AuthorTerry R Baughman is Lead Pastor for LifeChurch in Gilbert, AZ. See his complete bio at trbaughman.com Archives
October 2024
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Celebrating Small Things7/27/2019  Celebrating Small Things
REFOCUS, RENEWAL, AND CELEBRATION Terry R. Baughman “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you …?” (Matthew 6:28-30). Are there any small miracles? Really, if it qualifies as a miracle it is no small thing! Any event that is supernatural, unexplainable, and undeniably an answer to prayer or a demonstration of Divine intervention we call it a miracle. All such events are a witness to the power of God working in our lives. Sometimes people are almost apologetic for celebrating something perceived to be insignificant. They shrug and say, “It’s just a small thing,” as if to minimize the miraculous element. However, if it is important to you it is significant to God. If it is a big thing in your life, then it is a great miracle regardless of how minor it seems. When we face an impossible situation only a miracle can turn things around to make a solution possible. An incurable ailment, while it might not be life-threatening, becomes a condition that requires a supernatural healing. Depression or oppressive influences in our lives compel us to seek deliverance from God alone. The overwhelming power of sin bring a staggering weight upon a life that can only be lifted by a spiritual antidote, the power of Jesus Christ to break the bondage of sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit to transform and renew us into His image. This is the greatest miracle of all and certainly no small thing! Take notice of the work of God in our daily lives. From the beauty of a sunrise to the glorious hues of color in a sunset, from the first breath of a new day to the last sigh of weariness from a long day’s work, from the simple relief found in a whispered prayer to the news of cancer’s remission, any miracle is a moment to rejoice. Praise God for each blessing, every answered prayer, and any positive report you receive throughout the day. Nothing is too small to warrant thanksgiving and exaltation of our great God. Scripture illustrates God’s care for the insignificant. He knows the number of hairs on our head (even if it’s a diminishing number). He takes note of the sparrow that falls and attends to the flowers of the field. He makes all things beautiful and is aware of all alterations in nature. Nothing happens without His notice and there is no change of His creation that He doesn’t observe and document. (See Matthew 6:25–34 and Luke 12:22–31. Also, see Matthew 10:29–30 and Luke 12:6–7.) We often focus on the greatness of God. As Jeremiah exclaimed, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You” (Jeremiah 32:17). However, His greatness also extends to the minutia. It not just the big stuff of which God is in control, but every little thing. Nothing is beyond His reach our outside of His care. God is with us and He is working through us to perform His good pleasure. So, while we should continue praising Him for the great things, let us also celebrate the small things … everything He is doing! Scripture: “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
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A Reason to Celebrate7/21/2019  A Reason to Celebrate
REFOCUS, RENEWAL, AND CELEBRATION Terry R. Baughman “Our hearts bubble over as we celebrate the fame of your marvelous beauty, bringing bliss to our hearts. We shout with ecstatic joy over your breakthrough for us. You’re kind and tenderhearted to those who don’t deserve it and very patient with people who fail you. Your love is like a flooding river overflowing its banks with kindness” (Psalm 145:7–8 TPT). We have a reason to rejoice and a cause for celebration. When we recount the wonderful works of God that He has done from the beginning, and what He continues to do in our lives it brings joy to our hearts. God’s desire is that we may have joy present in our relationship with Him. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). While others boast of jubilant gatherings, festive parties, and loud celebrations, they often are left empty and sick the following day. Jesus revealed the truth of the contrast in the same verse, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). It’s the deception of the enemy that promises good times, happiness, and exuberant excess, but the path does not lead to the promised outcome. Peter wrote, “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption” (2 Peter 2:19). The broad road is a detour and ends with a drop-off of destruction. “For the end of those things is death,” Paul warned. (Romans 6:21). The deception is deliberate and the enemy is out to ensnare all who will respond. The pattern is clear, “When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:15). The joy that Jesus brings is in sharp contrast to the dirge of sin and the disappointments of deception. The prophets predicted the that coming Savior would not disappoint and His deliverance was declared, “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). David sang, “And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; It shall rejoice in His salvation” (Psalm 35:9). From millennia past to the present time witnesses proclaim the glory of God. “Generation after generation will declare more of your greatness and declare more of your glory. Your magnificent splendor and the miracles of your majesty are my constant meditation. Your awe-inspiring acts of power have everyone talking! I’m telling people everywhere about your excellent greatness!” (Psalm 145:4–6 The Passion Translation). David continues to extol the glory of our God. Other translations of the passage say that we will “eagerly utter” our testament of His goodness, this version captures the literal understanding of the text, “Our hearts bubble over as we celebrate the fame of your marvelous beauty, bringing bliss to our hearts. We shout with ecstatic joy over your breakthrough for us” (Psalm 145:7 TPT). Our joy is as a fountain springing up with a fresh overflow of jubilation. God is glorious and worthy of celebration. Jesus confirmed the imagery of a fountain when He spoke to the woman at the well. To those who asked for His refreshing, He promised, “The water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14 NIV). There is an everlasting supply of fresh water in the well of salvation. Come and drink! All will find a reason to celebrate! Scripture: “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
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The Hope of Renewal7/14/2019  The Hope of Renewal
REFOCUS, RENEWAL, AND CELEBRATION Terry R. Baughman “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’” (Lamentations 3:22–24). Before God we would never stand a chance in our own attempts to justify our actions. Our guilt would condemn us and our sin would become glaringly obvious. Righteous judgment would surely require us all to be exterminated before the face of a holy God. Paul wrote with conviction, “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). When faced with our failures we are utterly hopeless. “But God so loved the world …” (John 3:16). Hopeless despair is replaced with Divine intervention. Condemnation is exchanged with unmerited favor. Grace was given where judgment was required. Hundreds of years before Christ came, the Prophet Jeremiah was inspired by God’s amazing mercies. In the face of national judgment there was the assurance of incredible mercies. The prophet recognized that it was only by His mercy that they were not all consumed in judgment. He found His faithfulness to be unfailing, mercy to be unending, and the compassion of our God was renewed every morning. In the face of such undeserved and undeniable grace Jeremiah exclaimed, “Therefore I hope in Him!” (Lamentations 3:24). If Jeremiah found our God to be so merciful against the backdrop of national judgment and captivity by the Babylonians, should we not also find great hope in God? We have the benefit of the incredible story of Jesus coming to earth, loving and teaching the people and empowering His followers. We have the wonderful illustration of the cross and the incredible sacrifice of the Savior. If Jeremiah could find hope in the midst of crisis and confidence in the faithfulness of God, how much more should we acknowledge His mercies and rejoice in His favor. Often our problems are magnified by proximity. Everything in our field of vision is greater than any other problem at any other time in history. In reality our problems are small and our blessings are abundant. His grace is sufficient and His mercies are everlasting. When we refocus our vision and correct our depth of field we find that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or think. (See Ephesians 3:20.) We have no need that is beyond His ability and no sin that His provision cannot cover. Though we fail continually and our sin seems to be overwhelming, our hope is in Christ the Lord. His mercies are renewed everyday. Our promise and our hope is the opportunity to experience His grace again and again. The mercy that we have received so abundantly we must extend to others. We cannot forget our failings as we gauge the faults of others. Paul spoke to believers, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (Colossians 3:12–13). Inasmuch as mercy has been multiplied toward us, let us also show mercy. In the same manner as we have been forgiven, we must also forgive. Renewal is offered freely and continually. That is our hope and also our privilege to share the same hope with others. Scripture: “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
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The Power of Refraction7/7/2019  The Power of Refraction
REFOCUS, RENEWAL, AND CELEBRATION Terry R. Baughman “He asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, ‘I see men like trees, walking.’ Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly” (Mark 8:23–25). A double convex lens can be used to magnify our vision or sharpen the focus of what we see through the physics of refraction. In this process of bending light with shaped glass we are able to adjust our focus. This technique is commonly applied through eyeglasses. Bifocals even allow two areas of focus to refine the sharpening of our vision. Long before the first spectacles were created to enhance vision there was a blind man in Bethsaida that was brought to Jesus with the hope of having his vision restored. In this unusual event Jesus took him out of town, spit in his eyes, touched him and asked him what he could see. Though his vision was improved to the point where he could see light, shapes and images, it appears that his healing was incomplete. He said, “I see people walking around like trees.” Then Jesus touched his eyes once again. Instantly the man was completely healed. His vision was restored and he saw everything clearly. While this was a remarkable miracle in the ministry of Jesus, it is no less of a miracle when Jesus gives us spiritual insight and focus to our blurred vision. Sometimes we just need a second touch! With age it is common for our eyesight to change. Where we were once able to focus easily there comes a time when we are no longer able to adjust our eyes to refine our vision clearly. We may find ourselves stretching our arms further in an attempt to bring clarity to the printed page or some fine detail of a task we are attempting to perform. Sometimes in frustration we reach for reading glasses or a magnifying glass to bring focus and clarity in a moment of need. Refraction can also enable us to see images of the invisible, from the tiniest molecule to stars and galaxies far away. From microscopes, to rifle scopes, to binoculars, to powerful telescopes, we may choose a variety of instruments to bring focus on things we have never seen. Perhaps we can ask God to give us spiritual refraction, bending His perfect light and vast insight to a plane where we can visualize it. With His help we may refocus our sight and refine our vision. Things previously unseen become clear and the invisible becomes defined. Moses opposed Egyptian tyranny and fled from the palace of privilege. He identified with the faith of His heritage. He rejected Egyptian religious teachings and pagan training. He sought the true God and observed His instructions. The writer of Hebrews recorded, “He endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). That glimpse of the invisible was never satisfied and he continually sought to know more of Him. The Psalmist David wrote that God’s Word, “Is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). May the light of His Word provide direction for our journey and illuminate our vision. View all of life through the refraction of His Word and Spirit and receive clarity, refocus, and renewal for every future step. Let us refocus our vision and renew our commitment to walk in His Will. Scripture: “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). |
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