Category Archives: Devo Drops

Thoughts on daily devotional scripture readings

How Many Tears?

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When I was little, I heard tales about my older cousins that I’m not sure are verifiable, but they made memorable stories. As I am the youngest in that generation, there’s a possibility that by the time the recounting got to me, there was a bit of embellishment.

One such story was that when my cousin cried and refused to be consoled, my aunt would place a potted plant before her and say, “If you’re not going to stop crying you might as well put those tears to good use and water the plants.” My aunt didn’t believe in wasting tears.

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I cry at weddings.

I cry when saying goodbye to loved ones.

I cry during Hallmark commercials.

I rarely cry over my sins.

Rarely, meaning, I can’t remember the last time I wet my cheek with penitent tears.

“….and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears.” Luke 7:38

How many tears did it take to wash His feet?

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Little confession of little sin results in little love.

“He who is forgiven little, loves little.” Luke 7:47

Who weeps over their own sin anymore?

Is it any wonder that love falters in our world?

Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way.

Search me and try me, Savior today.

Wash me just now, Lord, wash me just now,

As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Through the Roof

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This is my church.

I love this place.

I love it when it is full of people.

I love it when I’m there all alone.

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I think everyone should sit in an empty sanctuary once in a while.

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This is the view from my pew. Third row from the front, right side.

There was a bit of a mishap a couple of weeks ago when the Christmas decorations were being taken down and put away.

Do you see it?

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Let me zoom in a little more for you.

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Steve, who obviously is not afraid of heights, was up on top of the canopy pulling the garland and big wreath over the ledge to store until next Christmas, when his foot went through the roof. I’m happy to report that Steve is okay.

That perforation in the plaster has become very dear to me this week. I have been reading about the four men who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus on a stretcher (Luke 5:17-26). They couldn’t get through the front door because of the crowd, so they hauled their friend up onto the roof, dug a hole through the tiles and lowered the stretcher right in front of Jesus.

This raises several questions:

  • What did Jesus think when His teaching was interrupted with debris falling from the ceiling?
  • Who swept up the dust and fixed the gaping hole?
  • How did the owner of the house feel about the new skylight?

Some better questions:

  • As one of the four friends, would I have had the persistence to climb up on somebody’s roof and bust out a hole?  Or would I have said, “Sorry, buddy, it’s too crowded. We’ll have to come back another time”?
  • As the paralytic on the stretcher, would I have put myself in the hands of four of my friends and let them carry out this cockamamie scheme?
  • As the owner of the house, would I have been so upset about the hole in my roof that I would have missed the miracle?

Some even better questions:

  • Do I know anyone paralyzed by fear or sorrow or guilt who needs to be carried to The Healer?
  • Do I have enough faith to go to unusual lengths (or heights) for the sake of a lost friend?
  • Would I break through a wall to get somebody to Jesus?

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I hope the trustees don’t fix that hole anytime soon.

From the third pew on the right, it is a beautiful reminder that sometimes,

faith goes through the roof.

Comfort

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We call our favorite cozy blankets “comforters”.

We call home-style food that brings thoughts of childhood “comfort food”.

During Advent we sing about “tidings of comfort and joy.”

God knows it’s hard to be us.

He told Isaiah to write it down:

“Comfort, comfort My people.” Isaiah 40:1

He doesn’t repeat words unless He’s trying to drive it home.

People need to hear tender words of comfort.

“Speak tenderly… tell them their sin has been paid for.”

“Shout it out and say, ‘Your God is here!'”

God knows it’s hard to be us.

So He sent the Holy Spirit, with the nickname “The Comforter”.

Unlike a blanket that wears out, and unlike the fleeting satisfaction of a favorite meal, this Comforter settles our spirits and reassures our doubts from the inside.

Who needs a tender word today?

“God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters.”

Dr. John Henry Jowett

comfort

Chocolate Temptation

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I can walk away from this pretty box of chocolates.

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See these “Temptations”? They don’t entice me in the least.

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Get behind me, Temptations. You’ve got no hold on me.

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Chocolate Temptation is just down the road, but I couldn’t care less.

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Ha! Double chocolate cheesecake with a chocolate brownie crust and dark chocolate glaze with chocolate sprinkles, you make me sick.

Literally.

Chocolate makes me sick.

I pick out the mini chips in chocolate chip cookies.

I scrape off the chocolate topping on Rice Krispie Scotcheroos.

I chip away at the coating on Butterfingers.

I’m a bastion of strength when faced with an ooey-gooey molten lava cake.

I can turn down that hot fudge sundae or that creamy cup of hot cocoa without blinking an eye.

It’s easy for me to resist chocolate. That’s not real temptation.

The devil came at Jesus with a series of temptations in Luke 4. In order for them to be real temptations, they must have been things that looked enticing to Jesus —

  • A loaf of bread after going forty days without food.
  • An opportunity to reign as King by taking the easy way out and side-stepping the suffering of the cross.
  • A chance to show off God’s miraculous power to the mocking voice.

Instead, Jesus refused to flaunt His Divine authority to satisfy a craving.

He chose the hard way of the cross because it was the Father’s way.

He didn’t test God by recklessly demanding proof of His love and care.

Jesus started His ministry by facing down evil and saying, “Not your will, Satan, but God’s be done.”

“This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses since he had the same temptations we do, though he never once gave way to them and sinned.” Hebrews 4:15 

Favorites

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dsc_0032These are my favorites.

Every single one of them.

dsc_0067The reds are my favorite.

dsc_0068The greens are my favorite, too.

dsc_0055The boys are my favorites.

dsc_0066And the girls are my favorites.

Romans 2:11 says, “For God does not show favoritism.” 

I get it.

We are all His favorites.

2017 Bible Reading Plan

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Sometimes I wish God would rip open the heavens and speak actual words I can actually hear. Preferably in English since I don’t know Greek or Hebrew or Aramaic. And not in King’s English, please, with the thees and thous and shalts and arts. Just normal midwest plain talk.

I should stop wishing, because every time I tear open my Bible, He speaks. Thousands of words on the pages of scripture are waiting for me to perk up my ears and pay attention. Real conversation with the God of the universe can take place, with a little effort and dedication.

So let’s get to it, shall we? Here’s the new reading plan that will take us through 2017. It’s a little different than in years past and may not appeal to everyone, but it’s a place to start. I plan to post a reflection at the end of each week that goes along with the passage we’ve been digging into on Monday – Friday.

Click on “2017 Bible Reading Plan” at the top of the page for more information. Let me know if you’re in!

(Nice little bookmarks with the 2017 Reading Plan are available in the church narthex. Or I’d be happy to send you one! Email me at dinah.overlien@gmail.com)

2016

Use Your Words

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I’ve got six little people in my life. Soon to be eight. Under the age of five. The littlest one is learning how to say words like “momma” and “daddy” while the biggest one is talking in complete paragraphs about dinosaurs and quantum physics. It’s the kids in the middle group that are in various stages of parlance. Because their thoughts are developing so quickly, it’s frustrating for them when their ability to communicate hasn’t quite caught up.

Hence, the whining.

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“Use your words,” their mommas say.

I’m a contemplative type. I’m happy as a clam to sit in my office, in the quiet early morning hours. I bask in the silence and solitude. Most of my thoughts and prayers are internal, rarely uttered aloud. I’m not after some sort of mystical experience, but instead have learned to enjoy sitting in the presence of God. As Jan Johnson says, “I just look at God and God looks at me.”

Maybe that approach is good some of the time, but there is a need for balance. If PB and I just sat and looked at each other all the time, it might get kind of boring. Or it could turn into a giggle-fest. When I read Hosea 14 last week, verse 2 pressed hard on me.

“Take words with you and return to the Lord.”

I shouldn’t underestimate the value of putting my thoughts and prayers into actual words. God spoke creation into being with words, Jesus was called “the Word made flesh”, the Spirit carried along the writers of the Word of God. He’s a conversational God, waiting for my response.

It’s good to come to Him in quietness and trust,

but I am also invited to “use my words.”

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The Butterfly and the Bee

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Once upon a time there was a Garden. It was full of beautiful blooms and fragrant flowers. Garden creatures scuttled under the brush and winged flyers skimmed over the petals.

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Light and airy after a lifetime of crawling in dirt, the newly transformed butterfly was the most enchanting creature in the Garden. It hovered and glided and danced about with grace. It careened through the spikes of foxglove and wove between the wispy cosmos. Its wings caught the sunshine and made the Garden sparkle. Landing for only a second or two, it continued to flit here and there and everywhere. After two weeks it was gone. It had given a measure of joy and frivolity to the Garden, but had not contributed in any meaningful way.

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Another heartier breed also buzzed among the foliage. Not as light and airy, not as sparkly or whimsical, the bee was not on holiday in the Garden. The bee was there on a mission. This round-bodied flyer did not have the grace of the butterfly. It did not flit or charm. The bee did no stylish pirouettes. Instead, this one dove straight into the depth of the blossoms, drawing out the nectar, burrowing down into the fragrance. Having done its job, the dive-bomber sped out of the Garden and deposited its bounty into the hive. 

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What is the meaning of the story of the butterfly and the bee?

“To get anything from our Bibles, we must plunge in. Butterflies wander over the flowers in the garden and accomplish nothing, but bees plunge right down into the flower, and carry away essential food. We won’t get anything if we just hover over our Bibles; we have to dive right in.” David Guzik, Blue Letter Bible, Acts Commentary   bible

“How sweet are your promises to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103

My Favorite Word

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The Bible is chock full of terrific words. Wonderful words like love, joy, and peace abound in the scriptures. Abound is a pretty good word too.

There are long words in the Bible, like Mahershalalhashbaz (Isaiah 8:1). (What were his parents thinking?)

There are short words in the Bible, like Ur (Genesis 15:7). “Where do you live?” “Ur.” (Confused look.)

There are impressive sounding words in the Bible, like sanctification, justification and propitiation.

There are precious words like Savior, heaven, grace and redeemed. I could go on and on.

I have a hands-down favorite word in the Good Book. It’s easy to overlook this humble three letter word. Here it is. Are you ready?

But.

Don’t be fooled by this well-worn word, this scant syllable, this inconsequential conjunction. It packs a wallop when it’s perfectly placed. “But” is the pivot point in so many sentences, and so many lives. I have circled every “but” in my Bible.

“But you were washed…” 1 Corinthians 6:11

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.” 1 Corinthians 15:20

“But because of His great love for us…” Ephesians 2:4

“But God’s word is not chained…” 2 Timothy 2:9

My second favorite word in the Bible is equally short and powerful.

Now.

Team these two up and you’ve got a potent combination.

“Once you were alienated from God, BUT NOW he has reconciled you…” Colossians 1:21-22

“Once you were not a people, BUT NOW you are the people of God.”           1 Peter 2:10

“I was blind, BUT NOW I see.” John 9:25

“For this son of mine was dead, BUT NOW he is alive;

he was lost, BUT NOW he has been found.” Luke 15:24

I am thankful for these two little words.

They can redeem a past full of faults and failures.

They can redefine a future full of hopes and dreams.

But now.

Persistence

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See all those books?

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Those are books that I have bought and read and highlighted about the craft of writing. There’s another stack that size of more books I have checked out of the library on the same topic. You’d think, after reading all these books, I’d be making progress. But I find that there’s always more to learn. Or re-learn.

It’s also easier to read books on writing than to actually write.

That’s why I couldn’t resist this latest title.

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 When it comes down to it, every book on the stack says the same thing —

BIC

(Butt In Chair).

In other words, I just have to do it —

I have to be consistent and persistent.

I have to get my hiney in the chair routinely and habitually.

Persistence is a key in more than my writing life.

I could use a book entitled,

“A Christian’s Guide to Persistence:

How to Create a Lasting and Productive Spiritual Life”.

When starting a new Bible reading plan in January, I’m all gung-ho and ready to dig in. But by March, I start lagging a bit. When beginning a new Bible study class in September, there’s excitement in the air and lots of anticipation. In May, I’m wondering where all that dedication went.

Persistence is hard, whether it’s in spiritual disciplines or writing.

Or anything else.

But I have the answer.

BIC

“I will not neglect Your Word.” Psalm 119:16