Category: Uncategorized

In 1939, the Nazis were invading the Netherlands. The first people to be affected were the Jews who lived in the Netherlands. A group of Christians came to the Dutch theologian, Henry Cramer, and told him, “Our Jewish neighbors are missing from their homes.” They then asked, “What must we do?”

 Cramer’s answered, “I cannot tell you what to do. I can tell you who you are. If you know who you are then you will know what to do.”

 Read those last words again, “If you know who you are, then you will know what to do.” The Nazis are not marching in our streets, but those words should still convict us. When Satan sends temptations, you do not need to ask what to do. You only need to remember who you are.

 Sometimes Christians will be confronted with a temptation to evil. It sounds holy and righteous to hear them say, “I will pray to God for an answer about what I should do.” It is not holy and righteous. It is weak. God has already told us what to do with sin. We only need to remember who we are.

 In our story, the men and women who asked the question of Henry Cramer became part of the Dutch resistance movement. They helped save the lives of many. In times of stress and temptation, if you and I will remember who God is and who we are, it will determine our conduct.

 2,000 years ago, on a storm tossed ship in the middle of the sea, Paul used that principle to make his decision. He told the freighted sailors, “Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.” (Acts 27:23-25)

 Paul said, “I know God knows me and I know who I am and whose I am.” Since he knew these things, he knew what to do. When you know those things, you too will know what to do.

                                                                                                ~Lonnie Davis

Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying,
“Arise and go toward the south along the road which
goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert.
—Acts 8:26

Just Do It!

It seemed like a simple command to just go to a certain road. There was no “I have a person for you to talk to,” or “there you will lead someone to Christ.” Later, of course, God did give him the opportunity to tell someone about God, but when the command came, it was a “just do it” thing. Just go!

 Philip did “just do it.” There were many human reasons why he should not have gone. (1) He was doing a great work of evangelism where he was. (2) Where God told him to go was out the middle of nowhere. Surely he could do more good with all the people where he was. (3) It was an 80 miles trip and he had to walk. (4) There were Apostles who were 30 miles closer to this place than Philip was.

 Sometimes being a follower of God means doing what we do not understand. This was one of those times. For all the good that Philip did while he was converting people in Samaria, we know nothing of their stories. Because he went to this deserted place we have this great story of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch. For 2,000 years people have proclaimed this story and even now in the twenty-first century it leads people to Christ.

 Contained in this story is the real secret to being a great Christian. The secret? Whatever God wants you to do, just do it!

 Philip did not question God’s wisdom. He knew that God knew what He was doing. Too many times when God touches our lives with 80 miles of our own hard journey, we question God and grumble about the hard spot God has put us in.

 Philip knew God’s hand was in the journey. God’s hand is in your journey too.

 Just do it!

 Lonnie Davis

HeartWord – James 1:22

Dippin’ Dots in the Door

 Some years ago, when two of my grandchildren were small, I wrote the following words.

In case you do not know what Dippin Dots are, they are little BB size ice cream balls. One buys them by the cup. As I am a fan of big spoons of ice-cream, I am not a fan of Dippin’ Dots. The other day I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things that were needed. When I got to the ice cream section I noticed little one dollar bowls of Dippin’ Dots. Even though they are not my favorite I do know a couple of kids that like them so I picked up two. I brought them home and put them in the freezer door. The two children that love them do not even know they are there. One day soon they will come to my house and I will surprise them with the little blessing I am saving for them. I know they will love it.

That was then and now my grandkids are older and past the dippin’ dots age, but this story still makes me smile. Mostly because this story reminds me of what God does for us. He prepares blessings and waits for the right time to give them to us. This is what Paul meant when he wrote 1 Corinthians 2:9,  “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”

 While here on earth, the blessing sometimes takes the form of a beautiful day or a night of sweet sleep. Sometimes the blessing is an encouraging word from a friend.  Sometimes the blessing is unexpected money to pay a bill. Sometimes the blessing is more spectacular. It is a job that we get just in the nick of time or an answer to a prayer for cancer.

All of these are wonderful, but our greatest blessing is waiting on the other side of the door. John wrote about it. “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev 21:2-4)

 I can hardly wait!

Lonnie Davis

HeartWord – 1 Chronicles 29:12

“Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.”

Once when I was doing a little shopping in a local store, I noticed something odd. Cokes by the case were a lot higher than usual. I mean a lot higher. I looked again and saw the problem. It wasn’t a case. It was a pack of 32 cokes. The price was about 50% higher than a normal case, but then it was bigger than a normal case of 24. But wait! It was not a case and a half of cokes it was a case and four cans short of a case and a half for the price of a case and a half. Now if this is confusing to you then the marketers have done as they intended. They did not want you to do the math. It was their way of raising the price without you noticing. Coca-Cola is not the only company to do this. Candy bars got smaller for the same price. Cereal companies took out just a few ounces of cereal and kept the size of the box the same.

A few years back I went through a drive through at a barbecue restaurant. I wanted to buy a pound of barbecue to take home. I examined the menu, but could not find a pound of barbecue anywhere. I found sandwiches, drinks, and buns, but the barbecue was listed only by the half-pound. I asked the girl at the window, “How much is a pound of barbecue?” She gave me the price of a half-pound. I didn’t care about that, so ask her again, “How much is a pound?” “Oh,“ she said, “we do not sell it by the pound.” Now I can do math and know that you can buy two half-pounds and that equals a pound. I also know why they would not advertise the pound price. They thought it seemed cheaper by the half-pound. In Puerto Rico you cannot by a gallon a gasoline. You can only buy it by the liter but 4 liters does not equal a gallon. You don’t know how much a gallon of gasoline is!

Gasoline by the liter, cokes by the case plus ten, and small portions all designed to fool us. These things cause people to be very skeptical. Sometimes the skepticism even turns to God and people doubt God.

We must never let the world erode our trust in God.

Moses wrote, “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.” (Numbers 23:19)  God does not lie. He does not disappoint. He does not fail. He does not try to trick or deceive. God is faithful. As the book of Lamentations says, ““His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Lonnie Davis

People today are living longer than at any time in modern history. That is great, but one of the saddest thing to see is watching someone outlive their memories. We call it dementia. Our memories make us who we are. Today’s article is about memories. I titled it:

Memories

 While preparing for a move, I picked up a box of old things from years gone by. It was filled with old papers, a few photos, and old books I had not seen for years. Among those old books was a little, brown leather New Testament. Thirty years earlier that New Testament had been my favorite “preaching Bible.” I read a few notes that I had written on its pages and it brought a smile to my heart. Old memories can be refreshing to the soul.

 God also values memories. He put a rainbow in the sky so that we would remember (Gen 9:16). As the Israelites crossed the Jordan, God commanded a monument of memorial stones to be built so Israel would remember how He had delivered them from slavery (Joshua 4:6). As one of His last acts on earth, Jesus set up a memorial meal for Christians. (Matthew 26, 1 Cor 11:24)  He said we should eat this meal “In memory of Me.”

 God calls us to remember that He is God and what he has done for us. The memorial stones in Joshua do not just tell those people there was a God who delivered, but also served to remind each new generation that God still delivers. On the Lord’s Day as the Memorial meal is passed, we do not see grape juice or the unleavened bread, but the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross. We see the love of God who gave His Son to the nails so that we might have eternal life.

 I love the story of Robert E. Lee who shortly after the Civil War, was visiting a Kentucky lady. She took him to the remains of a grand old tree at the front of her formerly great mansion. The North and the South had fought a bitter battle in her yard, and the limbs and the trunk of that old tree had been destroyed by Northern artillery fire.  She looked to Lee to speak some word of consolation. Lee paused for a moment and then said, “Cut it down, my dear Madam, and forget it.”

 There are some things we ought to forget, i.e. old hurts, old pains, and old enemies. There are other things we must not forget. We must never forget all of the good things God has done for us. We must never forget that God still has a hand in our daily lives. We must never forget that God always loves us.

Lonnie Davis

HeartWord – Luke 22:19

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Did you ever trust in a car that left you stranded on the side of the road? How about trusting a friend who disappointed you. Today’s article reminds us about what or who we can trust. It is called

Trusting Iron Chariots

As Israel entered the Promised Land, the first city, Jericho fell in spectacular fashion. The cities of Ai, Jerusalem, and Hebron were soon to follow. It was not easy but with God on their side, the Israelites conquered the enemy. 

Joshua noted, “One of you routs a thousand because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised.” (Joshua 23:10)

With God’s miracles and the leadership of Joshua, nothing could go wrong. At least that is how Israel felt, but Judges 1:18-19 tells us,

 “The men of Judah also took Gaza, Ashkelon and Ekron–each city with its territory. The LORD was with the men of Judah. They took possession of the hill country, but they were unable to drive the people from the plains, because they had iron chariots.”

 Notice the end of that verse, “They were unable to drive the people from the plains because they had iron chariots.” 

Think of “Iron Chariots” as tanks of that time. They were indeed formidable weapons, but it was not really the iron chariots that stopped Israel. The iron chariots made the task harder, but neither iron chariots nor tanks can thwart God.

Years earlier the Israelite soldiers had seen the mighty Egyptian army, along with her “iron chariots” perish in the Red Sea. Now Israel found it easier to leave the plains people alone than to battle against iron chariots. Israel opted for ease rather than obedience.

 There is an story about an old man who at a county fair was offered a chance to take his first airplane ride. After some persuading he agreed. When the flight was over the pilot asked the old man how he liked his first flight. He answered, “It was pre ty good, but to tell you the truth I never did put my full weight on it.” 

Israel saw the iron chariots and decided not to put their full weight on God. Israel should have known that Iron chariots cannot stop God or God’s people. Nothing can stop God’s people as long as they are doing God’s will. Only the desire for ease can do that.

What does God want you to do? Do it.

With God as your partner neither iron chariots nor tanks can stop you.

 Lonnie Davis

HeartWord – Philippians 4:5

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”

NOTE: There ought not be any harsh spirited Christians. If there is such, make sure it is not you!

When my Ginger was five-years-old, her mischief got her into trouble. After a little swat on the bottom, she cried. When she finished crying, I wanted to make sure she knew why I spanked her.

“Ginger,” I asked, “Do you know why I spanked you?”

“Yes,” she sniffled.

“Why?”

With her big brown eyes looking up at me, she answered, “Cause you’re mad at me.”

 I was so glad I asked her. I would have hated for her to have shed tears for nothing. If she did not know why she was disciplined, then the discipline was wasted and improperly done. I spent a few minutes sitting beside her and explaining the lesson she needed to learn.

 Many years later she called me at six in the morning with the news that her apartment had burned down. No one was hurt, but a lot of things were burned up. She kept a good attitude at first, but as the days went by, things got harder. She and her husband moved to another apartment, but it was noisy and awful. They had to close down their business for a few days. Hers and Jeff’s routines were all messed up. Life started to feel hard. I spent a few phone calls telling her that everything would be okay. She had great faith, but still there were those tough days.

 Within a few days of the fire, she and Jeff closed on their new home. It is on a cul-de-sac in a nice, quiet neighborhood. The day they closed was one of the happiest days of her lives. I called her. She had suffered and now that the pain was mostly past, I wanted to make sure that she had learned the lesson.

 “Ginger,” I said to her, “For Christians, everything works out in the end. If it hasn’t worked out yet, then it is not the end.” We laughed about God taking my old car that had 220,000 mile. I told her God took her apartment so he could give her a beautiful new house.

 Romans 8:28 says, “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God.” No, I do not believe that God wrecked my car or burned her apartment, but isn’t it neat how things worked out? I believe this passage teaches that Christians have the promise from God that the bad days of our lives can be turned into something good. You have to put forth the effort, but God will always do more than his share.

 Let me say it again, “For Christians, everything works out in the end. If it hasn’t worked out yet, then it is not the end.” Don’t fret or worry. Work toward and wait patiently for the good ending. It is coming.

Lonnie Davis

Today’s HeartWord – Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Moses’ story really began as God looked down upon his hurting enslaved people. God wanted to send just the right leader to lead them out of their slavery and pain. Surely there had to be many young, strong, charismatic leaders among 600,000 Israelite men, but God did not choose any of them. There were, no doubt, many men with the gift of words. God wasn’t looking for a wordsmith. There were certainly those who would have jumped at the chance to lead for God or die trying. God did not choose one of those brave souls.

 Instead, God chose a man who ran away from his family while they were slavery and then stayed away for 40 years. God chose a man who was a poor speaker. God chose a man who was afraid to accept a big challenge. God chose a man who did not want to be a leader. God chose Moses. He all of these things and more.

 Moses just wanted to be left alone. Moses did not choose the task. God chose it for him. One of Shakespeare’s characters said, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ’em.” Moses had greatness thrust upon him.

 However, four times Moses gave excuses to God why he could not do what God called him to do. Four times God answered his objections. Finally Moses said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.” (Ex 4:13). No excuse, just make someone else do it.

 Moses was not very different than most of us. God has a task for each of us. We may not want it and may resist it, but God keeps urging us. Paul urged Timothy, “Do not neglect your gift.” (1 Tim 4:14) We all have been given a gift, a talent, and a calling.

God would not let Moses get away with rejecting His call. In the end Moses did the thing God led him to do. Maybe you too have resisted a challenge that God has placed before you. Maybe you have refused even to see the challenge. Maybe you are happy with things just as they are, but God says to you, “Do not neglect your gift.”

 Perhaps you are not 80. Maybe you are 30 or 40 or 50. If so, then your life’s title can read, “Life Begins at 50.” Go ahead and begin it. God will go with you on the journey.        

~Lonnie Davis

Matthew 16:26

What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

The drive from my house to work was a beautiful drive. Every day I got to drive a couple of miles through a state park and year round it was beautiful. In the winter, the snow can hang onto the tree limbs that outline the road. In the spring the new growth was amazing. In the fall, the changing of the colors is a site to see. I love it.

 It was beautiful until something happened to ruin it – well, at least a part of it. Someone accidentally ran over a skunk. I know it was an accident because no one would ever do such a crazy thing on purpose.

For the next few days, when I drove down that beautiful road there was a section of the drive that stunk. I have seen policemen pull over and remove the bodies of dead animals from the highways, but no one removed the dead skunk. I am reminded of several truths from this incident.

1. A mess is a mess, even when it is an accident.

Many people excuse every terrible thing they have done with a “I didn’t mean to.” Children think that an apology is all it takes to make everything okay. I sometimes appreciate an apology, but a stink is still a stink. Do not focus on the word “sometimes” in the last sentence. A true apology is always appreciated, but there are people who apologize, but never try to fix anything. That is not a real apology.

2. Sometime things happen in life that you can’t fix.

No one wanted to clean up the mess, so we just have to wait till it goes away on its own. David asked for forgiveness from his sin. God forgave him, but the sword never departed from his house. Jacob wrestled with an angel till the angel touched him in the hip and for the rest of his life he limped. Even with forgiveness there are often consequences.

3. The smell will eventually go away.

Right now it may seem like you will never get past your problem. Don’t be impatient, this too will pass. I love the fellow who was asked what his favorite Bible verse was and he quoted “it came to pass.” What ever your hard spot is, it will pass. It always does. The phrase “it came to pass” is found 453 times in the KJV.

 In your life, this skunk too will pass.

 Lonnie Davis

HeartWord – Psalm 118-24

“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Moses’ Snake and David’s Bear

Moses’ Snake

 Do you remember the time that Moses ran from a snake? Moses didn’t run from just any snake, he ran from a snake that was sent from God. Here is the scene: At the burning bush, Moses tries to avoid the responsibility that God gives to him so God sends him a sign. He commanded Moses to throw his staff  (kind of like a large stick) onto the ground. “So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent.” “And Moses ran from it.” (Exodus 4:3-4).

 As our story continues, God told Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail.” Amazingly, “he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand.” Don’t miss the sequence. He ran. God told him to pick the snake up. He stopped running and picked up the snake. After he picked it up, “it became a staff in his hand.”

 I don’t mind picking up a snake if God will turn it into a stick before I pick it up. Sometimes, however, God challenges us to pick up the snake and trust that He will fix it after it is in our hand.

 David’s Bear

 As a child, David killed a bear. Later, when he was trying to convince King Saul that the could kill the giant Goliath, he explained it to King Saul this way, “a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.” (1 Sam 17:34-35).

 Look at that courage, David grabbed the bear by the beard and killed it.

 So what does all this mean to us? In our story, bears and snakes stand for all those scary times we have to face. When we face them, we need to remember that God can kill our snakes and bears. He is with us when we worship on Sunday morning, but he is also with us when we face snakes and bears.

 Lonnie Davis

HeartWord – Isaiah 41:10

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

It was the worse broken leg I had ever known about. What made it worse was that it was on my brother. There is an old saying, “minor surgery is done on you and major surgery is done on me.” Well, I am not him, but he needed major surgery. The doctor set his leg in a cast. It went from his foot and ran up to his hip. For two months all he could do was sit in a chair. After two months they took the cast off and put him in a special boot. For four more months he wore that big, clumpy boot. Nearly six months after the accident and many trips to the doctor, he made one more trip to the doctor.

 “Doc,” he said, “this boot is ugly and never matches anything. Can I get another boot to match it?” The doctor said, “Take the boot off and quit wearing it.” “Doc,” he replied, “all I am asking for is a matching boot.” Again the doctor said, “Take the boot off. You don’t need it anymore.”

 After six months, surgery, casts and reinforced boots, it was over. It was almost over. Well, there was one more problem. “Doc,” my brother said, “I can’t.” Then he quietly added, “I’m scared.”

 “I’m scared” are not the words of a coward. They are the words of all of us. Fear does not just make us want to wear an ugly boot, it permeates our whole life. When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, they were afraid. Jesus quickly called out to them, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Matt 14:27) Over and over Jesus urged his followers to “Fear not.” (Matt 10:26; 12:31, 28:5; Luke 5:10; 12:5; John 12:15) and many, many other places.

 We believe in God. We trust that he will help us through the “valley of the shadow of death.” We claim that we will “fear no evil, for thou art with me,” but still we are afraid. What if I fail? What if I lose my job? What if food prices and gas prices go so high I can’t afford them? What if I? What if I?

For all those “What if” questions, Jesus has a word of encouragement – “Don’t be afraid?” When Peter tried to walk on water and then began to sink, Jesus caught him, “’You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?” When your life is tumbling in, do not doubt. Do not fear. Only trust Him.

“Nothing is going to happen to you today that you and God cannot handle.”            

Lonnie Davis

HeartWord – Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”        

 Every event in the the story of the 10 plagues of Egypt is fascinating, but I am especially taken with the second plague.

In the second plague, God brought frogs upon the land. They were everywhere. Open the door and there they were. Turn down the blanket and there are frogs! Take down a dish and what did you find inside? Frogs! … Frogs, frogs, frogs. It seems like a harmless and even humorous plague, but it was not.

 Finally the Pharaoh had enough and asked Moses to take away the frogs. Moses asked him a rather odd question, “When do you want me to take away the frogs?” If that is an odd question, then the Pharaoh’s answer is completely bizarre. He answered “Tomorrow!” (Exodus 8:10) Tomorrow? Wow! I know what my answer would have been – “Right now!” I am done with frogs. Take them away now!

 Why did he want one more night with the frogs? Maybe he wanted one more night to see if the frogs would just go away on their own. Maybe the answer is, that is just how people are. People want to put off everything until tomorrow.

 In Luke chapter nine, Jesus confronted some other “tomorrow” people. “Follow me,” he challenged, but they began pleading for tomorrow. “First let me go and bury my father.” (Luke 9:59) He challenged a second man who responded, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family.” Every time Jesus called someone they would say, “Yes, but first…”

 They all had excuses to allow the themselves to wait until tomorrow. Everyone plans to do wonderful things tomorrow, but not today. Read Luke 9:57-62 and you will see that Jesus had warning words for those who procrastinate.

 That warning still rings today. The problem with the lure of tomorrow is that there is no guarantee that any of us will have a tomorrow. We must live each day and do the good we can without counting on tomorrow.

 Whatever it is you need to do, Do not try to have one more night with the frogs. Just do it!

Lonnie Davis

This is to test