Posted by Lisa Burkhardt Worley on April 9, 2012
All of my family members are big golf fans. We love to play golf and we love to watch it on TV. To make the Masters Tournament more exciting, we each chose two golfers who we thought would win. One of the two pros I selected was former University of Georgia standout, Bubba Watson. I didn’t just pick Bubba because he had played consistently throughout this early golf season, I also chose him because of his strong faith in Christ.
In a recent interview on the Golf Channel program, Feherty, Watson talked openly about his commitment to his Christian faith and about how important it was for him to be a good husband to his wife, Angie. In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, Watson says his wife, caddy and trainer are all Christians because he wants his team to all believe in the same thing. As of this week, he also has a new one month old adopted son, Caleb, on his team as well. Bubba adds that he reads his Bible to get key thoughts for his golf game. “The Bible is my mental coach now,” claims Watson.
So when making my Master’s selection, I thought God would reward Bubba for his faithfulness and for his boldness. In the Message translation, Psalm 119:45-46 proclaims: Oh, I’ll guard with my life what you’ve revealed to me, guard it now, guard it ever; And I’ll stride freely through wide open spaces as I look for your truth and your wisdom; Then I’ll tell the world what I find, speak out boldly in public, unembarrassed God has given Bubba a platform to speak boldly about what he has found, and yesterday, He gave him an amazing victory at the Masters to boldly proclaim God’s truths to the world, while wearing a very special green blazer. Why Bubba? Because God rewards his faithful servants.
Posted by Lisa Burkhardt Worley on March 7, 2012
The other day I had to drive my son to school for an early morning golf tournament and it was still dark when I turned onto the main drag of my subdivision. As I made my way around the corner, I realized a runner was heading towards me, thanks to the reflectors he was wearing on his clothes. I swerved out of the way just in time and thought, “If he didn’t wear those reflectors I might not have seen him in time!” I was relieved and thought about the scenario later that day.
What if we reflected our faith in that way, so no one could miss us? They would always see us coming and we would reflect life in this often dark world? Matthew 5:16 says, In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Are we reflecting God’s love to others? Does the light of Christ shine through us wherever we go? Is it hard to miss us because of the light we reflect or do we just blend in with the darkness?
God wants to use us to reflect His light in this world. Ask the Lord to make you his reflector!
Posted by Lisa Burkhardt Worley on February 11, 2012
It usually takes three repeat messages for me to realize God is trying to get my attention. On this subject, He sent nine urgent telegrams to me based on James 1:22-24: Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
The first time I studied this passage intently was in our Wednesday morning James Bible study. The next morning, the same passage happened to be the subject of my morning devotion. I thought, “That’s two times; but for me to know it’s from God, there has to be a third message.” Then the Michael Jackson song, Man in the Mirror immediately re-played in my head. I had just seen the movie, Joyful Noise, with a friend and that was one of the featured songs the church choir sang in the show. While watching the movie, Man in the Mirror transformed from secular to spiritual for me, reminding me of the James verse before I ever studied it. I reflected on the third message from God and recalled the words of the chorus: I’m starting with the man in the mirror. I’m asking him to change his ways, and no message could have been any clearer. If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change.
The repeat messages continued loud and clear and it was evident, I was a listener of the word but not a doer! I was the one who was looking at myself in the mirror and forgetting what I looked like! I began to pray that God would reveal to me where I had failed Him. My change began with reestablishing a quiet time with Him in the early morning. I used to get up before anyone was awake and have one-on-one time with the Lord, but then started liking the coziness of my bed way too much, and justified the extra half-hour of sleep because my husband and I read a devotion together after we both got up. God was telling me that in order for me to be a doer of the word, He needed my undivided attention early in the morning.
After that, so many scriptures flooded my head convicting me where I was a listener but not a doer; commandments that I had read numerous times but still didn’t implement in my life. Matthew 6:34 was the first one: Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 1 Peter 5:7: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. The old standard, Proverbs 3:5,6: 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. Verse after verse flooded my soul; verses I had committed to memory, but I was merely a listener of the word and not a doer. I am now praying in my new found quiet time for the Lord to give me the ability to be a “doer” of the word, to trust him more fully with my day and to reveal to me where I can make changes.
How about you? Have you looked in the mirror lately and forgotten what you looked like? Are you a listener and not a doer?
Posted by Lisa Burkhardt Worley on January 9, 2012
For the first time in my life, this long-time Dallas Cowboys fan cheered for the Denver Broncos on Sunday. I cheered not because I am now a Broncos fan; I cheered because I wanted God to reward his faithful servant, Broncos quarterback, Tim Tebow, with a victory. Tebow has been the object of ridicule because of his outward professions of his Christian faith. After a touchdown, Tebow regularly prays with his head down, on bended knee (now labeled Tebowing) and has been vocal about his beliefs on interviews, giving God the glory after the Broncos’ victories. After winning seven of his first eight games as a starter, the Tebow led Broncos lost the final three games of the season, limping into the playoffs. Most experts didn’t think the Broncos had a chance against the Pittsburgh Steelers, rated number one in team defense, but they forgot who Tebow had on his side.
Tebow displayed his strongest performance to date as Broncos quarterback, breaking an NFL playoff record for most yards per completion with 31.6 and passing for 316 yards. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that on occasion, Tebow’s eye black is marked with the Bible verse John 3:16.
However, it’s another passage that reminds me of Tebow. In Acts 3, Jesus’ disciples, Peter and John, were arrested for speaking openly about the resurrection. They were released but were strongly encouraged by the chief priests and elders to quit talking about Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” When returning to the other Christ followers in their group, they did not appear shaken by their opposing religious leaders, praying that they would speak God’s word with “great boldness.”
Tebow has spoken about his faith with great boldness and after the victory on Sunday, the skeptics are taking notice. When some national television sports analysts were asked if they thought Tebow could lead the Broncos to a victory over the New England Patriots next weekend, they did not answer verbally. Instead, they all put their heads on their fist and “Tebowed.”
I don’t know if the Broncos will be able to beat the New England Patriots on Saturday night but I do know one thing, I will be cheering for Denver and will be praying for Tebow to have another opportunity to glorify God.
Posted by Lisa Burkhardt Worley on November 27, 2011
I am thankful this holiday season for God’s provision. Through my husband, he provides a home for our family, food on the table and a full, rewarding life. I am also thankful for His supernatural provision, after the call I clearly heard from Him over the summer. As I near the end of the call and look back, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, God’s presence was with me, helping me to complete what originally looked like an impossible task.
Over the summer, women’s ministry leaders at our church were deciding which Bible study to offer the women of our church on Wednesday mornings. Beth Moore’s “So Long Insecurity” kept presenting itself to me but I was hesitant to go with that particular study in the fall because it did not have an accompanying video. I thought it would be a better summer study, but the interest in doing it grew and at some point in the decision process, I clearly heard, “You do it!” I knew what “You do it” meant. It meant putting together eleven lectures for the study and presenting them live each week prior to the small group discussion. God is very specific when he calls you to a task.
I was resistant at first, and asked someone else to split the load. I wasn’t sure I could come up with eleven lectures on insecurity and putting them together in a short period of time seemed ominous. The person I asked told me plainly, “I can help, but I really think you are supposed to do it.” When the three other Bible study decision makers unanimously agreed I was supposed to write and present the lectures, I agreed to take this on. I confess, I don’t always go willingly when God calls me. I am like Moses most of the time, making up excuses as to why I cannot proceed with a project.
However, it is my experience with calls from God, that He almost always asks you to do something you could never accomplish by yourself. He wants us to give Him the glory when he supernaturally completes the task through us. Seminary was such a call for me. I knew God was with me throughout the five-year process, providing what I needed to finish my Master’s in Theological studies in 2008. The verse that comes to mind is 1Thessalonians 5:24: “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” Now, as I wrap up the writing of the eleventh lecture on insecurity, I realize he did it again! He provided the topics for the lectures and the words. He provided two amazing women who edited the material every week and he provided nine individuals to give their personal testimonies on insecurity at each Bible study. He provided a gifted young woman to meet with me weekly to go over the PowerPoint presentation so she could run the slides. He provided talented small group leaders. He had a plan and was faithful to do it!
I love being a part of something much larger than myself. I love being used by God in this way and each time, when the project is completed, I plead with the Lord to do it again. “Please do it again!” I am always repentant that I did not go willingly at first, but so happy that I eventually answered the call. I want to make a difference for the kingdom, don’t you?
Posted by Lisa Burkhardt Worley on November 1, 2011
When I began writing devotions for this website, my goal was to publish one devotion per week. Unfortunately, lately, I have been slipping up a lot and not accomplishing my goal because I have been putting together weekly lectures and PowerPoint presentations for our Wednesday morning Bible study. These lectures require a lot of research and take time to write, so there are not many extra hours to work on anything else. For a while, I worried about not meeting my goal, but then I realized even Jesus had diversions in his ministry.
I thought of the time Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus to tell them their brother, Lazarus was very sick. They asked Jesus to come right away but he stayed where he was two more days before he went to Lazarus, who died during the delay. Jesus probably had other ministry responsibilities he was taking care of. As you may remember, Jesus did eventually make it to Lazarus and raised him from the dead.
Another time, Jesus was on his way to heal the dying daughter of the synagogue leader, Jairus, when, along the way, Jesus took the time to heal a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years; diverted again. By the time Jesus made it to Jairus’ daughter, she too had passed away, only to be raised from the dead by Jesus. Each time, even though Jesus was diverted, the end was result was even more powerful than it would have been if Jesus was on time and on the original schedule.
I realized that Jesus was on God’s time, and that is the goal for my life. When every morning, we give our schedules to God, we don’t have to feel bad about not accomplishing our list for the day. Maybe it was on our list, but not on God’s. In my case, God has diverted my plans to write devotions so that I can work on a powerful Bible study on insecurity and right now, He wants me focusing on that. The devotions will come, just like this one, but only in his timing. One of the prayers I pray almost every morning is based on Psalm 119:133 (KJV): “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” If God orders or directs our steps, then there is never any remorse about what we have accomplished at the end of the day. The end result is all according to God’s plan, so give yourself a break! The Lord may have a different “to do” list for you tomorrow than what you’ve written out!
Posted by Lisa Burkhardt Worley on September 26, 2011
Over the weekend, I attended my cousin’s wedding in Calistoga, California. After 16 years with his beloved girlfriend, my cousin tied the knot, and I decided to support the decision. Although my cousin and his girlfriend live in Los Angeles, the wedding location was closer to San Francisco and about 45 minutes from where one of my dear college friends lives. She picked me up from the airport, I stayed with her at her home and she was my “date” for the wedding since my husband stayed back. The plane ticket was extremely reasonable, so it was all meant to be. When things flow so easily for me like that, I always wonder what God has in store for me!
As it turned out, the wedding was all about reconnecting. I reconnected with my college friend. I reconnected with another cousin who lives in Northern California, and more importantly, I reconnected with family members at the wedding, who I had not seen in a long time. For two summers while I was in college, I lived with my aunt and uncle and my two cousins, one of whom was the groom, the other was the best man. At that time, they were little boys. I always think living with them prepared me for having my two boys later in life!
So here I was, watching one of the little boys I lived with for two summers, move into a different chapter in his life as an adult. The wedding itself was a joyous occasion. The presiding minister was a character, full of life. I found out later he had been a professional dancer on The Carol Burnett show, and had even danced with Lucille Ball when she was a guest on the show, but now he was a minister and performed 250 weddings per year at this vineyard. He added color to the ceremony and the reception afterwards. The bride, an actress, was beautiful, and of course was radiant during the ceremony. The bride and groom provided a delicious formal dinner for all the wedding guests. It was quite a wedding feast!
As I reflect back on the event, I thought of how it will be one day, when the church, the Bride of Christ meets Jesus again! The timing will be perfect. I will wonder what God has in store for me in eternity and I will see Jesus face to face. There will be great joy and I am sure, many colorful people in heaven, like the minister at my cousins wedding, celebrating at the great wedding feast. This will be an experience like no other. Revelation 19:6-8 talks about the great multitude that will be a part of this wedding feast. They will be shouting, “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” It’s the wedding planned from the beginning of time and the one we desire to be invited to. For an invitation, all we have to do is accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”
Posted by Lisa Burkhardt Worley on September 5, 2011
This past week I presented two messages that shed light on the work of angels in God’s kingdom. On this Labor Day, we recognize all of the hard work that goes on in our country, but I think we should also make note of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes, the work of God in our lives, administered through angels.
In our world, God uses angels to minister to us, to protect us and to fight our battles for us. While we should never worship angels, God and Christ alone are to be worshipped; we rarely recognize the work of angels in our personal worlds.
In the messages I presented last week, I shared many true-life stories about angel experiences that either happened to our family, or to others we know, but no story was more amazing than what Dr. Larry Lehr experienced, a professor at Baylor University. Dr. Lehr was on an ecological expedition in Belize with 15 students. The area of Belize Dr. Lehr and the students were working in did not have any electricity or running water, so they all had to bathe in a river near a waterfall. Dr. Lehr warned the students to not venture too close to the falls, or a current my carry them over, so to insure their safety, Dr. Lehr remained the closest to the falls to prevent any students from wandering into the current. While he was guarding the area, a shampoo bottle floated by, so Dr. Lehr tried to grab it. At that point, a current swept him away and took him over the falls. After two minutes underwater, Dr. Lehr began to think he would not make it. He thought about who his son’s wife might be one day, what his grandchildren might be like, then prayed that God would take care of his family if he didn’t make it. He also asked God that if it was in his plan to save him, “would he please do it NOW!” At that point, Dr. Lehr says he felt a huge hand come underneath him. It lifted him up and placed him on the bank of the river. He has no explanation for it, except that an angel saved him that day in Belize. In Dr. Lehr’s case, an angel was his protector.
So, on this Labor Day, let’s thank God for his work and the work of his Angels. My guess is they are not taking the day off.
Posted by Lisa Burkhardt Worley on July 30, 2011
I spent last weekend getting together with 24 college girlfriends at my undergraduate school, Texas Lutheran College, many of whom I may not have hung out with while at TLC. However, coming together over thirty years later with this group of women was different. There was reminiscing and light fun, but there was also a spiritual element to the retreat. There were talks on Menopause, Stress and Prayer, with God woven throughout. The retreat, called, “The Way We Were; the Way We Can Be: Soul Spa,” was just that, a bathing of the soul in the spirit of God. We were all the same people, but not exactly the same because since college, we had all been through life’s struggles, realizing that only faith in God can help us overcome. Any divisions because of the various cliques at college dissolved, and we got to know each other in a deeper, more meaningful way!
Yesterday, I had lunch with a woman who I knew from elementary school in San Antonio. We reconnected on Facebook, and both of us now live in the DFW area. Interestingly enough, after talking, we realized we were never in the same home room in elementary but that we each had vivid memories of each other. She is extremely petite and I am above average in height, so when we stand side by side, I look like a giant! As we talked, the discussion moved to our current faith beliefs. As it turns out, we worship within the same denomination and she is considering going on a spiritual retreat called, “The Walk to Emmaus.” Both my husband and I went on this retreat over ten years ago, and we know how life changing it can be. I told my elementary school friend that our lunch may simply have been about my encouraging her to attend this retreat. I knew this was a “God appointment!” God’s plan for us is amazing. My life verse is Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” My elementary, high school, and college years were a part of God’s plan, but so were these meetings so many years later.
God willing, I will go back for our third annual TLC get together next summer and I suspect I will have lunch with my elementary school friend again, but now, our past is intermingled with our future as we all strive to be the women God desires for us to be.
Posted by Lisa Burkhardt Worley on July 3, 2011
We just spent a week with my sister in law and her husband in Michigan. The weather was beautiful so we had many days to enjoy water sports, rounds of golf and a competitive croquet match! It is also a time to catch up on each other’s lives and to have an occasional philosophical discussion on life.
One day, we discussed heaven and the possibility that our loved ones, who had already passed on, were watching our lives from above. Neither my husband nor I have parents left. His dad, who passed on last year, was the last remaining parent/grandparent left in our small family. My husband’s sister, Sue, whose kitchen table at her lake house, belonged to her deceased mom and dad, joked that her dad would be unhappy if he saw my water glass on the table without a coaster!
All joking aside, there is scriptural evidence that our lives are on display. Hebrews 12:1,2 affirms this thought: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” I want to believe that my parents and grandparents and ancestors before that are in that great crowd of witnesses cheering me on to do the right thing in my faith journey!
One of the ancestors I never met was my great great grandfather, Abram Weaver. Abram Weather was an itinerant pastor who began his life in Salisbury, North Carolina, but his ministry travel eventually brought him to Georgetown, Texas. I came across his three page autobiography a few years ago and after reading it, realized my goal would be to have the kind of great faith Abram Weaver had. He summarized his life in the last paragraph of his writing: “I was engaged in the active work of the ministry just fifty years. During that time, I preached more than three thousand sermons to more than three hundred thousand people. I superintended the building of three, up to date, new churches and married a great many, smoothed the dying pillow of hundreds, who I shall see again, “Beyond the sunset’s purple rim.” I lament my inefficiency, repent my mistakes, love my Redeemer and hope to find rest in Heaven.”
I believe Abram Weaver is in that great cloud of witnesses along with all of those relatives who have professed their faith in Jesus Christ and who have gone before me. My great great grandfather’s amazing testimony encourages me to persevere, as I attempt to do the work the Lord has set before me. What about you, who is watching you right now as you make your journey through life?
Why Bubba?
