January 2023 – Your Daily Encouragement

The God Who Listens

…to the cries of our heart

I love the LORD because he hears my voice
and my prayer for mercy.
Because he bends down to listen,
I will pray as long as I have breath! —Psalm 116:1–2

When we bought our first home, it was all we needed: 680 square feet of living space! What will we do with all that room?! We had been in a small apartment for the previous year and this was huge in comparison!

At that point we had no kids. But within a few years, we had three—and they were growing fast! As they grew, our home of 680 square feet seemed to be shrinking every month.

We began looking around and found a place that was rough, but huge. And the price was right. So, we put a bid in on it. It was an unusual property, because it was a repo; and because of that, there was no agent we could contact, it was for sale by a bank.

We waited days, then a week for any information or a call back. I had never been more anxious about anything in my life. “We need a bigger home. Will we get it? Why aren’t they calling us back?” I wondered. BTW, this was back in the day before email, texting, etc. We waited and waited. Finally, I called the bank to find out what was happening and they told me it had sold a week previous to someone else.

“Arrrggghhh!” I thought. “The least they could have done was called us!” I had wasted all this emotional energy overthinking something that was already gone. True I didn’t love the place, but it had a lot of room for the growing family. And we had prayed about it, but I remembered all of the worrying that accompanied that experience.

During that time, Erin was on the look out for a new place for us to move to, and she found a place nearby to that repo home that had been sold. But this new house was far cooler…a Victorian.

Just coming out of that anxiety filled experience with the last home, I said “Father, I’m just going to trust you in this home buying process. If you open the door, good. If you close it, that’s OK too. I’m trusting you.”

We made an offer (with our real estate agent Priscilla) and unbeknownst to us, the offer was made and accepted before the home got posted to the Multiple Listing Service.

This home needed a lot of work as well, but the price was better, the vibe was far cooler and we’re still in our beautiful home today.

After the purchase was complete (with little to no stress), I remember thinking that God, had heard our prayer for the previous home and said “No”—not because he didn’t want us to have a home, but because he had something better in mind.

I remember thanking him with something like this: “Father, you know what we need better than we do. Thank you for not giving us that previous home. This one is far better!”

I love the psalms, because they remind us of what I learned in our home buying process. They remind us what God is truly like. Psalm 116 starts out:

I love the LORD because he hears my voice
and my prayer for mercy.
Because he bends down to listen,
I will pray as long as I have breath! —Psalm 116:1–2

Jesus said that God is more than just a supreme being, or cosmic force, he is a Father. Good fathers listen to understand what their children need, so they know best how to help.

When you pray, not only does God hear your voice and your request for help, but he actually listens to what you say. More than just your words, he hears the desire of your heart. And because he knows all possible outcomes, he may deny your request today, to give you the desire of your heart tomorrow.

God hears you. And more than just your words, he hears the desires of your heart.

That is your Heavenly Father. He is a good, good Father who loves to give His children good things.

And because of his faithfulness we can say—like the Psalm writer—”Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!”

If you’d like to join me in reading/listening through the Psalms and Proverbs each month, you can download the PDF I’ve put together here. Worship and Wisdom is a great way to start your day.

Reading Through Psalms-Proverbs in a Month NIV Download

I tune in to the audio first thing each morning. Would love to hear what time of the day works best for you!

Blessings, Bill

Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

Ever Been in the Pits?

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. —James 1:2–3

A friend once told me everyone he knows is in one of two places: they’re either going through a challenging time right now, or they soon will be.

And I think he’s on to something! Life brings the unexpected, and if we’re not prepared we may miss what God is doing through them.

A friend of mine lost his job recently. He showed up early to work and stayed late. He got raises easily and quickly. He enjoyed it and thought everything was going well—until he got the pink slip. They let him go. He couldn’t believe it! He was angry and wondered how this could have happened. How would he support his family? “Why did God allow this?”
I got a text from a lady who is a good friend. Her boyfriend unexpectedly died overnight. She was in shock. We talked and prayed. She wondered “How could God do this to me?”
Another friend shared with me that their spouse unexpectedly left them for a younger partner. They said “Why would God allow this to happen?”

Loss. Anger. Hurt. Betrayal. Life in the pits.

We didn’t see it coming. We may have stumbled into it ourselves, or maybe we were pushed in.

This is exactly what happened in ancient Palestine with Joseph, one of Jacob’s boys. Joseph’s life goes from childhood innocence to betrayal, human trafficking and imprisonment. Unfair. Undeserved.

This is exactly what happened in ancient Palestine with Joseph, one of Jacob’s boys.

But throughout his story, we see a glimmering thread of God’s presence woven into each chapter—even in the darkest moments.

As a youth, Joseph was a favored son of his dad. He also had dreams of his future. In these dreams he saw his older brothers bowing down to honor him. And he enjoyed telling his older brothers about these dreams.

A lot.

One day, tired of Joseph’s arrogance and the privileged treatment by his father, his brothers threw him into a pit while they decided whether to kill him or sell him into slavery. They discussed Joseph’s fate over lunch and ultimately decided to sell their brother into slavery.

Next he was taken into Egypt where he was sold as a slave to a high-ranking government official. Through these hard experiences, the book of Genesis uses a phrase over and over again: “The Lord was with Joseph.”

He goes from slavery to an unjust prison sentence. But through it all we’re reminded again, “The Lord was with Joseph.” (Genesis 39:3, 21, 23). God was with Joseph—even in his suffering.

Usually when we’re in a pit experience, it’s easy to miss what God is doing. But it is so important to remember: God is with you. He is present in the pit.

When these “pit” experiences happen, what should we do?

Most of us are in one of 3 places today:

The first is this: Maybe you have never had a “pit” experience. If this is you, you are either very young—or very blessed! Most of us have had trying, difficult “pit” experiences but it is possible that you haven’t.
- What now? If this is you, it is time to prepare for the future. The best way to prepare in this time is to grow in your faith, in two areas: Worship and Service. By focusing on God’s goodness in regular, weekly worship and using your gifts to serve others, it changes us from the inside out, making us more like Christ. Put yourself in a position to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ now. Prepare.
The second place is this: You are in the “Pit” now. This is the place we never thought we would be—and certainly never want to be again. Sadly, for some, a pit experience makes them want to isolate from others. We avoid people, insulating us in our loneliness. But remember: God never intended for you to do life on your own. He made you to live in community with others. In fact, if we’re going to ever get out of the pit, it will take the help of others.
- What now? The one good thing about being in a pit is that it forces you to look up! If you are in a pit, the best thing you can do is to reach out to trusted people who can help give you a godly perspective. Put yourself into an environment where others can encourage you and walk alongside you. The best place for this is in a small group. At CenterPoint we call these Growth Groups…they are a place where we can grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, and get perspective together.
The third place is You’re out of the “Pit.” You were in it, but now that is behind you. The upside of coming out of the pit is the wisdom and experience of God’s faithfulness. The downside is that because of the pain of your experience, you find it hard to trust anyone or to take steps of faith.
- What now? If you’re out of the pit, it’s time to take a risk: it’s time to pay it forward. It’s time to help others hear what God did through your pit experience. It is one thing to read about what God did thousands of years ago (in Joseph’s life), but it’s another to hear what he’s done in your life recently. Don’t miss the importance of this. Sit down and think through what God has done—how He was with you in the pit. Write it down; think it through and be ready to share it the next time that God opens a door. He has a powerful way of bringing the right message to someone else at the right time. And when you’re prepared, he will use your life story.

The good news is that Joseph did get out of the pit. And after that, he saved hundreds of thousands of lives through a famine that came over the entire region. Redemption is written all over his story.

But it all started in a pit.

My friend who lost his job, found another job 3 months later. Not only were the hours better, but it was his best paying job ever. He said “I never would have found this job had I not been let go from the last place.”

Here is how James (Jesus’ little brother) encourages us in the pit:

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4

God is still writing your story. Let your faith and trust in him grow. Don’t let the pit take you down; instead consider it an opportunity for great joy. I would love to hear what God has done through your pit experience.

Image by mh-grafik from Pixabay

Small Acts of Kindness

…with great love

“‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.
A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” —Matthew 22:37–40

A man once asked Jesus, “Teacher, what is the greatest command in the law of Moses?”

Jesus—the master teacher—simplified the 600+ laws of Moses into two areas:

Love God and love people.

Love God with our entire being, and love others the way we love ourselves. “The entire law,” Jesus summarized, “and all the demands of the prophets are based in these two commands.”

According to Jesus, we were created for relationship. Relationships are key to understanding our purpose. It’s why we are here. It is what gives life meaning. We are called to love God and love those He has made in His image.

But how do we love God and love people—in a practical way?

If we’re going to love others the way we love ourselves, it will take deep reflection to start and then it will take a radical transformation of our priorities.

Since loving God and loving others is the most significant thing we can do, what will that look like in our everyday life? John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, offered up this as a starter:

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”

To serve is to love. No wonder Wesley and the Methodist church transformed England and ignited the Great Awakening in the early years of the United States. This kind of love not only transforms our priorities, it will transform our world!

This kind of life starts with small acts of kindness done with great love. What does “loving God and loving people” look like to you? What “small acts of kindness” has God put on your heart? Hope you can leave me a thought here—I’d love to hear it.

Blessings

Bill Herried is a pastor in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.

I Am With You

Like a Rock

You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the Lord always,
For the Lord God is the eternal rock. —Isaiah 26:3-4

When our kids were small, Erin and I would stand in the doorway to their bedroom and listen to their breathing. Even after a long day of cleaning up after, feeding and caring for them, if we ever had frustrating days, we would love to sit and watch them sleep and think “I can’t believe they are ours!”

As they got a little older, there were nights when they were anxious and we would sit with them, read and sometimes stay until they got to sleep. In their anxious moments we would say “I’m here—I am with you.”

Over 2,700 years ago, the prophet Isaiah described God to his people. Seeing that his people had lost connection with Him, they lived anxious, fragmented lives. Isaiah wrote to help them understand what God is like—that he is good, compassionate and that he has a plan and purpose for them (Isaiah 14:24, 27).

Isaiah not only told them of God’s presence with them, but also he gave multiple glimpses of the Prince of Peace who would come—the Messiah. Emmanuel: God with us.

700 years before Christ is born, Isaiah describes Jesus’ first coming in about 40 different prophecies. But what is amazing to consider (for us today), is that Isaiah gave us more than twice that amount for his second coming (~81 specific references to what he would do when he returns). Jesus is coming back.

But what is amazing to consider is that Isaiah gave us more than twice as many prophecies for Jesus’ second coming than he did for his first. Jesus is coming back.

Although his people faced difficult times, Isaiah continued to call his people back to their Rock—the One who never changes.

Here is God’s promise in our worries. Isaiah wrote:

You will keep in perfect peace, All who trust in you, All whose thoughts are fixed on you! —Isaiah 26:3

Regardless of how old we are, or the time we live, life is marked by worry. While it is true that most of the things we worry about never come true, still anxiety and worries about what could happen plague us.

Like a good Father, God stands in the doorway, saying “I am with you. I’m here.” And his presence brings peace. But not just a little peace; He brings perfect peace. Comprehensive. Complete.

This peace comes as a result of trust. While his very presence brings peace, it begins by acknowledging his presence.

You can either focus on your worries and be anxious, or you can focus on Him and experience peace. But you can’t do both at the same time.

You can either focus on your worries, or you can focus on Him and experience peace. But you can’t do both at the same time.

In the next line, Isaiah gives us this encouragement:

Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. —Isaiah 26:4

Here is why he tells us this: when you experience God’s peace, know that in the days ahead (minutes/hours?) worry will no doubt raise its ugly head. Again. For many of us, worry has become a habit. But when that worry comes about, Isaiah says, continue to trust the Lord.

Always.

Why? Because He is the eternal Rock. Like a mountain, He is constant and never changing. His love for his people doesn’t shift based on a bad day—He is reliable and trustworthy.

Let me personalize Isaiah’s words for you:

He will keep you in perfect peace, as you trust in Him, when your thoughts are fixed on Him!

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

Lessons From a Giant-Killer

Trust 101

Wait patiently for the LORD.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. —Psalm 27:14

When I am walking through a difficult experience, I want it to be over. The last thing I want to do is to wait for help.

And wait patiently? Not so much.

Psalm 27 was written by David. You remember him…the guy who killed the giant, Goliath?

The first time David saw Goliath, his own people were being threatened by the giant and his opposing army. David stood at a safe distance from the enemy, listening to Goliath’s threats and taunts.

When he heard the put downs and insults toward his people—and his God—something caught fire in David’s heart. He couldn’t bear to see his own countrymen cower in fear. So David, a young shepherd, went mano a mano with a veteran warrior-giant.

God’s word tells us that David finishes off the giant with a stone to the forehead. Just to be sure he was dead, David decapitates Goliath with the giant’s own sword.

The rest is history.

David is what I call a faith-filled, go-for-broke, big-thinking risk-taker. He doesn’t insult God with small thinking or safe-living. I believe that out of that experience with the giant, David wrote these words:

The LORD is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident. —Psalm 27:1–3

These are the words of someone who has personally experienced God’s protection. He is confident—but not in his own ability. He is confident because he knows that God is his light and his salvation. So, he says “Why should I be afraid?”

God is David’s fortress of protection; so why should he tremble?

David continues, “When evil people multiply—even if an army encircles me, I won’t be afraid.” Even when they attack, he remains confident.

Finally, at the end of this song, David encourages us. Based on his own experience of God’s faithfulness, he tells us: “Now you, wait patiently on the Lord.”

Will it take bravery? Yes. Will it take courage? Trusting God always does.

But now—you—wait. Patiently. Your deliverance is on its way. Wait patiently for the faithful deliverance of God.

Image by Ingo Jakubke from Pixabay

But, what if…?

The “what ifs” got your attention?

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. —Philippians 4:8

One of my favorite verses in scripture is Philippians 4:6-7. And the reason it is a favorite, is because it deals with one of the most difficult habits we face in life: worry.

Here is what it says:
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:6–7

So, the big idea is that instead of worrying about anything, that we ought to pray about everything! What does that look like? Paul says to tell God what you need, and then thank Him for all he has done. Surrendering these to him delivers us from the “what ifs” of life. Instead slipping into passive worry, be active in prayer. Then repeat when necessary.

But, like many “favorite verses” the next line is so important. Paul finishes this thought on removing worry with these words:

“…one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

How are our thoughts redirected back to worry? Yeah, it’s the uncertainty of our life. All the ways things can go wrong. The “what ifs.”

Because there are so many possibilities for things to go wrong, Paul says: “Direct your thoughts. Don’t worry about the “what ifs”; focus on what is true. Give your attention to what is honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable.”

In other words, don’t waste your time on worst case scenarios. Don’t focus on speculating what could go wrong; questioning the motives of others; fixating on what is dishonorable, or impure. He tells them to steer their thoughts toward things that we know are good, helpful, lovely and admirable. Paul is encouraging his people to turn from the thoughts that dominate this life to the goodness of God. To move from the temporal to the eternal.

Retrain the way you think—let go of the pathways that you have a traveled on in the past and focus on what you know to be true about God now: things that are honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable. The excellency of God’s goodness: that is what is worthy of your attention and praise.

When you focus on the goodness of God, it changes everything.

Image by Martyn Cook from Pixabay

Only Love

“By this, everyone will know that you are my disciple…”

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” —Matthew 5:14–16

Jesus said that there is one characteristic that his disciples would be known by: Love. Not a general good feeling for people around us—feelings come and go. Jesus defined love as action. It is a genuine care for others that shows itself in what we do.

And it’s not of this world.

It is the ability to love the unlovable. To serve those you detest. That is what Jesus and Martin have called us to.

You are the light of the world. Let your actions shine for all to see, so that they would recognize God’s presence in our world and give praise to Him.

Worship and Wisdom 2023

If you haven’t joined me yet in reading through the Psalms and Proverbs, here is your digital roadmap. We’ll be reading through it each day of the month in 2023. You also have the option to listen to it as well. You can download it here:

Reading Through Psalms-Proverbs in a Month NIV Download

If you’re starting today, begin with today’s date and then continue tomorrow. Easy.

One Step at a Time

God is at work in you

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. —Philippians 1:6

One of my favorite expressions is “One step at a time.” I find myself saying this a lot—probably because we live in a world that likes results. And likes them fast.

But life doesn’t always work out as swiftly as we like, and it is easy to be discouraged because we haven’t “arrived.” Or maybe when we feel we’re “not there yet”—wherever “there” is.

The truth is we are all in process. God is at work in our lives. And he is working toward a specific goal: He is preparing us for heaven.

If you are following Christ, you are not yet what you will be, but neither are you what you used to be. When you began following Christ, you became like a newborn. He gave you a new life and you are growing to be more like him.

Over time, you may not have noticed the change, but neither does the child who is growing physically. As long as the child is nurtured and nourished, they will continue to grow to maturity. One day at a time.

Similarly, as you follow Christ, he is doing something in you that only he can do. He is making you like Christ.

Now, let me be clear, he is not turning you into God, nor will you ever become a god: that is the oldest lie in the book (literally). That kind of destructive pride is what brought us to where our world is today. Satan promised our first parents “you shall be as gods” if they followed his advice (Genesis 3:5).

But it is important to know that wherever you are in your life with Christ, he is working in you, writing your part in the story. Whatever your age, your story isn’t over. Your story is truly just beginning. And Jesus himself, who began that good work, will continue it until the day he returns.

That is good news.

So today, if you’re fatigued, discouraged—maybe confused—remember this: just take the next right step. One step at a time. And as you do, keep in mind that you are not alone. God is at work in you. And He will continue it until that beautiful day that Christ appears.

Image by Aritha from Pixabay

Hope, Help and Healing

Parched?

I lift my hands to you in prayer.
I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. —Psalm 143:5–6

I love hearing God Stories and I’m always amazed when I hear from people how He has worked personally in their life. There are as many different ways that God reaches out to us as there are people.

But there are some commonalities.

I met with a friend recently, who I’ll call Carla. She shared that although she had grown up in church, she ditched her faith in her high school/college days. Years later, she was at a job where one of her co-workers invited her to church.

During this time she had been going through some depression and had tried self-medicating, but nothing worked—the depression came back. Even though her co-worker invited her, she thought “I know what church is like, and that’s not what I need.” But this friend continued to invite her. Finally, she went.

She told me that as she sat there, God’s spirit washed over her and she felt the stress melt away as God spoke directly to her. She said “With tears in my eyes, I realized that this is what I had been missing.” Now, she wanted to know more about her Heavenly Father who had pursued her even into adulthood. Now she wants to use her gifts to serve him and worships at CenterPoint regularly.

All because a friend invited her to church. King David wrote:

I remember the days of old.
I ponder all your great works
and think about what you have done.
I lift my hands to you in prayer.
I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. —Psalm 143:5–6

“I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.” A perfect description. There is a thirst that only He can quench. There is a hunger that only He can satisfy. That is why we worship. In his presence is fullness of joy.

And though every story is different, the commonality is God’s people reaching out to lead their friends to “springs of living water.” That is why the church exists: To be a place of hope, help and healing.

I hope you can join us this Sunday at CenterPoint, 10AM PST. Whether you are with us onsite, or online it will be a great time of worship and hearing from God’s Word. Here is our FB page link.

See you then.

Image by iqbal nuril anwar from Pixabay

The Road Less Traveled

Worship and Wisdom

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. — Psalm 119:105

A number of years ago I was at Costco, looking for some “baked” chips. It was summer and we were putting together a cookout.

I remember seeing these chips earlier in the year, but couldn’t find them, so I asked an employee who was stocking the shelves. He told me that they only carried them the first month or so in the new year, because of New Year’s resolutions—but no one bought them after that!

Ahhh, resolutions!

Whatever time of the year it is, most of us have started new goals with the best intentions, and have been frustrated by “resolutions.” But I’ve discovered that goals and resolutions aren’t the problem. We all want to make progress, and the key to success is support: people coming around you to encourage you in your goals and habits.

One of the life-changing habits that friends have encouraged me in is daily time in God’s word. The reality is that we are daily being molded by somebody’s values every day. So today, instead of following the crowd, I’m suggesting that you take the road less traveled—spend time with God in his word.

One of the life-changing habits that friends have encouraged me in is daily time in God’s word.

With that in mind, we have started a fresh reading plan for the New Year at CenterPoint called “Worship and Wisdom.” And you can start it any day of the month.

Here is how it works: each month, we will read through the book of Psalms and the book of Proverbs together (suggestion: for me this works best at the beginning of the day).

The beauty of this plan is that you are beginning your day with worship—in Psalms—and taking in God’s wisdom for life—in Proverbs. And who doesn’t need more of God’s wisdom?!

That said, the best time to start is today! You don’t need to wait for next month, or next year to begin! The reason you can start any day and not miss much is that we will be reading the same pattern again each month.

Here is the downloadable PDF for our Worship and Wisdom guide.

Reading Through Psalms-Proverbs in a Month NIV Download

You can read or listen through the daily passages. Some of us learn better by listening and others by reading. I listen to these each day by clicking the little speaker icon on the Bible Gateway page.

So to get started (for example), today is the 12th. Look down the list to Day 12, and click the link for the Psalms. After you’ve listened or read these, click on the link for Proverbs 12 and do the same there. Simple. Clean.

What I love about this monthly rhythm is that you are joining a number of people who are worshiping their Heavenly Father and taking in His wisdom together, on the same page, every day.

I hope you can join us! And let me know if you do. This is the road less traveled and I would love to walk with you in this as well.

Take the road less traveled—spend time with God in His word.

Image by Couleur from Pixabay

Darker:

Image by Jim Semonik from Pixabay