Charles W. Page's Blog, page 5
December 8, 2023
How to Love God
I’m Dr. Chuck and here’s today’s spoonful of courage:
What does sacrificial love and devotion to God look like?
We get a glimpse of this in John chapter twelve. Less than a week before Jesus’ crucifixion, Mary of Bethany, in an act of selfless devotion, pours out an expensive perfume on Jesus. Then she rubs his feet with her hair. This extravagant display of love—of course—causes quite a stir—especially among the disciples.
Judas speaks out. “Shouldn’t this expensive nard be sold and used to help the poor?”
Jesus rebukes the disciple. “The poor you’ll always have with you,” he says.
So, what’s the point? What does this have go do with extravagant love—poured out over the Savior?
In contrast to Judas who was motivated by selfishness, Mary had a different passion. A different priority. Mary understood the value—the worth—of Jesus. And she expressed her selfless devotion by giving all that she had to Jesus. Now that’s sacrificial devotion.
And what did Mary sacrifice:
The obvious thing is the financial cost. The nard was worth about thirty-thousand dollars—enough wages to provide a year’s salary for a day laborer. Mary didn’t say, “Well, God, here’s my ten percent. And I’ll keep the rest.”
Giving this gift cost Mary in her pocketbook.
But it more than that. It cost Mary, her reputation. Only women of ill-repute would let down their hair in public. It was considered a disgrace to do so. But Mary didn’t seem to be concerned about what others thought about her—especially when she was sitting at the feet of “the resurrection and the life.” What anyone else thought about her act of devotion paled in comparison to what Jesus thought.
In doing such an unselfish act of worship, Mary had to face opposition. Yep, the naysayers. The ones who criticized her methods and her motives.
If you reflect on what Mary had experienced you’ll understand why she worshipped at the feet of the Master. Think about it. In the previous chapter, Mary sees her brother—dead in the grave four days—rise from the dead and walk out of the grave—at Jesus’ command. She gets a glimpse of who Jesus is—His power and authority. And yet, she also experiences his love. Mary sees Jesus weeping over Lazarus. She observes the grief, empathy, and brokenness Jesus expresses in their loss.
John emphasizes in his eleventh chapter how Jesus loved Mary, and Martha, and Lazarus.
Wow—Jesus. All loving and all powerful. Now that’s a reason to bow, and worship, and give our greatest gives to honor God.
Here’s a question to ponder: In what ways have you experienced the love of God? In your life? In your circumstances? In what ways has Jesus showed up in your troubles and revealed his strength?
Maybe we should adopt the posture that Mary did. Let’s slow down, sit at the Master’s feet, and stay awhile. Perhaps this kind of posture would give us the insight that Mary had.
The disciples, who seemed to be clueless, missed the bigger picture. Loving Jesus involved more than fulfilling a task. Expressing devotion to God involved more than helping those in need. Jesus—above all was worthy of worship.
So, back to our original question. How do express love and devotion to God? First, let’s follow Mary’s example. Let’s sit at the feet of the Master and worship. That’s how we honor God. And out of that devotion flows everything else.
I’m Dr. Chuck, the best guy to see on the worst day of your life. If you were encouraged by this video, subscribe and share.
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November 3, 2023
Fluffy’s Christmas Gift Wins Award
Fluffy’s Christmas Gift receives national recognition through the INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD®!
The INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD recognized Fluffy’s Christmas Gift in the category of Religious Children’s Book as a distinguished favorite.
The competition is judged by experts from different aspects of the book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, book cover designers and professional copywriters. Selected IPA Award Winners and Distinguished Favorites are based on overall excellence.
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In 2023, the INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD had entries worldwide. Authors and publishers from countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, Norway, Scotland, and South Africa, participated.
Books submitted included writers based in cities such as Atlanta to Los Angeles; London to Nova Scotia; from Cape Town to Mumbai; from Albuquerque to New York City as well as others.
“We are proud to announce the winners and distinguished favorites in our annual 2023 INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD. This year included an array of quality and diverse independent books,” Olczak said. “Independent publishing is pushing on every corner of the earth with great content. We are thrilled to be highlighting key titles representing global independent publishing.” said awards sponsor Gabrielle Olczak.
For more information please visit independentpressaward.com; and to see this year’s list of IPA Winners and Distinguished Favorites, please visit the website pages: 2023 WINNERS: https://www.independentpressaward.com/2023winners independentpressaward.com; and to see this year’s list of IPA Winners and Distinguished Favorites, please visit the website pages:
2023 WINNERS: https://www.independentpressaward.com/2023winners
2023 DISTINGUISHED FAVORITES: https://www.independentpressaward.com/2023df
Links to Book
WHAT IF CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS COULD TELL THEIR STORY?
Come and experience the holiday season through the inspiring story of a Christmas tree ornament named Fluffy.
This kids Christmas book helps you see the holidays through the eyes of a tree decoration. Fluffy, a handmade ornament, wants to hang next to the star and climb higher on the tree. On his journey up the tree the snowman faces many setbacks:
Hurtful words and criticismLoneliness, fear, and disappointmentPain from being broken apart
When Fluffy finally gets to the tree top, he learns new things about himself as he turns his gaze to the baby Jesus sleeping in the manger. In his transforming journey, the broken snowman learns about the meaning and purpose in his life challenges.
In this inspirational holiday children’s picture book, you and your youngster will learn:
To see the opportunities in life’s obstacles.How setbacks can work out for a higher purpose.To put criticism, conflict, and bullies in perspective.To have courage when facing difficulties.
BOOK LIFE REVIEW BY PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:
A snowman ornament discovers his true worth in this festive tale.
Young readers will be touched by this moving tale, and Fluffy’s tragic fall from grace will be heart-wrenching and intense. All is not lost, however, as Page lovingly gives Fluffy another chance, crafting a unique spin on his eventual comeback. Bazley’s illustrations evoke holiday nostalgia and warmth, with classic Christmas hues and festive details like yuletide treats and stockings dangling over a crackling fire. Adult readers will find the underlying message of self-worth important—”I will give him the best gift of all: myself”—and Christian fans will appreciate the religious undertones to Page’s book.
Fluffy, a handmade Christmas snowman ornament, learns the joy of discovering his purpose in this delightful holiday read by Page (Climbing the Upside Down Tree). When young Zach puts the finishing touches on his snowman ornament one Christmas, he names him Fluffy—in a nod to his cotton ball middle—and softly tells him “Fluffy, you’re special. You’re one of a kind.” Fluffy immediately takes that message to heart, despite being shunned by the other decorations, and declares his dream is to hang by the star at the very top of the tree one year.
As the years pass, and Fluffy starts to make his way closer to the top, the other ornaments up their bullying. “Cotton Balls thinks he’s better than the rest of us” they taunt, warning Fluffy that eventually he will lose his special place in Zach’s heart.
When he finally earns the coveted top spot, Fluffy’s enchanted by the Christmas wonder revealed from his new view—especially the baby in the Nativity scene—and vows “Someday, little one, I’ll bring you a special present.” Unfortunately, the other ornaments prove correct, and soon Zach is grown up and gone while Fluffy lies broken and forgotten at the bottom of the ornament box.
Great for fans of: Carol Heyer’s Humphrey’s First Christmas; Karma Wilson’s Mortimer’s Christmas Manger.
Check out the Hardback
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October 27, 2023
Do Your Works Match up with Your Words?
Here’s today’s spoonful of courage:
Do your works match up with your words?
One of the most intriguing things that I’ve found as I’ve studied the book of John is how Jesus’ ministry verified his message, how his signs confirm his sayings.
And as Jesus engaged his opponents, those pharisees, and as they began to discuss and debate who he was, and as the pharisees began to be faced with the decision of whether Jesus was liar or whether he was a lunatic or whether he was the Lord, the one thing that the pharisees could not refute about Jesus was his miracles. Jesus’s miracles, the things that he did confirmed the things that he said.
What does that say about us as followers of Christ? Does our walk match up with our talk? Do our words and our works, are they compatible? What about our message in our ministry?
I wanna encourage you today that we’re never going to get it perfect. None of us are going to be like Christ, but yet because the spirit of Christ lives within us, we have the opportunity to display Christ and to model a walk which matches are talk.
I’m Dr. Chuck, the best guy to see on the worst day of your life and we have a small bible study that you can download which is in the description.
Thanks
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Are Our Works Compatible with Our Words?
This devotion discusses how Jesus’ works gave credibility to his words, and how we should do the same. What we say should reflect what we do.
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October 6, 2023
Questioning God’s Love
Here’s your spoonful of courage:
Everyone faces tough situations where things don’t turn out as we expect:
An unexpected deathAn unanswered prayerA fractured relationshipA prolonged ordeal which drags on
When we face these situations, we tend to doubt God’s love for us. We begin to ask ourselves tough questions. If God really loved me, then why would He allow things like this to happen?
If God really loved me why doesn’t he step in and fix things?
If we’re honest with ourselves, we experience these feelings. We doubt God’s concern for us. Or maybe we think God doesn’t have the power to change our circumstances.
This happened to some very good friends of Jesus. Mary and Martha. Their brother, Lazarus had died. Knowing that Jesus had the power to heal their brother, the sisters sent for Jesus. They wanted Him to intervene—to fix their problem, to heal their brother, to end their grief and pain.
The sisters sent a messenger to find him. “Lord,” they said. “The one you love is sick.”
But Jesus didn’t answer their request the way they expected. At first, it seems, Jesus doesn’t answer them all. In the eleventh chapter of his book, John notes that Jesus tarried for two days before coming.
Why?
Didn’t Jesus love Lazarus and his sisters? Wasn’t he aware of their dire situation?
I wonder what went through the minds of Martha and Mary. Probably the same things that race through our minds when God doesn’t meet our expectations.
Perhaps Jesus didn’t have the power to fix their problem, to heal Lazarus? Perhaps he didn’t really care? Or maybe Jesus simply had better things to do, things more important answering their request.
In these times when we doubt the love and power of God, we must remember:
God’s love has a purpose.He wants to perfect our faith. He places us in situations where we are forced to trust Him—even when life events don’t work out the way we anticipate.
Mary and Martha needed to learn that Jesus had something bigger in mind. What they needed was to grow in faith. And in this particular situation—experiencing Jesus’ raise Lazarus from the dead—was a gamechanger.
Jesus wanted them to witness something greater—a bigger demonstration of His love and power. And if you’ve experienced this kind of demonstration—it transforms the way you see every life event you face.
Jesus’ love for Mary and Martha, for you and me, is not a pacifying love. His love is a perfecting love. Instead of giving us what we want, God gives us what we need.
So, when your life challenges are creating doubt in God’s love for you, remember, you may, like the sisters, be somewhere in between. Wait. Be patient. God will show up. He loves you and He possesses all the power needed to make everything right.
In their circumstance, Jesus perfected Mary and Martha’s faith. They saw a demonstration of the love of God. Like Paul confesses in Romans, the sisters could testify:
“But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate you from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
When we wrap our minds around both the love and the power of God—our faith will move on to perfection.
So wait, trust, believe in the love of God.
I’m Dr. Chuck and this was todays spoonful of courage.
FOR A FREE SET OF DEVOTIONS ON SICKNESS AND SUFFERING, CLICK HERE: Click here
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September 22, 2023
Are Our Works Compatible with Our Words
This devotion discusses how Jesus’ works gave credibility to his words, and how we should do the same. What we say should reflect what we do.
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Seeing Others the Way Jesus Saw
In John 9: 1-3, Jesus notices a blind man and sees his value as a person instead of a distraction or interruption. We are encouraged to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and see the needs of others.
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Being Aware of The Needs of Others
In this devotion we dive into the importance of being aware of the needs of the people around you. Jesus is a prime example of how to be attentive to others when he stops to heal a blind man.
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September 20, 2023
Two Ways God Reveals His Will
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September 15, 2023
How to Love Difficult People
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