Pray the words of this Lazaroo aloud, in trusting recognition:

‘“Don’t call me Naomi,’ she told them. ‘Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.’”
(Ruth 1:20)

Some people would criticize Naomi for this raw complaint, Jesus.

But I’m not sure You would.

She didn’t accuse You. She just told the truth:

Her life had become bitter.

Her husband had died.
Both her sons had died.

She was now a widow living all alone –
except for one daughter-in-law she couldn’t feed.

She didn’t shrug and say, “I guess I just had a run of bad luck.”

She recognized You as absolutely sovereign –

the God who gives life
the God who takes it away.

As was the custom in her day, she wanted to change her name to fit her circumstances.

“Naomi” means “pleasant” – something her life no longer was.
“Mara” means “bitter.”

I wonder…

If I changed my name today…

what would it be?

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Genesis 17:5; Genesis 17:15; Genesis 32:28; Genesis 35:18; Genesis 41:45; Numbers 13:16; 2 Kings 24:17; Psalms 139:16; Isaiah 45:5-7; Daniel 1:7; Acts 17:24-28…

Pray the words of this Lazaroo aloud, in deliberate allegiance:

“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential…”
(1 Corinthians 1:26)

Sometimes I struggle with this, Jesus.

So many of the world’s shakers and movers
have absolutely no heart for You.

At times it looks like the way to get ahead

is to fall spiritually behind..

The in-crowd is almost never composed of Your loyal followers.

Oh, they may give lip service to religion
but seldom wholehearted devotion.

In fact, the fastest way to be excluded from their clique
is to be boldly, passionately outspoken for You.

It’s okay to show enthusiasm for wine, politics or sports
but in exceedingly poor taste to express deep devotion

to the King of kings
LORD of lords.

I guess I’m going to have to decide whose acceptance matters the most to me:

theirs…

or Yours.

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Isaiah 9:15; Matthew 11:28-30; Mark 15:42-46; Luke 1:46-48; Luke 1:51-53; Luke 14:1-11; Acts 17:1-4; Acts 17:10-12; James 1:9-11; James 4:6…

Pray the words of this Lazaroo aloud, in deep reverence:

“…they will be thorns in your sides…”
(Judges 2:3)

I know what it is to have a thorn in my side, Jesus –

a nagging problem that won’t go away
an issue I think I’ve dealt with that keeps resurfacing

a person who always has something negative to say
a constant irritation that appears to have no remedy

a shortcoming I’ve never been able to overcome
a habit I don’t want – but seemingly can’t shake.

Sometimes these thorns are punishments, aren’t they?

unintended consequences
of my past choices and behaviors.

At other times they’re gifts –

teaching me invaluable lessons
keeping me humble.

Judas was a thorn in Your side

finding fault with Your decisions
eventually betraying You for money

which led to the humiliating crown of thorns
jammed into Your scalp

while You died to extract from my flesh
the worst thorn of all –

the sting of death.

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Genesis 3:17-19; Numbers 3:55-56; Joshua 23:12-13; 2 Samuel 23:6-7; Micah 7:2-6; Matthew 13:3-8; Matthew 26:47-49; Mark 15:16-18; John 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 15:55-56; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Hebrews 6:7-8…

Pray the words of this Lazaroo aloud, in baffled recognition:

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God…”
(Romans 1:21)

How can anyone know You –
even a little, Jesus –

and not be filled with wonder?

I can understand how shy people might not say wonderful things about You…

but they’d have to at least think it –
wouldn’t they?

I have to believe anyone who refuses to worship You

either outwardly
or at the very least inwardly

is making a deliberate decision not to do so –

purposely shutting their eyes
sticking their fingers in their ears

ignoring the messages sent by their

minds
emotions
taste buds
fingertips
sense of smell.

That’s what people have to do

if they want to stifle this powerful, internal impulse
to fall on their faces in awe before You.

They’d have to defy all logic

insult their own intelligence.

Anyone who persists in doing all that
would have to be a…a…

fool.

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2 Kings 1:3-4; Psalms 10:4; Psalms 14:1; Psalms 36:1-3; Isaiah 6:9-11; Jeremiah 2:19; Matthew 13:15-16; Romans 3:9-18; Romans 9:22-24; Romans 11:7-10…

Pray the words of this Lazaroo aloud, with actionable faith:

“…the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.”
(Joshua 2:11)

Many of us agree with that statement, Jesus.

We just don’t act like it.

We know You’re God in heaven above

but when the sun blazes down
how many times do we say it’s too hot?

when Your snow blankets the earth
how often do we complain it’s too cold?

We know You’re God on the earth below

but when our candidate loses the election
we’re sure the winner will destroy all that is holy and good.

When we experience a health crisis
we seldom look for the hidden benefit.

Yes, You’re God in heaven above and on the earth below!
We proudly proclaim it to the world.

But when we don’t act like it

we make it very hard for perceptive unbelievers
to believe anything we say.

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Job 38:22-35; Proverbs 19:21; Psalms 29:3-5; Psalms 147:16-18; Isaiah 46: 9-10; Isaiah 55:10-11; Acts 5:38-39; Acts 17:24-28; Ephesians 1:11-12…

Pray the words of this Lazaroo aloud, with bottomless trust:

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
(Acts 2:4)

Kind of makes a person want to be filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus!

To think that I could speak fluently in another language
without having learned it?!

Wow.

But You weren’t just showing off.

Neither were Your followers.

You were making it clear from the very outset

Your Church is for all nations
not just Jews

You, the one who created all people

have come to save them.

You were making that message clear not only to the people who heard them praising You in their native tongues

You were making it clear to the Jews themselves
serving notice

that their monopoly on You had come to an end.

I wonder, LORD…

do the people in my church grasp that reality?

Do I?

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Isaiah 28:11-12; Isaiah 66:18; Mark 16:17; Acts 2:11; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:4-6; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; 1 Corinthians 12:27-31; 1 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Corinthians 14:1-25…

Take a fresh look, as you pray aloud the words of this Lazaroo:

“You grumbled in your tents and said, ‘The LORD hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us.’”
(Deuteronomy 1:27)

Sometimes I’m tempted to think that, Jesus…

at first.

There are seasons when things just don’t seem to go well.

Disappointment piles on top of disappointment.
Nothing appears to go right.

At such times, I have to wonder:

Have I so badly blown it with You
that this is what I get?

Is this my richly deserved punishment
for the countless sins I’ve committed?

Are You so upset with me that You’ve given up on me –
concluded I’m no longer worth Your investment?

But then I remember what You did for me on the cross

how You begged Your Father
to forgive those who were killing You

and realize nothing

can separate me from Your love.

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Exodus 20:5-6; Deuteronomy 5:9-10; Deuteronomy 32:37-41; Psalms 11:5; Psalms 25:19-21; Psalms 35:19; Psalms 38:19-22; Proverbs 8:36; Isaiah 61:8; Jeremiah 12:8; Amos 5:21; Zechariah 8:16-17; Malachi 1:2-3; Malachi 2:16; Luke 1:69-75; Romans 8:35-39…