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.”