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May 2 -  The Chapel (Revisited) . . .                    (back)  

The Chapel (REVISITED): Relying On God's Power

by Max Lucado

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Our Lord’s prayer has given us a blueprint for the Great House of God. From the living room of our Father to the family room with our friends, we are learning why David longed to “live in the house of the LORD forever” (Ps. 23:6). In God’s house we have everything we need: a solid foundation, an abundant table, sturdy walls, and an impenetrable roof of grace.

And now, having seen every room and explored each corner, we have one final stop. Not to a new room, but to one we have visited earlier. We return to the chapel. We return to the room of worship. The chapel, remember, is where we stand before God and confess, “Hallowed be thy name.”

The chapel is the only room in the house of God we visit twice. It’s not hard to see why. It does us twice as much good to think about God as it does to think about anyone or anything else. God wants us to begin and end our prayers thinking of him. Jesus is urging us to look at the peak more than we look at the trail. The more we focus up there, the more inspired we are down here.

Some years ago a sociologist accompanied a group of mountain climbers on an expedition. Among other things, he observed a distinct correlation between cloud cover and contentment. When there was no cloud cover and the peak was in view, the climbers were energetic and cooperative. When the gray clouds eclipsed the view of the mountaintop, though, the climbers were sullen and selfish.

The same thing happens to us. As long as our eyes are on his majesty there is a bounce in our step. But let our eyes focus on the dirt beneath us and we will grumble about every rock and crevice we have to cross. For this reason Paul urged, “Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to the things going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective” (Col 3:1–2 MSG).

Paul challenges you to “be alert to the things going on around Christ.” The Psalmist reminds you to do the same, only he uses a different phrase. “O magnify the LORD with me and let us exalt his name together” (Ps. 34:3).

Magnify. What a wonderful verb to describe what we do in the chapel. When you magnify an object, you enlarge it so that you can understand it. When we magnify God, we do the same. We enlarge our awareness of him so we can understand him more. This is exactly what happens in the chapel of worship—we take our mind off ourselves and set it on God. The emphasis is on him. “Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”

And this is exactly the purpose of this final phrase in the Lord’s prayer. These words magnify the character of God. I love the way this phrase is translated in The Message:

You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes! Yes! Yes!

From The Great House of God
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 1997) Max Lucado

May 9 - Why God Made Moms . . .                     (back) 

Why God Made Moms

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?

1.    She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2.    Mostly to clean the house and be bossy.

3.    To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?

1.    He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2.   Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3.   God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1.    God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2.    They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1.    We're related.

2.    God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

3.    I don't know, but I'm glad I got her.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?

1.    My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2.    I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3.    They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1.    His last name.

2.    She had to know his background. Like is he a crook?

3.    Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1.   My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world and my mom eats a lot.

2.   She got too old to do anything else with him.

3.   My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?

1.   Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.

2.   Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.

3.   I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad

What's the difference between moms and dads?

1.  Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.

2.  Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3.  Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.

4.  Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?

1.  Mothers don't do spare time.

2.  To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

3.  Spare time is for Dads not Moms.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1.  On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.¶

2.  Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

3.  A new pair of shoes.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?

1.    She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.

2.    I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.

3.    I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

May 16 - I Know . . .                    (back)

I Know

>      I know He is the beginning, so why do I worry about the end?

>      I know He is the creator, so why do I wonder who will destroy?

>      I know He has forgiven me, so why can't I forgive myself?

 

>      I know He is a healer, so why do I speak of sickness?

>      I know He can do all things, so why do I say I can't?

>      I know He will protect me, so why do I fear?

 

>      I know He will supply all my needs, so why can't I wait?

>      I know He is my strength and my salvation, so why do I feel weak?

>      I know that everything and everyone has a season, so why when someone's season is over do I weep instead of rejoicing?

 

>      I know He is the right way, so why do I go the wrong way?

>      I know He is the light, so why do I choose to walk in darkness?

>      I know that whatever I ask of GOD, GOD will give me, so why am I scared to ask? 

 

>      I know tomorrow is not promised, so why do I put off for tomorrow what I can do today? 

>      I know that the truth shall make me free, so why do I continue to lie? 

>      I know He gives us revelation, knowledge and understanding, so why do I lean on my own understanding? 

 

>      I know I should live in the spirit as well as walk in the spirit, so why do I choose to live in the spirit but walk in the flesh? 

>      I know that when praises go up, blessings come down, so why do I refuse to praise Him? 

>      I know I am saved, so why do I refuse the word He has given me? 

 

>      I know He has a plan for me, so why am I rushing it because I am eager to do His will, when it is His time not my time?

May 23 - You Can Smile . . .               (back)    

You Can Smile

There are many troubles that will burst like bubbles,
There are many shadows that will disappear;

When you learn to meet them, with a smile to greet them,
For a smile is better than a frown or tear.

Tho' the world forsake you, joy will overtake you,
Hope will soon awake you, if you smile today;

Don't parade your sorrow, wait until tomorrow,
For your joy and hope will drive the clouds away.

When the clouds are raining, don't begin complaining,
What the earth is gaining should not make you sad;

Do not be a fretter, smiling is much better,
And a smile will help to make the whole world glad.

You can smile when you can't say a word,
You can smile when you cannot be heard;

You can smile when it's cloudy or fair,
You can smile anytime, anywhere.

~By A. H. Ackley~

May 30 - Hope . . .                              (back)     

Words of Hope

The words below were all written long ago, and the authors they are attributed to are directly below each passage.

"Hope" is the thing with feathers--

That perches in the soul--

And sings the tune without words--

And never stops--at all...

-Emily Dickinson-

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace,

Where there is hatred let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light; and

Where there is sadness, joy.

-St. Francis of Assisi-

Let us not look back in anger or forward in fear but around in awareness.

-James Thurber-

Hold on to what is good even if it is a handful of earth.

Hold on to what you believe even if it is a tree which stands by itself.

Hold on to what you must do even if it is a long way from here.

Hold on to life even when it is easier letting go.

Hold on to my hand even when I have gone away from you.

-Native American Prayer-

Weeping may endure for a night

But joy cometh in the morning.

-Psalms 30:5-

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on.

-Robert Frost-

When I despair, I remember that through history the way of truth has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seemed invincible, but in the end, they always fall--think of it, always.

-Mahatma Gandhi-

Sorrow comes in great waves...but it rolls over us, and though it may almost smother us, it leaves us. And we know that if it is strong, we are stronger, inasmuch as it passes and we remain.

-Henry James-