Using God's Gifts

Each year, in the month leading up to Christmas, my wife can often be found in the kitchen baking Christmas cookies. She loves to bake. And those of us who have tasted her yummy yuletide treats love that she does.

Today's story is about how one of her cookies, lovingly called a date pie, led to a moment of compassion and prayer with a friend.

Before I retired my wife used to plate up some of her Christmas treats for me to take to work. My coworkers loved them. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, instead of traditional 'Good morning' greetings, I would hear, "When's your wife sending in those cookies?" Ah, the power of the stomach.

One co-worker in particular loved my wife's date pies. So much so that, after I retired, I always stopped in to make sure she got some. This year, my wife's Christmas cookies served as a door opener to a deeper conversation with that friend.

Do you believe that God orchestrates meetings for the good of His children and for His ultimate glory? I sure do. I have witnessed His doing this far too many times to think otherwise.

That day at work, all of the people that I had planned to talk to were somehow too busy. Hmm. Except for the one God wanted me to talk to.

We must always be open to a sudden change in plans. Perhaps God has something wonderful in store!

You know, if my wife hadn't used her gift of baking those cookies, would I even have had an opportunity for a conversation about God and to pray with my friend? God knows. But my wife used one of her gifts to bless others.

"As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." - 1 Peter 4:10

What is YOUR gift? And how will you use it for God's glory?

Birth Pangs

Does it seem to you like things are getting more and more crazy lately? There have been wars, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, massive snow storms, mass migrations, diseases, drought, increase violence, corruption, fraud . . . and that was just 2022!

"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains." - Matthew 24: 6-8

Birth pangs? As a guy I'm not going to try to explain in detail what 'birth pangs' are but I DO know that they increase in frequency and severity the closer a mom gets to delivering her baby.

In the passage above, Jesus was telling His disciples about the time that He would return to earth. That time is coming soon.

There are those who don't believe any of 'this end times stuff.' Even professing Christians tend to roll their eyes when the subject is broached. That's too bad.

Jesus also said this.

"These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me." - Matthew 15:8

This is a very frustrating time for those who believe the words of Jesus. We see loved ones totally ignoring scripture. There are pastors in certain denominations that don't teach about the time of the end. Why not? I don't know. It's in the Bible!

It appears that contractions have started in this world. If we want to ignore them, that's up to the individual. But the baby's going to be delivered no matter what.

“Why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” - Acts 1:11

We can turn off the news and ignore all the signs but Jesus is coming and we cannot stop Him from delivering us out of this world. So rejoice!

"When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” - Luke 21:28

Our Every Day Gift

One day soon Christians will no longer be celebrating Christmas. Why? Because we will be rejoicing in the presence of our King - Jesus. Everyday.

There will be no giving of gifts to one another in heaven. Will we have anything to give anyway? Besides our love, devotion and adoration towards God? 

There will be no decorated tree to gather around. No lights to hang up. No cards to send out. Instead we will gather around His throne and greet one another in love as we come together in His eternal light.

We might still sing some of our Christmas carols though, like Hark The Herald Angels Sing and Angels From The Realms Of Glory might be heard. Just not Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer or Jingle Bells.

And only in this self-centered world do we "celebrate" the birth of our Savior by giving gifts to one another instead of The Reason for the season - Jesus.

What kind of gifts does Jesus want us to give to each other? Any "earthly gifts" we give should be the ones Jesus told us to give, everyday - to look after the poor and the widowed, to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, and to love one another, as He loves us.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13: 34-35

Let us begin today, living our lives the way Jesus wants us to live - to love each other, unconditionally, and without thought of self. If we do that one thing, we will be demonstrating our love, honor and obedience to our King.

Let us love - every minute of every day - and give all the honor, glory and praise to God. Amen.

Be Still and Know

"Be still and know that I am God." - Psalm 46:10

What a perfect message for Christmas, and for the world we live in today.

Think about that verse for a moment. It's really two commands. First, God wants us to BE STILL. Stillness can be found in two ways – lack of motion and silence. We need to quit running around all over the place, and then turn off all the noise that’s filling your heads – phones, television, and the news. Then listen intently in the silence.

The second part of the verse requires a little work. We need to KNOW that God is God. How do we do that? We must KNOW who God is. To do that we must read the Bible, understand it, and all of its implications. Going to church helps. Having conversations about God with knowledgeable friends or family members also contributes. But knowing “the truth” is essential. And Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

Simply 'believing' in God is not enough. As James wrote, "Even the demons believe." We must KNOW God - His characteristics, His promises, His commandments and His nature.

THEN, when we are still, that knowledge of who God is brings peace and calm into our lives, rather than anxiety, frustration and panic. So, that is my prayer for us this Christmas - that we would find the time to be still, and to come to know God more. Then, and only then, will we truly KNOW peace.

Thank you for reading and sharing my stories. May you have a blessed Christmas with family and friends.

I will leave you with this prayer. As you read it, be still . . . and know.

"May The Lord bless you and keep you. May The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you, The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace." - Numbers 6:24-26

Reunited

Have you ever watched on of those videos where a soldier returns home to surprise their loved ones? I love those! They never fail to bring a tear to my eye.

Videos like that remind me of the story of The Prodigal Son in Luke 15.

"I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him." - Luke 15:18-20

Who in your life would you like to see return to God? A sister or brother? A parent maybe, or a child. The list of the lost, unfortunately, seems to be growing instead of shrinking these days.

If you read the whole story of The Prodigal Son there are five words that are key to any return or repentance - "when he came to himself." A person must realized that they have sinned against a holy God before The Father will embrace them and welcome them home. 

So, let that be our prayer. That our lost loved ones would realize their 'lostness,' repent, and come running into our arms. What a Christmas gift that would be! But more importantly, may they also run into the arms of Christ.

"You were right! I HAVE sinned against God."

Let the hugging and kissing begin!

Reunited - Peaches and Herb

Soldiers Returning Home Video

Tending The Fire

The weather forecast for the coming week looks cold. That means we will be having some nice, hot fires in our fireplace.

We can usually get the indoor temps into the mid-seventies, but in order to do that we need to keep the fire going.

If we don't keep putting wood on the fire that nice warm fire will go out and my wife and I will grow cold. That's not good.

Our faith can leave us feeling the same way if we don't keep at it and keep fanning those spiritual flames.

I have been reading the Bible a lot lately. And I have been fasting from my usual diet of news programs as well. Here's what I've learned.

My anxiety level is down. It was low to begin with but the reassurances found in God's Word really do bring peace of mind.

My confidence in God has inceased. I had a level of trust already but the increased knowledge of the scriptures makes me feel more secure in my beliefs.

My compassion for others has increased. Again, I had empathy for others who were hurting already, but compassion increases when we read and see how compassionate Jesus was to the poor and to the sick.

To sum up, reading God's word is a like consuming fire. The more we read the more we are reminded of how great of God is. And we can rest in the knowledge that He loves and cares for us. Why? Because it says so.

"Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” - Hebrews 12:28-29

It's not even 10° this morning where we live, bit my wife and I will be nice and warm. Why? Because we have built a fire and will ten it to keep us warm. We must do the same with our faith. If we keep it burning, we will be just fine.

The Unexpected Gift

I love my wife, but there is someone that I love more. His name is Jesus. Why? Because of His grace and mercy. Today's story is a real life example of what His love is truly like. A gift.

We got a half a foot of snow dumped on us over the past few days. Neither my wife nor I wanted to venture out to the mailbox to see if we had received any Christmas cards but I relented and went out to check.

When I opened the mailbox I found a package inside. I guessed that my wife had ordered something for one of our grandkids and hurriedly brought the mail inside.

My wife was in the kitchen so I took off my gloves and set the package, etc. on the counter. That's when my fingers told me what was inside. It felt like a golf disc. You know, a Frisbee.

My wife must have gotten me a Christmas gift. So I quickly handed it to her, pretending that I didn't know what was inside. Just as quickly though, she handed it back.

"I didn't order anything. Besides, it's addressed to you."

I hadn't ordered anything either but it definitely was addressed to me and it definitely felt like a golf disc inside.

So, grabbing a pair of scissors from the drawer and opened the package. It was a golf disc, a card, and a 2023 calendar.

What!?! This sure was a surprise! Why would someone do this!? Yes, it's Christmas time, but why and who?

The package came from Innova Discs in California. Hmm. I did order some custom hot-stamped discs from them this year. Maybe I got on a Christmas list somewhere? I don't know. But this? They didn't owe me anything.

Then something totally different occurred to me. Here I was, staring at a perfect example of God's grace and love. 

None of us is deserving of ANY gifts from God. We are ALL sinners and God hates sin. Why then would God offer us salvation? Why would He ever forgive us our sins?

The answer is both simple and complex. It's His amazing love and grace.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

So, today I know two things. One, a golf disc can fit inside our mailbox. And two, God's love for us is amazing.

God's love is unwarranted, undeserving, surprising, full of grace and mercy, abundant, and without measure.

There is a package awaiting anyone who seeks God's favor and forgiveness.

Hint: Open the package.

Holly Teaches

During the Christmas season, greens and reds seem to be everywhere. Christmas trees, wreaths, and cookies all sport the festive colors of the season. But none of those bring us their colors naturally like holly does.

Today's story is brought to you by God, and the holly plant that He created. It's an interesting story about their amazing natural defense system. 

Here's a picture of two leaves - one smooth and one all pointed and prickly. Both came from the same plant. A holly plant.

Rabbits and deer nibble on the plant's leaves during the winter. In the spring the new growth changes and becomes armed with sharp spines to protect the plant.

The smooth leaves are up high and out of reach. The prickly ones are down low where they get easily consumed.

We humans can put up 'sharp prickly defenses' of our own if we get attacked and picked on by others. Only we don't change our outward appearance. We change internally.

Jesus can help us with our emotional pain. The secret to accessing the cure is simply to trust Him with it. If we trust in Jesus, that pain retreats and we gain peace in its place. Only then can we change - for the good.

If you find yourself hurting this Christmas season and have a case of the 'pricklies,' trust in Christ and ask Him to take over your aching heart. Then you can have that smooth and peaceful Christmas you were hoping for.

Try to spend time focused on 'things above' where you are out of reach from the things of the world below. And try not to get consumed by the things that bring you down. And rejoice!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7

The Illusion of Choice

At the beginning of the 2022 film Matrix Resurrections, two characters meet - Bugs (pictured above) and Morpheus. Morpheus is presented with a choice in the film, or so it seems. And then Bugs says this:

"Choice is an illusion. You already know what you have to do." That was an interesting statement, I thought . . . and it got me thinking.

The Bible tells us that we were chosen by God 'before the creation of the world.'

"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment - to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ." - Ephesians 1:4-10

If we were already chosen by God, wasn't it then just a matter of our coming to realize it? Was our 'choice' meerly an illusion?

Enter the Holy Spirit. Literally. He enters us and our eyes become opened. We can see things that others cannot. We can tell truth from lies, justice from injustice. It's why we feel so uncomfortable here on earth. So...out of place. It's because we are. This is no longer our home.

The Eagles, in their 1979 classic Hotel California, said, "we are all just prisoners here of our own device." How true.

The picture above was taken when the Bugs character in the movie first came to believe that the life she was living was just an illusion. That there was something bigger, beyond the life she was living.

Have YOU had a moment like that in YOUR life? You KNOW there has got to be more than just waking up and going to work, day after day after day. That's because there IS more.

Here's a question for all of us: If God has indeed chosen us as the Bible says, why? What does God want us to do? Are we living our lives for Him? To bring glory to God? No? Maybe we should get started with that. Like tonight.

Tonight - Tobymac 

A Prayer of Despair

In the Book of Habakkuk there is a prayer that seemingly could have been offered with today's headlines in mind. A prayer of despair.

"How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?

Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.

Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted." - Habukkuk 1:2-4

Doesn't that sound like a cry for the world we are living in today? The prophet goes on complaining in his prayer but then the Lord answers him with this little tease of something yet to come.

“Look at the nations and watch - and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." - Habakkuk 1:5

Although God was telling His prophet that He was going to be doing something back during that Old Testament time, I believe that God is also going to be doing something 'utterly amazing' in our day as well. And it's going to be happening soon. This is God speaking to Habakkuk:

"For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay." - Habakkuk 2:3

At the end of the book Habakkuk ultimately prays a prayer of thanksgiving. We should be praying this same prayer today as we watch the prophetic news unfold before us,  and as we wait for The Lord.

"Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy." - Habakkuk 3:2

Charles Dickens once wrote, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." Today, I would like to modify those words in light of God's impending wrath on this fallen world.

"It was the worst of times, then it was the best of times."

Jesus has promised to return. He told us we would see 'signs' of His soon return. The signs are visible all around us now. Today. Can The Lord's return be far off?

The Caduceus Lie

The medical community has a 'caduceus' as its symbol - two snakes spiraling upward around a staff with some wings at the top. It was created in honor of Hermes, a Greek god, and his 'magical' staff. Yeah, well here's a better idea.

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever  believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

The serpent in the wilderness? What was that?

"Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” - Numbers 21:8

God's people had sinned, again, so He sent serpents among them who began biting and killing them as a punishment for their disobedience. The serpent on the pole was a foreshadowing of Jesus on the cross.

Jesus referred to Moses's serpent on a pole when He was talking about His own death. The serpent, synonymous with sin and death, was a perfect example of Jesus, who became sin as He died on 'a pole,' the cross, that all who looked to Him would be saved.

The medical profession does good work, but they've got nothing on Jesus - the best healer in the business!

The Parable of The Pine

We had some pretty strong winds blow through here last week. I didn't expect they'd be bringing a life lesson along with them but they did.

My wife and I built our house in a pine plantation 40+years ago. The trees on our lot were much smaller then. Today most of them stand 70-80 feet tall. And boy, do they dance when the wind picks up.

We can learn a few things from pine trees. They provide valuable lessons for anyone trying to survive in the world we live in today.

First, there's safety in numbers. A clump of pines can survive a storm because are together, supporting one another. A tall, single-standing pine doesn't last long in a storm.

Another thing about pines, especially red pines like the ones we live in, is that most of their 'life,' all the green branches, are at the top of the tree. The lowest braches are either dead or dying. That's because only the branches that are in the sun thrive and survive.

All trees grow upwards, towards the sun. No tree seeks out the darkness. That's because darkness kills. Light is life.

You and I are just like those trees in many ways. Trying to go it alone in this world is tough. Family and friends provide support for us. Your local church is a great place for support and encouragement for those who are struggling.

And consider the branches. That's us! Only those who are in The Light, in The Son, can receive salvation and eternal life. The rest just die and fall off. We are to grow upwardly and thereby be closer to God and The Son.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5

One more thing about trees in general. They exist to grow. They grow by being fed, watered and by being in the sun. We are the same.

We exist to glorify God and grow spiritually in our faith. We grow by being fed the Word of God, by drinking in the life-giving water of Jesus Christ and drawing closer to Him.

God wishes that none would perish but some will unwittingly choose to do so. Stand strong. Stand together. And be that light in this world as He is the light in ours.

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." - 1 John 1:7

Good Morning Gill

Today's story is about perspective and discernment. It's about how we tend to see things through our own 'fishbowl' rather than seeking out the actual truth.

Consider little Gill here looking out at Bill Murray from the comfort of his own little fishbowl. Gill probably thinks the big face is a god - always providing food, clean water and a place to live. The truth is often far different from the reality we might perceive.

Each of us encounters life through our own eyes. We are basically a movie camera, filming everything we see, for our own unique movie. It's only when we consider other perspectives, other viewpoints, that we can comprehend a bigger picture.

How do we know Christianity is true? Did we just inherit our faith from mom and dad? Or did we research it, examine other faiths,  and THEN determine it to be true?

Paul wrote two letters to the church in Corinth. The second one contains a key passage. Speaking about the Pharisees and pre-Christ Jews, who were still stuck in THEIR world view, Paul wrote this:

"But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." - 2 Corinthians 3:14-18

Basically, our minds too were blind to the truth until we placed our faith in Jesus. Only then is the 'veil' taken away and we become transformed.

Have you placed your hope and trust in Jesus? And here's the key: Have you been changed after doing so? Has the veil been removed from your life to reveal the truth? I sure hope so. Otherwise you will be spending the rest of eternity inside your own little fishbowl wondering how come the water is getting cloudy and the food has stopped falling from heaven.

Good morning Gill - What About Bob 

Iron Sharpens Iron

I watched a sports story last night about the Wisconsin Badger's new head football coach, Luke Fickell. I instantly knew he was going to be a success. How? His shirt says it all.

I said to my wife, "Hmm. A Bible verse."

"What?"

"Yeah. The guy's shirt. It's a Bible verse from Proverbs. 'As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.' Something like that."

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." - Proverbs 27:17 NASB

Close enough. The point is the new Badger's coach is most likely a Christian, and 'winning games' is not his highest priority. That's a good thing.

The Bible also tells us to do everything as if we are doing it for The Lord (Colossians 3:23). The blessings will come. This coach has already done that in Cincinnati. And in 2021 he was voted coach of the year.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." - Colossians 3:23-24

A lot of younger people these days feel like they should be given everything. Good things come to those who work for them. Not only short term but for one's entire life. And beyond.

A good coach will not only teach his players how to suceed in football, he will teach them the truth about God as well.

Worship

"Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now - and never to be equaled again." - Mark 13:18-19

That verse came to mind yesterday when our pastor played a video from our sister church in Ukraine. The video was totally dark, but you could hear people singing a worship song.

Ukraine is in the midst of a war. Many communities are without electricity. Without heat. And it's almost winter. 

What would WE do if we were in a situation like that? Would we go to church? Would our church even survive? Would we still worship The Lord?

We are so protected here in America. We are safe from the ravages of war and we tend to take it for granted. And to our detriment I think.

Think about the early church in the Book of Acts. The believers were persecuted because of their faith, yet they gathered together to worship. And so should we, whatever the circumstances.

Worship is an essential part of who we are. If OUR wants and comforts exceed that of our faith, we have a problem.

"Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!" - Psalm 95:6

"That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:10

A Nation Gone Under?

I am reading through the Book of Jeremiah right now. What a perfect example he is for us as Christians living in today's world.

Jeremiah was called "the weeping prophet," and for good reason. He was beaten, put in stocks, threatened, tried for his life, and thrown into a pit. No one listened to him about the coming judgement of God.

You and I can become quite frustrated, sometimes even to tears, by watching our society deteriorating right before our eyes. As Ronald Reagan once said, "Without God, a nation cannot endure. If we ever forget we're 'one nation under God,' then we will be one nation gone under."

It is extremely hard to watch our country falling apart. Increasingly, more and more people are turning their backs on God. Pew Research recently found that over the decade from 2009-2019 Americans who called themselves 'Christians' dropped 12% - the largest decline in our nation's history.

We as a nation are doomed if we do not repent. We face the same fate as Judah did when they were carried off to Babylon. Judah did not repent. Will we? I doubt it.

The entire world will be facing God's wrath soon because of our disobedience and our sinful behavior. Same-sex marriage and abortion are even embraced by some churches these days. Can our judgement and punishment be far off?

Thankfully, not everyone will be condemned. Those who have placed their faith in Jesus, the Son of the Living God, will be saved. 

"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Thessalonians 5:9

If you really want something to be thankful for, be thankful for this: that you have placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. He is "the only name by which we are saved."

P.S. - The American flag, flown up-side-down, is "a sign of distress or extreme danger." A perfect image for today's story.

One Nation Under God - Ronald Reagan 

Empathetic Love

In the last story that was posted here we briefly touched on Jesus' prayer to God the Father saying, "Not my will but yours." Keep that in mind today as we explore the topic of love (something we need more of these days) and a deeper, more sacrificial love that I am labeling 'empathetic love.' Our scripture for today is found in The Book of John - The Story of Lazarus.

You can read the entire story by clicking the link above, but we will just look at some key verses today. The first of which is verse three.

"So, the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

The one you love is sick. This love is reaffirmed in verse five.

"Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister (Mary) and Lazarus."

By verses 11-14, Jesus already knows that Lazarus is dead. He waits two more days and then goes back to Judea to visit Mary and Martha, despite having the Jews try to stone him there previously.

Now we come to the key verse. After Jesus arrived at the home of his friends, He comforted them. Verse 33

"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled." 

This culminates in verse 34, the shortest verse in the Bible and one of the most revealing verses about Jesus.

"Jesus wept."

When one of our friends is hurting and in need of help, what do we do? This story of Jesus and His love for His friends gives us a list of things to keep in mind.

1. Go to the person. Make the trip.

2. Comfort them. Give them a hug.

3. Mourn with them. Feel their sadness.

4. Pray for them. Don't just say you'll pray.

5. Cheer them up. Remind them of good times.

6. Love them, like Jesus.

This season of Thanksgiving and Christmas can be hard for people who have lost someone near and dear to them. Be observant. Take the time. Sacrifice yourself for the hurting. And glorify God in everything you do.

Love Them Like Jesus - Casting Crowns

A Hill To Die On

A "hill to die on" is defined as "an issue or course of action that one pursues with total and wholehearted conviction, despite the difficulty and potential consequences of doing so.

Recently, we had an election in our country. It was expected that the Republucan party was going to have "a big, Red Wave." It was hoped by many that the conservative party would take control of both houses of congress. They did not. The reason? Donald Trump. Let me explain.

When 'The Donald' was in office he appointed three conservative justices to the Supreme Court. This "flipped" the court to a more conservative one.

Later, after Trump was out of office, the Court overturned Roe v. Wade, giving power back to each individual state regarding abortion.

Although the ruling did not outlaw abortion, it had the effect of limiting it, which was viewed in the media as "banning abortion."

Recent polls had shown that 2/3 of America (62%) favored a woman's right to abort her baby. That's a big percentage to fight against and many Republicans lost because of that. Hence no red wave.

The question is, was it worth it? Was the Republic stance against abortion a hill worth dying on? Millions of babies say 'yes!'

My question for today is, 'What is your hill to die on?' For some it's abortion. For others it's the Green New Deal. Others say the economy, or sexual orientation. What is our 'hill to die on?'

Shouldn't it be our faith? Shouldn't Jesus be worth dying for? Many have died for their faith in Jesus throught history, and it is still happening today. They're called martyrs.

"So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord." - 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Walking by faith often comes at a cost. The question is, are we willing to die for our beliefs? Our answer must be 'yes.' After all, Jesus died for us.

How May I Serve You?

"Be careful what you pray for. You just might get it."

Have you ever heard someone say that? I mean, if we pray for something, why would we ever regret receiving what we prayed for? Well.....let me give you an example.

Have you ever prayed to be more patient? God just might give you something that will test your patience. You will struggle, but you will also learn to be patient.

Recently I prayed, asking God how I might serve Him more. I was intentionally not very specific in that prayer, wanting God to choose the way for me to serve. That was Wednesday morning. Thursday afternoon my prayer was answered. 

I can't tell you specifically what happened. Clearly though, God had provided a wonderful way for me to serve Him. And I did so gratefully.

If you are a child of God and you pray earnestly for something dear to your heart, God will answer that prayer.

"Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart." - Psalm 37:4

How many times do we miss every day opportunities to serve God simply because of our own inability to see them? Or by our own selfish requests in our prayers?

Shouldn't we just pray for God to use is in whatever way He wishes? That's what Jesus prayed for when He said, "Not my will, but Yours be done."

Yes, Jesus did have a personal request in His prayer (take this cup from me), but He ultimately set that aside and prayed for whatever God wanted for Him.

It feels so good to be used by God. It is also an honor. So, why don't we pray that way more often? Good question.

"This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." - 1 John 5:14

The Two Pillars

What is a pillar? It is either a supporting member of a structure or a supporting member of a society - a 'pillar in the community.' Keep those two definitions in mind as we read today.

Our first passage should be familiar. It's the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. The angels warned Lot and his family.

“Flee for your lives! Don’t look back,  But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt." - Genesis 19:17&26

Our second passage is from the Book of Revelation. Jesus is talking about the church in Philadelphia.

"I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name." - Revelation 3:11-12

We have seen two examples of pillars here. Lot's wife and a church.

Lot's wife was from Sodom. Living in sin and corruption was her way of life. When she looked back at Sodom's destruction she did so because she was going to miss it and that lifestyle.

The church in Philadelphia was at the other end of the lifestyle spectrum - the good end. And because of that Jesus wanted to make it a pillar in the temple of God.

The thing we should notice about these two examples is this: Sodom's wife CHOSE to look back. In Philadelphia's case JESUS wanted to make them into a pillar. He did the choosing.

There is a choice involved in each of our lives. What do we long for? Do we enjoy living a sin-filled life? Or do we want to be part of God's church?

Being a 'pillar of society' can be a good thing. But it depends on the character of the society. Being a pillar in Christ's church is a better. It depends on God's character, which is perfect.

The angels warned everyone in Lot's family not to look back. Their warning is for us as well. Quit looking back! Look forward! Look up!!

In the Book of Luke, Jesus spoke these words to His disciples about the time of His return:

"Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it." - Luke 17:32-33

We must lose our sin-filled lives and prepare our hearts for His return. He's coming soon!

The Cry of My Heart

We can sometimes hear our hearts beating, if we are quiet enough. Or if we exercise hard enough. But have you ever heard your heart weeping?

Just before leaving for church yesterday I checked Facebook and learned that a friend of mine had suffered a stroke. He's married, has two kids, and is just 34 years old.

My heart sank. A father and husband suddenly hit with a life-changing medical emergency. So incredibly sad. My friend has a long period of recovery ahead of him. I prayed for him and his family.

During worship we sang a song that had these words in it. They served as a reminder to me. Especially the last seven.

"It is the cry of my heart to follow you, all of the days of my life."

Each of us has both good days and bad days. We're supposed to worship God and follow Him ALL of the days of our lives. Not just the good days.

When we experience bad days in our lives, we should rejoice. Those are the days our hearts cry out to God the loudest. They are the days when we draw nearer to God.

What does 'the cry of my heart' sound like?

It sounds like a prayer.

I hope you have a good day today, but if you don't, take heart. And let your heart cry out to The Lord. All of the days of your life.

"In my distress I cried out to the LORD, and he answered me." - Psalm 120:1

Cry of My Heart - Terry Butler 

Ambush!

The Russian government just pulled its troops out of Kherson in Ukraine. The media says this is "a major military defeat for Putin." Really? What if it's a trap?

We all believe what we want to believe. Whether it is a trap or not, that remains to be seen.

Have you ever read the story of Joshua and how the Israelites caprured the city of Ai at God's direction? God said to Joshua, "Set up an ambush behind the city" (Joshua 8:2). Then Joshua commanded his troops:

"Pay attention. You are to lie in ambush behind the city, not too far from it. All of you must be ready. Then I and all the troops with me will advance on the city. When they come out against us as they did the first time, we will flee from them. They will pursue us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, ‘The Israelites are running away from us as they did before.’ So as we flee from them, you are to rise from the ambush and seize the city, for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand. And when you have taken the city, set it on fire." - Joshua 8:4-8

Putin recently put a new man in charge of his army in Ukraine. And this man's first move was to retreat? I don't think so. Not unless something else is going to happen.

Satan is a better strategist than any military general. He can convince us that everything is going to be alright as he draws us into sin after sin after sin. Jesus said this to His disciples:

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard;" - Matthew 10:16-17

Everything may seem like "pumpkin and spice and everything nice" but we are all in a war, a spiritual battle. Our general is Jesus. Following His commands is critical in this world we live in today.

This was God's command to Joshua before the Israelites entered The Promised Land: 

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9

We need to remember that.

Esther's Example

One of the many things I enjoy about studying the Bible is discovering the hidden treasures that it contains. Gems of wisdom, waiting to be unearthed with just a little bit of digging. Like this little beauty in the Book of Esther.

I read through the book last month and didn't notice this. Then, during our pastor's sermon on Sunday about how we should approach God in prayer, the lightbulb came on.

We were studying Luke 11 in church but I was mentally pawing through the Old Testament book of Esther. There IS a connection. This was from Luke 11.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." - Luke 11:9

Our pastor then said this regarding Luke 11:9:

"Rudeness or inappropriate boldness should never be part of our prayer."

When Esther's people were threatened with annihilation she knew she had to ask the king for help. But to enter his court without permission meant certain death. UNLESS the king extended his scepter.

Esther approached the king anyway but she did so with a HUMBLE boldness. She was willing to sacrifice her life for her people.

Esther approaching the king is the perfect example of how we should approach God in our prayers.

The king loved Esther. And God loves us. But we cannot just blurt out our prayers expecting God to respond to our needs like some genie.

Shouldn't we bow down to our king and ask Him permission to enter His presence? And THEN seek His help by our knock on His door.

"On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.” - Esther 5:1-3

Now THAT is an answer to prayer!

You will notice in verse 1 in the Esther passage it says, "On the third day." Esther and her people had already been fasting and praying for two full days before she went to see the king.

Do you and I prepare our hearts and minds before we pray as Esther did? Perhaps, if we first asked God for permission to enter His throne room in prayer, rather than barging in, God's answer to our prayer might be more readily given.

Definitions

We Americans have a common language - English. You'd think that communicating with each other would then be easy. Far from it. You see, although we speak the same language, our words often have different meanings and definitions.

Example: Do you believe in God? You might say 'Yes' but is it the same God that I believe in? Umm..... who knows?

Jesus needs to be defined these days because Jesus has several different meanings, depending on the religion. Jesus of the Bible is not the same as the Mormon Jesus or the Jesus of Islam. Make sure to define your Jesus!

Do you believe that Jesus was the result of a physical, sexual relationship between God and Mary? If you do you might be a Mormon. If you believe thay Jesus always was as part of the Trinity since the beginning of time, you might be a Biblical Christian. See what I mean?

And the Jesus is Islam was merely a prophet, not God. This Islamic prophet,  Jesus, was brought forth to proclaim the coming Messiah, Muhammad.

Make sure who you are believing in and praying to before bowing your head or worshipping with others.

"In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word (Jesus) was with God, and the Word (Jesus) was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind." - John 1:1-4

I Don't Care

If anyone wants a really good name for a restaurant, try 'I Don't Care.' Half the people on the planet want to eat there.

"Honey, where would you like to eat tonight?'

'I don't care.'

See?

The phrase 'I don't care' can have multiple meanings though. First, a person might not actually care. They like all kinds of food, so it really doesn't matter to them.

Second, someone might be busy doing something and, when asked, they will say 'I don't care' just to make the conversation stop so they can finish doing what they were doing when they got interrupted.

Third, there is the rare person who doesn't really care where they eat, as long as they can be with the person asking the question.

Which one are you? I have been all three.

Jesus was that last person, I believe. It didn't really matter WHERE He ate. He wanted to talk with you about your sin and His Father in heaven.

"While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” - Mark 2:15-17

Jesus didn't care where He ate or what He was eating. Jesus was there for the conversation.

So, where do YOU want to serve tonight? And why?

Father, what is it that you would have me do for you? I don't really care what it is or where it is. If it is something you want of me, then send me. Encourage me along the way. Guide my steps. Open doors, or close them. Whatever it is that you want, Lord, that is what I want too. I don't care. I love you and want to serve you and you alone. Thank you for your sacrifice on my behalf. Help me to serve you. It is your wonderful name I pray. Amen.

First Sight

"No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known." - John 1:18

When we die, whose face will be the first to greet us? A mother? A brother? A child? A spouse? Or will it be Jesus? Impossible to say.

Who would you like to see? Because God knows our every one of our thoughts, would He send someone special upon our arrival? Another unanswerable question.

I watched a movie a few years ago about the apostle Paul, who was beheaded for His faith. Upon his arrival in the after life, Paul was greeted by a little girl who he had killed before he met Jesus. She gave him a great big hug. Wow.

Then the little girl's family and others also embraced Paul. Their forgiveness was pure and sweet and complete.

Then Paul slowly turned around. It was at this point in the movie, with tears in my eyes, that I blurted out, "Where is He?"

Then, there He was, standing on a nearby hill. Jesus. It was absolutely perfect.

I don't know who will be the first to greet me after I die. But I DO know this . . . I WILL see Jesus. And THAT will be absolutely perfect.

Paul, Apostle of Christ

Bob, Bob

I might be old but I am still learning what it means to be a follower of Christ. Like this past Saturday for example.

I was running a glow-in-the-dark disc golf tournament. Preparations were going well. I had lights for the baskets, glow-in-the-dark plastic, and treats for everyone. 

I even had volunteers - a rare thing these days. I was so organized and prepared I even had time to listen to a sermon I had missed the previous weekend due to illness.

The message was from Luke 10:

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed - or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” - Luke 10:38-42

Good message. Then Saturday, three hours before the event, I received a text from one of my volunteers. 

"I can't make it tonight."

What!?! Seriously? How irresponsible of him. This put a major cramp in my plans for the evening. How could I manage? Everything hinged on these volunteers being there. Great. Just great.

Later, as the event was about to begin, a car pulled up. My ONE volunteer got out. But then my OTHER volunteer also climbed out. The one who had cancelled.

Well, he probably felt guilty and came, I thought. Nope. He came to teach me a lesson.

"I had a flat tire and Nate saved me."

I could almost hear Jesus saying, "Bob, Bob. You are worried and upset about many things."

I was so concerned with my event that day, so busy with my preparations, that I had neglected to ask why my cancelling volunteer WHY he couldn't make it. I just dismissed him as his breaking a promise. It was actually I who was at fault.

Life can get busy at times but it should never get so busy that we forget to do the things God asks us to do.

What will God be asking us to do today?