Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 "How He Loves Us"

Tsunami Devotional by Steve Keaton

Wednesday, September 16^th, 2009

Title: How He Loves Us

Text: Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)

³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."^{a]"> 37}No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^b]"> neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When my oldest son Tyler was just a little guy he was totally into the movie “Toy Story”. He would sit and watch it for hours upon hours and even got to the point that he pretty much knew every line of the animated Disney flick. I guess he gets it honest since his mommy could do the same thing with the movie “Dirty Dancing”, but that’s a story for another devotional. Anyway, Tyler really enjoyed all of the characters in the movie but one certainly stood out above the rest. Sheriff Woody was cool and all of the supporting characters were fun as well, but the one that seemed to captivate Tyler’s attention was “Buzz Lightyear – Space Ranger”. Buzz was awesome, and he thought he could fly. He had wings that would expand out of the sides of his jet pack and Buzz even had a cool little red laser light that would shine and make a sci-fi type noise once the button was pushed. Simply said, Buzz Lightyear was the man. Buzz also had a phrase he would say before he would jet off to his next adventure. Come on. I bet you know what it is. All together now. “To Infinity, And Beyond!” Well, Tyler would often recite that same phrase before he would leave the room, head to bed, leave the house and so on. It was quite funny.

Well one time while I was heading out the door to make my way out of town for a youth speaking gig, I knelt down on the floor to give my little man a hug and kiss goodbye. I told Tyler that I loved him so much. He responded with an “I love you more.” So I fired back with, “I love you the most.” To which he quickly returned fire with fatal blow of “I love you to infinity and beyond!” I heart skipped a beat and I was breathless for a moment. I had no slick return for his statement of adoration for me. All I could do was wrap my arms around him, give him a huge squeeze and say “Thank you so much.” He smiled and ran off, and I made my way out the door.

Over the years I have replayed that encounter in my mind a billion times. It was a humbling moment to witness the sincerity in the eyes of my child as he shared that message of unconditional love with me. As we see in today’s word that our Creator loves us far more than even that. The text says that nothing can separate us from the love that passionately flows from the presence of God. No matter where we go, what we do, how fast we run, how well we hide, how strong we may feel we are or even how unworthy we may consider ourselves, none of that will diminish the level of love that God shows us. Love is not something that God does. Instead it is something that God is. Love is God and God is Love. It is God’s very nature.

Our world does its best to poke and prod and point out every little imperfection. The old saying of “Misery Loves Company” has never been more prevalent as it is today. But I remind you that God loves you to infinity and beyond. God’s love for you will never go away. God’s love for you will remain through every storm and every circumstance. I hope that today you will embrace this, take it to heart and draw strength and joy from the fact that the same one who hung the moon and the stars, who makes the sun rise and fall and who put the waves in motion is passionately, madly and ridiculous in love with you. Yes, you.

A Few Moments with God:

God, as I spend this time with you, I am humbled that I have the open invitation to reach out and speak intimately with the creator of the universe. I marvel at your craftsmanship that is on display all around me, and then to think that you still know who I am, that your love for me is so deep that you hurt when I hurt and you celebrate when I celebrate makes me truly understand that your love is active in my life. I thank you for that. Help me to find peace in that understanding when the world tries so hard to beat me down and take my focus off of you and your guidance on my life. I also pray that I will be a true display of that Godly love to a world in need of your comfort, forgiveness and grace. Amen.

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 "A Helping Hand"

Tsunami Devotional by Steve Keaton

Wednesday, September 9^th, 2009

Title: A Helping Hand

Text: Ecclesiastes 4:10 (NIV)

If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Back in the day, which is cool talk for “When I was a teenager”, there was a commercial on television that was quite funny. I’m not sure it was suppose to be funny. As a matter of fact I would bet that when the producers were making the 60-second spot, they never imagined it would cause such laughter. But anyway, it was a commercial for one of those “Medic Alert” companies that provided older adults with a device they could wear around their neck allowing them to push a button that would signal the proper authorities in case they were involved in an emergency in their home with no one around to assist them. In the commercial an elderly, grandmother figure was shown sprawled out of the floor making every attempt to crawl toward a piece of furniture so that she could hopefully pick herself up off the floor. As she made her effort she uttered those now infamous words that have been forever etched in the history commercials. “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!” From the moment I saw that commercial and heard those words for the first time, every time I see someone fall down I think about that older women and say those words to myself. I know. It is a sickness.

However, in today’s text we see something not quite as humorous. It talks about those around us who are in need of a compassionate and caring hand to help them back to their feet when they take a tumble over one of life’s many obstacles. The verse speaks of those who have been pushed to the fringe of our society, shoved to the outside, driven to the place where they are out of sight and therefore often out of mind, and because of that don’t have the hand of a friend to aid them in the often daunting task of gathering themselves, finding comfort and then the confidence to begin to walk on life’s path again.

Our world has become increasingly more self-centered and absorbed with what is taking place in our own lives. The old phrase “What have you done for me lately?” has never been more at the center of our thought process. But my question to you today is “What have you done for others lately?” Have you consciously opened your eyes to the needs around you as you travel of your path? Have you noticed those lying helplessly by as the world streaks by with the hustle and bustle of the day to day? Have you reached out a hand of compassion, caring and Christ to a friend in need? A friend in need of physical, spiritual and emotional help? Have you allowed the bright light of your Savior to bring comfort to those seeking and needing help? Please remember that part of our mission as servants of God in this world is to be the helping hand. It starts with seeing the need, then extending the hand. When you do so, you’ll be amazed at how God will use you.

Something to Think About:

· What can you do to begin to notice those around you who have fallen?

· Have you noticed the fallen around you but not acted to help them? Why?

· Can you name times in your life when you have helped those needing a helping hand?

· What were the circumstances? Why did you help them and maybe not others?

· What can you now do to help all in need that you encounter in your life?

A Few Minutes with God:

God, I pray that you will stir my heart and give me a passion to seek out and meet the needs of around me. Remove the world view from my eyes and give me the ability to see the world and the needs of that world the way you do. Give me the compassionate heart and confident spirit to do all you are calling me to do. And by doing so make an eternal impact on the world I live in. Amen.

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 "Follow the Leader"

Tsunami Devotional by Steve Keaton

Wednesday, September 2^nd, 2009

Title: Follow the Leader

Text: Philippians 3:16-17 (NIV)

¹⁷Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. ¹⁸For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

I can remember as a young child running around like a crazy person through the neighborhood with my friends. It seemed like we could turn anything into a game or competition of some type. We would get in the front yard and play some smash-mouth, step on your buddy’s back, knock you into next week football. With no pads on, I might add. We played so much baseball in my backyard that we wore base paths in the shape of a diamond and even busted out a few windows because of the homeruns we’d blast over the chain link fence. And I can remember like it was yesterday riding through the neighbor on our bicycles. We would ride from sun up to sun down and beyond. We would ride to the local 7-11 (Oh! Thank Heaven) and pick up a Super Big Gulp, which seemed like at least of gallon of carbonated goodness, and a foot-long, chocolate Charleston Chew. Umm, umm good. Anyway, back to the story.

One of our favorite things to do was to play “Follow the Leader” on the bikes, and nothing was off-limits. It was always interesting and sometimes dangerous to see what obstacles you’d encounter. We would ride through creeks, down trails covered with thorn-laced vines, down the steps of the local junior high school and many other things. And, if you were able to come through with nothing more than some scrapes and scratches, you had something to truly talk about. Follow the Leader was a blast, but it was something that as the “Leader” was taken seriously simply because you knew the people following your every move and doing everything you did were counting on you to not only lead them, but show them how to accomplish the task at hand. It wasn’t about loosing the people behind you. It was all about taking them on an adventure and showing them how to finish despite all of the ups and downs along the path.

As Christ-Followers we are called to a similar thing. It may not be about jumping creeks and streaking down dark trails, but it is about embracing the call of an authentic Christian to lead others on the adventure known as “Following God.” And don’t full yourself. There are people walking behind you. They are watching you. They are trusting in you. They are counting on you. What are you doing about that? What type of leader are you? Are you the type of leader that is striving to ensure those following your example will learn how to overcome everything this world throws at them? Or are you more interested in leaving in your wake the shattered, beaten and defeated souls that will be devoured by a world that cheers loudly when they fail on their walk with the Savior? And don’t fool yourself. You are being watched. You are setting an example. You are a leader. The question is are you leading others toward the life-changing love of Christ or toward the darkness of the world? Only you can answer that question.

Something to Think About:

o What type of leader do you think you’ve been?

o How has that example affected those following you?

o Are you more interested in leading others towards or away from a deeper and more fulfilling relationship with Christ?

o What can take place in your life to better lead others toward Christ?

o Who has been the leader or example you have been following? What qualities do they posses that has helped you on your adventure?

A Few Minutes with God:

God, help me to realize that this type of “Follow the Leader” is not a game. It is life-changing, both for now and eternity. I thank you for the amazing examples of authentic Christ-Followers you have placed in my path. I pray for your strength to continue seeking and following those examples as I strive to be a shining example for those following me. And I know that if I stay focused on you, I will not fail in being the leader you desire me to be. Amen.