The Secret Chamber: March 2023

The Secret Chamber | A Digital Devotional March 2023 Edition

The Secret Chamber, the Department of Church Growth and Development’s daily devotional guide, is herein recognized as an aid to worship; it is also made an official periodical of the Church and listed in The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in the annual report of the pastor on periodicals.

Bishop Adam J. Richardson, Senior Bishop, African Methodist Episcopal Church Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, Commission Chair

The Reverend Dr. Marcellus A. Norris, Executive Director African Methodist Episcopal Church Department of Church Growth and Development

The Reverend Dr. Susan Hillary Buckson, Copy Editor

The Reverend Jarrett Britton Washington, Graphic Editor

Scripture taken from Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, NRSVUE

Devotionals from The Lenten Experience: Unfinished Business.

Full text is available at http://bit.ly/37T2l7i

Matthew 5:23-24

23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first, be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.

In 2015, Vince Vaughn starred in a box office bomb, Unfinished Business. According to its Internet Movie Database (IMDb) listing, “a hard-working small business owner, Dan (played by Vaughn), and his two associates travel to Europe to close the most important deal of their lives for their new business venture. However, what began as a routine business trip goes off the rails in every way imaginable - and unimaginable.” While traveling, Dan finds that everything he could imagine falls apart. At home, his children encounter the heavy burdens of bullying and selfidentity, and his wife feels lost.

On the road, Dan and his business partners face opposition from a more experienced rival. Internally, Dan is struggling with how to hurdle the many obstacles that stand in his way of achieving what he believes will give his life fulfillment. At every turn, he sees that there are so many pieces of his life that appear to be just unfinished.

This season of Lent is about reflection, repentance, and revival within our hearts. Our declaration each day is as David declared: “Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.” (Psalm 26:2).

Whether you are reading this by happenstance or on purpose, know that God has ordained this moment. We each have some things in our lives that are unfinished, and at this specific time in our lives, we need the encouragement and the focus to press on toward the finish line.

What is it for you? Ask yourself, what loose ends have you not handled? What unfinished business of your past is consistently manifesting in your present? What is it that you are avoiding because it is just too hard, too hurtful, or too embarrassing to handle?

This month, let us prepare to deal with our personal troughs of unfinished business. Are you ready?

Pray: Ask God to reveal what unfinished business you must tackle throughout this month.

Reflect: How will tackling this unfinished business enrich other aspects of your life?

Act: Speak it. Reveal what unfinished business God would have you tackle. Share this with a prayer partner who is also reading the devotional with you this month. 5

Exodus 20:7-12

7 Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has long ago approved what you do. 8 Let your garments always be white; do not let oil be lacking on your head. 9 Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life that are given you under the sun because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol to which you are going.

11 Again, I saw that under the sun, the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the skillful, but time and chance happen to them all. 12 For no one can anticipate one’s time. Like fish taken in a cruel net or like birds caught in a snare, so mortals are snared at a time of calamity when it suddenly falls upon them.

Reflection in Song: TooHardNotTo

I will never forget a young lady in one of my English classes. The class was completing a reflective journal exercise. The only sound was the hustling of pens and pencils. Everyone was really into the assignment. One of her classmates came to tell me that the young lady was crying. She was writing profusely, but sure enough, quiet tears were flowing. We went to the hallway to talk, and she disclosed that she was writing about her mother. Over the course of our conversation, she shared that her mother was drug addicted and about horrible memories of their interactions. The question that pierced the conversation for me was when she asked, “Why doesn’t [my mother] love me enough to stop?” She cried even more, but she did not want to go to talk to the social worker or counselor; she wanted to finish writing. It was helping her to purge.

Over my extensive career in education, I have seen some genuinely strained parent-child relationships. Many children are angry at their parents for not being the parents that they see on television or down the street. As children and as adults- we often see what we have in a comparative light, and when it does not suit us; we are dismissive, rude, rebellious, hurtful, dishonoring, or even withdrawn. We do this because we are reacting to how we feel that our parents “treat us.” I remember one young man saying, “[Forget] my mother; she doesn’t do anything for me. My grandmother takes care of me.” Another constantly says, “I don’t know my daddy. Who cares about him.”

However, our scripture flips the script on our responsibility as children, even if we are now grandparents ourselves. When we harbor resentment and hold on to unrealistic expectations of what our parents have not developed the capacity to extend, we suffer. Remember, God does not call us to honor our parents for their sake but for our own. We respect our parents despite what they gave or did not give us, can and cannot do for us, did and did not do for or to us, will or will not do for us God commands us to honor them.

It is easy for us to feel compassion for the young people to whom I refer. However, the truth is many of us have some unfinished business with our parents, or you may have some with your children. Embrace that vulnerable space that will allow your healing. It is difficult to extend a hand to someone who hurts you even from their grave. (Amen, Somebody!) Forgiveness is essential to healing. Now, understand forgiving does not mean that you condone negative behaviors. It does mean that you consciously decide to regain control of your emotional wellbeing. For your soul’s sake, be reconciled to honor the best gift (and, for some, the only gift) that your parents could have ever given you life.

Pray: Ask God to reveal what unfinished business you have in your role as a child and, if applicable, as a parent.

Reflect: How will tackling this unfinished business enrich other aspects of your life?

Act: Write a letter (even if your parent(s) is/are deceased) to your parents or your child(ren). Plan for a brief meet-up. Pick up the phone and just call. Start a conversation toward healing. Even if you meet with rejection, at least you have planted a seed that we declare shall bear good fruit. It may be difficult, but this is the point of this season.

2 Timothy 1:7

7 for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

Video Reflection: EatthatFrog

Mark Twain once said that if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that that is probably the worse thing that is going to happen to you all day long. Your “frog” is your biggest, most important, and most challenging task. It is usually what ends up our unfinished business, not just at the end of the day, but day after day after day.

Too often we avoid dealing with a situation our “frog” under the pretense that the situation will resolve itself, that it is someone else’s responsibility to handle, or that we are okay dealing with its repercussions. We make excuses and even blame others. Some people create drama around us, but honestly, we allow it because we do not address the challenge these people (or we) bring to the proverbial table. Think about it this way. When you go to a buffet, you find a smorgasbord of food. Can you see it? You pick up your plate and begin to fill it. Someone else prepared it, but you decide what ends up on your plate.

Our unfinished business (our frogs) is stuff we have put on our plates that we have left “uneaten.” Moreover, these frogs are not just going to go away. So, what do we do with them? There is no server to come by and clean up our plates for us in real life. If we do not bus our own tables, we can only watch the plates pile up on the table before us. Now if you were in a restaurant, you would have a fit, wouldn’t you?

Our scripture for today reminds us that God has instilled in us two critical tools to ensure that we can deal with our challenges power, and self-discipline. It takes both to resolve unfinished business, but the latter is the most important. A lack of self-discipline leads to frustration and resignation. We do not have to be frustrated. We do not have to resign ourselves to our fears of what will happen if. So, let us not fear what we face, but instead, let us embrace the fact that if we eat it today, we will never have to see that frog again. Let’s eat!

Pray: Ask God to give you the strength to “eat your frog” today.

Reflect: What “frogs” have been on your plate the longest?

Act: Rid yourself of a frog today. You may say, “I have more than one. Which one do I eat first?” Mark Twain’s response: “Eat the ugliest one first.”

Ecclesiastes 7:18

18It is good that you should take hold of the one, without letting go of the other; for the one who fears God shall succeed with both.

What actions did you take toward completing unfinished business? Take a moment this weekend to handle anything you did not do this week. If you are reading this, you still have time to act.

Today's scripture reminds us of life's reality: finishing feels good! Now the struggle may be difficult getting there but be patient with yourself. Know that unfinished business is a spiritual struggle that often manifests itself physically.

Pray: Dear Lord, give me the mind and the strength to complete my tasks.

Reflect: How does it feel to have finished or not to have finished these three actions? If you did not, write down the excuses for not doing so. If you did, write down the benefits that you can see.

Act: Pull out or take a picture of what represents your unfinished business and place it somewhere you will see it. Let it remind you of your goal that you want to finish or meet this week.

Luke 14:25-33

25 Now large crowds were traveling with him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he cannot, then while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. 33 So, therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions

One of the most important aspects of sports is the discipline with which athletes train. One athlete set the standard for disciplined training. National Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton made famous a hill near his Chicago home steep enough to make legs cry out, "no mas," a plea Payton routinely ignored. Teammate Matt Suhey once decided to work out with his friend on that hill. It started to rain. They had to stop, and Payton was angry. Suhey had to hide his delight; he was sure he could not have run another step.

At 5-10, 202 pounds, Payton knew he was smaller than running backs should be. He knew he lacked the proper college pedigree from a small HBCU, Jackson State University. At least in his mind, he knew that no matter how much he achieved, other flashier backs received greater publicity and broader fame. So, for Payton, yesterday's workout was never good enough; today’s had to be harsher, and longer. In his mind, if he had not stayed in such superb shape and had ever rid himself of his inferiority complex he would not have retired as the league's all-time rusher. Payton’s mind, body, and spirit paid the cost, and it was this obsession with being the best at what he did

that made him pay the cost by squeezing every ounce possible from his body that separated him from so many other elite players.

If we grow as disciples of Christ, then we, too, will have to discipline our minds, bodies, and spiritual walks in the same manner.

Pray: Dear Lord, help me remain disciplined so I may continue to grow in physical and spiritual discipline.

Reflect: Just as important as understanding why you do something is understanding why you do not do something. Not doing is feeding some need or insecurity in your life. With regard to your unfinished business, what are you gaining by not disciplining yourself?

Act: Finishing is a byproduct of discipline. For this week, establish a disciplined routine regarding your unfinished business. For example, if it concerns finance, document every penny spent this week. If it concerns a relationship, send a positive text, call, or communicate face-to-face each day.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

1For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven:

We have every good intention of living a life that is holy and pleasing unto God, and we do for the most part. However, sometimes we recognize that we do some things that are out of our spiritual character. Has anyone ever told you that you are not yourself? It could be because we are responding to a toxic environment. Perhaps we are trying to please others or feel disconnected from God. Whatever the change, we can rest in the reality that God is immutable. God still wants and expects that we consistently seek to live our lives to glorify God.

There are times when we must take a hard look at ourselves and our actions and “wake up” to the fact that where we are and what we do are not what God has for us. We are holding on to a season that has ended. Remember, Solomon reminds us that for everything, there is a season. Moreover, during this Lenten season, it is time to release yourself from actions that “do not meet the requirements of God.”

Pray: Lord, help me to wake up to my seasons that have passed.

Reflect: What have you been holding on to and patching up that needs to be thrown away? Material possessions? Relationships? Attitudes?

Act: Physically throw out at least three items you have been looking at every day that you have meant to fix. If you have not fixed it by now, you will not do so. Spiritually, have a mirror talk. Sitting in front of a mirror, remind yourself (out loud) that your season for (fill-in-the-blank) is over and why.

Ezekiel 18:19-20

19 Yet you say, “Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?” When the son has done what is lawful and right and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. 20 The person who sins shall die. A child shall not suffer for the iniquity of a parent nor a parent suffer for the iniquity of a child; the righteousness of the righteous shall be their own, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be their own.

One of the most profound moments in the box-office phenomenon, Black Panther, is when T’Challa confronts his father about decisions his father, as a leader, had made that negatively impacted not only the nation of Wakanda but also the world. I will not do a great spoiler alert for those who have not yet seen the movie, but when it comes to unfinished business, this scene and T’Challa’s actions following (you will have to see the film to find out what those are specifically) remind us that it is true that our actions have a profound impact on what shall be in the future. The twist for me through our scripture is that once we have recognized that the decisions of our fore parents and parents have had a negative impact on our perspectives and actions, we have a responsibility to shift the narrative.

True, many of us are heirs of positive childhoods and do everything in our power to ensure our children have the same. However, what of those like Kill Monger, prospering in his field but seething in bitterness and hatred because of someone else's decision? I have come to understand that we only bear the responsibility for the decisions and sins of others if we choose to bear them. Because our parents or rearing figures were financially inept, sexually promiscuous, bitter, uneducated, undereducated, angry, fearful, scared of flying, cynical, and always “extra,” it does not mean that we have to be. Because they were (or are) drug-addicted, violent, gang-affiliated, and in jail, it does not mean that we must be.

It is a slight to the power of God’s salvific nature to continue to walk in these dark places when we know that God gave us Jesus and that Jesus came so that we might have life and life more abundantly. It is. We are responsible for our better. Remember, when we know better, we are accountable for doing better.

Pray: Lord, help me release myself from the narrative of my past and take responsibility for creating one that will empower me and my seed.

Reflect: What character traits or behavior patterns do you ascribe to your parents or foreparents? How do these traits or patterns affect your decision-making and perspectives?

Act: Ask a sibling or other family member you trust (not your favorite “yes” person) about what traits or patterns they see in you. Does their response align with your reflection? Listen without judgment.

Ecclesiastes 9:7-12

7 Go, eat your bread with enjoyment and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has long ago approved what you do. 8 Let your garments always be white; do not let oil be lacking on your head. 9 Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life that are given you under the sun because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol to which you are going.

11 Again, I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the skillful, but time and chance happen to them all. 12 For no one can anticipate one’s time. Like fish taken in a cruel net or like birds caught in a snare, so mortals are snared at a time of calamity, when it suddenly falls upon them.

According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM),

The runner’s phrase “hitting the wall” or “bonking” refers to running out of glycogen, the body’s storage form of carbohydrates. This important fuel source is not only used directly to produce ATP (energy), but it permits the body optimal access to fat as a fuel source as well. When a runner (or any athlete) is out of glycogen, they “bonk” or feel like they have hit the wall. They are not out of fat but don’t have a metabolic device to access it. Adequate carbohydrates in the diet will protect against “hitting the wall.”

Have you ever felt this way spiritually? Have you ever just felt like you have just simply lost your energy? I am sure that we each could testify about this many times over. That is why we have unfinished business. We run out of steam. Now we may call it patience, tolerance, interest, hope, self -confidence, confidence in God, or courage; however, whatever we seem to run out of, we can be assured that such situations are a reality of living. When applying oil or lotion to your skin, you must keep replenishing the substance on your palm. Why? Even the most oiled-up palm will eventually run out of oil if it keeps rubbing its oil against other unoiled portions of your body.

Every day we deal with situations that absorb our anointing, and eventually, we hit a wall. Our scripture reminds us that we must endure (v 11). Does anybody need to shout right there?

The text begins, however, with instructions for building such endurance. Notice that the answer is also reflected in the NASM definition: “Adequate carbohydrate in the diet will protect against “hitting the wall.”’ Check out verse 7. Bread is full of carbohydrates. And, Jesus is the Bread of Life. And, Jesus taught us to ask for “daily bread.” Does anybody have another shout?

The wine itself varies in carbohydrates. The dryer the wine, the fewer the carbs. The sweeter the wine, the higher the carbs. Look at these scriptures about sweetness. . Time after time, scripture confirms that God’s word is the sweetness we need. Therefore, if we are going to endure to complete our unfinished business, we must fill up on the things of God so that we have the necessary glycogen (strength) to endure.

Pray: God, please help me build my endurance through emersion in the sweetness of your word.

Reflect: How often do you fill up on the word through study, prayer, fellowship, or retreat?

Act: Dedicate an additional 10 minutes to focusing on God through study, prayer, or God-focused conversation.

Proverbs 4:23

23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Our heart is really where unfinished business rests. It stays there collecting dust and even getting dry and brittle. We have to be mindful of doing regular cleaning so that our hearts do not remain cluttered with unfinished business If we do, we operate because of what we have left undone.

However, how do we clean up our hearts?

According to author Kathy Adams’ article Natural Ways to Clean Unfinished Wood, “Wood furniture that is untreated that is, unfinished or unsealed behaves much like a fresh unused board, porous and absorbent. Harsh chemical cleaners are out of the question, as they may damage or discolor the wood as it absorbs the liquid. Natural cleaning methods offer a safe alternative friendly to furniture and humans alike.”

Adams suggests that we “Dust furniture regularly.” Often some people do not care to receive what you have to offer, and because we may be naïve, stubborn, or even fearful, we keep trying to hold on to unseasonal people and situations. (Review Day 6’s reading) Jesus gave us the solution in Matthew 10:14-15. If anyone does not want to receive you or your word, shake the dust off and move on! Remember, over a period, dust unremoved becomes caked on, making it more difficult to remove. Don’t believe me; look at those baseboard corners. Amen, Somebody!

Adams also indicates that the solution for cleaning unfinished wood depends on the stains that are quickly absorbed into the wood. For example, while some stains only require warm soapy water, and a little rubbing action, other heavier cleaning requires a harsher mixture of water and white vinegar. I can almost bet that the unfinished business we have targeted are the ones that warm soapy water can remove. There is nothing wrong with that. We must handle it. However, just know that before these 40 days have ended, your task is dealing with that which requires heavy cleaning.

Pray: God, give me the courage to do my necessary heavy cleaning.

Reflect: What unfinished business requires light cleaning? What unfinished business requires heavy cleaning?

Act: Create two lists, (1) Light Cleaning and (2) Heavy Cleaning. How would you classify your unfinished business? Assign it or each to one of the two columns. We will come back to this list, so keep it handy.

BONUS: We all like cleaning tips. Check out Kathy Adams full article here.

Romans 10:8-13

8 But what does it say?

“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim), 9 because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with the heart, leading to righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, leading to salvation. 11 The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

To shore up our unfinished business, we must truly examine our personal relationship with Christ. Some of us think we have a personal relationship because we are good, honest people. We try to do the right thing. We volunteer. We go to church now and then. We may even go to church all the time. All good, right? However, have you confessed Christ as your Lord and savior?

Ty Tribbet sings with a passion...” Call Him! Call Him! Jesus! Master! Savior! Father! Jesus!” For he is Lord, and through him...through Christ, we have salvation. A gift of eternal life.

Sometimes when we have been walking with the Lord for a while, we must remember that salvation is the “main thing.” It’s not the lights, the online ministry, the tapes/CDs/DVDs (some of ya’ll have them lingering), or the title that is the main thing, but the main thing is salvation through Jesus Christ. This scripture should be readily available in our spirits when we encounter men and women/boys and girls. We are called “to go and make disciples.” That means it is our responsibility to tell others HOW to accept this gift from God. Yes, there is a process, and it is spelled out for us here in Romans. We must “confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead...For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.”

That’s it! That’s all there is. And anyone can do it. It says so right here in our text. Ask yourself. When was the last time you shared this knowledge with people?

The purpose of Lent is to deny yourself, not just so you can “kick a habit,” “lose weight,” or prove to yourself that “you can do it.” The purpose is to remove elements from our lives that are hindering our spiritual growth and replace the hindrance with spiritual food [our unfinished business]. As we are “fed” spiritually through this fast, we must take the time to share the process of salvation with those who are hungry. As we deny ourselves, let us each shower the blessing of salvation knowledge on others.

Salvation is a genuinely personal experience, and you don’t have to go to the front of the church and give the preacher your hand...but you do have to give God your heart. So, here goes...it is my responsibility to tell you that Christ is real and alive. Suppose you believe those two realities in your heart and right now (while you read this). In that case, you confess that Christ is the Son of God and that he suffered death upon a cross for your sins...and that he rose from the grave and sits at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf....if you confess that belief this with your mouth and believe it in your heart, then you ARE saved! If you made this confession, let me be the first to shout, “Halleluiah!” Today is your birthday! Mark this day as the first day of your Christian walk. AMEN!

Now tell someone you know who has been praying for you.

Pray: God, come into my heart and save me.

Reflect: When did you confess Jesus as Lord of your life? I can tell you, as can every Christian, that if you are saved, you do not forget the salvation experience. You may not remember the specific date, but you clearly remember the day you received Christ. Reflect on your salvation experience. If you honestly cannot remember it or know that you have not had the experience, then that is the first order of unfinished business you must clean up.

Act: Confess Christ today. Thank Christ today for saving you.

2 Peter

2:3

3 And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation, pronounced against them long ago, has not been idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Many times, I fall asleep with the television on. Invariably, I wake up to a series of infomercials advertising house flipping networks, exercise videos, cooking, and cleaning products that simplify your life, relationship connections, and the like. On Sunday mornings, the programming is most often religious a camp meeting regularly reminding viewers that they must first plant a seed to have a harvest. Think about it, how many of these infomercials do you see during the day?

Author Dustin Rowles reveals that infomercials are “cheaply produced half-hour commercials that air in the graveyard shift, and yet, we’re fascinated by them as a society. But as cheap as those infomercials and the infomercial products may appear, it’s a very, very big business.” According to The Economics of Infomercials study, this industry is a $250 billion-dollar business. Yep, billion! The study indicates that this “graveyard shift” slot between 1 AM and 6 AM is lucrative because “it’s when networks and local TV affiliates sign off. They give up. They stop pretending that anyone important is watching and sell off their airtime.” Before each infomercial, the station even shares a disclaimer indicating that it does not endorse the information presented. What sticks out to me is that we are drawn to these infomercials because the products, no matter how cheap and cheesy or the promise so misleading, the pitch seeks to fill some space in our lives. Sure, you see one or two people who share their success, but what of the thousands who never realize success with the scheme or have closets and drawers filled with stuff they may have used once? Amen, somebody!

Throughout scripture, we are reminded to be careful that we are not tricked by those who seek to exploit us (Matthew 24:4-5, Hebrews 13:9, Ephesians 4:14, Mark 13:22, 1 Timothy 4:1-2, 1 John 2:26). Too often we allow our hearts to be filled with information that appears to be good for us. However, under the surface, we find that someone is seeking to benefit by enticing us with crafty tricks to keep us distracted from whose we are and what we already have with get-rich-quick schemes, beauty products, cleaning hacks, emotional appeals, and false authorities.

Instead of getting pulled into promises of advertisers whose purpose is to manipulate you by appealing to your fears and insecurities, spend more time internalizing the promises of God. Paul reminds us to “fix our thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.” (Philippians 4:8)

Pray: Lord, help me to fill my places of need so that I will not be attracted to the enemies’ manipulation.

Reflect: What areas of need are you trying to fill with the enemies’ trickery? What unfinished business do you have that opens the door for your manipulation?

Act: Physically pull out your infomercial stuff and sort through it. Do you see a common theme among those products? Look up scripture that encourages your growth in this area. Put it on a sticky note and post it so you can read it daily. Now, donate those items to charity.

Proverbs 1

1Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Proverbs 6:4-14

Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber;5 save yourself like a gazelle from the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler. 6 Go to the ant, you lazybones; consider its ways and be wise. 7 Without having any chief or officer or ruler, 8 it prepares its food in summer and gathers its sustenance in harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, O lazybones? When will you rise from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want, like an armed warrior.

12 A scoundrel and a villain goes around with crooked speech,13 winking the eyes, shuffling the feet, pointing the fingers, 14 with perverted mind devising evil, continually sowing discord

Take a deep breath. Exhale. Take a deep breath. Exhale. We are dealing with procrastination today! Yep, one more time. Take a deep breath. Exhale. (Smile) The nemesis championing our unfinished business is procrastination. We spend too much time spending time. We do not eat the frog; we do not complete our unfinished business because, truthfully, we believe that we can do it another day. We do so, as our text reminds us, with a wink and a nudge to God, knowing that we have not planned to finish what we started tomorrow.

The truth is we desire to be better; we just put it off. For some, even the readings and assignments have been pushed to the bottom of the To-Do List because we have otherwise allocated our time. There is nothing wrong with getting to things later, but what if later does not come? What if you died today? Is your will complete? What if it rains today? Did you get that windshield wiper fixed? (Real is real) What if you do not get up in time? Have you set out your clothing, made your lunch, and fixed your bag? These are practical realities that we know will make our day go much smoother, but time and time again, we procrastinate with the small steps. I can only imagine what we do with the bigger ones.

I get it. I, too, consider myself a procrastinator. However, like me, I am sure there are some things that you just do not wait to do. You are on it right away. What is it about those other areas, though? We can do better. We will do better.

Pray. Lord, deliver me from purposed procrastination.

Reflect: On what specific actions are you most likely to procrastinate? Financial matters? Health concerns? Relationship issues? Paperwork? We each have particular areas in which we procrastinate. Why?

Act: Evaluate your behavior patterns so that you might discover why you procrastinate in this/ these area(s).

Psalm 46:10

10 “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations and in the earth.”

We neglect ourselves in many ways. The one most prevalent is rest. It is like having an aversion to taking time to revive and renew and reenergize our being. Rest is an essential part of our living. We often do not rest because we allow our unfinished business to pile up and weigh heavily on our spirits. Then, because we feel the pressures of it, our minds cannot fathom stopping because we have to deal with it and we still avoid doing so. Rest is us giving way for God to be exalted, heard, and obeyed.

Rest does not mean that we become lazy and do not do anything. However, what we fail to understand is that rest does take preparation. Think of it this way; we do not rest in retirement if we have not prepared ourselves financially while working. We do not even rest when we go on vacation because we have not planned what to do; instead, we plan to “get some stuff done” or just “do nothing.” We often do not adhere to doing nothing because we have “stuff” to do. It is a never-ending cycle of rushed action that steals our rest.

Here are some benefits of rest from Dr. EricZ: In our hectic lifestyles, we far too often neglect to take a moment to “be still.” The Scripture tells us to do so, and for a good reason! He says, “Be still, and know that I am God. I am exalted among the nations and in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

• We would be more focused on helping others (instead of helping ourselves) because our outlook on life would be more God-focused, not “me” focused.

• Our hopes and dreams would be rekindled because we would continually be reminded that our Creator is all-powerful.

• We would not run ourselves ragged, constantly trying to push through and make things happen because we'd trust that God is in control.

• We would develop that proverbial “ear to hear” that Christ referred to because we'd learn the sound of our Lord's voice.

We must prepare time to rest so that we can order our steps in a way that does not rush by what God wants for our lives but rather helps us to order our steps so that God is glorified.

Pray: Lord, help me prepare to rest.

Reflect: What do you do when you are supposed to be resting? Do you clean? (Why not keep it clean?) Do you run around for others? (Are you taking on something they should be or could be doing, but well…since you do it, why would they?) Do you create lists out of habit but never check off anything? (A list is a start, but you need to do something with the list)

Act: Keep a Top 2 Listing daily. List the top 2 realistic things you want to accomplish that day and do them before you go to bed. Make them small and doable.

Lamentations 3:19-24

19 The thought of my affliction and my homelessness is wormwood and gall! 20 My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me. 21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end;23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

Good morning! Welcome to a Brand-New Day! God did it again! God woke us up to another day in the land of the living. Someone may be waking up dreading what lies ahead for this day or even lamenting what happened in our yesterday. However, this morning, I encourage you to simply celebrate the fact that this is a today. The Bible says tomorrow will take care of itself (Matthew 6: 34) and that we are to forget the former things (Isaiah 43:18). BUT! Today we can declare this is the day the Lord has made, and we shall rejoice and be glad in it! Hallelujah!

Jeremiah, the Weeping Prophet, reminds us that our hope for all must be in God. Indeed there have been moments in our lives that we will never forget, “the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison [we’ve] swallowed, the feeling of hitting bottom.” I know the pain is real! I know the feelings flooded in as daggers were thrown and rugs were pulled, and pains increased, but remember…that was then, and this is now! Hallelujah! Like Jeremiah, we must also remember “God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.” His compassion fails not (KJV).

That is why every single day is a new mercy. Every new day you see reminds the enemy just how defeated the enemy really is. Every new day reminds you that hope always prevails. We have hope in a teaching, preaching, falsely tried, and convicted, hung, bled and died, buried and resurrected Christ! Hallelujah! Glory to the lamb of God!

That is why we just rest in his mercy. He did not have to give us this day, but God did! Trust him with your today. He was already faithful in your yesterdays (even when you were not). Imagine the glory God will get from your tomorrows.

Pray: God, thank you for the miracle of a brand-new day!

Reflection: What are you thankful for today?

Act: Create an “I’m Thankful for…” list today. Post it in a prominent place so you can see it throughout the rest of this journey. Feel free to add to it as we tarry on.

Luke 2:41-52

41 Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43 When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents were unaware of this. 44 Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously looking for you.” 49 He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he said to them. 51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them, and his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favor.

The sure way to get to our unfinished business is to be about our father’s business. If we take the initiative to align our daily living with God’s will for our day, then we may find that much of what we see as unfinished is stuff we should have never started. We spend much of our time wandering because we do not ask for the Lord’s direction. We just do. Then, we end up having to deal with the repercussions of our decisions.

In our text, we find Jesus at age 12 (come on, grown folk) staying behind in Jerusalem and his parents assuming he was traveling with them toward Nazareth. The focus here is not as much on Jesus because we know that whatever he does, it is with God’s leading, but instead, I want us to focus on his parents. They went about their regular day, assuming the day would follow as they believed it should. However, there was another plan with which they were not in tune.

How often do we spend our time doing “stuff” out of our habits of mind instead of inquiring of God what God has for us? Psalm 32: 8 reminds us that “The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you

and watch over you.” We must also position ourselves daily to hear from the Lord. In Galatians 5: 16, Paul admonishes us to “let the Holy Spirit guide [our] lives. Then [we] won’t be doing what [our] sinful nature craves,” and we will end up with unfinished business that birthed out of our insecurities, selfishness, greed, prideful principles, and lusts.

God will never start something in our lives and not see it to fruition. God will continue God’s good work in us even until Christ returns (Phil 1:6). One sure way to avoid unfinished business is to make sure that it is business directed by God.

Pray: Lord, please order my steps this day and every day.

Reflect: What items on your unfinished business list are the repercussions of me not heeding the will of God?

Act: Repent unto God for taking steps that God did not order. Wake up daily, asking God to be about God’s business. Watch God’s hand shift your direction over the next few days.

Thursday | March 16, 2023

Joshua 11:15

15 As the Lord had commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses.

I am unsure if you remember, but I do so glaringly, the night Michigan and North Carolina played for the national championship. Thirty-five seconds left on the clock, Chris Webber, amid a barrage of North Carolina defense, called timeout the problem. Michigan did not have a timeout to use. The Michigan players had to watch as North Carolina shot uncontested free throws for the technical and received the ball on offense. Michigan lost. The Fab 5 went on to have great NBA careers, but Christ Webber has had to live with the stigma of that error.

We all live with the stigma of our errors. We all live with the stigma of what we do. We all also live with the stigma of what we do not do. On the other hand, artists are known just as much for the space they use on the canvas as for the undeveloped space. What they do not elect to do with a canvas is analyzed by curators and enthusiasts alike. This is true for you and your reputation. What you do and do not do make up who you are. Both have far-reaching implications for our lives and how we are viewed. You may ask, why should I care about how I am viewed? The simple answer is that we must care as Christians because we are Christ’s Ambassadors. We do not have the right to decide what we want to do if we represent Christ. An ambassador cannot just make up policy without the say-so of those who sent them. If so, the ambassador is negligent in duty.

According to W. L. Watkinson’s article Things Undone, that which we neglect [our unfinished business] is most often the thing of greatest consequence. He further teaches:

the defect in our moral life is that in our science of omission, we too often leave out the primary, highest, and essential. The trivial, the fugitive, the inferior, and the accidental are given a place in our lives, whilst the large, the noble, the precious, and the supreme are excluded. It is thus with us in questions of character. The weightier matters are more difficult, and we evade them. It is thus with matters of duty. We shirk the calls demanding courage, diligence, sacrifice and content ourselves by doing abundantly the things which are more immediately connected with our pride, our interest, or our pleasure. Here we are often condemned. Great principles are left out of our character because they are difficult to acquire and maintain; great duties are ignored because they mean heroism and suffering; great opportunities are forfeited because they demand promptitude and resolution; great works are declined because they involve consecration and sacrifice.

That which remains undone are perhaps those that are “weightier.” We put them off until the weekend or just until. Come on, brothers and sisters Christ’s Ambassadors let us not forfeit opportunities that await because of unfinished business.

Prayer: Lord, help me not forfeit opportunities that arise because I am unprepared.

Reflection: We get it: what God has for us is for us; however, we sometimes use that as an excuse because we have not had our stuff in order. Reflect on such a time. How do you see that God has shifted you because of that experience?

Act: Make a list of what you must prepare to complete one aspect of your unfinished business.

Psalm 19:12-14

12 But who can detect one’s own errors? Clear me from hidden faults.

13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless and innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Exodus 20: 1-7 outlines the 10 Commandments God gave each of us to live by. I am sure that at some point in your life, you have read them if you have not had them read to you. They are basic commands that help us live a more prosperous and productive life individually and, therefore, in the community. Unfortunately, we pick and choose the Commandments that we want to follow based on what we have going on in our lives. Amen, Somebody.

Surely God recognizes that I have a lot going on, and if I skip hanging out with and talking to God, God gets it; I am busy. Surely God will excuse me if I am a bit jealous; I mean, why hasn’t God helped me as God has helped them, right? Surely God gets that my parents were never any good, so forget them. They can fend for themselves like I had to when I was a child. God will understand that my spouse no longer understands me, so it is ok to hook up with someone who does. Need I go on?

God does not have to understand why we “break the rules.” God wants us to do the work to get our hearts right. To fix our heart and words on loving God, so we do not deliberately sin against God. Remember, all sin is against God; however, we and those in our lives must deal with the consequences.

God, please let the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable unto you, O Lord!

Pray: God, cleanse me from deliberate sin.

Reflect: In what areas of my life am I deliberately sinning? I know it is wrong, but I allow it to have dominion over me. How is this sin tied to my unfinished business?

Act: Name the sin. Ask God for forgiveness. Then this week, distance yourself from the act. Remove the app. Block the number. Speak in love. Apologize. Walk away. Read scripture instead

Matthew 6:19-21

19 “

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

As I was cleaning out my closet one weekend, one prevailing question continued to come to me when I would pick up an item of clothing that I have either never worn, have not worn in quite some time, or do not wear because it has never really been flattering: Why am I holding on to this?

My responses to myself were hilarious. For some, I would say, “It is a unique piece. I like unique pieces.” For others, I would say, “It looked good on me when I was smaller.” And, for one, I even recalled how I received it many years ago when I was selected to participate in a Jones of New York Fashion Show. So, of course, I have to keep this for nostalgia.

This may be a physician-heal-thyself-moment for me, but I know I am not alone. We each have had this closet experience. It may not be clothing for you; it may be kitchen gadgets, or paperwork, or that catch-all room that no one goes to anymore.

Our text for this morning, verse 20, jumped from the page into my spirit: “You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ The rich fool had so much stuff that he contemplated tearing down his current storage space to build more to hold more stuff. But, in his vanity to hold on to hoard stuff, he had lost sight of what was really important.

Our stuff is not essential; our spirit is. Anything that clutters our spiritual vision or confuses our consciousness of purpose damages our perspective of what we should be holding on to. I do not believe that we should through away great-grandmother’s china, but be realistic, greatgrandmother used it. Do you? When you have a moment, read the short story Everyday Use by AliceWalker.

Matthew 6: 19-21 reminds us that the earthly possessions that we hold on to for whatever reason and lock away with archival precision are not as valuable as us building an evolving relationship with Christ.

Pray: Lord, help me to minimize my stuff.

Reflect: Have you ever had to be the one to clean out a closet/room/home after the death of a loved one? What was that experience like for you? What did you find the person held on to the most? What happened to those items? Where are they now?

Action: Functional minimalism is a mindful approach to purchasing, owning, and organizing physical goods. Enjoy these points from author Kevin Wells:

• Eliminate duplicates (and triplicates). A good way to start minimizing is by getting rid of the items that are duplicated. It’s just not necessary.

• Don’t be a spare parts depot. Don’t keep things for “just in case” – this causes people’s homes to become cluttered with too much stuff. Chuck out “just in case” as a concept as well!

• Eliminate “legacy possessions.” These are items that you keep mainly because you have had them in your possession for so long and have just gotten used to them. But they don’t serve any useful purpose anymore.

• Cut down on storage space. Having less storage is a good way to cut down on your possessions. The less storage space you have, the less room you have to hoard things.

• Digitize your life. People should not need to file pieces of paper, bills, statements, contracts, or anything else. Instruct banks, utility companies, etc., to stop sending you the paper through the post. Scan the important stuff and shred it if you can. The unimportant stuff you should just shred.

• Stop buying stuff. OK, there are some things you need to purchase occasionally. But you no longer need to go “shopping.”

Luke 13:1-9

1At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way, they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3 No, I tell you, but unless you repent you will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them do you think that they were worse offenders than all the other people living in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you, but unless you repent you will all perish just as they did.”

6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7 So he said to the man working the vineyard, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ 8 He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good, but if not, you can cut it down.’”

Ok, I trust that your goal (it is mine) is to produce some fruit. This whole journey means nothing if we do not produce any fruit. What does that mean exactly? Does it mean plant a tree? No. It means that we must demonstrate love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23), and people ought to see these in us. As a matter of fact, they ought to rave about it. Don’t be fooled by those who say it doesn’t make any difference what other people think. It does for a Christian. Imagine, if you will if, Christians just did whatever ungodly mess they wanted. Imagine that they used “do as I say, not as I do” as their mantra (remember that, parents). If we are ever going to grow as Christians, we have to be concerned when people look at us and see a barren tree. Truly this text reminds us (let me be more personal here) what good are you in the body of Christ if you bear no fruit? What good are you if you have gifts and talents and you hide them like they are yours in the first place? What good are you if your conversation is not God-minded? What good are you if you just show up on Sunday and don’t add to the worship? Who cares that you are sitting in the pew? Stuffed animals can do that. I used to have stuffed animal audiences all the time when I was a little girl.

We cannot allow the world to blaspheme the name of God because of us (Ro. 2:24). The world must see us, and the world must know by our fruit that we belong to God.

So, don’t be misled we are in the spotlight whether we want to be or not. Get accustomed to it. It is where God is and there should we also be.

Pray: Lord, help me to honor you in all that I do.

Reflection: In what areas are people continually sharing about you? What characteristics do you hear another share about your personality/actions? Which demonstrates your most confident self and which does not? Are the negative reality of some insecurity we have adopted as our own? Are the positive being used to spread the love of God? If so, how. What happened on March 7 when you asked a sibling or other family member you trust (not your favorite “yes person) about what traits or patterns they see in you? What have you done about the response(s) given? How did you adjust your walk or talk? Be sure that whatever the adjustment, it aligns with the word of God concerning who you are to be in Christ.

Act: Be intentional about answering the questions in the reflection today and in following through consistently.

Matthew 19:28-30

28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my name’s sake will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

None of us like to lose. It is not in our survival-of-the-fittest nature to lose. It does not provide a sense of comfort to us. However, whenever change happens, loss occurs. To become the butterfly, the caterpillar must lose the safety of its cocoon. Loss is something for which we do not have a natural affinity, but it is a part of life.

One of my favorite poems is a villanelle entitled One Art by Elizabeth Bishop. The poem reminds me that losing itself is an art we often practice on purpose or because life happens.

This morning's text is Jesus’ explanation of the Parable of the Rich Young Ruler. We intend to try to hold on to what we deem important in life so much that we do not make room for greater blessings that God has for us. Jesus says, “everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.”

Losing is hard. Bishop notes that “It’s evident the art of losing’s not too hard to master though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.”

Losing does look and certainly feels disastrous at times, but we must know that losing will develop strength, provide us perspective, and enrich our dependence on God.

Pray: Lord, help me embrace losing so I might receive your greater blessings.

Reflect: What losses have you encountered lately? How have they made you feel?

Act: Write yourself a letter explaining how the loss(es) you have incurred will develop strength, provide perspective, and enrich your dependent on God.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you were bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body.

Fact: The only thing we control in life is ourselves.

As we arrive at this mid-point in our Lenten journey, be reminded that addressing your spiritual, social, and familial unfinished business is essential. However, it is even more important to remain healthy to enjoy the benefits of this hard work.

We often forego our preventative self-care only to have to do reactive maintenance when a health issue arises. It is time out for that. Our text reminds us that our bodies are on loan to us from God and that the Holy Spirit resides in these shells. God calls us to be good stewards of all creation. From the beginning, God commanded us to take care of and have dominion over all created beings. We may assert that this refers to environmental matters, but we are also part of God’s creation.

We must be mindful of what we put into our bodies. We must be conscious of how we join our bodies with others with whom we are not in marital covenant. We must remove toxins and structure time for rest. We must exercise and eat abundant foods that grow from the earth. We must have regular and informed healthcare.

We control how we look and feel. We control if our bodies are well-rested. We control the care that is given to health concerns. We control how we maintenance our hereditary conditions. We have authority over our bodies.

Pray: Lord, make me a good steward over my physical body.

Reflect: Do you keep a regular preventative health routine? If so, what can be added to help give an energy booster? If not, what is hindering you from one?

Act: Schedule your doctors’ appointments for the remainder of the year (primary, dermatologist, eye, dental, nutritionist, gynecologist). Schedule your fitness and rest routines. Schedule your other activities around these. It is ok to say you have an appointment with or for yourself.

Ephesians 5:8-14

8 for once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. 10 Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness; rather, expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly, 13 but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Our scripture reminds us of right living. Most powerful is Jesus' conversation with the hypercritical Pharisees who, in their pomp and circumstance of tradition and haughtiness, chose to remain blind to the salvation that stood physically in their presence. One thing that we should certainly not be as Christians is blind. We have the Word that provided revelation knowledge to us about every situation in our lives.

If we are stumbling in the darkness, perhaps there are too many other nonessential experiences in our lives that have absolutely nothing to do with what God wants for our lives or where God is taking us. We ought to not, as children of God, go around fumbling in the dark...how can we, if the light of Christ shines from within? How can we? We can, if we continue to remain blind to the light, close our eyes and our hearts to God's admonishment and align our will with that of God for our lives. Remember even Jesus said, "not my will, Lord, but Thy will be done." Is that a prayer that you pray every night: "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done!" (Sound familiar) But is that only for show or do we really want the Lord's will to reign in our life? Is your answer: Yes!

Reign In My Life Lord?

Take off the blinders and walk in God's marvelous light. Don't just claim to see...See! See that we are heirs of God's salvific nature, and because we are, we have the privilege of abundance in EVERY area of our lives.

Pray: Lord, reign in every part of my life.

Reflect: In what areas of your life do you not allow God to reign? Why do you hold on to control in these areas and not others? What does not allow you to trust God in these areas?

Act: Take a look at your spending from last month. Rank from 1 to 3, with one being the highest, where you spent most of your money last month. This is where your heart really lies. Does your spending habit support corrective measures with your unfinished business? If not, what redirection must you do?

Thursday | March 23, 2023

Matthew 24:12-13

12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Do not give up! Do not give in! Keep pressing!

It appears that the world is winning. Whenever we try to do what is right, something seems to slip in and knock down what has been built. Paul said it best in Romans 7: 21 “Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.” For me, it feels like the beach bully who comes along and walks right through the sandcastle you have been building all day. Been there?

Well, our scripture today finds Jesus teaching us that the bullies, the sin, the devastations of the world will continue until the end of time. False prophets will come, and sin will be rampant, but our responsibility is to keep pressing so that when God returns, we will have taken care of our unfinished business.

Pray: Lord help my actions to align with your glory.

Reflection: What unfinished business do I need to sure up from this week? What stepped in and derailed my progress? How can I guard against this happening?

Act: Review this week’s actions. What unfinished business can you get to this weekend?

2 Corinthians 12:9-11

9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. 11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it. Indeed, you should have been the ones commending me, for I am not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.

What has always been so inspiring about Paul is that he was not at all what people expected. According to the world’s standards, he would not have been the leading man in a hit action series or a romance drama. He would not have been on the cover of GQ, but he changed the world. Like most people who are game changers, Paul took all that he had good, bad, and ugly and just worked.

Too often, we think that we do not have what it takes to get things done. Even with our unfinished business, it may seem daunting because we feel like we lack the skill, stamina, or strength to get finished. But Paul always reminds me that the only thing that we do not need any of that, we only need God’s grace. Hallelujah!

No matter what you are striving for right now, know that you may never get what you need to feel like you know what you are doing. We may not always come to a natural resolution for some issues we face physically, emotionally, socially, familial, or otherwise. However, we can be encouraged to continue growing spiritually as we learn that resolutions do not always look like we want them to, but as long as we are covered in God’s grace, we will make it.

Pray: God, thank you for your grace.

Reflection: What lessons have you learned about unresolved issues?

Act: Share the lessons you have learned with a prayer partner (Hopefully a person reading along with you this month).

Acts 5:1-11

1 But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; 2 with his wife’ s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!” 5 Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. 6 The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.

Have you ever found yourself not being true to who you are to save face? Anyone who has ever worked within the polity of any organization can understand this. There is a sense of pressure to hold to a certain standard. What is significant for us to remember today is that when we find ourselves experiencing this feeling that we do not compromise our integrity.

In our text, Anninias and Saphira actually lie about something that they do not have to lie about to look good in front of the establishment. Why? The fact that they had brought an offering was good enough. However, somewhere in their minds, they thought it was better to look good in front of people instead of honoring God with integrity.

Proverbs 16: 8 teaches, “Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.” Let’s stop spending time impressing folks who themselves are not really impressive (wink)

Pray: Lord, stop me in my tracks if I try to please humanity and not you.

Reflect: In what areas are you compromising your integrity to hold on to perceptions? Why? What need are you appeasing? What are you gaining?

Act: Ask for forgiveness. Tell yourself God’s sufficient truth and free yourself to continue growing.

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. 6 The nations are in an uproar; the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice; the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord; see what desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations; I am exalted in the earth.” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

There is something about cleaning that is cathartic. I mean, when you get down to baseboardcleaning with a toothbrush cleaning. Making-patterns-in-the-carpet-with-the-vacuum cleaning. Losing-a-pound-or-two cleaning. It is refreshing to look back and know that you have purged, sanitized, and refreshed your space. Honestly, the space may not have even looked that dirty, but if you have ever been, especially in those baseboard corners, you know that days (and months) of gunk pile up. And sometimes, we just get used to it, so we do not even see it anymore until one day we are still, and we look down, see it, and notice how unsightly it is. It may even be a corner where no one else would look except you, but you see it.

To really see the “gunk” in our own corners, we have to get still. I hear you--still--with your schedule? However, are you really going to continue to let your unfinished business gunk up your joy and peace?

As you read our text today, notice just how much stuff is going on around the writers. It happens, but we must take a moment to reverence that which is godly. Be still. Be still. Be still. The stuff around you is not going anywhere. Be still. Be still. Be still.

Pray: Lord help me to be still so that I might see the true impact of my unfinished business and make the time to finish it.

Reflect: Go back to read Day 13. Have you gotten to complete that assignment, and have you been making your Top 2 list (or some version of it)? Why or why not?

Act: Take out your calendar and map out the time for you to complete the tasks on your Top 2. Create an alarm to remind yourself and give yourself only 30-60 minutes to work toward completion.

Ephesians 2:1-10

1You were dead through the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. 3 All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, doing the will of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else, 4 but God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we may walk in them.

Ask yourself? Can God point to me as an example of the incredible wealth of God's favor and kindness? Am I living in the fullness of the Lord? In me, is Christ creating a new creature (note creating...not has he created...we should always be actively growing in Christ)? Am I doing the good things that God has planned for me?

Have you answered “YES” to each of these questions readily, or did you have to stop and think about one or two (or all, for that matter)? The miracle is that God allows us to get up each day despite ourselves and despite our indiscretions because God allows us to live through the salvific nature of Jesus Christ. This text reminds us that when we were yet dead because of our sins, Jesus died so that we might have life! What a marvelous gift! Life! To live it according to the will of God is even more of a precious gift! As we grow through this Lenten Season, my prayer for each of us is that we earnestly and continually remain fixed on the glory of God operating in our lives so that we might be an abundant blessing in the body of Christ. God has planned for each of us to do "good things." For some of us, God has already shown us what this means for our lives...walk

in it...in power and with conviction! For others, we may still be wrestling with where God is trying to take us...go ahead...wrestle...God is patient and loving...God made you, and God knows your temperament...but know this… "trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and lean not to your own understanding (God knows what's best for you), but in ALL your ways acknowledge the Lord...he will direct your path (even in your wrestling) (Pr. 3:5)"

Wherever we are in our walk on this day, know that we are still "God's masterpiece," crafted in the image of the Creator and sculpted through the salvation of our Savior!

Pray: God thank you for your loving kindness and patience with me.

Reflect: What are you still wrestling with that is keeping you from taking care of unfinished business?

Act: Take one step today toward finished. I cannot tell you what that step is, but you know because God has been urging you to do it. Be encouraged. God is with you.

Matthew 14:31

31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

One factor in our life that holds us back from accomplishing the unthinkable or miraculous is fear. When Peter was asked by God to walk on the water, he allowed fear to bind him and hold him back. God responds to Peter’s fear by saying, “You of little faith.”

Is there something that you want to do but fear is holding you back? Many have been in your position. But today, take a step. Go after your heart’s desire, God will add the increase and like Peter, you will be victorious. God will walk with you every step of the way. No matter who tells you that what you want to do cannot be done, remember God says you can do it. No matter how much the wind blows against you, God says you can do it. No matter how many demons arise, and fears attack, remember God says you can do it.

Remember all is not lost and all is not hopeless because we stumble. If you begin to sink, look up your higher power your Savior. Look up to your redeemer, look up to your Lord, look up to your friend, look up to your Master who created this world and all that is in it. It is God who promised us that we can do all things through Christ who strengths us and not we ourselves. Hallelujah and Amen!

Pray: God, help me to look to you for the strength I need for today.

Reflect: In what areas of your life have you given up hope? How, at all, is this area connected to your unfinished business?

Act: Ask the Lord to show up for you in these areas.

2 Timothy 2:17 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

Fear cripples our development into whom God has ordained us to be. We cannot allow our apprehensions about what we think we cannot do to keep us from stretching ourselves. Too often, ministries do not grow because people are afraid to step out of their comfort zones.

I get it. We do not like the feeling of failure, and we certainly would not like to be in a situation where all eyes are on us. I get it. We do not want to make a mistake. So, we do not step out and try. However, when we do this, we cheat ourselves and others out of God’s blessings.

God has so much for us but requires us to act. Even in the wilderness, when God rained down manna from heaven, the children of Israel had to do something to get it. They had to “go out and gather it” daily.

Our fear our timidity is not coming from God. It comes from our lack of trust in the people God created us to be. Remember, God does not make mistakes. When opportunities are presented to you, they come for a reason. Say yes to the Lord and see how the Lord will bless you and others.

Pray: God help me to release fear and walk in my gifts and talents so you may be glorified.

Reflect: What have you missed out on because of your fears? How has this fear affected others around you? How is this fear tied to your unfinished business?

Act: Say “Yes” to every opportunity presented today and see where God leads you.

Thursday | March 30, 2023

Proverbs 17:22

22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.

Reflection in Song: ThisJoythatIHave (Caesar).

One of my all-time favorite gospel songs is James Cleveland’s God is. The chorus alone enlivens my spirit and reminds me that God is the source of all we need to live an abundant life. God is the joy and the strength of my life, He moves all pain, misery, and strife. He promised to keep me, never to leave me. He's never ever come short of His word.

Not only does the chorus remind us of who and what God is, but it reminds us of our responsibility in our daily living.

I've got to fast and pray, stay in His narrow way, I've got to keep my life clean every day; I want to go with Him when He comes back, I've come too far, and I'll never turn back.

In the midst of our hectic lives, the foundation of our being comes in the joy we find in who God is. Joy is not conditional. Joy is not found in circumstance. Many of us tend to respond relative to our circumstance. When life is good, we are joy-filled, energetic, and giving, but let the world through a wrench in our day (our month, our year), then we become irritated, sullen, woeful, and withdrawn. We forget that no matter what our circumstance God still is.

God is our source of joy. God is our strength. God is our healer. God is our comforter. God is our promise keeper. God is our guide. God is not a man that God should lie.

Our responsibility is to live a life that honors who God is.

Pray: Lord, allow me to see the joy in every circumstance.

Reflect: When your circumstance is not favorable, what is your pattern of response? Do you lament? Do you seek the lesson? Do you praise God?

Act: Look back at your listing of unfinished business that remains undone. Do not focus on the satisfaction that shall come from its completion, but where is the joy in the journey toward completion? What are you learning? How are you growing stronger because you are endeavoring to handle your unfinished business?

Joshua 5:9-12

9 The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.” And so that place is called Gilgal to this day. 10 While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal, they kept the Passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. 11 On the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes, and roasted grain. 12 The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.

Manna is connected with the exclamation “Man hu,” which the Israelites uttered on first seeing it. This expression is generally translated as “What is this? We may not be listening to the right voice in the wind...but God, on this day, has taken away the manna! God has taken away the sustenance that has taken us through the wilderness the manna and is now allowing us to feast on God’s natural richness. Just look around you. At this moment, what has changed? Who has come? What is new about you your family your coworker(s) your boss your church?

We often think that when we “fast for Lent,” right after the season ends, we go back and pick up the habit, the mannerism, the life we had denied ourselves. That should not be. If we have given “it” up for this season, then “it” should be gone forever! What has God taken away, never to be seen again in your life? Negative attitudes? Gone! Burdens and worries? Gone! False hopes, tired excuses, and parasitic friends? Gone! Are the lack-ofs gone?

Lack-of trust

Lack-of faith

Lack-of belief in the mighty hand of God in our lives

Lack-of intestinal fortitude (guts)

Lack-of power

Lack-of vision

Well? What is your answer? What has changed about you since you have been going through this wilderness period? I pray that you spend time reflecting on this day, noting specifically what doors have opened, what new revelations have come, and what new paths you are treading.

Pray: Thank you, God, for providing all my needs through this journey.

Reflect: What has changed about you during this Lenten Season experience? If nothing has changed, why has it not?

Act: Write down the new paths that God is opening before you this month.