 1:8) It ought to be obvious that an unstable person, one who does not know what to believe, cannot be happy and successful.

4. You Need Something to look Forward To.

I once heard someone say, “I’m shopping on the internet so I will have something to look forward to.” Even if you are waiting for an order you are looking forward to something, but there are bigger things to dream about and anticipate. Is it a vacation, a new job, or even a dinner out? To find joy one has to look forward to something. The ultimate thing to look forward to is heaven and our eternity with God. Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” That is something worth looking forward to. That is something that will bring you joy!

~Lonnie Davis

Favorite Verse #99 – Luke 4:16

“Do I have to go to church?” Many kids and sometimes adults ask this question. One answer is always – WWJD. You remember that bracelets, “What Would Jesus Do?”

Well I have a better acronym – WDJD or What Did Jesus Do?”

This brings us to today’s great, but often overlooked verse, Luke 4:16,

“He we to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue as was his custom.’

From this text there are at least three important observations.

1. Jesus went to church.

Okay, so I realize it was not “church” but rather the synagogue he attended, but this would be like “church” today. Don’t fuss at me about this because I also realize we don’t go to “church” but rather the assembly of the church. Regardless, the point is clear. Jesus attended the worship and study of the word.

2. He went “on the Sabbath day.”

He could have done many things with his Sabbath. He could have communed with nature. He could have taught his disciples. He could have slept in. He could have, but he did not. What he did was use his Sabbath to go to the assembly.

3. He went “as was His CUSTOM.” 

This is my favorite part of this verse. He didn’t just to the synagogue on this particular day. Going to the synagogue on the Sabbath was his normal activity. It was his custom. It was his habit. 

Next time you think What Would Jesus Do? You might be better advised to ask “What Did Jesus Do.” This verse is one of the answers to that question. “He went into the synagogue as was his custom.”

Lonnie Davis

We all remember the first time.

The first time we rode a bike.

The first time we fell in love.

The first time we kissed a girl (or a guy).

I remember my first sermon. I was in the tenth grade and it was a Wednesday night class. I had forty-five minutes to speak. That is a lot of time for a first sermon. I had no one to help me write the sermon so you can imagine it was pretty bad. I had no one to warn me about how quickly time flies. There was no clock on the wall and I had no watch so I spoke and spoke and spoke. I remember finishing the sermon and thinking that I had not spoken long enough. I did what any good speaker would have done. I started over again from the first point. When I finished preaching the sermon a second time, I still thought I had not preached long enough so I had a good strategy. I started at the first for a third time. Part way through the third time the teacher interrupted me with ““class is over.” Had he not done so, I might have preached for days.

 I remember other sermons from those teenage days. I would go into the empty church building and preach my sermon over and over to empty pews. I faithfully followed that practice for the first six years of my ministry. For the ten years after that, I followed that practice on many occasions.

 In 1 Peter 4:10-11, Peter urges us, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

 There are many misunderstanding about what it means to use your gift.

It does not mean do what is easy.

It does not mean do what is hard.

It means do what you can do. Work at it and it will get better. Work at it and it will get easier. Work at it and it will become more useful to other people. Some public speakers think they are good because they have the “gift of gab.” Teachers and speakers who get by on the gift of gab usually just have the “gift of boredom.”

 Teachers and speakers are no different than other folks. To be helpful to others, you have to work at developing your talent.

Preach to empty pews. Lead empty seats in songs. Teach to empty chairs.

Bake pies and cakes for neighbors. Teach little children about life. Do it again and again. Even if you think you are pretty good, you will get better.

By doing this you will be using “whatever gift he [or she] has received to serve others.”

That is the goal!

 ~Lonnie Davis

Over the years, I have discovered many amazing and useful stories. Today I share two of those stories with you. I hope you find them both interesting and enlightening.

1. Make Sure you Have the Horses

A bunch of really smart people got together in 1880 to predict the future, according to Jeff Stibel in his intriguing book Breakpoint. These experts were called on to predict how the rapidly growing New York City would manage into the next century and beyond.

The prognosis was not positive!

NYC was a major source of American innovation in 1880. Skyscrapers, subways, stock exchanges — and it was doubling in size every 10 years. The experts were concerned by this growth, because they projected by 1980, you’d need six million horses to transport all the people who would live there.

2. Write it Down

In Plato’s Phaedrus, the earliest and best-known critique of writing, Socrates warns his companion Phaedrus that writing will only make human memory weaker:

This invention will produce forgetfulness in the minds of those who learn to use it, because they will not practice their memory. Their trust in writing, produced by external characters which are no part of themselves, will discourage the use of their own memory within them. (Plato 1925, 274e–275a)

Hmmm. We remember this, of course, because Plato wrote it down.

I long for great faith. I want to be strong in all circumstances. I love faith, yet sometimes I doubt. Why?

In today’s writing we will see four reasons we doubt.

I call it

Four Causes if doubt

1. Some doubt when they trust the wrong things.

The Israelites are warned not to trust in weapons and allies. Isaiah wrote, “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen.” The Lord is not telling us not to build an army, but rather that an army is not a substitute for God. He ends this verse by warning against trusting armies, but not looking ““to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD.”

2. Some doubt when their dreams are crushed.

Job had everything taken from him. Even his children were taken. In spite of losing everything Job says, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust Him.” (Job 13:15)

3. Some doubt when death comes.

The Christians in Thessalonica expected Jesus to come very, very soon. When their loved ones were dying they worried and doubted. In answer to this doubt Paul wrote the beautiful text on death and His second coming. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). After sharing those great words Paul wrote, “Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (18)

4. We Doubt when the winds blow.
Most of us remember the great story of Peter waking on water. He had the faith to walk on water, but “when he saw the wind” he let fear drain his faith.

Winds have a way of facilitating doubt. Anyone can be full of faith when there is no wind or storms, but faith is true faith when it does not doubt in the midst of the winds. Seeing Peter’s doubt Jesus asked, “You of little faith…why did you doubt?”

All of us will struggle with faith and doubt, Moses did, Peter did and so do I. If we will learn to lean on him we will build that faith and doubt will ebb away. Faith grows.

~Lonnie Davis

Today we take another look at the Back of my Bible. These are stories that I used to write in the back of my Bible so that I could have them whenever I needed them. I first read this story more than 30 years ago and it haunted me then. This story may seem like a downer, but it is not. It merely serves to remind us that we are not made for here.

Someone wrote:

According to an old fable, a man made an unusual agreement with Death. He told the Grim Reaper that he would willingly accompany him when it came time to die, but only on one condition–that Death would send a messenger well in advance to warn him.

Weeks winged away into months, and months into years. Then one bitter winter evening, as the man sat thinking about all his possessions, Death suddenly entered the room and tapped him on the shoulder. Startled, the man cried out, “You’re here so soon and without warning! I thought we had an agreement.”

Death replied, “I’ve more than kept my part. I’ve sent you many messengers. Look in the mirror and you’ll see some of them.” As the man complied, Death whispered, “Notice your hair! Once it was full and black, now it is thin and white. Look at the way you cock your head to listen to me because you can’t hear very well. Observe how close to the mirror you must stand to see yourself clearly. Yes, I’ve sent many messengers through the years. I’m sorry you’re not ready, but the time has come to leave.”

 Lonnie Davis

Today I will begin sharing my favorite HeartWords from the Bible – Verses that have meant a lot to me over the years. I will be numbering these, but with God’s Word I really have no number 100 or 75. Like you I love them all, but I number them for conventions sake. Today is

Favorite HeartWord number 100 – Ephesians 3:20

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

What I love about this verse is that in only 22 words, we learn so much about God and prayer and what he does for us.

Read the verse again and you will see six great truths.

1. God is ABLE. “Now unto him who is able…”

2. God is able to do ALL we ask. “Able to do …all we ask.”

3. God is able to do MORE than we ask. “Able to do…more than all we ask.”

4. God is able to do IMMEASURABLE more. “Able to do immeasurable more.”

5. God is able to do not just what we ask, but all we imagine. “All we ask or imagine.”

6. God has all these things at work in us.  “According to his power that is at work within us.”

Since the first time I really heard and understand this verse, it has become one of my  “go-to” verses.  One cannot read and believe this verse and have any doubts about prayer or how much God is willing and able to do for us.

Lonnie Davis

Every now and then I come across a true story that has a great lesson for all of us to learn. Such a story is the following. 

Waylon Prendergast, 37, of Tampa, Florida, committed a spur-of-the-moment robbery while on his way home from a late-night drinking session. A very drunk Mr. Prendergast forced his way into the house through an open upstairs window, filling a suitcase with cash and valuables before setting the living room on fire to cover his tracks. He then escaped through the back door and made his way home, chuckling all the way. 

Only as he turned the corner into his own street and discovered three fire engines outside his house, did he realize that in his drunkenness he had, in fact, burgled and ignited his own property. His comment was: “I had no idea I had so many valuable possessions.”

I hope none of us can ever say, “I had no idea I had so many…blessings.”

Lonnie Davis

A father’s life is full of surprises. The other day I read the story of a father who walked up on his son and his dog. The dog, a full grown Labrador named Kelly and the four-year-old boy named Josh had a wonderful relationship. Though the dog and the boy loved each other, the dog often had to put up with the boy. Josh loved to hug the dog. Kelly would take as much as he could, but would invariably turn around and nip at the boy to make him turn lose.

One day the father walked up just as Josh had Kelly in one of his big hugs. He had his arms around the dog and his head tucked into the dog’s body so that Kelly could not bite him so easily. As Dad walked by he noticed that Josh’s eyes were closed and heard him say a little prayer, “Dear God, please don’t let Kelly bite me.”

It was cute but the dad could not miss a chance to teach a lesson about prayer. “Josh,” the father said, “God would be more apt to answer your prayer, if you would let go of the dog.”

We too are like the little boy holding on to the dog that he knows will bite him and praying that the dog won’t bite. We do things that will bite us, but don’t want to feel the bite. What do we do to stop the biting? We pray. I am all for prayer. It is the greatest thing in the world, but usually the answer is prayer plus something else. That something else is to stop doing the thing that is going to bring us pain.

We pray for a happy marriage and then neglect one another. We pray for a closer walk with God but do not read His Word. We pray for peace and live life at a frantic pace.

On and on the list could go. Each of us should examine the things that we pray for and then decide what we can do to help make the prayers come true. Keep on praying, but do your part too.

Lonnie Davis

The story is told of a quite happy caterpillar who found that his life was
changing. He noticed that things weren’t like they used to be. Finally one
day he began to crawl out of his skin. He was quite surprised to see that
though he was changing, he was still okay.  Soon he found himself a beautiful butterfly.

He was no longer bound to the trails of the earth below, but could fly on the winds above. He was no longer the ordinary looking caterpillar, but was now a beautiful butterfly. He soared above, looking down on the old shell that was still down below. He thought how lucky he was to have made such a marvelous change.

As he looked below, he saw some of his old caterpillar friends, crawling
slowly across the old trails that he had walked. They found his old shell
and began to weep. He tried to shout to them that all was well, that he was
even happier, but he did not seem to be able to reach them. From his lofty
position, he looked down on those he had left behind and watched as they
gathered around his discarded shell and wept.

He could not tell, them, but leaving the old shell behind was not the end,
it was just the beginning of the real beauty that God had in store for him.
He knew that someday, they would join him and understand that caterpillars don‘t die, they just become beautiful butterflies.

Anon

No, Liz is not gone, but the words she shared with me are words I hope will out live her an me.

I wondered what her favorite verse was and so I asked her. She quickly answered, “Philippians 4:13.”

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

I guess many people would have picked that same verse, but with Liz it was different. Let me explain why.

We were riding in our car, on the way to one of her dialysis appointments. Three times a week for four hours each time, they run all of her blood through a machine and put it back into her, a little at a time. At the end of the process she gets to skip a day and then do it again.

As we were riding to the center. I asked her about her jaw. She is slowly recovering from a nerve surgery designed to get rid of six years of severe, everyday facial pain. I asked how she was doing and she replied, “Okay, right now.”

I was quiet for a minute and then asked, “Liz, do you ever get in despair?” She answered, “No.” Living in the peripheral of all of this, I wanted to know why. She told me, “Because I am one of God’s children and He will take care of me.”

Her word made me really appreciate her faith and choice of her favorite verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

When I think of the times I feel like I have problems, I am humbled by her. I am reminded of the words of the poet, “Oh God, forgive me when I whine.”

Lonnie Davis