Speaking Of Life 5005 │ Best-Laid Plans
Michelle Fleming

Those who know me know that planning is one of my love languages. I love the feeling when a perfectly laid plan comes together. And my love tank is filled when someone considers what I like when planning a night out. But life experience has taught me that plan A is not always guaranteed to turn out. This might remind you of the common saying, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”

This saying was adapted from the poem “To A Mouse” written in 1785 by the Scottish poet Robert Burns. In the poem, Burns apologizes to a mouse whose nest was destroyed when Burns plowed the field the nest was in. The poem makes the point that regardless how well human beings plan, those plans can be overturned in an instant.

We often base our plans on expectations we have for how things are usually done. If we’re planning a trip, we expect the airline to leave at the specified time, and when it doesn’t, our plans are upended. We’re left unsettled and sometimes frustrated.

In ancient times, the Jewish people expected God to provide a Messiah who would deliver them from their Assyrian oppressors and usher in a time of peace and plenty. They yearned for deliverance and had expectations for the way that deliverance would take shape. The prophet Isaiah spoke to their concerns and assured them that God saw their suffering. But the scripture verses from Isaiah 9 talk about a Messiah who would be much more than they expected or planned for:

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
For to us a child is born,to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 (NRSV)

Isaiah’s audience expected a political and military leader to rescue them. But the prophecy pointed to more than just a military leader, or to Israel’s rescue – it pointed to the Messiah and the rescue for all of humanity. The Israelites didn’t know this, neither did the Jews in Jesus’ day. They had plans for their rescuer – their Messiah, but God had different (bigger) plans.

In similar ways, we make plans and expect God to operate in our lives in a particular way, and sometimes nothing turns out. When our plans are upended and our expectations overturned, we can feel unanchored or adrift. How can we trust that things will be OK?

Isaiah’s prophecy helps us remember that God plays a long game. He has a bigger plan and our sign for that plan is Jesus. Consider all the ways that Jesus’ birth, life, and death overturned human expectations. Here are a few.

• People expected the Son of God to be born in royal conditions; Jesus was born to a poor Jewish couple in a barn.
• People expected the Son of God to behave according to the cultural norms of the time; Jesus often defied cultural norms, choosing to eat with tax collectors and women and healing those considered unclean.
• People expected the Son of God to be above suffering; Jesus experienced suffering and grief to the point of death on a cross.

 The “best-laid” plans we have will never be better than God’s plans, and though we don’t understand all of life’s twists and turns, we can trust that “a child has been born for us,” and the Prince of Peace will always be by our side.

As we celebrate his birth, may all who live in deep darkness see the great light of Jesus, and may your “best-laid” plans always be trumped by the love of God.

I’m Michelle Fleming, Speaking of Life.

Christmas – The Incarnation Is a New Beginning

Picture a world waiting in silence. Centuries of longing, generations holding onto promises spoken through prophets and whispered in prayers. Darkness seemed to linger, and hope felt like a distant dream. Yet even in that waiting, God’s eternal plan of love was unfolding, drawing all things toward the light of Christ.

Then, in the most surprising way—not with loud celebration or great power, but with quiet humility and gentleness—light broke through the darkness. Eternity entered time, and the infinite God became human.

On that holy night, the world was forever changed. A young mother cradled her child, shepherds hurried in from the fields, and angels filled the sky with songs of glory. Into a world marked by struggle and longing, love was born.

The incarnation is God’s declaration that no darkness is too deep, no story too broken, no heart too far gone. Jesus entered our humanity to stay—bringing forgiveness, restoring joy, and igniting hope.

What began in a manger was the start of a kingdom. A kingdom not built on power or wealth, but on grace, mercy, and love that endures forever. The light has come, and with it, a new beginning for all people.

As we celebrate the birth of Christ, let’s reflect together:

What fills you with awe and wonder when you think about the birth of Christ?

Where in your life do you long for the new beginning that only Jesus can bring?

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 
⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:8-12 (NIV)

On this Christmas Day, may awe and wonder fill our hearts. The God who is infinite became one of us, the God who is love has come near. The incarnation is our new beginning. Christ has come, Christ is with us, and Christ will come again.

Advent—Love

Love is more than a feeling. It is the essence of God’s very being. Father, Son, and Spirit are love. Not just showing love, but embodying it. Everything God does flows from this truth.

As we reach the final Sunday of Advent, we are reminded that the whole story of Scripture is a story of love. The prophecies, the promises, the story of Israel, the birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and return of Jesus are all because of God’s unending love for us.

Paul declares in Romans 8 that nothing can separate us from God’s love. Not hardship or persecution, not powers or rulers, not life or death. Nothing can break the bond of divine love poured out by Father, Son, and Spirit.

It is this love that we celebrate in the incarnation.
Jesus came as a baby in a manger.
He comes to us now through the Spirit.
He will come again to fully establish His kingdom.

Advent points us forward to the One who is the center of every good thing.
As we close the Advent season, let’s reflect together:

How does God’s unending love give you hope for the world today?

In what ways can we, as the church, embody His love together in our community?

¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵ But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Matthew 1:18–25 (NIV)

On this last Sunday of Advent, let us rejoice that the God who is love has come near, remains with us, and will come again in glory. Love is the beginning, the end, and the reason for our hope.

Advent—Joy

Joy often surprises us. It can burst forth in the most unexpected places; like a flower blooming in the desert, or laughter breaking into a room full of tears. Joy does not deny our struggles. Joy transforms them. In Advent, we remember that even in the wilderness of life, the promise of Christ brings streams of gladness.

Advent reminds us that

Jesus is our reason for rejoicing—even in the midst of trials.
He is always with us.
He gives us countless reasons to rejoice—forgiveness, inclusion, belonging, participation, relationship, mercy, grace, hope, peace, love, and eternity.

Rejoicing leads to worship. We rejoice because Jesus is our all in all—our Savior, brother, friend, firstfruit, creator, teacher, encourager, and comforter.
He is God, and yet fully human. He knows us, understands us, and walks with us.
He is our eternal hope, and He is the joy within us.

As we light the third candle of Advent, the candle of Joy, let us reflect together:

Where have you experienced the surprising joy of Christ this year?

How can you slow down this season to notice and celebrate those moments more fully?

¹ The desert and the parched land will be glad;
    the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, ² it will burst into bloom;
    it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
    the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
    the splendor of our God.

³ Strengthen the feeble hands,
    steady the knees that give way;
⁴ say to those with fearful hearts,
    “Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
    he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
    he will come to save you.”

⁵ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
⁶ Then will the lame leap like a deer,
    and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
    and streams in the desert.
⁷ The burning sand will become a pool,
    the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
    grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

⁸ And a highway will be there;
    it will be called the Way of Holiness;
    it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
    wicked fools will not go about on it.
⁹ No lion will be there,
    nor any ravenous beast;
    they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
¹⁰  and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
    everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
    and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Isaiah 35:1-10

In this third week of Advent, let us rejoice in Christ, our eternal joy.
May His joy take root in us, overflow through us, and point the world to the glory of God.

Advent—Peace

The world is often noisy, filled with breaking headlines, buzzing phones, endless responsibilities, and restless hearts. It can feel like standing in the middle of a storm with winds pulling us in every direction. And yet, in the middle of chaos, there is a stillness, a quiet center where we can rest. This is the peace of Christ.

Advent invites us to remember that

Jesus is our peace.
He is our peace in the midst of confusion, trauma, trial, and tribulation.
He is our peace in the midst of everyday life as we balance family, work, community, and church.
His peace grounds us in our true identity as the beloved of Father, Son, and Spirit.

And the peace of Christ doesn’t stop there. It calls us to look forward—to a time when all will be at peace. This peace is more than the absence of conflict. It is a state of wholeness, calm, and deep connection to God and one another.

As we light the second candle of Advent, we ask:

Where do you need the peace of Christ most in your life right now?
How might you share his peace with someone else this week?

¹ A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
    from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
² The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
    the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and of might,
    the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
³ and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
    or decide by what he hears with his ears;
⁴ but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
    with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
    with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
⁵ Righteousness will be his belt
    and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

⁶ The wolf will live with the lamb,
    the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling^[a] together;
    and a little child will lead them.
⁷ The cow will feed with the bear,
    their young will lie down together,
    and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
⁸ The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
    and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
⁹ They will neither harm nor destroy
    on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
    as the waters cover the sea.

¹⁰ In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.
Isaiah 11:1–10 (NIV)

In this second week of Advent, may we rest in the peace of Christ—peace that calms our hearts, restores our relationships, and points us to the wholeness of God’s coming kingdom.

Advent—Hope

A new year begins not with fanfare or fireworks, but with a flicker — a single flame lit in the darkness. This is how the Church begins its calendar: in quiet expectation. Advent invites us into a rhythm of looking back and looking forward. It’s a season of holy wonder, a time to stand in awe at the promises of God that stretch from the garden to the manger, from the prophets to the cross, from our present struggles to our eternal future.

In this first week of Advent, we begin with hope.

Not a fragile wish or vague optimism, but the deep, steady assurance that

Jesus is our hope.

Hope for the reality of forgiveness.

Hope for the truth of our identity.

Hope for the resurrection.

Hope for eternity with Father, Son, and Spirit.

The whole Old Testament speaks to this longing. Its poetry, its prophecies, and even its pain points us toward the coming of the Messiah. And now, we live in the in-between, between the first Advent of Christ and his promised return. And so, we wait, not in fear, but in faithful hope.

As we begin the new year in the worship calendar, let us ask ourselves: Where are we placing our hope? How might we reflect Christ’s hope to others this season?

In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks of the day and hour no one knows — the moment of his return.

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
Matthew 24:36-44

Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Jesus doesn’t give us a date — he gives us a posture:

Stay awake. Stay ready. Stay rooted in hope.
The hope of Advent is not wishful thinking.
It is anchored in the faithfulness of God —
A God who keeps promises.
A God who entered our world and walks with us still.

In this season of Advent, let us watch and wait with hope, trusting in the One who has come, who is with us now, and who will come again in glory.

Christ the King Sunday—The Crown of the Year

There’s something powerful about a finish line. Runners pace themselves, pushing through fatigue with one thought in mind, what awaits at the end. That final stretch holds more than a ribbon or a medal; it represents the culmination of every step taken, every mile endured.
In the same way, Christ the King Sunday marks the finish line of our worship calendar — a crowning conclusion to a yearlong journey through the story of our salvation.

For some time now, we have been journeying through the long stretch of Ordinary Time—the Season after Pentecost. But it’s not ordinary because it lacks meaning. Rather, it’s the sacred stretch of everyday faithfulness, where the Spirit quietly builds the Church. Today, that journey finds its exclamation point. From the expectant hope of Advent to the glory of Easter, from the fire of Pentecost to this very moment, every season of the Christian year leads us to declare: Jesus is King.

Christ the King Sunday invites us to lift our gaze. Not to a throne fashioned by human hands, but to the One through whom all things were made. The One who holds all creation together. In him, the invisible becomes visible. He is not only the Savior of the world; he is the sovereign Lord of it.

The book of Colossians reminds us that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. His reign is not distant or detached. It is intimate, redemptive, and all-encompassing. He is reconciling all things our past, our present, our future, by the blood of his cross. And today, we proclaim with joy and confidence: Christ reigns now and forever.

Christ the King Sunday is not just a celebration of who Jesus is, it’s a call to live under his lordship. It’s a holy reminder that in a world of competing powers, Jesus alone reigns with justice, mercy, and peace. As this liturgical year draws to a close, we rest in his kingship and look forward with hope. A new year begins next week with Advent, but today we crown the year with Christ.

“May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

Christ the King Sunday reminds us that the story doesn’t end — it reigns. Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, calls us to step into a new season grounded in his sovereignty and shaped by his grace.

Speaking Of Life 1051 | Souls Under Construction

Jeff Broadnax

Have you ever had your home remodeled? You excitedly start with a vision of what will be, but once construction begins, you wonder if you should have ever started. The project disrupts your normal routine, makes the house messy, and usually takes far longer than anticipated.

Sound familiar? Well, only if you have gone through a home remodeling project…or…if you have experienced being “remodeled” by Jesus, the master carpenter.

C.S. Lewis, in his book, Mere Christianity, describes Jesus’ remodeling like this:

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”

This quote is a good reminder of what the Father is doing in Jesus by the Spirit in our lives. His remodeling project may not be easy in the present, but our hope in the finished work moves us forward in joy.

The prophet Isaiah directed the people of Israel with similar words written with a cosmic scope.

[LOOK DOWN]

“Pay close attention now: I’m creating new heavens and a new earth. All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things of the past, to be forgotten. Look ahead with joy. Anticipate what I’m creating: I’ll create Jerusalem as sheer joy, create my people as pure delight. I’ll take joy in Jerusalem, take delight in my people: No more sounds of weeping in the city, no cries of anguish.” (Isaiah 65:17-19 MSG)

[LOOK UP]

If you want to improve your house a little, a local handyman will probably do. But if you want to be a home where every square inch is overflowing in delight and joy…well, you will need a craftsman for that. His name is Jesus and he always finishes what he starts. The project he starts will be a lot bigger than you can imagine. But it will be well worth it.

I’m Jeff Broadnax, Speaking of Life

Speaking Of Life 4051 │ Life’s Paradox
Jeff Broadnax

I’ve been privileged to attend the births of our four children, and as a result, I have the utmost respect for mothers everywhere. Though I haven’t experienced it in my own body, I’ve witnessed the pain and the great courage my wife Karen endured as she birthed our kids. You may have heard the saying among women that “childbirth is the worst pain you’ll ever experience and the fastest you’ll forget.” This highlights the paradox that is the birth experience: out of great suffering, a new life is born. Great pain and great joy. Two contradictory aspects of the same experience that are both true. In our case, we suffered the grief of losing our second-born daughter in the birthing process but later experienced the euphoria of welcoming our only son and later his baby sister into the world.

We weren’t the first to wrestle with this highly personal family journey nor the more common emotional tension between joy and pain that touches all people in physical, emotional and even spiritual ways. Our world is a world of paradox. Think about the seasons. We witness the beauty and new life of spring and summer followed by the decay and apparent deadness of fall and winter. Yet we have difficulty holding the tension in our lives between the pleasures and joys of living with the inevitable sorrows of disappointment, loss, and grief.

Jesus’s disciples were no different from us. They were looking for some certainty, something to hold on to when Jesus prophesied about the temple’s destruction in Luke 21:5-19. Jesus told them that the temple would be destroyed, but rather than answer their questions about when this would happen, Jesus talked about other troubles they might encounter. Things like wars, earthquakes, famines, and persecution. If the disciples were feeling overwhelmed at the thought of the temple’s destruction, they had to be completely anxious after Jesus’ list of troubles to come.

After telling them all the terrible things that might happen in the future, Jesus invited them to embrace the tension of grief with a certainty of hope when he said:

Every detail of your body and soul—even the hairs of your head!—is in my care; nothing of you will be lost. Staying with it—that’s what is required. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry; you’ll be saved.
Luke 21:18-19 (The Message)

Notice that Jesus did not tell them that their certainty would be found in knowing the exact dates or times of these troubles. Jesus didn’t tell them, “Oh, don’t worry. Nothing bad will ever happen to you.” Instead, Jesus reminded them that life is hard while reminding them that he had gone before and would never leave them.

Jesus’s solution to holding life’s paradox is to know that we are held, lovingly and tenderly by the One who knows how hard human life can be. “Staying with it” means not giving up looking for beauty and blessings in the ashes of sorrow and grief. It means trusting that our salvation will be birthed from living joyfully and participating in God’s love for others whenever we can.

Labor and birth are difficult, but a mother knows that holding the baby in her arms will be worth it. At other times, our life story requires us to endure more than we thought possible, but the Son of God, our elder brother Jesus says, “Sorrow won’t overcome you. Joy will be yours.”

The beautiful tension of life’s joys and sorrows will always be with us on this side of heaven, but we can rest assured that we are always in the care of our triune God.

I’m Jeff Broadnax, Speaking of Life.

Living in Hope and Faithfulness: 2 Thessalonians

There’s a tension every traveler knows when your plane is delayed, your train is late, or your ride hasn’t yet arrived. You stand at the curb or in the terminal, watching the minutes tick by, scanning for signs that it’s finally time to move forward. Do you grow restless? Lose confidence? Or do you stay ready, trusting the one who said they’re coming?

Waiting well requires faith.

In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul writes to a church in the tension of waiting, not for a train, but for the return of Jesus. These early believers were facing pressure, persecution, and false teachings. Some were tempted to give up. Others were tempted to give in. But Paul urges them: stand firm.

2 Thessalonians reminds us that what we hope for shapes how we live now.
Paul calls the church to remain faithful, hopeful, confident, and fearless, no matter what opposition they face. He reminds them that God is just, Jesus is coming, and his victory will bring justice and relief to all who trust in him.

He encourages them to hold fast to the traditions they received, to work diligently, and not to be shaken by fear or deception. This isn’t passive waiting, it’s active faithfulness. Even in the presence of evil and uncertainty, the people of God are called to endure, strengthened by grace and guarded by the love of Christ.

2 Thessalonians is a powerful reminder that waiting for Jesus is never wasted time. In the in-between, we are being shaped into a people of hope, endurance, and unwavering faith. So let us live as those who believe the promise: that Jesus will return, evil will not win, and our labor in the Lord is never in vain.

“So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,
comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.”

May the words of 2 Thessalonians remind us that the call to faithfulness is not a burden, but a grace filled invitation. In every trial, every delay, and every moment of uncertainty, we are not alone. We are strengthened by the hope of Christ’s return, sustained by his love, and established by his Spirit. So let us live each day with courage and conviction, shaped by the promise of his justice and the certainty of his presence, until he comes again.

Speaking of Life Script 4048 | Know Who You’re Talking With
Greg Williams

Have you ever been involved in a mistaken identity? Several years back when I was working for Youth for Christ, I was in Denver, Colorado for ministry training. Some younger staff friends and I went into a specialty shop to pick up a few personal items. The shop owner happened to be minding the cash register.

This shop owner was a tall lean, athletic, gentleman who was a bit older than me. I mentally flipped through my contacts and I came up with the name Alexander English who had played his National Basketball Association career with the Denver Nuggets. I inquired if he was Alex and he politely said no, I am Walter Davis. I begged his forgiveness.

This was a deja vu experience for me because I met Walter when I was high school age. My teammates and I attended a college exhibition game in Asheville, North Carolina when Walter was playing for the University of North Carolina. He did not play that day due to a high ankle sprain. He was sitting up in the bleachers by himself and when we spotted him, we went over and got his autograph and chatted for a while.

I reminded Walter about this occasion, and he remembered that day.

Knowing who you are talking with is important. Have you ever considered how true this is when we are engaging in prayer? Our prayers will be shaped by who we believe we are praying to. Jesus certainly wanted his disciples to know that when they pray, they are praying to his Father, and our Father. Jesus called him Abba Father, which indicates a deep and intimate relationship – an unbreakable bond Jesus shared with his Father. Before he taught them how to pray, he wanted to establish who they were praying to. The Psalms also engage in numerous reminders of who God is as it relates to praying. Listen to this link between prayer and the character and heart of the one they are praying to.

The Psalm doesn’t end there. It goes another eight verses extolling who this God is who answers prayer. And there are many other Psalms that do the same. When it comes to prayer, the psalmists obviously see the importance of being reminded of the identity of who they are praying to.

What about you and me? We are told to pray unceasingly. Do we also seek unceasingly to know the Father who has been revealed in Jesus Christ? Do we call out to the one who hears our prayers, atones for our transgressions, and satisfies us with his goodness? Let’s pray that we do! It will make all the difference in prayer when we know who we’re talking with.

I’m Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.

Speaking Of Life 4047 │ Prayer: It’s Not a Transaction
Michelle Fleming

Have you ever bought a snack from a vending machine? You put your coins in, push the button, and then your treat drops down behind a small swinging door where you can retrieve it. That’s what happens if the vending machine is working right. But sometimes the vending machine takes your money and doesn’t drop any treats. You push the coin return, but no coins come back. So you put more coins in, and this time you choose something else. But then that doesn’t work, either. You might give up, or you might file a complaint, but more than likely, you walk away disappointed. The vending machine is part of a transaction where you put money in and expect to receive goods in return.

Sometimes we get the idea that our relationship with God is transactional. We think if we offer up the right prayer, or get the right number of people praying, God will answer. We might also misinterpret scriptures, thinking they are telling us what to do, when what they’re really telling us is how good and gracious God is. A good example of this is in the parable of the Unjust Judge found in Luke 18.

The story goes like this: there was a judge who didn’t care what anybody thought – he only cared about himself. But there was this widow who kept bugging him, night and day, saying, “Give me justice!” Finally, the judge did what the widow asked because he was sick and tired of being bothered.

Many of us who remember this parable might think that Jesus is saying we should keep praying, much like plugging more coins into that vending machine, until God answers our prayer. You may have heard phrases like “storming the gates of heaven,” referring to a particular style of intercessory prayer. These types of prayer are more interested in outcome than in relationship. This parable is about how not to pray.

Notice Jesus’ words as he interprets the importance of the parable’s meaning:

^6-8 “Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? I assure you, he will.
Luke 18:6-8 (The Message)

The main point of the parable is not about what we do, but it’s about who God is. In the parable, Jesus contrasts the character of an unjust judge with the kind and compassionate character of God. Jesus says that if someone with such low character finally listens to a widow who had no status or money, how much more likely it is that our loving Father God will hear and answer us?

Prayer was never intended to be a transaction, like coins we plug into a vending machine, expecting our desires to be granted. Instead, prayer offers us the chance to develop a relationship with God. Prayer is about knowing God and seeing his divine love and comfort for us and for others. Parables like the Unjust Judge are intended to show us we can always rely on God’s good and gracious character.

My hope is that we all experience prayer as it was so beautifully intended –
a life-giving, loving relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I’m Michelle Fleming, Speaking of Life.

Speaking of Life 4046 | Good Gift
Greg Williams

A couple of years back my son Gatlin proposed to his long-time sweetheart, Erin in a unique way. Under the guise of taking a family walk after dinner with mom, dad, brothers, sisters-in-law, and nieces and nephews we found ourselves on the putting green of hole number 5 at Cramer Mountain Golf Club.

As the small kids putted golf balls around Gatlin nestled up to Erin around the hole and slid down to one knee. He presented a shiny white gold ring with a diamond, but before Erin’s attention went to the ring her tear-filled eyes were fixed on Gatlin and her enraptured hug enveloped him as her feet left the ground. Undoubtedly the ring got her attention, and she proudly wore it and flashed it around every chance she got.

What stood out to me was that Erin was receiving Gatlin the man who gave the ring, over and above the ring itself. The ring was great, but life-changing only because of the giver – the person behind the gift. 

I think this is a workable metaphor for what’s going on in Luke 17 when Jesus heals some lepers. If you remember the story, ten lepers are healed by Jesus. They are told to present themselves to the priest as was customary of the law for cleansed lepers. But only one turns back to praise God and thank Jesus for the healing. There is more going on here than a man showing good social graces. All ten received healing from leprosy, but this one man received so much more. His praise and thankfulness was an expression of receiving the one who had healed him. He received the healing, and he received the healer.

That’s one reason scripture so often tells us to praise God and offer thanksgiving. We are being invited to receive and enjoy the Lord who gives himself to us.

Here is a segment of one Psalm that does just that:

¹ Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;
² sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise.
³ Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
Because of your great power,
your enemies cringe before you.
⁴ All the earth worships you;
they sing praises to you,
sing praises to your name.” Selah
Psalm 66:1-4 (NRSV)

We can be thankful for the good things the Lord gives us – and they are many. But let’s never miss out on receiving the good Lord himself. After all, he offers himself with every gift he gives.

I’m Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.

Speaking of Life 4045 | Our Inadequacy
Cara Garrity

Have you ever felt like you were not equal to a task you were given? You try your best, but it seems like you come up short? It is especially tough when you feel inadequate in ministry. Perhaps you tried to do a community event and very few people showed up? Or, maybe you tried to facilitate a connect group and nothing went as you wanted? Or maybe you are too intimidated to even attempt to participate in Jesus’ ministry.  When you feel inadequate it is natural to wonder why God would invite you to participate in his ministry in the first place.

The apostle Paul’s protégé, Timothy, was familiar with the feeling of inadequacy. The young man led a congregation in Ephesus, and he felt like he was not equal to the task. In particular, Timothy wondered if he was too young to meet the ministry needs of Christ-followers far older than himself. In his 2^nd letter to him, Paul wrote to encourage Timothy and to provide some guidance. He said:

³ I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. ⁴ Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. ⁵ I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. ⁶ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love
and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:3-7

Notice the first thing Paul did was to confirm Timothy’s giftedness, reminding him of the faithfulness of his mother and grandmother. This, no doubt, brought to Timothy’s mind the ways in which God faithfully worked through his two ancestors. Next, Paul encouraged Timothy to use his gifts, reminding him that God is the one truly working through him. Paul made it clear that Timothy’s ministry was accomplished by the Spirit, and the young minister did not need to trust in his own adequacy but in the God who gifted and called him.

The same is true for us. Participating in Jesus’ ministry can be challenging, and it is easy to feel inadequate. It is important to remember that it is Jesus’ ministry and not our own, and the weight of his ministry is not ours to carry. Jesus is the true minister, and he will accomplish the work that he sets out to do.

The Spirit gives us gifts enabling us to participate in the ministry of Jesus Christ. Again, however, we are not ultimately responsible for the results of that participation – Jesus is. This should free us to use the gifts God has given us without the burden of perfection. We will make mistakes in ministry and things will not always go as planned. However, we are already assured that the ultimate victory has already been won in Christ. While we may feel inadequate sometimes, Jesus is always more than enough.

I’m Cara Garrity, Speaking of Life.