One Won One - Blog

Endings/Beginnings

7/29/2021

When you come to the end of the hallway, there is a wall. There is a choice to make – do I go through the door on the left or the right? I make my choice and find myself outside, staring down a road, so I start walking.

When you come to the end of the road, there is a field. Again, I must choose. Do I traverse the field, or turn around and go back? I move forward and discover a river with a boat moored there, waiting for me. And so I sail.

When you come to the end of the river, there is an ocean. Do I allow my small dinghy to continue into the wide expanse, or do I drop anchor before it’s too late? The ocean calls, so I head into the deep wide unknown.

Upon the roaring seas of life, I find myself outmatched in my small sailboat. The wind buffets the small dinghy, so I lower the sails and let the rough seas take me where it will. I know not where I go, but I know I am held safe in the Father’s arms wherever it may be. I am undone as the waves crash over me, capsizing my small boat.

When you come to the end of yourself, there is God.

Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. (Psalm 16:1)

#LoveMatters

Blessing the Cursing

7/26/2021

David was fleeing Jerusalem because his son Absalom was attempting to steal the throne at the cost of David’s life. On the way out, one of David’s enemies came out shouting, cursing, and pelting David and his men with rocks.

Instead of retaliating against the man yelling and throwing things at him, he looked at it as an opportunity.

“It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.” (2 Samuel 16:12)

Can you imagine reacting like this? David was the King of Israel and had hundreds of his troops with him, yet refused to retaliate against this lone assailant, because he didn’t want to take away the opportunity of blessing from God for suffering undeservedly.

This is a historical example of what Jesus instructed His followers:

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28)

This is also an example of why God said David was “a man after his own heart”. Our retaliation of undeserved punishment can cause us to miss out on an opportunity to show undeserved love to others.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. (1 Peter 3:18)

#LoveMatters

Secret Sauce

7/22/2021

Have you ever eaten something and wondered how they achieved such a distinct flavor? Many chefs would refer to this as their ‘secret sauce’. A unique combination of flavors that make their dish stand out.

Did you know that followers of Christ also have a secret sauce? We are to provide this world with a distinct ‘flavor’ that can’t be found anywhere else.

This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. (Colossians 1:26)

The way we speak, act, and conduct life with others should stand out as something special. We should bring something different to those around us – something like the secret sauce in a meal that makes you want to return to a restaurant time after time.

And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. (Colossians 1:27)

When Christ lives in someone, the change is as unavoidable as adding that secret ingredient to a dish. It makes the difference between just going through the motions of being alive and really living. Just a dash of the hope, joy and peace that comes with a relationship with our Creator will add flavor to your life and impact all those you interact with.

Let’s get out there and share our secret sauce with the world!

#LoveMatters

Body Parts

7/19/2021

Let’s face it, there are some parts of the human body that should just stay under wraps… I realize that there are plenty of people that seem to disagree with this sentiment, showing everything to everybody. Maybe you’ll even call me ‘old-fashioned’ to think there is or should be such a thing as propriety.

But regardless of how you feel about the external body parts, I hope we can all agree that we don’t need to be flaunting our spleens or small intestines. We can also likely agree that we are very glad to have these two internal organs.

Those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. (1 Corinthians 12:22-23)

This is important - extra care is to be given to the weaker parts. This is the opposite of how we often treat people in society (it makes perfect sense that God would approach things the opposite of us sinful and short-sighted humans).

All of us who follow Christ make up the Body, and each one of us has a purpose within the Body. Some of those that need the most protection are of deep importance to the body. I may leave my hands exposed to the storm, but were my heart laid bare it would not end well.

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:26-27)

#LoveMatters

Paid in Full

7/15/2021

After many years, my wife and I were finally able to pay off our home loan last year. It was a huge relief to know that debt was no longer hanging over our heads!

There is a debt that is much worse than a home mortgage – our debt of sin.

For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a)

Each of us has a sin debt that we cannot repay unless we give our very lives. None of us deserve anything less, and there is no way this can be forgiven without sacrificing life.

Hebrews 9:22 clearly states “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

Because I believe in Christ as my Savior, He has stamped my sin debt “Paid in Full” by shedding His Blood for me. He gave His Life to cover my sin, because He didn’t want me to die for my own sins and be lost forever.

Thanks to Christ relieving my sin-debt, I am now free to pay it forward with every breath and all the good gifts I’m given. We are not to take such a precious gift as Christ’s sacrifice and hold it within ourselves – we are meant to share it with others!

“The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23b)

#LoveMatters

More Than Just Numbers

7/12/2021

36524

This number is not my zip code but is the number of days in 100 years. Now, most people don’t live to be 100 years, but if you do that’s how many days you would see on this earth.

29219

This is the number of days in 80 years. It’s much more likely that you live 80 years. In fact, that is about the average life expectancy in the United States. Imagine living over 29 thousand days and never taking one of those to thank the Lord for giving them to you.

One of the amazing things about God is that He does give us so many days to turn our hearts to Him. Can you imagine knocking on someone’s door for even 1 entire day without giving up? Yet Jesus knocks and knocks, day after day, never giving up on us.

12045

This is the number of days in 33 years. This is both the approximate number of days that the Lord Jesus dwelt among us in His first sojourn here, and also the approximate number of days it took me to answer Him.

1

This is today. Today is all we are given, and if you haven’t answered the knocking at the door of your heart, I sincerely hope you do so right away. We don’t know what tomorrow may bring!

So, as the Holy Spirit says:
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts (Hebrews 3:7-8)

#LoveMatters

Lending to God

7/8/2021

This title sounds crazy, right? I mean, we know that God doesn’t need anything from us - it all belongs to Him anyway!

If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world is mine, and all that is in it. (Psalm 50:12)

He created us and everything around us – what could we possibly give Him that He would want? Believe it or not, there is something that He not only wants from us, but that He actually asks us to lend to Him!

If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord – and he will repay you! (Proverbs 19:17)

Help the poor. Jesus said we would always have the poor with us, and 2000 years has proven this is true. No matter how many programs and charities we come up with, the poor remain. But just because we can’t hope to completely eradicate something doesn’t mean we should ignore it.

If you find yourself blessed, give to those less fortunate. God promises that no matter how much you give, you will be repaid with even more blessings. When you help the least of these, you are not only blessing those you give to, but you are directly impacting your own treasure in heaven.

So make that loan to the Lord today – you will never regret it!

#LoveMatters

The Wilderness of Sin

7/6/2021

They left the Red Sea and camped in the wilderness of Sin. (Numbers 33:11)

When we first get prompted to pack up and leave our life of enslavement in Egypt, we may yet have a long journey before the Promised Land becomes reality. We may have left our enslavement, but we far too often find ourselves camping out in the Wilderness of Sin.

The Israelites had just seen the miracle at the Red Sea; watching as God demolished the Egyptian army that was pursuing them. In total over the 40+ years the Israelites were on the move, they traveled and stopped in many different places along the way before crossing the border of the Promised Land in another momentous ‘parting of the water’ event.

We too must travel the road God has placed before us, following faithfully and always being willing to stay where we are or pack up and go where the Spirit leads. Like the Israelites, we often stumble our way down the trail, bitterness and complaints rising as we forget the miracles and mercies of the past.

But the Lord is ever faithful if we keep pushing ahead and trust Him. Let’s not wallow in the Wilderness of Sin another day! Press on where the Lord leads, remembering that His Mighty Power has not diminished, and that our battles are already won through His Son, Jesus.

The Promised Land may be yet distant, but we can have confidence in God’s Promises – don’t give up!

So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us. (1 John 2:24-25)

#LoveMatters