Who Can We Trust? By Lisa Burkhardt Worley
With several church leaders falling and now with an international Christian television network having internal issues, we may want to choose a side or have an opinion about the scenarios. Although these situations are disappointing, we must remind ourselves that it is not up to us to judge. We are on the outside looking in and do not know what is in the hearts of those involved. In Matthew 7, Jesus gives us sobering counsel about condemning people: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with…
The Accountability of Thanksgiving by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
It’s two days before Thanksgiving and the stiffness is setting in. Yesterday I cleaned out a refrigerator in the garage that died, and I am embarrassed to say how long it has been sitting there with perished food in it. I have grocery shopped for a crew of 9, cleaned out the pantry, and will work on decluttering the bedroom today. I could complain about the work, but I am grateful for the motivation and accountability that Thanksgiving brings. The house needed deep cleaning, and unfortunately, it took Thanksgiving to put everything else aside and work on my home. When…
The Discipline of Thankfulness by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
It only takes one downturn, one delay, or one dig to move from thankful to thankless. It is during the difficult times when being thankful is the most important, because it is the cure to disappointment and sadness. It becomes a discipline to be thankful because it is not always a natural tendency. Here is how the discipline looks. If a friend or spouse lets us down, instead of dipping into a vat of self-pity, it’s time to remember the positives about our loved one. Instead of What have they done for us lately? we need to think about the…
Christ is the Vine by Lane Jordan Burday
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5). As we begin to decorate for Thanksgiving, many of us use dried wine branches for door wreaths or laid on our tables along with colorful pumpkins, acorns, and fall leaves. Seeing ourselves as a ‘branch’ can be hard to understand. But in biblical times, the wine orchard was one of the most important parts of the culture. The wine was drunk at meals because water could be impure. The…
The Significance of 33 by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
On Monday, we conducted a book launch for our new devotional, Treasure, and we ended up as a best seller on Amazon and, for a couple of days, ranked as high as #33 in devotional books. While I would have liked Treasure to make it into the top ten, I felt like there was some significance to finishing at #33 so I looked up what the number means biblically. This is what I found out: `However, the “aha” moment came when I read that the number 33 means “God’s promise.” My name, “Lisa” is a derivative of Elizabeth and also…
Don’t Fall Into the Pit by Lane Jordan Burday
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:2-3 For some reason, the holiday season can pull many into the pit of depression. Which is one reason Thanksgiving is my favorite! For when we turn our eyes and hearts on all that is good, all that we have been blessed with,…
Doing the Right Thing by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
Doing the right thing is not always the most popular action to take. Often, taking a stand for faith goes against the ways of the world. It may alienate us from family members and friends. There might be times when we do not follow the famous entertainers or ministry leaders because we have a check in our spirits. God might call us to be a friend with someone who we never imagined being friends with—but it is the right thing to do. There are many examples of biblical characters doing the right thing, but I recently came across a beautiful…
For God to Heal our Nation by Lane Jordan Burday
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. — 2 Chronicles 7:14 Nothing can bring us more hope and joy than to know God hears us when we call to Him. He promises that when we humble ourselves and confess sin, He will hear us, and on top of that, He forgives our sins and heals our land. After Solomon dedicated the temple, the Lord appeared to…
Life in 3D by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
I realized this week that three major projects are concluding at the same time, and they all start with the letter “D”: Doctoral Project, Documentary, and Devotional. I thought there must be some significance to this, so my prayer partner looked up the letter “D” in the Hebrew alphabet and the letter “Dalet” means “Door,” so I believe that the Lord is saying that He is opening doors through these three projects. However, there is a depth to the meaning of the Hebrew letters. “Dalet” can also signify that we must be in a state of humility and selflessness to…
Is Anything Good? By Lane Jordan Burday
Is Anything Good? Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?” Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:6-8 This is a dark time in the history of the world. Many wars are happening right now all over the world. We have an election that appears to separate the entire nation. We have had horrendous hurricanes with great loss of…
No Denying by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
This week I have been stationed in a room at Avoca Coffee Roasters in Denton, Texas. This is where editor, Hannah McGinty, and I have been diligently editing a new documentary to fight Holocaust denial, Their Blood Cries Out. I have remembered this tragedy with a solemn spirit, but I have also been anxious, as creating a documentary is like birthing a baby. I have cried several times because it is a very heavy subject, and some of the video is graphic. However, I have never denied, nor will I ever deny what happened to the Jewish people during World…
What is Hidden in Us? By Lane Jordan Burday
For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Luke 8:17 We have a little English Jack Russell Terrier named Toby with more energy than probably twenty dogs. He is so cute, and people will stop us to talk to him on our walk. In fact, I think more people in our neighborhood know Toby than us! We give him special treats for different activities, and the one for bedtime is his favorite. However, he stopped eating it, and we didn’t understand why. Then, we…
God Sees Your Heart by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
Have you ever had those days where everything and everyone bothers you? I have found that my worst days are when I have been on the go non-stop and have not gotten enough rest. I am a relatively even-tempered person, but it is in the stretches of constant travel and simultaneous projects where I might raise my voice and lose patience with someone. Difficult days happen to everyone, but when we overreact, most of us will apologize to the person we were short with, then beat ourselves up for losing our cool. However, if we are Jesus followers, even on…
Expecting Jesus By Lane Jordan Burday
You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matthew 24:44 A friend of mine was waiting for a technician to come and repair her dishwasher. She saw a text message that said, “Jesus is on his way and is expected to arrive at approximately 1:15.” Needless to say, she was somewhat taken aback, but of course, it wasn’t the real Jesus. The technician’s name was Jesus – hay-soos! But when can we expect Jesus, the Son of God, to arrive? He said over 2,000 years ago that…
A One-Day Pause by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
Today is Yom Kippur, which means “Day of Atonement” in English. It is the holiest day of the year on the Jewish calendar, and it is a day where the busyness of life comes to a halt. The twenty-four hours consists of fasting from both food and drink. And more importantly, this is a day to ask God for forgiveness for any wrongdoing that one committed during the year. Jewish people worldwide take a one-day pause. We can find the command to observe this day in Leviticus 16:29–34: This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day…
Who’s Your Boss? By Lisa Burkhardt Worley
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5–6 I worked in secular television for twenty years as sportscaster before it was cool for women to be on sports television. It was a very rewarding career for this sports fan, but the television industry can also be difficult at times. One might get released from a contract even though his or her work is excellent. There is a hyper-concern about ratings and physical appearance. When I retired from the media, I…
Seeking Wisdom by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17 There are many activities and invitations that can pull at our time, and it is difficult to know when to say yes and when to say no. That is why we need God’s wisdom to understand His direction for our lives. Wisdom has been defined as “knowing how to live God’s way in God’s world and acting on that.” To live God’s way, all we have to do is pray for his wisdom. It’s a gift…
Keep the Fire Burning by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
He makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. Psalm 104:4 What does it mean to be “on fire for God?” We hear that terminology but how does it translate into everyday life? I know that I want people to see the fire of God in me whether I am hosting a television show or speaking in a public setting. However, there are days where the fire burns brighter than others due to overworking and distancing from God that can lead to burnout. To avoid a smoldering fire in our lives, we can learn from the Levitical priests who…
I Saw the Lord by Lane Jordan Burday
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Isaiah 6:1 I sing a song that begins with this verse, and it is one of my favorites. Can you imagine being in the presence of the Lord and having the beautiful, golden temple filled with His overflowing robe? Whenever I sing this song or read this verse, my heart soars with my love for God and His great holiness. He is God, and He is alive and real in my life! The rest…
Like a Groundhog by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 I recently spoke at a conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, when God provided a treat. We were loading things into the car and nearby I saw a groundhog standing on his hind legs. Every year, on February 2, we hear the story about the groundhog. If he sees his shadow, we will have six more weeks of winter. If he does not, spring is coming! I…