Gregory E. Lang's Blog, page 2

Believe In Tomorrow

If the day of the Lord seems delayed it is not due to His idleness. Rather, it is because God is long suffering and is giving time to all his people to come to repentance. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped your neighbors and continue to help them. Continue your work of love, and show an equal effort in attaining the full assurance of hope found in Christ. By God’s promise those who believe in his Son will see a new heaven and a new earth. Do more than believe in God, believe God. Believe in tomorrow.

So I tell you to believe that you have received the things you ask for in prayer, and God will give them to you. Mark 11:24

Remember, God is the One who makes you and us strong in Christ. God made us his chosen people. He put his mark on us to show that we are his, and he put his Spirit in our hearts to be a guarantee for all he has promised. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

In Christ we were chosen to be God’s people, because from the very beginning God had decided this in keeping with his plan. And he is the One who makes everything agree with what he decides and wants. We are the first people who hoped in Christ, and we were chosen so that we would bring praise to God’s glory. So it is with you. When you heard the true teaching – the Good News about your salvation – you believed in Christ. And in Christ, God put his special mark of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit that he had promised. That Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will receive what God promised for his people until God gives full freedom to those who are his – to bring praise to God’s glory. Ephesians 1:11-14

Dear friends, we are saying this to you, but we really expect better things from you that will lead to your salvation. God is fair; he will not forget the work you did and the love you showed for him by helping his people. And he will remember that you are still helping them. We want each of you to go on with the same hard work all your lives so you will surely get what you hope for. Hebrews 6:9-11

The Lord is not slow in doing what he promised – the way some people understand slowness. But God is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to be lost, but he wants all people to change their hearts and lives. 2 Peter 3:9

But God made a promise to us, and we are waiting for a new heaven and a new earth where goodness lives. 2 Peter 3:13

Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.

Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.

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Live In Today

Do not rest on what you have done in the past, or bank on what you plan to do in the future, for yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come. Live as if it were your last day, surrendering every aspect of your life to God, seeking to live more and more as Christ lived, even in your final moments. Don’t wait for tomorrow; live in today.

Don’t worry and say, What will we eat? or What will we drink? or What will we wear? The people who don’t know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them. The thing you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you. So don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34

God says, At the right time I heard your prayers. On the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you that the right time is now, and the day of salvation is now. 2 Corinthians 6:2

I am not telling you this because I need anything. I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens. I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens, when I have enough to eat and when I go hungry, when I have more than I need and when I do not have enough. I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Hebrews 13:8

Some of you say, Today or tomorrow we will go to some city. We will stay there a year, do business, and make money. But you do not know what will happen tomorrow! Your life is like a mist. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away. So you should say, If the Lord wants, we will live and do this or that. James 4:13-15

Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.

Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.

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Yield to Wisdom

The foolishness of God is wiser than your wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than your strength. If you rely on your own wisdom in all things you fail to seek the will of God. If you seek the will of God you will have divine wisdom in your thinking and peace in your heart. In all matters, ask Christ to go with you and bless you in what you are about to undertake. Yield to His wisdom.

Even the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:25

And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom but with words taught us by the Spirit. And so we explain spiritual truths to spiritual people. 1 Corinthians 2:13

Let the teaching of Christ live in you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and instruct each other by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

Now, brothers and sisters, we ask you to appreciate those who work hard among you, who lead you in the Lord and teach you. 1 Thessalonians 5:12

Obey your leaders and act under their authority. They are watching over you, because they are responsible for your souls. Obey them so that they will do this work with joy, not sadness. It will not help you to make their work hard. Hebrews 13:17

But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to all people, so he will give you wisdom. James 1:5

Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.

Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.

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Why We Are A Family (original introduction, 2005)

I began this series of books on family relationships with a story about my family reunion, which takes place every Thanksgiving. I said that my family, now nearly seventy members strong, is the kind that embraces you, nurtures you, and loves you immeasurably. My family has been the bedrock of my life, understanding, accepting, loving, helping, and teaching me at every step along my journey. From my family I learned to put children first, respect elders, give care and solace to those in need, be thankful always, give and receive affection often, live up to your word and duty, forgive and let go, have fun, and never overlook a chance to tell someone “I love you.” It is my family that I think about when in moments of reflection I ask myself what am I worth, what have I done with my life, and what am I going to do tomorrow? My family not only comforts me, they also give me meaning and purpose.

When I was young I would have told you that the definition of a family was a husband and wife and their natural-born children, all living under one roof. As I grew older and life events touched my family, I found reason to revise that definition. As divorce, death, or remarriage occurred, as enduring couples chose not to marry, I saw that merely being “intact” or having proximity and commonality did not define a family, and that the complexity of human relationships demanded a broader, more malleable, inclusive definition. I believe now that a family is not just the traditional two-parent variety that remains untouched by divorce, but also includes blended families and single-parent families. These are indeed “families” because they share the same love, commitment, and concern that make a family what it is. I believe this because I have seen familial love extend beyond traditional family boundaries and legal arrangements, because I have felt the unmistakable gravitational pull that binds people together, the unconditional, unrelenting pull of the heart.

Although I boast of my family, it is in truth not unlike any other. We have been touched by death, divorce, disappointment, division, difficulty, and deception. We have secrets, conflict, and memories of broken promises. But we also have a rich history, treasured traditions, a theme of togetherness, a desire to embrace one another, a determination to overcome whatever separates us, and a will to welcome whomever wants to be among us. Yes, there are many examples of our fallibility, but there are many more of our love for one another and our lasting fellowship.

Perhaps the best example of what I describe about my family is illustrated in the following story. We were surprised one day a few years ago to learn that there was a new member of our family, someone who had been unknown to us for nearly twenty years. It was arranged for her to attend one of our gatherings, and on her arrival it was obvious to us all that she was one of us. Hours later, when all headed home, we left richer for including her in our family, and she went away with the knowledge that a bunch of once strangers were now a part of her family. Today we also count her husband and newborn child among us. It was this experience that taught me that you don’t have to be born into a family to become a member of one, and that you don’t have to earn the love and trust of family—it is yours without the asking.

In each book of this series I have focused on one of the relationships within a family – daughters and dads, sons and mothers, grandchildren and grandparents, and so on. In the course of writing these books and photographing those who shared their time and stories with me, I was struck by the love exchanged between the subjects of the particular book I was working on. But I was also struck by the palpable good feelings exchanged between everyone in the room who watched as I worked. Some of those watching were stepparents and stepchildren, others were adopted or foster children. None were of the opinion that they were not a family.  All believed that what they shared was special, and all were proud to be the faces that would lend meaning to my words. By the end of my photo sessions it was more obvious to me than ever that my new definition of family was not unique to me – others shared it, lived it, and loved it. 

While I initially intended to write about family relationships as a way to give thanks and recognition to those I love, I soon found the work caused me to be introspective.

In many ways my books are confessional. I have shared with my readers that my only child is from a family divided by divorce. I have also shared that her mother and I have worked together, albeit not always easily, to give our child as much of a sense of family as we could given our circumstances. I have shared my fears, my regrets, some of my pain, and most of my hopes. What I haven’t shared is my disappointment about not having the three children that I once hoped for, my concern that my daughter, Meagan, was missing something growing up as an only child, and my terrible loneliness in my empty house when she was spending time with her mother. These emotions sometimes kept me awake at night, brought tears to my eyes, or led me to pray for guidance and relief. Sometimes I would write about my feelings, hoping the exercise would give me an additional measure of strength to better carry my heavy burden.

And then one day when I lest expected it, God’s grace rained down on me and my prayers were answered. Jill came into my life and brought with her a wonderful family of her own. Not only did I gain the benefit of falling in love and being loved in return, I gained a new extended family, one that welcomed me from the start and continues to extend sincere affection to me. I also gained the opportunity to have an important role in another young girl’s life, to be a father figure for my wife’s child, Linley. Meagan gained a stepsibling and the chance to know firsthand the love, fun, and trust that I share with all of mine. I now have a house that seems to never be empty. I wake up each morning happy to embrace my duties to these three women. I take great pleasure in readying the day for them and in the playful banter we share as each makes her morning appearance. I go to bed grateful that this blessing has come into my life, that I get to be both husband and father, that I have a family. That in our house, we have submitted to love’s gravity, and it pulls us closer together, day after day.

This book may be purchased on Amazon here.

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Share Yourself Willingly

Remember, there are no greater gifts to share than your time, labor and love. Whoever sows sparingly of these will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Do not forget to give yourself away, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Share yourself willingly.

Remember this: The person who plants a little will have a small harvest, but the person who plants a lot will have a big harvest. 2 Corinthians 9:6

We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.

1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NIV)

But I did not want to do anything without asking you first so that any good you do for me will be because you want to do it, not because I forced you. Philemon 1:14

So through Jesus let us always offer to God our sacrifice of praise, coming from lips that speak his name. Do not forget to do good to others, and share with them, because such sacrifices please God.  Hebrews 13:15-16

Open your homes to each other, without complaining. 1 Peter 4:9

Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.

Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.

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Choose Good Company

Bad company corrupts good character, period. Choose good company.

Brothers and sisters, I ask you to look out for those who cause people to be against each other and who upset other people’s faith. They are against the true teaching you learned, so stay away from them. Romans 16:17

Do not be fooled: Bad friends will ruin good habits.

1 Corinthians 15:33

So, you are not loyal to God! You should know that loving the world is the same as hating God. Anyone who wants to be a friend of the world becomes God’s enemy. James 4:4

Here is the message we have heard from Christ and now announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. So if we say we have fellowship with God, but we continue living in darkness, we are liars and do not follow the truth. But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin. 1 John 1:5-7

My dear friend, do not follow what is bad; follow what is good. The one who does good belongs to God. But the one who does evil has never known God. 3 John 11

Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.

Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.

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Love Without Hesitation

You cannot profess to follow Christ unless you love all those for whom Christ died. We were instructed to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Love each other so well that there will be kindness and mutual acts of service between you. All relationships are made perfect if filled with love, but are worthless without it. Love without hesitation.

I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you. John 13:34

Do not owe people anything, except always owe love to each other, because the person who loves others has obeyed all the law. The law says, You must not be guilty of adultery. You must not murder anyone. You must not steal. You must not want to take your neighbor’s things. All these commands and all others are really only one rule: Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Love never hurts a neighbor, so loving is obeying all the law. Romans 13:8-10

I may speak in different languages of people or even angels. But if I do not have love, I am only a noisy bell or a crashing cymbal. I may have the gift of prophecy. I may understand all the secret things of God and have all knowledge, and I may have faith so great I can move mountains. But even with all these things, if I do not have love, then I am nothing. I may give away everything I have, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing if I do not have love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

My brothers and sisters, God called you to be free, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful self. Serve each other with love.  Galatians 5:13

Now that you have made your souls pure by obeying the truth, you can have true love for your Christian brothers and sisters. So love each other deeply with all your heart. 1 Peter 1:22

Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.

Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.

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Parent With Love

Unreasonable scolding, hurtful language, or cruel punishment brings about resentment in children, making you ineffective in the Christian training of your children. Love them as Jesus loved them – with patience, kindness, protection, trust and hope, always keeping them from becoming discouraged. This is the way in which your Lord loves you; follow his example. Parent with love.

Then Jesus took the children in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them. Mark 10:16

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. Love is not happy with evil but is happy with the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always remains strong. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Fathers, do not make your children angry, but raise them with the training and teaching of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

Fathers, do not nag your children. If you are too hard to please, they may want to stop trying. Colossians 3:21

Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.

Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.

The post Parent With Love appeared first on Gregoryelang.

Comfort Your Brother

Christ, the perfect one without sin, laid down his life for us, sinners, and in return asked that we give comfort to those in trouble, sharing the comfort that we first received from him. If you love as he loved, you cannot refuse to comfort your suffering brother. Let your love be deep and enduring, not shallow and brief. Comfort your brother.

He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us. 2 Corinthians 1:4

But now you should forgive him and comfort him to keep him from having too much sadness and giving up completely. So I beg you to show that you love him.   2 Corinthians 2:7-8

I have great joy and comfort, my brother, because the love you have shown to God’s people has refreshed them. Philemon 1:7

Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Remember to welcome strangers, because some who have done this have welcomed angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison as if you were in prison with them. Remember those who are suffering as if you were suffering with them. Hebrews 13:1-3

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence. 1 John 3:16-19 (NIV)

Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.

Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.

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Walk Straight Paths

All that is good lies along the straight path, and on the dark, meandering trail wickedness and deceit are found. Pay attention not only to what Jesus taught, but how he lived. Rise above slander and spite; deserve respect for your life lived in the service of God, relying on the truth of the Word as your daily guide. Walk straight paths.

Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. Do what you learned and received from me, what I told you, and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

It (Grace) teaches us not to live against God nor to do the evil things the world wants to do. Instead, that grace teaches us to live now in a wise and right way and in a way that shows we serve God. We should live like that while we wait for our great hope and the coming of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us so he might pay the price to free us from all evil and to make us pure people who belong only to him – people who are always wanting to do good deeds. Titus 2:12-14

So then, rid yourselves of all evil, all lying, hypocrisy, jealousy, and evil speech. As newborn babies want milk, you should want the pure and simple teaching. By it you can grow up and be saved, because you have already examined and seen how good the Lord is. 1 Peter 2:1-3

They have caused many people to suffer, so they themselves will suffer. That is their pay for what they have done. They take pleasure in openly doing evil, so they are like dirty spots and stains among you. They delight in trickery while eating meals with you. Every time they look at a woman they want her, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lead weak people into the trap of sin, and they have taught their hearts to be greedy. God will punish them! These false teachers left the right road and lost their way, following the way Balaam went. Balaam was the son of Beor, who loved being paid for doing wrong. 2 Peter 2:13-15

Here is the message we have heard from Christ and now announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. So if we say we have fellowship with God, but we continue living in darkness, we are liars and do not follow the truth. But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin. 1 John 1:5-7

Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.

Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.

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