The Mother’s Day Gift She’s Sure to Love

by | May 4, 2021 | Mother's Day, Weekly Gospel Meditation, Writing

The Mother’s Day Gift She’s Sure to Love

Her children rise up and call her blessed. Proverbs 31:28

I’ll be honest. I’m not really looking forward to this Mother’s Day. It will be the first since my mom died. I didn’t always do a good job of celebrating her. Life got busy, and of course I had my own Mother’s Day to celebrate with my kids. It was also hard to come up with a gift. Especially in the latter years of her life, she insisted that she didn’t want any more “stuff,” so it was hard  to find something she would want. She also didn’t enjoy going out to eat as much as she once had, so I couldn’t take her to lunch. The last few years I usually just settled on a scarf or some earrings and a handmade card. When I was going through her “stuff” after she died, I was surprised to see how many of my Mother’s Day and other cards she had saved. I don’t know why I was surprised. I usually save all the cards my kids send me. There is something about a kid (even, or especially, an adult kid) taking the time to write things down.

All of this leads me to this guide to writing a thank-you letter to your mom. I know, buying a card and signing it is easier. Sending a handprint of your preschooler is easier. Writing a thank-you letter is hard, because we have to stop and think about our mother’s life and how it has shaped us. We have to try to put words to thoughts that are hard to articulate.

It’s even harder if you lost your mother early in life or if your mother wasn’t much of a mother to you. Maybe you would like to consider writing a thank-you letter to someone who has mothered you well. I pray there’s someone in your life like that. It may even be a friend around your same age. Some of you, like me, may have lost your mother recently. I plan to do this exercise in remembrance. I believe it will help me as I grieve. Maybe it would help you too.

Life is short, and words are meaningful. Let’s take the time to write them down and give them to our moms.

To get you started, I’ve provided a few prompts and tips for writing.

Prompts:

Tell her something you love about her…

Her cooking, her sense of humor, her wits, the way she provided for you and your family

Tell her a way she’s really helped you…

Always being there when you call or text

Bringing your lunch to school when you forgot it

Taking care of your kids so you could get some time away

Tell her about a characteristic or practice she has that you’d like to develop…

Her kindness, faithfulness, boldness

Her discipline in reading the Bible, her commitment to exercise, her love of prayer

Tell her about lasting impact she’s made…

on the world, on you, on your family, on your friends, on her work.

Think about things she’s really good at…

things she says a lot (even if you got tired of hearing it),

things she loves…

Tips for Writing Your Letter

  1. Pray about it. Ask God to help your memory and your imagination. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the right words.
  2. Brainstorm…Set a timer for 15 minutes and get all your ideas down on paper or into the voice recorder on your phone. Talk to your siblings or your dad if you get stuck. Try to come up with as many specific examples of things your mom has done for you as you can.
  3. Write a rough draft. Set a timer for 15 minutes and just start writing. You can always change things later.
  4. Don’t worry about having the right grammar or the best words.
  5. Do try to be specific…remember to try to “show” rather than “tell”:

If you do this exercise, I’d love to hear about it. Comment below or shoot me an email here.

A Prayer about God’s Miraculous Rescue

by | Apr 13, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Easter

A Prayer about God’s Miraculous Rescue

Merciful God,

You are a God who hears, who sees, 

who moves on behalf of your people. 

Long ago, you heard your children crying out in Egypt. 

You remembered your covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 2:23). 

You rescued your people 

and brought them out of slavery (Exodus 3:8).

Today, you still hear the cries of our groaning, 

and you have sent a far greater rescuer and redeemer, 

your Son, our Savior.

Help us to live today in the freedom 

for which Jesus has set us free (Galatians 5:1).

May we bear all sorts of lovely fruit 

like peace and joy and gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22). 

In Jesus’ rescuing name. Amen. 

Read Exodus 2:23 – 3:9; Galatians 5:1-26.

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5 Ways to Keep Living the Resurrection

by | Apr 13, 2021 | Easter, Gospel living, Weekly Gospel Meditation

5 Ways to Keep Living the Resurrection

Is your resurrection wonder fading fast?

It is two weeks after Easter, and as always, Resurrection wonder is in danger of fading as fast as the pretty pastel eggs.

What do we do when the celebration of new life gets lost in the drudge of daily life? Remember the story!  As we look back at what the followers of Jesus did post-resurrection, we re-discover the joy of living the resurrection.

5 Ways to Keep Living the Resurrection

1. See the Lord and be glad!(John 20:19-20). Some might object, “But we can’t see Jesus the way the disciples could!”Jesus insists that with the Holy Spirit’s help, we can see him as well as the first disciples did. Read a book or passage of the Bible and remember the day you first understood it. Remember a story of how Jesus changed your life when all appeared lost.

2. Run to tell others (Matt 28:8). In 2014, the year after the Boston marathon bombing, the Boston Athletic Association, rather than decreasing the number of people allowed to run, increased the registration limit to 36,000—over 30,000 people entered to prove that “terror will not triumph.” We stake our lives on an even more astonishing message: Jesus rose from the dead. He defeated violence, sin, and death—the final enemy (Hebrews 2:14-15). We should walk, not run, to tell others this good news.

3. Risk to tell others (Luke 24:11)Will you risk mockery, apathy, or even pity for sharing this story of great news? The women ran back from the empty tomb to tell their own community, and those dense disciples thought their words were an “idle tale.” It is, admittedly, hard to believe this story, but we must tell it anyway!

4. Doubt and disbelieve; then stop disbelieving and believe (John 20:27). Poor “doubting Thomas,” who has been much maligned throughout history for demanding to see and touch Jesus’ scars before believing he had risen. How did Jesus respond to Thomas’s doubts? Simply, warmly. “Put your finger here…place your hand in my side.” “Do not disbelieve, but believe.” If you, like Thomas, feel the need to see the proof, persevere. And—look out—the Holy Spirit will sow belief into your heart. Do not disbelieve, but believe.

5. Feed his sheep (John 21:1-21). Reread Jesus’ loving encounter with Peter on that beach. Have you failed Jesus? (Yes.) Have you betrayed him? (Yes.) Are you sometimes a rotten friend like Peter? (Yes.) Then there’s good news! Jesus wants you to share the only story that will satiate the starved sheep of this world. This, as Romans 12:1 says, is our spiritual service of worship!

A Prayer for Living the Resurrection

Lord Jesus, We believe, help our dry, stale, unbelief. Help us to continue living in resurrection wonder, awed at the goodness of our God, awed at the kindness of the cross, awed at the gentleness of our Jesus. Thank you for feeding us your abundant grace; empower us to feed others with this good news. In Jesus’ resurrected name! Amen.

Further Encouragement

1. Read John 20:19-20; John 21:1-21; Matthew 28:8; Luke 24:11.

2. Listen to “Power in the Blood”.

For Reflection

1. Which of these ways of living the resurrection resonates with you today? What ways do you see God calling you to continue living the resurrection?

A Prayer about Not Laboring in Vain

by | Apr 12, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Easter

A Prayer about Not Laboring in Vain

Heavenly Father,

This Monday morning, 

draw our eyes from the task lists before us 

to gaze on your heavenly presence.

Help us to frame all of our earthly labor 

in the context of our Lord’s resurrection from the dead. 

The apostle Paul tells us,

Christ’s victory over sin and death changes everything, 

empowering us to “be steadfast, immovable, 

always abounding in the work of the Lord, 

knowing that in the Lord 

your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

May we indeed live and love in this hope today and every day. 

In Jesus’ victorious name. Amen. 

Read 1 Corinthians 15.

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A Prayer about Praising God

by | Apr 11, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Easter

A Prayer about Praising God

Mighty and Majestic God,

As we gather together today, whether near or far, 

May we join with voices through the generations making joyful noises, 

proclaiming,

“You are a great King above all gods” (Psalm 95:3).

“The sea is yours because you made it” (Psalm 95:5).

“The Lord reigns! 

Yes, the world is established,

 it shall never be moved; 

you will judge the peoples with equity” (Psalm 96:10).

As we sing your praises, 

may every sorrow and distress 

fade before the brilliance of your glorious presence.

In Jesus’ praiseworthy name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 95-96.

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Holy Week Devotional: Teaching Tuesday

by | Mar 30, 2021 | Easter, Lent, Weekly Gospel Meditation

Holy Week Devotional: Teaching Tuesday

Dear Readers,

I love Holy Week, intentionally setting aside time to remember the week before  Christ died on the cross for our sins. Today I share from the Gospel Day-by-Day Devotional I wrote for my subscribers to celebrate Holy Week. If you don’t already have a copy and would like to follow for the rest of the week, be sure to subscribe now. You’ll also get a new free gospel-centered resource every month.

A few years ago, I realized I knew a lot about Palm Sunday and Good Friday, but I could never remember what Maundy (Thursday) meant, and I had little idea of what Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week were all about.

I decided to spend some time with Jesus in the various gospels. With the help of some good resources, I read different accounts of the different days of Jesus’ last week of earthly life as a human.

I learned a lot about funny names of days I’d never heard, but the biggest thing I discovered was the good news of the gospel announced again in this astounding story.

This year I decided to rework and revise all of the devotionals for you, my wonderful Living Story subscribers. I urge you to set aside twenty minutes each day of Holy Week to remember the strange and wonderful events. This guide includes:

  • links to Scripture
  • a very quick devotional with gospel implications
  • a brief prayer

I hope you enjoy using it as much as I enjoyed making it! Please feel free to contact me if I can help you!

Teaching Tuesday

Historically, there is no name assigned to Tuesday, so I chose these names myself (can you tell!?!). Jesus continues teaching—both his disciples and the religious leaders who are trying to trap him.

  1. Jesus teaches the disciples: Mark 11:20-25.

Passing the cursed fig tree on their way back to Jerusalem, the disciples notice it is now withered. Jesus gives a brief but significant lesson on faith, prayer, and forgiveness.

Gospel implication:

The disciples will soon face a task that will seem far more impossible than praying a mountain into the sea. In Jesus’ dark-houred death, they will desperately need faith that hope will rise again.

They will come to know that Jesus’ death and resurrection profoundly changes their story: they are forgiven, freed of sin, guilt, and death; and they are empowered to forgive others.

  1. Jesus teaches the religious authorities trying to trap him: Mark 11:28-12:40; Matthew 23:39.

The religious leaders question Jesus’ authority: who authorized him to take the actions in the temple? In the sections that follow, Jesus pulls out all of his teaching stops: questions, parables, illustrations, and finally, the provocative “woes” of Matthew 23:1-37 (WHOA!). We might say Jesus had a “come-to-Jesus” meeting with them.

Gospel implication:

Jesus, knowing his teaching will further enrage them, persists in pointing them (and us) to their/our desperate need for a Savior. God’s grace is the only hope for their/our hardness of heart, self-righteous attitude, and stubborn refusal to see.

Prayer

Lord, forgive us for our lack of faith and forgiveness. Soften our hearts that we may see our sin. When we doubt your strength and might, help us to remember that you are the God who raised Jesus from the dead. Help us to trust you enough to forgive others and to pray with the faith that moves mountains, knowing that you are the Redeemer and Restorer of all things. Amen.