GraceWaves Articles

“I do not understand my own actions, for I do not do what I want, but the very thing I hate.” Romans 7:15 Sometimes I’m very tired of me. I commit the same sins, have the same defects of character, and get myself into the same kind of trouble I’ve had for years. There is nothing new under the sun. I’m not being pessimistic, and I don’t want you to feel sorry for me. I also don’t need those of you who know me to agree too enthusiastically. I’m just being honest. In my journey upward I fall and fail

“The memory of the righteous is a blessing.” Proverbs 10:7 The Memorial Day weekend has prompted me to consider the importance of remembering, and the grace God gives us to remember. Remembering is a minor feature of our early years when we see the future spread out before us and imagine all the awaiting possibilities. As we grow older the focus shifts to the past by a few percentage points each year. This is not a bad thing at all, for as we gather experiences, as families grow, and as friends sift in and out of our lives we simply

“Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11 The Lord’s Prayer should be a part of your morning devotion. This prayer is Jesus’ gift to us, His answer to our request “teach us to pray.” Therefore, part of what we should pray every day is “give us this day our daily bread.” The key to understanding this initial request in The Prayer is the word “daily” a surprisingly obscure word in the NT (found only here and in the parallel in Luke). Outside of the NT we find only one example, in a shopping list or list of expenses.

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth. Do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19 This beautiful text comes from “The Book of Comfort” in Isaiah (chs. 40-66), a theme of which is seeing God’s will and learning to discern His ways. In these chapters we often find the question, “do you not see?” or “do you not perceive?” The text for this week’s GraceWaves reminds us of four important truths. First, stop

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.” John 14:6 When traveling the common conversation starter is “what kind of work are you in?’ My reply, “I am a Baptist minister” elicits either slightly nervous silence the rest of the trip or opens the door to some interesting discussion. I had the latter experience last week on a trip. My companion said, “I am struggling with faith. I was raised a Christian, but I wonder about all the other people of different faiths. What happens to them?” It’s an uncomfortable

“I will remember their sins and their misdeeds no more.” Hebrews 10:17 Certain statements in the Bible are so arresting, so startling, that every time you read them you have to stop and let them sink in. Did God really mean that? Hebrews 10:17 is one of those verses. It’s actually a quote from Jeremiah, a part of the wondrous “New Covenant” from the Lord (Jer. 31:31-34). The day would come, said Jeremiah (speaking for the Lord), when God would create a new covenant, completely unlike the old one. The writer of Hebrews (no it was not Paul, but that’s

"I have learned whatever state I am in to be content.” Philippians 4:11 Do you remember your first job? Do you recall what you were paid? I do. My first job was at Rosemont Grocery, a little full-service grocery store, originally on the outskirts of town but long since having been swallowed up by an ever-growing Lexington. It was across the street from where we lived, and I had been going there on errands for a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk ever since we moved there. The owner and clerks knew me and had watched me grow

“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:11 Humility is a slippery topic. To claim you have it is a pretty sure proof you don’t. Often we’re not even aware of our need for it. In many circles humility sounds weak, though no one would say that out loud. Jesus was a keen observer of humanity, and at a banquet one time he noticed how people scrambled for the chief seats not realizing how petty and small they had become, how “unreal” they were.. These little displays of ego inflation amused

What Day Is It? “Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11 The Lord’s Prayer, or The Model Prayer, is Jesus’ gift to us. It is the answer to the disciples’ request “teach us to pray.” Typical of Jesus, He did not delve into the mysteries or problems of prayer. He simply gave us a 20 second “how to.”  Interesting. I preach a 10 week series on how to pray. Jesus sums it up in 20 seconds. The first actual request in the prayer is “give us this day our daily bread.” The word “daily” is a surprisingly obscure

“And immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.” John 6:21 If you are reading this you are either coming out of a storm, in the middle of a storm, or about to go into a storm sometime in the near future. Storms are simply a part of life. We have sunny days, but they will pass. We also have stormy days, and they too will pass. The key to surviving storms is to remember God's presence. He is not surprised by any storm. He will never leave you during the storm. The real question that

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 [I wrote the following back in 2010, before GraceWaves. Thought we could all relate.] I have a confession. Not anything nefarious, more along the lines of embarrassingly dumb. Last Monday I wanted to back my prized Ford Taurus about half-way into my garage, and, for reasons too complicated to explain, I hopped out, leaving the door open, and left the car in reverse. I’ll let that sink in for a moment . . . all right, let’s proceed. As I realized

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise.” Ephesians 5:15 Turns out, John Wayne was a prophet as well as an all-American hero. He reportedly said, “Life is hard, but it’s harder when you’re stupid.” As with many aphorisms, I don’t know if he actually said this or if it’s merely attributed to him, but it certainly suits The Duke. [As a kid, I wanted to be like John Wayne when I grew up, but only made it a little past Don Knotts] Now I don’t recommend going around labeling anyone’s behavior as stupid. The

“For every one of you who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:11 I have in my files a story from the New Orleans paper dated December 8, 1986 about a contest held near New Orleans. It was called “The Cutest Kid in the World Contest.” More than five hundred children were entered. Prizes included a trip to Disney World. It was botched from the beginning. Delays in starting lengthened. Frazzled families grew increasingly impatient, and finally one mother jumped up on the stage and screamed at one of the officials, “Where

"And Jesus said to him, 'What do you want Me to do for you?' And the blind man said to him, 'Master, let me receive my sight." Mark 10:51 Helen Keller wrote a fascinating article entitled "Three Days to See" for the The Atlantic Monthly. You remember, of course, that Helen Keller was blind and deaf from a very early age, but overcame those barriers and learned to communicate. She learned about the world around her and helped us to see things that we often overlook. She began by writing, “I have often thought it would be a blessing if

"Pray constantly." 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Seriously? Most of you reading this meager offering are probably doing well to read this meager offering. Your prayers may have been hastily muttered over breakfast or in the car on the way to work, but I don't want to get too autobiographical. Without question I have room in my spiritual devotions for improvement. During this Lenten season I would do well to put aside all the scurrying little urgent things and give more reflective time to the important things. If it's important we need to set aside time for it, and I feel better