Unveiled Hope

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:13

Mary Jane Phillips lay in a bed in her daughter’s kitchen, in the final stages of what appeared to be cancer. As her daughter cared for her, she sat up in bed and said, “Oh, my! There’s Mrs. Leonard!”

Everyone present was amazed as she named off several dead relatives and long-gone friends. It appeared as if Mary Jane was being given a view through the portals of Heaven. She continued to name people who were long-forgotten, even people who had passed away recently. And then, she said, “And Mrs. Sader, too!” at which point the family figured she must be hallucinating, because Mrs. Sader was very much alive. They had just spoken to her that morning.

Just then, the telephone rang and one of the girls answered it. A startled look crossed her face. As she hung up the phone, she announced in an astonished voice, “Mrs. Sader passed away just a little while ago!”

Only minutes later, Mary Jane Phillips joined Mrs. Sader as she met Jesus face-to-face.

†

This event changed my mother’s life, for having listened to her Grandmother speak so candidly about Heaven brought the certainty of its truth to her heart and spirit. She has never known a fear of dying because Grandma Phillips had unveiled the mystery of death to a six-year-old that day.

In this same way Paul wants us to know the hope he professes; that on the day God calls us home we will be greeted by our loved-ones and friends as we enter Heaven to be with Jesus.

Prayer

“Give me the certainty of my true home, Lord, and take away any vestiges of fear of death. Speak to my spirit of the reality of Heaven. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Why Bother, LORD?

I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. John 15:16

Lost in thought, I didn’t hear my cell phone buzz. I was pondering the reason I was even finishing the second volume in my devotional series. Volume one: Snapshots: A Spiritual Look At Daily Life, released in 2009, had yet to break the three thousand book sales barrier. So why did it matter that I complete the second volume?

The phone’s second buzz registered, letting me know there was a message. “Hi Craig!” came Molly’s familiar voice. “I wanted to let you know God is still using you! I just spoke with a man that’s going through some tough times, and he had a copy of Snapshots! He said someone gave it to him after he shared about his struggles! I told him, ‘I know the author, and God has been using him and that book to change people’s lives!’”

As I listened, Molly’s voice was drowned out by God’s, “What you do for Me is more important than you can conceive. I weave your fruit through other’s lives, drawing them closer to Me. Numbers are arbitrary in light of eternity. Your faithfulness, in spite of the doubt, allows Me to nourish others, and give them hope.”

I wept. God had orchestrated events so my doubts would be put to rest. I opened my laptop and wrote this devotion.

†

In our humanity, attaching expectations to our spiritual service isn’t unusual. We want God to do wonderful and meaningful things with our service. When we don’t readily see results we can begin to doubt that what we do matters. We wonder, “Why do I bother, Lord?” As a result, our service to the Lord can lose the enthusiasm and devotion it was begun with which, in turn, negatively influences our relationship with God and others.

In today’s text, John tells us God has chosen and purposed us to not only work on His behalf, but that our work will affect future generations.

When your doubt whispers, why bother?, don’t give up. Stand in faith, trusting God’s promise that what we do matters more than we can ever imagine.

Prayer

“LORD, continue using what You purpose me to do and leave the results of that service to You, expectation free. In Jesus’ Name, amen!”

Worth a Second Glance

The LORD does not look at the things man looks at…the outward appearance…the LORD looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

Corey came into our lives much the way of the lost puppy. Our sixteen year old daughter, Lindsay, who’d never dated before he showed up, came home one afternoon from school and told us about the ‘new boy’ in her class. “He seems really nice, Mom, but he doesn’t talk much, and keeps to himself.”

“Be nice to him, Linds,” Nancy said. “He probably needs a friend.”

So Lindsay set out to be Corey’s friend, even inviting him to dinner. When she brought him to the house for the first time, Corey looked like a lost pup, weighing about a buck and a quarter; a skinny kid who’d seen more than his share of life. But beyond the baggy pants and lone wolf disguise there was something about Corey that made you take a second glance.

Corey and Lindsay have been married for nine years now, and Nancy and I couldn’t have asked for a better mate for our daughter. Over the past fourteen years we’ve witnessed Corey’s commitment to God, our daughter, life, and now his daughter, grow into what God intended. In that time he has grown and matured both physically and spiritually. He is a godly man who works with youth, and seeks to do God’s will. That he adores our daughter and dotes on her is proof that she chose well. Watching him with our granddaughter only validates it more.

I guess Nancy and I saw what Lindsay saw that made us each take that second glance; a good heart awaiting maturity.

†

Every parent wants their children to marry well. Fathers especially want their beautiful little girl to find someone who will not only treat her right, but will never give him reason to regret transferring responsibility and care to another man.

I can say I have never had a single regret. That is in part to allowing God to show me Corey’s heart instead of assuming the young man with an attitude wasn’t the right man for my daughter.

If we, as parents, want our children to chose wisely we must teach them how to look past all the outward appearance and discern, with the Holy Spirit's help, what is in someone else’s heart.

Prayer

“Help me see what You see, Lord. Help me listen for Your recommendation or disapproval instead of judging someone on my own. In Jesus’ Name, amen,”

Coincidence or Divine Intervention?

For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Philippians 2:13

Elsie headed to the kitchen to pour a cup of tea, but continued listening as the TV host introduced her next guest, “Please welcome Jan Johnson to the show.”

That’s strange, Elsie thought. Someone else named Jan Johnson.

Jan had been one of Elsie’s dearest friends, but she hadn’t spoken to her in awhile.

Finished fixing her tea she returned to the living room and almost dropped the cup and saucer as she saw it was her Jan Johnson on the Cooking Channel! Wow! I guess a lot has happened since I last talked with Jan! I think I’ll call her, she thought, reaching for the phone.

Elsie and Jan had grown up together, attended the same college, they’d even gotten married the same year before Jan’s husband’s job had taken them from rural New Jersey, to New York City, resulting in infrequent correspondence.

Jan picked up on the second ring. “Hello?” came the familiar voice.

“Jan!” Elsie exclaimed. “I just saw you on TV.”

Oh, Elsie!” Jan squealed in delight. “I was just thinking about you the other day! I told Ken I needed to call you! I miss you so much.” Elsie could hear a quiver in her friend’s concluding remark.

“What’s the matter, Jan?” Elsie asked, dispensing with pretense.

“Oh, Elsie,” Jan confided. “I’ve been having such a crappy day…and here you are, calling me! You’ve always known when I needed you!”

†

The God Who spoke the Universe into motion certainly has the capacity to whisper our name when we need Him to. Yet, if we are to believe that God works in our lives through divine intervention, rather than believe such events are only a matter of coincidence, we must first believe that God cares for us, and wants us in an intimate relationship with Him.

With that revelation comes an understanding that He can, and does, work in and through us to achieve His purposes. He is eager for us to recognize these are not coincidences but divine appointments.

Prayer

“Help us to see Your hand at work in our lives, Lord. Teach us to be discerning so we don’t miss those intimate moments You orchestrate for our behalf. Amen. ”

Do We Shake The Dust Off?

If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave…as a testimony against them.

Luke 9:5

The rift had been widening for two years when the outright ‘shunning’ took place. What seemed so unacceptable and painful about the act was that they proclaimed their still-present love for one-another to other family members, and wished things had never come to this.

But third-party declarations and unspoken truth have no power to heal, and each chose not to speak their true feelings directly, clutching their offenses like security blankets, their stubborn pride asserting itself in the form of righteous indignation, even in the face of forfeiting family relationships.

So on a cold December day, mother and father were turned away from their child’s home, told their differences could not be reconciled and they were no longer welcome.

†

With great wounding comes great pain…and the possibility of thoughtless acts meant to inflict wounds in retaliation. Sadly, the idiom: ‘Hurting people hurt other people’ is true. Yet, it need not be. We have a choice to extend grace, leaving the lines of communication to open, remaining hopeful that God will have His way in everyone’s hearts, bringing restoration.

In the worst of circumstances, there is the temptation to view Jesus’ instruction of, ‘shake the dust from your feet’ to His Disciples as the vehicle we are to employ in separating ourselves from the pain. But, good-willed people are as prone to mistakenly translate, and therefore execute this form of judgment as are non-believers. And in the process they execute the hope of reconciliation, and estrange themselves from God’s ability to speak life into the void.

Though we read three times in the Gospels of Jesus’ instruction, and are given a literal example in Acts 13:51, family need never apply to this directive.

We can, when confronted with such wounding, dig deep enough to let Jesus hold our heart as we suffer for the sake of others, seeking the reward of future peace and restoration.

Prayer

“Lord, I hurt in ways words cannot convey. But I trust that You know how to lead me and my family back into a loving relationship. I ask for the strength to extend grace while asking you to remove from me a heart of wounded judgment. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Chosen For Worship

When the angels had left them…the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go…see this thing that has happened…So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby...

Luke 2:15, 16

Tommy was used to being the last one chosen, so when Greg called his name first he wasn’t certain he’d heard correctly; neither were the rest of the kids. “Are you nuts?!” Marty cried. “Yah, what’s wrong with you?!” Stevie chimed in. Dickey added, “I think he bumped his head, guys!”

But Greg just looked at Tommy and winked, “I think Tommy is gonna be my most valuable player!”

Tommy, in awe of Greg’s confidence in him, displayed a huge smile. “Thanks, Greg! I won’t let you down!” he promised.

“I know you won’t Buddy!” Greg responded.

Tommy’s eyes lit up even brighter. He’d never had anyone count on him before. Why, he wasn’t even nervous! But he was excited! This was a sensation he’d never experienced before…it felt good…and he liked it!

†

It made no sense to the Jews that God would send the shepherds to bear witness to the birth of their Savior. The Jewish Talmud says, “Give no help to either a heathen or shepherd.” Shepherds were forbidden to attend temple services or keep Jewish rituals. So, to the Jews, shepherds were the lowest of the low…the very scum of society.

Yet, God gave them the privilege of worshiping His newborn Son!

As dirty on the outside as the stable the King of Creation lay in, the shepherd's character was just as offensive…they were distasteful in every way. Still God loved them, giving them the honor of being the very first to set eyes on His Son, and sing the praises of Heaven to all who would listen.

There are many who, like Tommy and those shepherds, have been rejected and scorned. Yet, God wants us to know that He sent Jesus to each of us! We have been chosen by God to join Him in eternity, and to begin to experience a relationship with Him now. There is an innate sense within that attests to the truth that we are created for worship. The choice is ours.

Prayer

“Thank You, Father, for the invitation to worship Your Son, Jesus! Bring me into the closest of relationships so I can bring Him the glory and honor He deserves. Amen.”

The Antidote

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:17

There once was a King who loved his subjects, and those who loved him lived within the walls of his kingdom. Those who did not return the King’s sentiment chose to live outside the kingdom walls, yet even those the King treated with respect and kindness.

One day the King’s only son came to him and said, “Father, there is an epidemic that is killing untold numbers of people outside the kingdom walls.”

“And you believe we should help them,” he said rhetorically.

“Yes, Father. I do,” he said nodding.

“Do we have an antidote?” the King asked.

“We do,” the son replied.

Knowing his son well, the King knew there was something his son wasn’t telling him, “I sense there is a catch?”

“Yes, Father,” said his son. “The antidote must be delivered to doctors outside the kingdom gate. They say that whoever delivers it must not reenter the kingdom for fear of infecting those inside.” The king waited, knowing his son wasn’t finished. “I cannot ask anyone else to make that sacrifice. I will take it myself.”

A mixture of pain and pride swept over the King, “And you are willing to sacrifice yourself for those who hate us?”

The father knew his son’s great love could never allow the answer to be no, “It is the right thing to do.”

“Then go, my son,” the King proclaimed. “And may the antidote bring healing to all who are sick!”

†

Those who live outside God’s Kingdom have a terminal disease and they, like the people in today’s story, have no cure.

Those who live inside the Kingdom know what they need, because God, in His great mercy and love, has provided the Antidote.

When you’re lost you don’t know it. But if someone lovingly presents God’s plan to those who will listen, telling them about the power of Jesus to set lost souls free, they might be saved.

And the King speaks, “I’m looking for volunteers to take them the Antidote.”

Prayer

“Thank You, Father, for sending Jesus as the Antidote for our sin. Lead me to the ones who are lost that will listen. In Jesus’ Name, amen!”

Miraculous Transformation

Behold, I make all things new!

Revelation 21:5 KJV

Christmas Eve was the day the tree went up; and that not until dinner was done, and we boys were in our pajamas, ready for bed when the trimming was complete.

Dad loved the anticipation of waiting to put the tree up on Christmas Eve…and the excitement in his three son’s eyes as we not-so-silently waited while he fitted the stand into the base of the tree.

There was order and purpose in the trimming, and we knew better than to buck Dad’s ideology where tree-trimming was concerned. “Boys,” he’d say, “trimming begins with lights.” So the standard teardrop lights were wrapped around the tree first. Then the bubble-lights were hung with special care, making sure the tips of the tubes stood up straight. Next were the ornamental-glass bulbs. First the round ones; then the long, tapered ones, followed by the few hand-blown bulbs we had accumulated, placed at strategic locations. The wooden ornaments were next; and finally, the red and green paper chains. As the trimming progressed, the tree came to life. With the ornaments and chains hung, Dad would utter our final instructions, “The tree isn’t finished until the tinsel is hung, boys.”

Little boys haven’t the patience to hang individual strands of tinsel. We just grabbed handfuls of ‘icicles’, heaving them as hard and high as we could. Then Dad would proclaim, “Looks great! You’re done…time for bed!”

As memorable as the Christmas Eve tradition was, the miracle was revealed on Christmas morning; for our haphazard efforts had been transformed into something awe-inspiring! The tinsel had mysteriously been re-distributed, and there were presents under the tree! Oh, the miracle of Christmas!

†

As the years have passed I’ve grown to appreciate the tremendous restraint my father showed by allowing us to hang the tinsel as little boys, waiting to create the miracle of Christmas morning cloaked in mystery. The love of a good father is a powerful thing.

God is such a Father. Yet, He will not straighten out our messes uninvited. He waits, not just on Christmas Eve, but always, offering the Greatest Gift imaginable…His Son! A Gift that takes away our tangled mess of sin, transforming us into an awe-inspiring miracle! All Heaven eagerly awaits our response.

Prayer

“Lord, I give You the tangled messes of my life. Create something new and miraculous! Amen.”

Virgin Birth? Yeah, Right!

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

Luke 1:34 KJV

The year is 1 B.C. A young woman has just been told she is now pregnant! “How can this be?” she asks her Heavenly messenger.

She is about to experience and endure an almost unbelievable event. She will be accused by friends and neighbors alike of having pre-marital sex with Joseph, to whom she was only engaged. There is no use trying to explain. I mean…who would believe?

“Yah, right! The Holy Spirit came upon you, and now you’re going to give birth to the Son of God! Uh huh…right…” But she knows the truth…It does not matter that they do not believe, LORD. It is enough that You know. She submits to God’s plan, pondering…Why was I chosen to bear Your Son? How will this all turn out? Many will believe, but just as many will not accept the truth. I mean…it is impossible by all human accounts. May You find Your servant faithful, LORD.

Months later, Jesus is born. Lowly shepherds are afforded the privilege of being the first to see this ‘Child of God’. The Virgin welcomes them, remembering clearly the glorious occasion when she was made pregnant by God’s Holy Spirit. Will they believe me? she wonders. And she tells them her story.

With great joy these sheepherders listen, and then run off, anxious to tell the Virgin’s story to all who will listen…“God has a Son!”

†

With two-thousand years of hindsight, many have come to believe this Virgin’s story. As a matter of fact, the Barna Group found that three out of every four American adults, including non-believers, accept the virgin birth as truth; 33% worldwide.

As you read today’s story what is in your heart? Do you find yourself with a shadow of doubt? If so, I pray God would show you the truth of Who He is today. Because if we cannot come to terms with God’s ability to cause a virgin to conceive, we will have a problem believing Jesus is the only way to Heaven.

Prayer

“LORD, search me and see if there is any doubt in my heart that You were born a virgin birth. And if You find any, show me how to resolve it. Amen.”

Spiritual Puberty

When they saw the courage of Peter and John…they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:13

Thirteen year old Jeremy was glad today was Saturday. He didn’t hate school, not really. As a matter of fact, he had a lot of good friends among the Middle School populace, but he needed a break. The ribbing he’d endured over the last three weeks was getting old. His given name had been replaced with names like, ‘Cackle’, ‘Squeaky’, ‘Pitchy’ and ‘Pube’. Although kids can be cruel, this was just a case of good friends giving him a hard time as the onset of puberty was becoming apparent.

Jeremy’s father had explained that as his hormone levels increased, noticeable physical changes would begin to take place. Among them was the voice-change he was now experiencing. Jeremy understood that his voice would go from the high-pitched adolescent tone he was used to, to one of a deeper, more resonant quality.

Dad had also explained that the change would take months, possibly even a year or two to complete…a process Jeremy wasn’t looking forward to.

“Look on the bright side,” his dad had said with a chuckle, “All the girls will notice!”

†

Just as dramatic and noticeable as the voice-change of puberty, people notice changes in our actions and attitudes when we hit our spiritual stride.

However, unlike the physical transformation from adolescence to adulthood, spiritual puberty is not a guaranteed event. The acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice does not insure spiritual maturation; spiritual maturity must be sought and acquired.

Like Peter and John, we must walk with Jesus, sharing His life, before there is a noticeable difference in the way we act and respond to life’s challenges and uncertainty. A casual relationship didn’t bring the Apostles to the spiritual maturity with which they changed the world, and it won’t work with us either.

Admirably, most Christians want to make a difference for Christ and His Kingdom. However, this level of commitment requires an intimacy few are prepared to commit to. But that’s exactly what Jesus wants, for us to strain through the adolescence, and strive for spiritual maturity.

He never said it would be easy…only rewarding.

Prayer

“Birth in me a deep desire to know You, Lord Jesus. Help me commit to the life-changing relationship You intended us to have. Amen.”

Holy Fire

“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Luke 3:16

Jason and Sherry had gotten iPhones specifically so they could ‘Face-Time’ during his deployment. The fairly-new app allowed them see each other while they talked. “Hi Honey,” Jason greeted his wife’s call. “It’s really hot here!” he teased, knowing it was probably cold back home in the Midwest.

Sherry’s response was tactful and direct, “I’ll trade you places anytime you want, dear. The thermometer broke last night when the temperature hit -27°!”

Jason’s reaction was one of concern, “Are you serious?! Did it really get that cold last night?”

Her grin told him he’d been had… “Nah…but it felt like it when Ricky and I brought wood in for the stove.”

An involuntary shiver coursed through Jason’s body and he smiled. It could get pretty cold at home when the Canadian winter air descended from the north. As a matter of fact he had spoken with his eldest son just prior to leaving for Afghanistan about not letting the fire go out because it was harder to get the temperature back up when the house grew cold. “Is Ricky following orders?”

“You’d be proud of the job he’s done, Jay. It’s been toasty in here, and the fire has never come close to going out. Ricky took what you told him seriously,” Sherry answered.

†

In his book,“Viral”, Leonard Sweet writes, ‘…in ancient cultures, the most important thing a household did was to never let the fire go cold. In rural Korean cultures the same ancestral fire burned for centuries, and when they moved they took the fire of their forefathers with them. When your fire went out, it was thought, you lost your connection with heaven. Would that Christians were as careful about tending spiritual fire as these ancients were about natural fire.’

It’s our responsibility to keep the spiritual fire burning, yet for some reason many don’t place an emphasis on it, and fail to keep and communicate the importance of our Holy Fire to their children.

Prayer

“Lord, I want Your Holy Fire inside me to be fanned into a flame that never goes out and is seen and felt by others. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Help Me Forgive

“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Romans 12:19 NKJV

“Jean should be here by now,” Tracie told Ed. “She’s not answering her phone and her text said she’d be here around 9:30. I’m going over to the farm to see if something’s wrong.”

“Call me when you get there,” Ed responded.

Tracie’s mind wandered as she covered the three miles. But she could not have foreseen nor imagined what she was about to encounter. Pulling into the driveway, she spotted Jean lying behind the house, a pool of blood staining the snow around her head. Running to her side Tracie screamed, “Jean! Oh, no…Jean!” the horror of what had happened was inconceivable. No, God, please! This can’t be happening! Tracie’s mind was numb as she dialed 911.

The Sheriff’s report would state that Jean’s farmhouse had been broken into in what appeared to be a home invasion. At some point a gun became involved, and in defense of her home, Jean was brutally murdered.

†

A kind and godly woman, Jean would have given anyone anything they needed...as long as they asked. But as the murderer discovered, she would stand against anyone, or anything, that threatened her home and loved-ones.

Such a loss is deeply felt and intensely grieved. The devastation left in the wake of a crime so heinous and senseless is incalculable. The long-term effects can shatter and destroy the lives of those left behind if they fail to respond correctly, because when something like this happens our initial desire is to exact revenge. But revenge is as destructive as murder; it’s one of Satan’s most powerful weapons.

The only action that will bring freedom from such evil is forgiveness, but taking the first steps can seem impossible, because to forgive feels like we are betraying a close friend, yet choosing not to forgive fosters bitterness. Once rooted, bitterness chokes out everything good in our lives.

It will most likely take time, but asking God to give us the desire to forgive is a good place to begin. And God and time, given the chance, can heal even the deepest of wounds.

Prayer

“Lord God, forgiver of our sin, Give me the desire to forgive those responsible for Jean’s death. Help me forgive as You forgave us for killing Your Son. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Awaiting Our Return

…he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him…

Luke 15:20

Sitting in the back of the fire bus, Steve was experiencing a crisis of faith. He decided he was somewhere near, if not at, his emotional bottom. Dealing and using drugs to numb the pain of an abusive and violent childhood had never come close to accomplishing the goal, and Steve remained unsettled.

Where the hell have you been, God?! his soul cried out. Unexpectedly, a picture of a poem Steve hadn’t thought of in years came to mind. ‘Footprints in the Sand’

Instantly, his vision focused on what he’d been gazing at outside the bus. Two sets of raccoon tracks followed the edge a swift-running creek. Watching as the bus continued on, one set of tracks suddenly disappeared, and God whispered, “I have never left you, Steve. I have carried you through all those years of heartache and trouble. I was grieved when your father threw shoes at you. I have always been there.”

For the next six hours God ministered to Steve, reminding him of times long forgotten; the good and the bad. Slowly, Steve’s perspective of a punishing and angry God, looking a lot like Abe Lincoln sitting on his concrete throne at the Lincoln Memorial, faded, to be replaced by the true, loving nature of God.

As the fire bus pulled into the station, God whispered once more, “Return to Me, Steve. I’ll take care of the rest.”

†

Much like the prodigal, many of us have squandered our spiritual inheritance, only to realize the life we’ve chosen isn’t meeting our needs or expectations. Yet unwilling to admit blame we demand, “Where the hell are you, God?!” And because of His great love for us He disregards our obstinacy and immediately picks us up and begins wiping away the dirt and filth. He places the robe of royalty upon us, and on our finger He puts the signet ring of Sonship. All that matters is that we have returned!

In our deepest pain, at our lowest point, God is waiting for us. He wants to tend our wounded hearts and set us free from the things that separate us from a healing, loving relationship that brings joy and peace. The only requirement is that we surrender control.

Prayer

“Abba Father, I’ve had enough of running my own life. I say yes and ask You to take care of the rest. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, amen.”

Unstoppable Resistance

Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

Lindsay wasn’t your normal sixth grader. Even now she was planning her Valedictorian address…something that would, in six more years, come to pass. To this point in her scholastic career, Lindsay had not missed a single day of school…for any reason.

She was proud of her unblemished attendance record. Through childhood diseases and the common cold, she had pushed herself, not allowing sickness and personal discomfort to hinder her education…or that shiny record.

But this morning her daddy figured the streak might be in jeopardy because the face that greeted him was anything but bright and cheery. Daddy’s little girl looked pasty white. “Hey, Poodie. Whatsamatter?” he asked in concern.

“I’m okay,” came her brief reply.

“You sick?” he asked, placing his hand on her forehead to see if she was running a fever.

“No!” she blurted. “I’m fine and I’m going to school,” she proclaimed. And with that she went in the bathroom where she quietly forced herself to throw up, getting rid of the nausea, and got ready for school…something Daddy wouldn’t find out about for a few years.

†

Drastic? Perhaps. Dedicated? Most definitely! The point is that Lindsay put up more than a casual resistance to sickness and discomfort in order to reach her goal. She was determined not to give in to the temptation to stay home.

What a great example of how to approach today’s text.

Lindsay did not then, nor has she ever suffered from an eating disorder. Her actions were born out of a deep desire to achieve a perfect attendance record upon graduation. She succeeded.

Understanding we will not do it perfectly, we are to actively pursue holiness…never giving an inch to the enemy. We are not to give nonchalant lip service to our temptations.

Paul said in Philippians 3: 12, “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

When the enemy visits you with temptation, let the power of Jesus Christ take hold of you and press on in unstoppable resistance!

Prayer

“I need Your strength, Lord Jesus. Take hold of my life and my will and give me the power to resist the enemy. Amen.”

Sent To Prepare The Way

I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.

Malachi 3:1

My friendship with Terry was born out of questionable circumstances…

“God, I know I deserve to be here,” my prayer began that Friday afternoon in 2003…followed by my selfish plea, “but please don’t send that punk to LMCCC.”

I’d been sentenced on multiple drug-related charges, and was awaiting transfer to the facility where I would begin serving my sentence. That punk was Terry, whom I’d developed a strong dislike for in a short period of time. I didn’t want to serve my time locked up with a guy who was always looking for trouble. But…God always knows and does what’s best for me, and He knew that Terry wasn’t as hard on the inside as he appeared on the outside. So He sent him on ahead of me. To put it mildly…I wasn’t too excited about it.

Then, one December night, the weekend of my daughter’s twenty-first birthday, we went into lock-down. ‘Lock-down’ meant no visitation; I wasn’t going to get to see my little girl on her big day. I was angry and on the verge of doing something stupid. That was the night God sent Terry. He wasn’t looking for anything in return…he just knew I needed a friend. And regardless of having stayed out of each other’s way before, Terry approached me that night, and asked if I wanted to talk. He helped me avoid making a very serious mistake, and he’s been my friend ever since.

†

Today’s text prophesies the coming of John the Baptist, and in Matthew 11:9-11, we read about the fulfillment of this prophecy. When God is about to do something important, He sends someone ahead of His arrival.

God sent Terry to prepare me to make the right choices, because He knew that for me to do otherwise would derail, or at the very least, delay the mission He’d set before me. The fact that you are reading this is in great part due to Terry’s kindness and compassion on that fateful night.

God continues to prepare the way for us. He sends exactly who we need, exactly when we need them.

Prayer

“Father God, thank You for sending people like Terry to prepare the way for us. May You find me willing to be sent when needed. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Honor

Honor your father and mother…

Exodus 20:12

The phone call was brief. Milt’s father had called to thank him for taking him to his surgical appointment the day before. Milt, his wife, and his mother, had spent nine hours at the out-patient clinic while his father had undergone removal of skin cancer from his face and ear. They removed small amounts of tissue each time, sending his father back to the waiting room after each procedure until they received the ‘All Clear’ from the lab’s microscope technician. In all, four procedures had been needed.

Milt smiled as he thought about the laughter and conversation that had taken place during those nine hours. It had been the best time he’d spent with his parents in a long time. “You’re welcome, Pop,” Milt said. “It was fun…maybe not so much for you,” he joked, “but it was a blessing for Nanc and me to share so much time with you and Mom.”

“I can’t remember laughing so much!” Jack said. “And I’m so glad your Mother didn’t have to sit alone all day.” Three more times Jack thanked Milt for his and his wife’s thoughtfulness.

“I’m glad we could be there, Pop,” Milt reiterated, touched by the sincerity in his father’s voice. “In light of all you’ve done for me over the years, it’s the least I could do.”

In truth, Milt had been more blessed than his father. It really had been a wonderful day.

†

Honoring our parents is not a suggestion; it is the greatest desire of God’s heart apart from our salvation through the sacrifice of His Son.

Nine hours in an out-patient clinic may not be our first choice for deepening relationships, but it should never amaze us at how God shows up in the most unusual places. Whenever we follow God’s commands, we are ripe to experience His blessing.

By learning to sacrifice on behalf of another, we find fulfillment and joy in the offering. There’s something about sharing time with our parents that, no matter the circumstances, causes God to breathe life into the relationship as we honor them in love.

Prayer

“LORD, may You and my parents find in me a love that honors the sacrifices made on my behalf. Amen”

Being the Body

The body is one unit...its parts should have equal concern for each other.

1Corinthians 12:12, 25

Rachel had been chosen by her professor as the perfect candidate for an expeditionary assignment to Alaska. Everything had gone according to plan until her return trip home. Currently laid up in a hotel room in Seattle, Washington, due to the onset of an unexpected illness, Rachel was suffering alone, separated by thousands of miles from anyone she knew. Due to the H1N1 pandemic no airline would allow her to fly while still displaying symptoms. She would be in Seattle for at least another forty-eight hours.

When word reached her hometown church, Pastor Don naturally felt led to reach out. Checking the online registry for Assemblies of God in the Seattle area, he found one within a mile of Rachel’s hotel. Picking up the phone, he called and spoke to the secretary, explaining the situation. She assured him she would get a message to her pastor, who was having vehicle problems, as soon as she could.

An hour later, Pastor Don received a call from the Seattle pastor. Through their subsequent conversation he assured Don that he and his wife would go to the hotel and minister to each of Rachel’s needs, taking care of her until she was on a flight home.

†

Christ’s Church is an organism with many parts meant to function as a unified body. Today’s story is one such way we show that kind of love.

I believe that had Pastor Don not been able to find an Assemblies of God near Rachel’s hotel he could have called on any of the other numerous denominations within the area for help, and received it.

Paul’s explanation of Christ’s Body in today’s text is one of complete inclusion. It does not single out Gentile or Jew, denomination or creed.

Jesus isn’t concerned with where we’re from, only that we’re being His hands and feet. It is without question that we are to put aside our differences in hopes of finding a greater purpose under One banner.

God says, “You are all My children. Love one another.” John 13:34

“Prayer”

“Lord Jesus, may You find in me a willingness to consider all believers my brothers and sisters, with the same concern for everyone, regardless of denomination or creed. Amen.”

Anticipation

Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint…heal me…

Psalm 6:2

Jason was from a broken home. Truth-be-told, he was one of six players on his team who had experienced the pain of divorce. It was a bond they secretly wished they didn’t share. As he stood court-side, with the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ playing over the school’s PA, he scanned the bleachers. His dad had promised to be here, but Jason had felt the sting of disappointment more than once when his father had failed to keep such a promise.

He knew his dad’s job took him out of town a lot, and he never knew when they’d send him somewhere at the last minute, but Jason was hoping tonight wouldn’t be one of those nights.

A huge smile lit up his face as he discovered his dad watching him from the fifth row directly across the court. Tom winked, and gave Jason a ‘thumbs up’, encouraging his son to do his best.

That his dad was sitting on the opposite side of the court from his mom still hurt, but it hurt a little less knowing they were both there.

†

Too often our children pay the price for our mistakes because we wrongly model for them how they are to conduct themselves as they mature; the child of a broken home can end up in failed relationships because they’ve not been taught how to correctly relate.

Not all marriages can be reconciled. When counseling and commitment aren’t able to repair the wounding that takes place, or dangerous circumstances are present, divorce is a justifiable option.

But God wants us to fight for our marriage and children, and resist giving in to the temptations of weariness and hopelessness. He also wants us to know that, if the relationship does fall apart, He doesn’t love us any less. He’s still there, ready to bring healing. God also wants us to know we are not 'defective' because of broken relationships. We are still His perfect creation, in need of healing. And God will lead us through the pain when we submit to His guidance.

You see, just like Jason, God scans the bleachers in anticipation, hoping He’ll find us looking for His smile.

Prayer

“Lord, You are the God of mercy and grace. For those who know the pain of divorce, bring peace, comfort, and healing. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

The Greatest Rescue in History

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…that the world through Him might be saved.

John: 16, 17

Recently, Time Magazine published their ‘Top Ten Miraculous Rescues’. ‘Sully Sullenberger’s’ heroic landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River topped the list. Next was ‘Baby Jessica’s’ two-and-a-half day ordeal stuck in a Midland, Texas well followed by, ‘The Chinese Mine Miracle’ in which one hundred fifteen miners were saved from drowning hundreds of feet below ground.

From the rescue of the Uruguayan rugby team in the crash of Air Force flight 571, to the rescue of 33 of 59 sailors trapped in the sunken submarine U.S.S. Squalus in 1939, to the nine miners who were rescued after seventy-seven hours in the flooded tunnels of the Que Creek, Pennsylvania mine, the list of harrowing rescues were shared in detail.

The 1945 rescue of 500 Japanese POW’s in the Philippines was a tribute the tenacious spirit of US Army Rangers and Filipino guerrilla forces who liberated them in spite of overwhelming odds.

The horrible 7.0 earthquake in Haiti showcased the best qualities in humanity as people from around the world converged on Port-Au-Prince, to sift through the rubble, looking for survivors.

Each of these events is deserving of recognition, as they illustrate the hope found in people reaching out to those in need, regardless of color, ethnicity, or station.

Surprisingly, Time then departed the human factor listing number ten as NASA’s saving of the Hubble Telescope in 2009.

†

Sadly, there was a glaring oversight from this list. Given that Time’s 1999 ‘Person of the Century’ poll, where Jesus Christ led all other submissions combined, with 42% of the over 900,000 votes, you would think Jesus might have at least gotten an ‘Honorable Mention’.

So, why did the list include an inanimate object while excluding the Greatest Rescue in history? Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

In truth the Christian Community has allowed evil to propagate, while silently remaining in their sequestered bubbles. Without opposition, Jesus Christ, and what He did to rescue us, has been relegated to the dusty realms of the almost forgotten.

I believe that good men can also, if they so choose, reverse this trend. But it requires remaining silent no longer.

Prayer

“Thank You Father God, for Your Son, Jesus, who rescued me from eternal damnation. May I never forget or exclude Your loving sacrifice from my life. Amen.”

No After Without Before

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

II Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Lori was nervous about meeting Jim’s parents. Worried to the point of making herself ill, she finally said something to Jim.

His smile held compassion, “Lori, who you are today is God’s child, and what you did in the past is not who you were anyway, you’re a survivor.”

“But if they find out they’ll hate me…”

“Give them a little credit, honey. They know how Jesus changes things when He comes into someone’s life.”

“But it makes me feel dirty thinking about them knowing,” she admitted with more than a little shame.

Jim gauged his response, “They know I love you, and that’s all they need to know.”

“But what if they ask about my past!” she blurted, scared to death.

“Then we’ll tell them you had a rough adolescence and that you asked God to cover all that with His grace,” Jim said matter-of-factly.

“And you think that’ll work?!”

“Yes, I do,” he said with a confident smile.

“I still hope they never find out!”

†

Once saved, many people fear judgment of their past.

In the song, “Different Light” by Big Daddy Weave, Mike Weaver sings, ‘’Cause there’s no after without before.’

The power of God to redeem through Jesus Christ is the act of Him taking what was wrong in our lives and remaking us into a whole, new, and more closely to His plan for our lives person, not perfect but oh so much better. No one but God has the right to stand in judgment.

If we fail to allow God to use our re-creation to help others feel safe enough to ask Him to do the same for them, we deny Jesus’ redemptive power. We effectively let Satan stop us from witnessing God’s grace.

I’m not suggesting we tell everyone we meet about our past. I’m saying if God urges you to share your ‘before’ to help someone who is still lost and scared, say yes. Then smile, and tell them about it, and tell them how God made you a new creation, after!

Prayer

“I’m not proud of my past, Lord, but if someone knowing what You delivered me from will help them get set free, then I want to be willing to tell them my ‘before’, and how You changed all that. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Get Back Up and Fight!

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

Ten years ago Glen had turned a twenty year addiction to food over to God, and he’d found peace. Numerous challenges had been overcome, such as changing his ‘living to eat’ mindset into an ‘eating to live’ lifestyle. But today, all he felt was defeated. It had happened again.

Things had gone well for a long time, and then a series of difficult challenges wore him down physically, emotionally, and spiritually, triggering old behavior. He began binging and eating unhealthy foods. The result was Glen gaining a lot of weight quickly. He hated himself because he’d lost control again.

In that moment God spoke to his heart and mind, “The enemy has taunted and seduced you, and you have stumbled. But, you have won many battles. You have never given up, nor given in. You have always gotten back up. You are neither weak nor a failure. You are a warrior in battle. In this world you will continue to face the challenges of a cunning enemy. But be of good cheer! For I have overcome him! And in a short time you will reap a victory that will never be challenged!”

†

We all have our own personal battles. And contrary to what some would have you believe, no one has it all together all the time.

As Christians, Satan hates us, and he patiently waits until we are at our weakest and then launches an attack. And at times, to our dismay, we find ourselves having lost the battle. Then we ask, “Why do I give in to moments of weakness? Why can’t I be strong enough to resist?”

The answer is you were weak for a 'moment.' No one wins every battle, we just don't hear about other's losses.

So refuse to let a moment of weakness keep you down, and get back up and fight, refuse to be defined by your mistakes.

Jesus didn’t say we wouldn’t lose a battle or two. He said if we’d trust in Him we would win the war!

Prayer

“Jesus, Lord of my life, thank You for grace and Your victory over Satan. Speak the truth I need to hear today, and help me to not give in when I fall. Amen.”

Pigheaded

But my people would not listen to me…So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

Psalm 81:11-12

Karen was conducting research on the stubborn nature of chimpanzees. She had chosen a three-year-old male named, Bart, for this test. She watched as Bart reached through the cage to retrieve a banana she’d placed just outside the enclosure. With a firm grip he tried to pull it between the bars but couldn’t because they were too close together to permit passage of the chimp’s clenched fist.

Karen tried to get Bart’s attention so she could demonstrate a way to retrieve the banana but he was so engrossed that he refused to pay attention.

She watched as the chimp tried again and again to retrieve the banana, twisting his hand one way and then another, but refusing to let go. He reached through the bars, shifting the banana to his other hand hoping that would work, but it ended with the same results. She knew that Bart wouldn’t succeed unless he overcame his stubborn ‘one way’ approach.

Frustrated with his inability to overcome this challenge Bart launched into a frenzy jumping up and down while jerking his hand against the bars, all the time refusing to let go of the banana.

“Pigheaded monkey. If you’d only listen,” Karen said as she recorded Bart’s actions.

†

Sounds irrational, right? But the truth is we are a lot like the chimp; stubborn. We prefer to complete tasks a specific way…our way. This close-minded approach to problem solving creates more issues than it resolves.

Attempting to tackle problems on our own when there is competent help being offered is just plain obstinate. By refusing to accept assistance we’ve already begun the process of failing, especially where spiritual matters are concerned.

Obstinacy is a form of pride. And when we cling to our pride, refusing to acknowledge the truth, God will eventually stop trying to alter our course, allowing us to reap the consequences.

At what cost do we continue to embrace our pigheadedness? The choice is ours. Will we listen?

Prayer

“Lord, help me lay down my pigheaded pride and become willing to not only accept the help of others, but to seek it before things get complicated. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Husbands, Love Your Wives

Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Colossians 3:19

“Let’s you and me have a dance, Momma,” T.J. said as he took Irene’s hand. She smiled up at her husband as their grandson quietly played his guitar. T.J. moved his feet to the rhythm of the guitar, holding tightly to his sweetheart’s hand. In turn, Irene allowed him to move as far as she could reach.

Peering through a crack in the door so as not to interrupt, a daughter, granddaughter, and an ICU nurse witnessed this precious event. “Ohhh… That’s so sweet!” the nurse whispered, moved to tears by the love and tenderness with which the ninety-four-year-old husband treated his ailing wife. They were mute observers, watching an intimate moment.

In spite of the fact that Irene lay in a hospital bed, tubes protruding from her head following brain surgery, they acted like teenagers, with eyes only for each other. Just two lovers declaring their affection, silently stating there was no power that could dampen their spirits. They were serving notice to the Universe that through it all their love remained as strong as that day sixty-six years ago, when they’d said, “I do…”

†

What a wonderful example of love in action. T.J. was letting Irene know she was still, and would always be, his ‘dance partner’.

God created men to be strong, so when adversity comes they are equal to the challenge. But husbands must also be gentle, not allowing harshness a place in their marriage. So, God instructs husbands to be gentle, loving their wives with a tenderness that bears witness to a sacrificial love.

Men, God realized we would need reminders, so He had Paul address this specific issue in two of his letters. Why? Because men are not naturally-gentle creatures. We tend to meet life head on, with our sleeves rolled up, reserving tenderness for special occasions. By saying it twice God ensured His directive would carry the significance intended.

T.J.’s deep enduring love wasn’t forced. It had become natural for him to show Irene affection. Any man can learn to express such tenderness. It is a choice that strengthens the marriage through thoughtful acts of love.

Prayer

“Help me love the way You love, Lord. Help me be gentle when needed. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Take Time To Weep

You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?”

Psalm 56:8 NKJV

Up until recently, I’d never lost a parent or anyone in my immediate family. But on August 18^th, 2013, that changed. My father-in-law, Thomas Jefferson ‘TJ’ Bowman, succumbed to the process of natural death. His ninety-six year old body was worn out and his will to live finally lost the battle. TJ’s goal was to live until he hit the century mark, and until a month before his death we all figured he had that in the bag.

As I reflect on our relationship I’m happy to say we were very close. For more than thirty-five years he’d been a second father to me.

One of TJ’s greatest aspirations was for somebody in the family to write a book about his life. It was my privilege to include some of his life lessons in my first devotional, ‘Snapshots: A Spiritual Look At Daily Life’.

With TJ slipping away we decided to celebrate his birthday a week early, so I went to get a cake. As I watched the baker write ‘Happy 96^th Birthday, Daddy!’ I found myself overcome with emotion. She handed the cake across the counter and wished me a wonderful day. Not trusting my voice I forced a smile, nodded my appreciation, and headed for the self-checkout. Not that I am ashamed to cry, I just didn’t want to lose it in a supermarket, void of anyone who would understand.

“Hi Craig! How are you?” came the greeting. As I turned, Amy could tell I’d been crying. Regaining composure I explained.

“Ohhh… I’m sorry for your pain.”

Which started me weeping again…

†

In today’s text David tells us that God cares for us so deeply that He sees and keeps every tear we cry. TJ’s passing made me keenly aware that the weeping I’d observed during others’ loss would now become a part of my life for a time.

Allowing our emotions the freedom to surface brings us one step closer to the healing God provides through cleansing tears. Whether it’s with someone you feel safe, or by yourself, take time to mourn your loss, and weep knowing God will collect each tear.

Prayer

“Father God, use the tears I cry to bring peace and healing to my broken heart. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Decisions Decisions

Good and upright is the Lord…He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

Psalm 25:8, 9

Kelsey’s face was smushed against the front of the case, her hands shrouding her eyes to cut the glare of the sun on the glass. She’d been poised in this position for more than two minutes. Every once in a while she’d shift her line of sight, but never too far from the candied licorice directly in front of her. That was her favorite!

The clerk grinned, glancing at the youngster every now and then. She knew Kelsey would make a decision in due time, this had become a routine of sorts. Every Friday afternoon, Kelsey, armed with a quarter, would traipse into the store and head directly to the penny-candy counter. The all-glass case allowed an unrestricted view of the sixty-eight different varieties of sweet delight just the other side of the glass.

Kelsey would toil over which candy to buy but would eventually settle on her usual: six pieces of layered licorice coated in coconut, and as many jellybeans as the remaining money would buy, followed by the same remark, “There’s too many choices! I just can’t make up my mind! I’d really like to try something different but I don’t know if I’d like it."

“How about I give you a piece of something different for free, just so you can try it…?” the clerk offered.

Kelsey’s eyes lit up, “Really? You’d gimme a freebie?”

“Sure Honey. Then you’ll know if you want to choose something different next time.”

†

Give a child too many choices and they have a hard time making a decision; many times, when overwhelmed with options, they make the wrong choice. Understandably, children need guidance to make good choices.

This is true with adults as well. Given the myriad temptations society provides nowadays it is difficult for anyone to make good/wise choices all the time. We need help, and God offers free guidance if we will humble ourselves enough to ask.

Prayer

“God, I need Your help today. Show me the right path to take and teach me to make the correct choices as I navigate my way through life. In Jesus’ Name, amen!”

It’s All About God’s Timing

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

1Peter 5:6

Looking at the caller I.D, I smiled, “Hi Don! How’ve you been?”

“Good, good!” he answered.

“What’s going on?”

There was a controlled excitement in his voice. “Well…since I haven’t seen you lately I thought I’d touch base with you.”

“Sounds like something’s happened?” I prompted.

“I got that miracle I’ve been praying for!”

I was genuinely excited for him. “How? When?”

He launched into an explanation. “The other night I was watchin’ a ball game. When it ended I changed the channel to Jimmy Swaggart. Just as I changed the channel Rev. Swaggart said, ‘If any of you need a healing, now is the time to get it!’ So I laid my hands on my stomach and claimed, ‘Lord, I believe in the work of the cross and all its benefits. I claim this healing in the Name of Jesus!’ Nothing strange happened and I went to bed thinking maybe nothing was gonna happen. But when I woke up the next morning, I was healed!”

“That’s awesome, Don! Thank You, Jesus!”

†

During Don’s physical struggles he steadfastly maintained that God could heal him, and would, when and if He chose to. Many prayers had been lifted on his behalf throughout his seven year battle, so, why now? Had Don believed any different this time? Had he asked the right way this time? Was God in a generous mood that day?

I can tell you with certainty that neither of the first two reasons ever stood as barriers to God’s ability and desire to heal Don, and God is always in a generous mood.

I can say with certainty that it was all about timing: God’s timing. God’s desire was to heal Don from the moment the first prayer was uttered, but the time wasn’t right. How do I know? Because Don didn’t receive healing until now.

When God’s timing (in due time) meets with our need, healing will most certainly happen. If you’ve been asking for a healing that you have not yet received, remain patient, keep asking in faith, and humbly await God’s timing!

Prayer

“Lord, I proclaim that Jesus died on the Cross of Calvary to secure my salvation and healing, and I wait in faith for Your timing. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

All He Wanted Was Peace

…and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

At age twenty-four, Dwight set out to “See the world with Christ”. His lifestyle of hitchhiking from town to town in search of that day’s destination had shown him more of the United States than most. Now, at fifty-one, Dwight related parts of his journey, and some of the challenges he’d experienced.

“I’ve traveled through more than forty states and seen a lot of things over the years. I have met some interesting people. Many good people, some of which God has used to provide for my needs.”

“I imagine you’ve known hunger, cold, heat…just about every extreme a man would expect to encounter?” I questioned.

He smiled. “Yes, I’ve been hungry on many occasions; cold, hot, tired, and weak too. I’ve spent two decades praying, asking God to guide me to my next destination, somewhere I would find food and shelter.”

“Didn’t you ever want more?” I asked. “Like a home or long-term relationships?”

“No. I have always felt that God wanted me to travel, taking advantage of each opportunity He gives me to speak about His love. No…I can honestly say I’ve never missed those things. I enjoy this life, and want nothing more than to crisscross the country for Jesus, seeing where He’ll lead me next. Truth is…all I ever wanted was His peace, and He gives it to me daily.”

†

Today’s text says that we who know Jesus as Lord and Savior will tell others about Him. That is exactly what Dwight does, asking only for God’s peace to sustain him as he travels a sometimes difficult and desolate route.

I cannot imagine there are many who would leave family, home, and comfort, in exchange for the struggles Dwight meets on a daily basis in an effort to witness God’s peace to others. It is a challenging mission.

And lest we judge, remember, the Disciples were all men who left steady employment, family, and comfort to travel as God’s vagabonds, speaking of His glorious riches, receiving only God’s peace in return.

It is enough for Dwight. Would it be enough for us?

Prayer

“Father, keep Dwight safe today. Use him to expand the knowledge of Who You are to those he meets. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Is Your DNA On Your Bible?

The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

John 6:63

As I glanced at the woman sitting beside me I took note of the tattered Bible in her lap. It looked well-used and old, but cared for. The cover was torn and was in desperate need of rebinding. I smiled as I watched her thumbs tenderly caress it, making small circles on the front cover. She moved her hand just long enough for me to catch a glimpse of the indentations in the leather; evidently she’d been rubbing it for some time. Her actions testified to the value she placed on God’s word. This Bible was special to her.

But what really caught my eye, and what made the deepest impression, were the edges of the onionskin pages as the Bible lay closed. Smudged and fingerprinted, the page ends gave mute testimony to the frequency of use. The once-white pages were actually darker in contrast than the brown leather cover.

I took a closer look at her hands to see if dirt might have played a part in soiling these pages. Not surprised, I saw they were clean hands, with recently polished and manicured nails. These smudges came from an accumulation of skin oil over many years. This Bible was her personal love letter from God, well read and greatly treasured. The last thought I had just as the service started was I’ll bet you could swab those pages and get her DNA from them!

†

Bibles don’t accidentally end up in this condition. It happens on purpose, over an extended period of time. To have soiled the pages to this extent would require daily reading over many years.

Jesus, in today’s text, told the Disciples that His words were spirit and life; something the woman sitting beside me knew intimately.

God gave us His word, with His DNA, for nourishment and guidance. Regular nourishment is an option; we can choose to go hungry.

If we accidentally left our Bible behind at church, and there was no name in it, could a team of forensic scientists swab the pages and find our DNA?

Prayer

“Lord, create in me a hunger to feast on Your word. Reveal Yourself to me in the pages of my Bible and nourish my soul. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

He [God] Stretched Out The Heavens

It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens;

Isaiah 45:12

Have you ever pondered the vastness of the Universe? If so, perhaps this will put things in perspective: Traveling at light speed, 186,000 miles per second, it would take one hundred-thousand years to make the journey from one end of our Milky Way Galaxy to the other. And ours is but one of hundreds of billions of galaxies in the known universe.

I love studying astronomy and learning about space, so I watch relevant shows whenever possible. While watching a ‘Science Channel’ special titled, ‘Deep Space Marvels: Destiny’, one specific scene caught my attention. A ‘special-effect’ Universe appeared before actor and host, Sam Neill. Sam appeared to cross an ethereal threshold, transitioning from Earth to deep space. As he progressed through the field of stars and galaxies, Neill manipulated the cosmos. Stars and galaxies were strewn about in the wake of each motion.

A verse from Scripture came to mind; My own hands stretched out the heavens. At that moment, Neill reached for a cluster of galaxies. With a flick of his wrist, Sam cast them in all direction, emulating that very verse! God’s creative powers were being imitated! Here was a picture of how it all happened, “In the beginning!’

†

Men have disputed the origins of Creation since the beginning of time. Evolutionists maintain our existence is a coincidence; a result of the ‘Big Bang’ billions of years ago. Scripture says [God] created the heavens and earth, and nothing exists without Him. There are deep feelings on both sides of this argument.

Faith in our Creator is a funny thing. It isn’t worth a nickel until it’s put to the test, and then it requires placement of trust in Someone intangible and beyond our understanding. We must believe, and accept, that Someone infinitely superior, wiser, more capable, and so incomprehensibly GREATER, is responsible for our existence.

Some find it difficult to owe it all to Someone they cannot see, explain, or control, and so they deny His existence. And while God’s handiwork is on display for all to see, they explain it away using theory and deny His immutable presence.

To Whom or what do you give credit when you gaze upon the the vastness of the night skies?

Prayer

“I bless You, Lord God, Creator of the Universe! Amen!”

Because Of His Great Love

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ…

Ephesians 2:4, 5

“Mom lived in fear the last year of her life,” Nancy confided. “Alzheimer’s robbed her of every last shred of physical strength and emotional stability.”

“I’m sorry,” Craig said. “That must have been so hard watch.”

“The hardest part was seeing how it shook Mom’s faith. She seemed unable to grasp the fullness of the Holy Spirit.”

“It’s disheartening to witness a loved one losing their identity. Many people, as you said, have experienced a crisis of faith wondering why God would allow this to happen.”

Nancy nodded, “As terrible as that last year was, the final four days of Mom’s life were wonderfully reassuring. God revealed Himself in the most conspicuous of ways.”

“How so?”

“Right before Mom died, the fear departed. It didn’t reduce or decline…it left completely, it was entirely gone. In its place was complete and utter peace, with moments of lucidity.

“Several times Mom voiced that she wanted to go home. We tried to reassure her, ‘Mom, this is your house,’ we’d say. Or, ‘ You are home, Mom.’ But she didn’t seem to hear.” Nancy’s smile held a slight chuckle, “It took us a couple days before we realized she was talking about Heaven…!”

I smiled, guessing what Nancy would say next…

“Mom said she saw Jesus during those last four days. As incredible as it sounded, we never questioned the validity of her testimony. The change that had come over her could only have been due to something supernatural, so we knew she was telling the truth. Jesus had shown up, eased her pain, and prepared her for the trip home.”

†

Alzheimer’s is one of the worst consequences of the fall in the Garden of Eden. Yet in spite of this fact, today’s account has been a recurring theme during the last days of many Alzheimer’s patients. I have been witness to no less than four of these blessings.

God, in His infinite mercy, reaches into the lives of those afflicted and removes the veil of confusion.

When it happens it is amazing to behold. The Spirit of God, through Jesus Christ, is remembered and has come alive once again!

Prayer

“Lord God, we thank You for making Yourself known at a time when it is most needed. May we always appreciate the presence of Your Spirit. Amen.”

Words

The tongue has the power of life and death.

Proverbs 18:20

The man sat on the sidewalk, soliciting passersby. The cardboard sign in front of him read, ‘I’m Blind’. He had a coffee can into which people dropped various denominations of coinage. With each donation the man uttered a quiet and timid, ‘thank you’.

A young woman happened along, and walked as if to pass by. Then, as if struck by a second thought, she turned and picked up his sign. As she crouched before the man writing with magic marker, he felt her shoes, cataloging their style for possible future reference. She neither told the man what she was doing nor why.

No sooner had the woman left than a stream of people began tossing money in front of the man. Never had he experienced such an outpouring of compassion! What had the woman done to make such a difference?

Finished with her workday, the woman approached the man once again. She noticed the coffee can brimming with money. She walked over to speak to the man but was cut off when his hands once again felt her shoes.

“What did you write on my sign?!” he asked.

She bent to his ear and whispered, “The same thing you said. I just used different words.” As she walked away she smiled, rereading her handiwork: ‘It’s a beautiful day and I can’t see it.’

†

Given the power to effect people’s lives in a positive manner, why is it we so casually do the opposite? Words are powerful. With them we can bless or curse. And as today’s text says, we can speak life or death to someone’s soul.

But for the most part we put no faith in this simple truth. We offhandedly condemn people to hell or damn them and their situation to failure, never really thinking about the power of our words.

With the understanding that what we say matters, comes the responsibility for choosing and using our words carefully and wisely. By speaking blessings and life-giving words over those we come in contact with each day we are edifying their lives, not helping destroy them.

Prayer

“Lord of love, help me choose my words wisely, with a compassionate heart and other’s best interest in mind. May I be Your instrument of blessing and life. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”