Where's My Brain?

On Tuesdays I always drive over to Neenah to visit a few of my workmates. It's routine. I love doing that and pouring into my earthly relationships with love and compassion. It's what I do.

Yesterday was no different, only I was going early so I could get a few things at Menards, do a little shopping at Walmart, and then have a nice, leisurely lunch at Subway. That sounds like a great day, doesn't it? Yeah!

Too bad I left my wallet at home. No lunch money. No credit cards. No lunch. No driver's license. It was a good thing I didn't need gas! So, what now?

The first thing I thought of was, "I bet this is how people will feel when they die and think they are going to heaven, only to discover they don't have Jesus."

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ - Matthew 7:21-23

The second thing I thought was this: What if God wanted me to arrive early at my former workplace for a reason. Was there someone He wanted me to talk with, besides the usual victims?

I did reconnect with another friend yesterday. That was good, but also kind of normal. Maybe it's just that I forgot my wallet and now I have to make a second trip on a different day. Stay tuned.

But let me say this: You had better be sure you know Jesus. And by that I mean, Jesus needs to know you are His. It's more than just knowing who He is. Everyone knows that. It's more than just "believing" He exists. Even the demons believe that. There has to be something else.

"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder." - James 2:19

And here is the key.

You have to repent of your sins. All of them. And then you must become changed. And what do I mean by 'changed'? You must receive the Holy Spirit. And THAT, my friends, will most definitely change you!

And how do you know if you have the Holy Spirit in you? How do you know that you have been changed?

Oh, there will be signs.

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23

And then it hit me. The real reason I arrived early at my old workplace. The love!

You see, my aunt died Monday night. I shared that fact with my friends at work and received multiple expressionsof compassion in return. And maybe THAT is the real reason I got there early. To verbally mourn for my aunt, and receive some hugs "from God."

God is SO good! Make sure Jesus is Lord of your life. You will never regret it.

Why Speak At All?

Let's face it. We're all different. We look different, act different, and even think differently. Why should it surprise us then when we don't agree? And why does it matter so much to some when we don't?"

Look at our country's government for example. It is run by people who cannot seem to agree with one another. Only rarely does that ever happen.

Some people's opinions are so important to themselves that they lie and cheat and even kill to get their own way. Why?

Why should we Christians care when someone doesn't believe in God? I mean, we're chosen, right? Our future is secure for all eternity.

The reason is this: it's Christ, in us. It's the Holy Spirit. We have compassion and mercy for the lost because of what we have in us.

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. ²⁰We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." - 2 Corinthians 5:17, 20

It seems as if we are to be certain of conflict as we try to speak to those who don't want to hear what we have to say  The reward however is worth the fight.

Yesterday in church I saw a young family talking with our pastor after the service. There were smiles on everyone's faces. The center of attention seemed to be their oldest daughter. Could it be that this young soul wanted to be baptized at our church picnic in August? It could!

And that is the reward. The crown we lay at the feet of Jesus. This girl must have heard the Gospel enough times to finally connect. What a wonderful thing to behold.

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." - Romans 10:14, 17

We must never stop sharing the Gospel. Who knows. One day, you may be the one who the Holy Spirit uses to deliver His nessage of hope and love at just the right moment. And, in that moment, someone crosses over from death to life, and they become saved - forever changed.

Who's Crying Now?

My heart, and the hope it contains for those who don't know Jesus, is fading. The "fire" will never go out, but seeing so many refuse to listen to the Gospel is taking its toll.

I have a young friend at church named Elijah. His favorite band is Journey. I like them too, so my friend and I have that in common. These words are from one lf their songs:

"Only so many tears you can cry

'Til the heartache is over

And now you can say your love

Will never die"

The words of that song resonate with how I am feeling. I have a finite number of tears that I can cry for the lost, but my love for them will never die. Yet, with each passing day the hope I have for them decreases because our number of days here is also decreasing.

Romans 1 says that "God gave them over to a reprobate mind." And Jesus said this:

“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand." - Matthew 13:13

And that's what hurts. No matter how many times we talk to them about Jesus, no matter how often we pray for them, some people are simply never going to get it.

There will soon come a time when Jesus returns for His Church - The Bride of Christ. Many theologians and pastors feel that the departure time is very near. 

Hmm. "Departure" is the name of a Journey album. So is "Escape." So is "Revelation" (Are you scensing a theme here?). When all of the Christians disappear from the earth, then the question will be asked . . .

"Who's Cryin' Now?

"To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. ⁷Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. ⁸But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” - Revelation 21:6-8

Who's Crying Now? - Journey

The Shadow of a Cloud

"You silence the uproar of foreigners; as heat is reduced by the shadow of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is stilled." - Isaiah 25:5

We've all experienced the hot and humid days of summer. There's nothing quite as uncomfortable as doing yardwork during the heat of the day under a cloudless sky. But wait! What's that? A cloud!

When a cloud comes between us and the sun we can actually feel the temperature drop. Even more so if the cloud begins dropping water.

As the shadow of a cloud reduces heat from the sun, so we can be to others as we comfort them with the love of Jesus.

I have a friend who recently experienced the loss of a family member. If I am to be "a cloud in the heat of the day," how do I "cast my shadow" on them to comfort them?

1. Contact. A timely phone call or text can really help. It gives the person the opportunity to vent or open up about what's been hurting them.
2. Listen. Sometimes simply listening is enough to show you care. And listen to learn, not simply hear.
3. Empathize. Let them know you are feeling their pain along with them.
4. Guide. Share an appropriate Bible verse or a story about how you navigated a similar situation.
5. Pray. Pray WITH them. Hold their hands, put a hand on their shoulder, or while delivering a hug. Appropriate physical touch is huge.
6. Continue. Don't let the conversation end. Promise to keep in touch. And DO IT!

We have been chosen to complete a mission for Jesus. We can do that by obeying His first, and greatest, command for us.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. And love your neighbor as yourself." - Mark 12:30-31

The River

Recently, my wife and I attended our granddaughter's dance recital. The ages of the dancers ranged from five to eighteen. They all danced to a variety of "show tunes" so when I heard two Christian songs in the mix, I took notice.

The first one initially seemed like all the rest in its tempo and wording until the chorus came around and this line spoke up:

"Take me down to the river to pray."

The word "pray" caught my attention, and I began listening more closely. Could it be? Something "Christian" in the midst of all these secular songs? Yep.

We're going down to the river

Down to the river, down to the river to pray

Let's get washed by the water

Washed by the water and rise up in amazing grace

Aww, yeah.

And then this one. As soon as the first note played, I recognized it. I leaned over to my wife and said, "For King and Country."

God only knows what you've been through

God only knows what they say about you

God only knows how it's killing you

But there's a kind of love that God only knows

Two of my friends are battling hard things right now. Maybe you are too. Perhaps these songs will help you.

The first song reminds us to pray and the second reminds us that only God knows exactly what we're going through.

Is it a coincidence that these two songs came along so I could share them and us them to encourage my friends? I don't think so.

God only knows.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

²He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

³He restores my soul." - Psalm 23:1-3

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” - Jeremiah 17:7-8

The River - Jordan Feliz

God Only Knows - For King and Country

FoTS - Kindness

"Be kind to your web footed friends,

For that duck may be somebody's mother

She lives in a hole in a swamp

Where the weather is always damp

You may think that this is the end:

Well, it is!" (sung to Stars & Stripes Forever)

That's an old Boy Scout song from my youth. I'm not sure WHY it came to mind just now but there it is.

'Kindness' is a fruit of the Spirit and stop #5 on our Fruit of The Spirit tour. It's nearest friends are compassion and love, yet, although those feelings are usually reserved for those closest to us, we can also be kind to complete strangers.

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." - Ephesians 4:12

Recently, my wife and I drove to Michigan for a family reunion. During our stay there we visited my uncle and aunt, who are in their 90's.

It's been over a year now since my aunt's cancer diagnosis. She's actually doing pretty good considering her decision not to seek treatment. A year later she is still up and talking with us. Especially my wife.

You see, my wife went out of her way to exhibit kindness this past year by sending my aunt monthly cards with hand-written notes. My aunt appreciated those very much and told my wife that, repeatedly.

It was such a joy watching those two ladies talking with one another!

Questions:

1. How will you exhibit kindness today? This week?
2. Show kindness to a total stranger this week. What was their reaction?
3. Is someone you know struggling with something right now? How could you demonstrate kindness to them?
4. One act of kindness could changed someone's life. Who will you go out of your way to be kind to this week?
5. Open a door for someone this week and greet them with a smile. What was their reaction?

Glasses

I was weed whacking at the local disc golf course Thursday when all of a sudden my glasses exploded. Well, they fell apart anyway.

I had been limping along with the right temple gone for several weeks. You see I had eye surgery a couple of weeks ago and my appointment for a new prescription is still two weeks out. And I'm cheap. Thrifty, as my mom would say. We're Scottish you know.

Anyway, I somehow managed to drive over to the eyeglass place in town (looking through only one lense) without running anyone over.

The following is a story of a servant's heart.

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 2:3-5

I recognized the lady behind the counter. She had helped me several times in the past whenever a random branch in the woods ripped the glasses off my face and bent them up. This time was no different.

I told her my ideal plan - to turn my OLD glasses into work glasses and then come back in three weeks and order NEW glasses.

She took all the parts I gave her into the back room and then came out with a complete set of glasses. I tried them on and they fit perfectly (see picture above). They're not ideal but it was the only frame in the entire shop that fit AROUND my lenses. And then, when I asked her how much it would cost, she said, "30 bucks."

"What? That's it?"

And there you have it - the perfect scenaro, fulfilled. I came in wondering how I could possibly drive anywhere, and left feeling confident and overjoyed. That's the effect a good servant has on others.

I wonder. Does Jesus feel this good where we serve others in His name? I think He does. And I don't know if this lady is a believer or not. But she sure acts like one!

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - Colossians 3:17

Staying Warm

Today's story comes in two parts. The first is based on Ecclesiastes 4, verse 10. It involves stumbling or struggling with something. This same verse also offers a suggestion for how to navigate those struggles. A companion.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. ¹⁰For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!" - Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

This is not only good advice for hiking or walking, but it is also good for going through our struggles in life.

Have you ever been in a situation that was really bothering you? I suppose you could just tough it out and say, "I don't need anyone's help." But there IS a better way.

What if you called a friend, someone you trust, and talked to them about it? Quite often the end result is that BOTH of you feel encouraged afterward. PLUS you have just grown closer to that friend.

The second part of today's story is found in the very next verse.

"If two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?" - Ecclesiastes 4:9-11

Again, this involves struggling, maybe even spiritually. It is the reason for the church actually.

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Every day they continued to meet together." - Acts 2:42, 44, 46

That's the church! They met together, they struggled together, they loved together.

And speaking of love, Jesus warned us that a time would come when even the church would struggle - those who believe.

"And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold." - Matthew 24:12

Ecclesiastes 4, verse 12, contains the answer.

"How can one keep warm alone?"

DON'T BE ALONE!

This life is hard enough going through it day by day. Wouldn't it be better the share the bumps in the road with someone? A companion?

A friendship or a spouse is how we stay warm when our faith starts getting cold. When we need encouragement, they provide it. When we need to be rebuked, well, a good friend will provide that too.

And don't forget about our closest friend and companion, Jesus. God has promised never to leave us or forsake us, in both the Old and New Testaments (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5). You are never EVER alone.

I Will Never Leave You - Scripture Lullabies

Stay Strong

This past week Facebook posts began appearing about a 12-year old boy in our community who died suddenly and unexpectedly. No cause of death was given, which is unfortunate because we are left to wonder.

"Sudden death" is a term we usually reserve for sporting events, but real-life death is not a game. It wounds the living, and leaves invisible scars on the heart.

There are four things we need to do when we find ourselves faced with death. First, we need to prepare for it. Death IS inevitable, for everyone. How to prepare? I would advise a two-part strategy - read the Bible, and do what it says.

The second thing we need to do is to be strong. God commanded Joshua to "be strong and courageous" when Joshua took over for Moses. God mentioned it 5 or 6 tines. That's good advice. And how do we get strong? We work out - by reading God's Word and not leaning on our own understanding.

"⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6

The third thing we should be doing is to pray. It actually should be but our first resort, not last. When we hear of someone's suffering, our immediate response should be to pray.

That brings us to number four and that is to reach out in love. People suffering a loss have been damaged. They need to be loved and comforted. Hugs, tears, and prayers are just what they need. Apply all, liberally.

Jesus told us to build our house (our faith) on the rock (Jesus). We should be a rock to those who are hurting. Remind them of Jesus' truths. Remind them of the hope to be found in Him. Love them unconditionally, and stay strong - for them.

"A wise man built his house on the rock. ²⁵The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." - Matthew 7:24-25

Stay strong my brothers and sisters.

Stay Strong - Newsboys

The Unprayed Prayer

In our silent moments, prayerful thoughts come to the surface. When there are no distractions, no input, only the outflow of hidden needs or fears.

We close our eyes and think of someone. Are they loved? Are they well? Are they happy? Or are they sad and scarred?

It is not a long journey from those thoughts into a prayer. We picture our loved ones in our mind's eye. The process is simple. We love them, and we pray for them.

Today I am praying for a young friend that I met at a Christian music festival, maybe ten or more years ago (Once a youth leader, always a youth leader, right?). She is a mother of two now but then she was an insecure teen then, uncertain of her future.

The innocence of her youth was ripped away from her by an uncaring and abusive mother. An experience that still hurts her all these years later. Especially on Mother's Day.

I can still see her in my memory - that teen of ten years ago - a slight smile, quiet, not sure about trusting anyone. Fragile.

If prayers were movies, my prayer for her would look like this:

It's a summer day, not hot, but comfortable. The two of us are walking, and talking, down a path through a meadow.

I ask questions. The answers come, but slowly, cautiously. There's a bench up ahead so we sit and talk some more. And then I ask if I can pray for her. She says 'yes' but she's not really sure.

When I say 'Amen' and we open our eyes, there is Jesus. He is right there with us. He walks up to this young girl and smiles at her. He takes his hand and places it softly on her cheek, wiping away a tear as it falls.

She leans into His chest, sobbing, and He wraps His arms around her. Then, looking over at me, He smiles.

And that is my prayer for my young friend, that she would come to know Jesus. Her broken heart would be healed. But there's more. He's not done yet. He's about to answer an unprayed prayer.

Stepping out from behind Him is the girl's mother. He has healed HER heart as well.

We all have scars. We all have had our hearts broken in one way or another. But we are too proud to ask for help for ourselves.

Great philosophers have wondered, "Why are we here?" The answer is simple. We are here to love one another.

“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

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” - Mark 12:30-31

Castle of Glass

Have you ever lost a loved one? Someone who is very near and dear to you? Then today's story just might be for you.

Thursday was a day unlike any other in recent memory. It all began by watching a very powerful Linkin Park video.

In the video a boy is visited by a naval officer who tells him that his father (a SEAL team soldier) has been killed in combat. He struggles mightily with this fact and ultimately comes to a heart felt decision - to follow in his father's footsteps - serving his country.

However, the grown boy then takes a slightly different path and becomes the one who tells other Gold Star families about THEIR lost loved ones. He, better than anyone else, knows exactly how they feel when they hear the sad news.

What a brave and powerfully moving video.

When we experience someone's death - someone we love - we can react in any number of ways. We can withdraw, we can lash out, or . . . we can turn a negative into a positive like this young man did.

At the end of the video there is this quote: 

"All great things are simple, and many can be expressed in single words: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope." - Winston Churchill

I would add a few words to Mr. Churchill's list - "faith" and "love."

"Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13

Later, that same Thursday, I visited a dear friend of mine. We spoke about her relative's cancer diagnosis. We also spoke about the death of her husband several years ago. She had also just lost one of her godparents to cancer.

Then, on my way home, I received a message from a young friend who had just lost her aunt to cancer. Stories like theirs seem to come in waves. 

How can we help the hurting people in our lives? The verse above is all we really need to remember.

Our faith in God is what gives us hope. And that hope flows out of our hearts in the form of love. We can help ease their pain with a generous helping of love. Selfless, sacrificial love.

And, here's another single word to consider for your list of great things, Mr. Churchill.

Jesus.

There is a line in today's featured song that could be a prayer to our Lord and Savior.

"Wash the sorrow from off my skin
And show me how to be whole again."

Castle of Glass - Linkin Park

For Myshelle, Bob, Katie, Becky, Sky, Dave, Destiny, Dakota, Alex, Miranda, Jeanne, Kathy, Nate, Vicki, Tammy, and anyone else who has experienced loss. There is hope and love out there. His name is Jesus. Love you all.

A Thousand Pieces

Life is good. We can be living out our lives without a single care, when all of a sudden life gets turned upside down. It explodes into a thousand different scattered pieces. The illness of a loved one, the loss of a job, a car accident, or a divorce. What do we do then? We feel so helpless.

The default answer is always to pray. But then comes the waiting. And sometimes the wait can be long. What then?

If you are hurting, reach out. If someone is adrift at sea, won't they wave frantically at a passing ship? Wave!

And for those on board that ship, keep your eyes open! We never know when God might place someone in our paths who might need prayer or just someone to talk to.

The other day I met someone like that. He is going through a divorce and has two kids. He works third shift and struggles to find hope. BUT . . . he goes to a church filled with loving people. "You should talk to so-and-so. I think you would both benefit."

God is love, right? His greatest commandment is to love. How do we express that love? Compassion, mercy, grace, forgiveness, sacrifice. Help them put their puzzle back together.

First, sort all the pieces and put them in some kind sort of order. Assemble the border and then do the work.

Love takes many shapes and comes in many forms. Our job is to apply it, liberally. Assembling a puzzle always goes faster with more than just one person. Ask the question.

"Need some help?"

"How are you doing today?"

"How may I pray for 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

5%

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot." - Matthew 5:13

After Jesus gave His Beatitudes speech on the Mount of Olives He told His followers what you just read. "You are the salt of the earth."

Why did Jesus call them salt? And why is the name of this story "5%"? Well . . . 

Salt. Back in Jesus' day salt was used as a preservative, to cleanse newborn babies (a disinfectant), and for fertilizer. Fertilizer? 

Yes! Where did the Jewish people get their salt? From the Dead Sea. Dead Sea salt is Potassium Chloride, not Sodium Chloride like our table salt. Potassium Chloride,  also known as Potash, is a fertilizer. It helps things grow.

Salt changes the things it comes into contact with simply by being what it is. Is that what we do? Do we change people simply by being who we are in their presence? Let's go read what Luke had to say about salt.

“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away." - Luke 14:34-35

How much salt do we need then? When a community contains just 5% active Christians, it begins to change for the better. Judging by today's headlines we need lots of salt!

But the thing about salt is that it needs to come into contact with the dirt, with what it is intended to cleanse. How is THAT done? By being out in the community. By reaching out to the hurting, the sick, and the poor. We can help those around us grow in their faith simply by being with them. It's called fellowship.

Salt in our kitchen is useless while it's just sitting in the salt shaker. Only when we put it on a steak, or on some french fries, does it serve its purpose.

If we are to be salt in this world, where should WE be? At home in our living rooms watching TV? Or being poured out into the lives of those around us?

We are purveyors of the Gospel. If I sit at home simply reading my Bible, am I truly fulfilling my purpose as "the salt of the earth?"

Kindling

A cool, crisp fall day in Central Wisconsin. Perfect for gathering kindling for winter fires to come. My wife loves toasty fires in the wintertime.

We have a pile of dead oak branches in our backyard, gathered throughout the spring and summer. Fall is the time I choose to break them up and stuff them into 5-gallon pails.

It's kind of mindless work really. There's not a lot of thought involved in snapping a twig. So my mind is free to wander. And wander it does.

Thoughts of friends and family members come to mind. People who are struggling and are in need of help. Kindling it seems is good for starting prayers as well as fires.

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The sun is getting low in the sky this time of year. It won't be long before there's a blanket of snow on the ground . . . and a fire in the fireplace.

Prayers are kindled by our compassion for others. Who shall we pray for today?

To Your Tents!

When things got bad in Old Testament times, what did the Israelites do? They went camping!🙂

Don't believe me?

"When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents, Israel! Look after your own house, David!” So the Israelites went home." - 1 Kings 12:16

And there you have it!

Of course, it wasn't a happy time when the Israelites went 'to their tents.' Things were usually pretty bad. Basically, they had no where else to turn. Every man for himself! Deperate times call for desperate measures, right? And desperate times are headed our way today. Check that, they are already here.

So, what do we do about it? How do we handle the increasing birth pangs of these last days? Three words - go to church.

You will not find a more loving, compassionate, and empathetic group than at a gathering of your brothers and sisters in Christ.

And why is there so much love and understanding in a church? Each believer has in them the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised.

 “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." - John 14:15-17

What a wonderful reminder!

The church doesn't love like the world loves. At least they shouldn't. They love unconditionally and without thought of self. And that is something the world simply cannot understand.

"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

Empty Arms

When someone we love is suffering it can be one of the most empty feelings we will ever experience. It's incredibly draining. It's like wanting to give someone a hug but our arms are sadly empty.

There is a strong desire in the heart of the Christian to 'ease their pain'. Our only problem is that we ourselves don't have the power to do so. And that is why we pray. Because God DOES have that power.

Is there someone in your life who is suffering or in pain? Do you feel helpless? You're not alone. James had some good advice for us in God's Word.

"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray." - James 5:13

He then goes on to deliver this promise a few verses later:

"And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up." - James 5:15

The Prayer of Faith. What is that? Isn't ALL prayer a 'prayer of faith?'

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." - James 5:16

Where do I get "effectual fervent prayer?" And if my prayers don't get answered, does that mean that I am not righteous?

The thing we need to remember about prayer is that prayer is a request, not a command. If our prayer is pleasing to God, and if it is within His will, then the prayer request will be more likely to get God's attention.

But if what we desire in prayer is NOT granted, then we also need to be accepting of that result as well. Whether we like it or not.

I have a young friend who is suffering right now. I have prayed for her these past few days. Constantly, it seems. What if God doesn't heal her?

That's the wrong question to be asking. Here's the REAL question.

How will God be glorified in whatever happens to my friend? Well, my prayer has become continual and deeply personal. That brings glory to God. He has heard my prayer, and will continue to hear them.

But God's healing of my friend is up to Him. And to her. Perhaps she has been made to suffer because of her refusal to fully, and finally, trust God. And if she does that, won't we all be singing God's praises?

Will my pain and prayers for my friend be worth it if she finally trusts God? Absolutely! And isn't her finally placing her faith and hope in Jesus worth far more in God's eyes than any physical healing?

To God be the glory!

To God Be The Glory - Northern Baptist Association

Delight Yourself

It is written, "Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart." - Psalm 37:4.

Do we really want that? Do we REALLY want the desires of our hearts are sinful? And what are we willing to do to obtain those desires?

I suppose we could make a list of our desires - a wish list of sorts. But we really don't have to do that. God already knows what our desires are. God already knows everything about us.

"Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart." - Psalm 44:21

The key to receiving the desires of our hearts is written in the first half of our opening verse. "Delight yourself in the Lord."

What does THAT mean? And how do we do it?

Is God delighted with us? Are we delighted with Him? Are we making Him smile with the way we are living our lives? Are we delighted to read His Word everyday? Are we loving Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength? Are we loving others? Even our enemies?

The proof of our delight in God is this: Have we truly received the desires of our hearts? And what are those desires, because our desires will change the closer we get to God. When we really know God and His will, our desires change and become His. Does that make sense?

"God is love." His "first and greatest commandment" for us is to love Him and love others. When we do that, He will be delighted with us and we are loved in return. The secret to all of this, obviously, is love. Our desire then should be to love God and love others.

"Love one another, for love comes from God." - 1 John 4:7

How will we demonstrate love to someone today? Who will God place in our lives today for us to encourage and to love in His name?

[This story was written for my friend, Essie. I love you kid! And I always will. Delight yourself in the Lord and watch what happens.]

The Empty Heart

I heard a story once about a professor who began his philosophy class by asking his class a question. He pulled a large, empty jar out and set it on the desk.

"Is this full?" he asked.

"No," the class replied.

The professor then put in some rocks, right up to the rim, and asked, "How about now?"

"Yes. It s full."

Then the professor poured some sand into the jar, right to the top.

"There. Now it's full, right?"

"Yep," they answered. 

Then, he took a pitcher and added water to the jar.

"I guess it wasn't really full, was it?"

Each time the class thought the jar was full, they were proved wrong.

The question for today is, is your heart full? Maybe you will answer 'no'. There are many people whose hearts are not as full as they could be. Many more have empty hearts but they only THINK they are full.

Maybe 'yes' will be the answer. That's good. But what is your heart filled with? Does it contain any rocks or sand? Do you have any bad feelings about someone? Does it contain worry, strife, anxiety, pride?

Jesus can remove all of that bad stuff that fills our hearts and can replace it with pure, life-giving water.

“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” - John 4:10

So I guess the big question is, "Is your heart full of living water? Pure, uncontaminated, life-giving water? If not, ask Jesus to fill it. He has an endless supply and He offers it freely. Drink deep!

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." - Matthew 5:6

May God bless you today. May your heart be full. Who knows. Perhaps god will use your overflowing heart to fill the empty hearts of those around you. Drink deep!

"My cup runneth over." - Psalm 23:5

A Servant's Heart

"So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you." - John 13:12-15

I saw a wonderful example of a servant the other day - a mother with two special needs children. I was able to witness her amazing devotion as she attended to their every need.

It was an amazing thing to behold, especially when you consider that she does it every day, day after day, without end. She exhibited tremendous love for her children in doing so. 

Do we have that kind of love for others, that we would place someone else's needs above our own? Family members, yes. But a stranger?

Devotion, selflessness, obedient, loving, compassionate are a few of the words that describe the characteristics of a servant. Are we any of those? Jesus was, and is, all of the above.

Jesus wants us to be servants. We just read that He is our example. 

There is also a difference between a hired servant and one who does so willingly, at no cost to the recipient. I think that is what Jesus wants from us.

One would think then that churches would be absolutely filled with willing servants. Nope. In fact, according to Pew Research, only about 20% of mainline Protestants are highly involved in church activities. 16% for Catholics. The Episcopal church is the worst at 13%. Why so few? Good question.

When asked to serve, do we immediately say 'yes'? Or do we search for excuses for why we can't?

Serving others should be a 100% thing. Not for any particular church, but for our individual hearts. Do you have a servant's heart beating in you?

Lifting Others Up

This past Saturday I went to a celebration of life gathering for a friend of mine who had gone home to be with the Lord. It was wonderful.

One would have thought there was a church service going on, judging by the number of cars in the parking lot. Nope. My friend touched a lot of people's lives.

I looked around for my buddy's wife but couldn't find her. The fellowship area of the church was filled with people standing and sitting, talking and laughing. It resembled a normal Sunday morning after church lets out and everyone heads for the coffee and treats.

Then the sea of people parted and there she was. She was sitting down, a little dizzy from the day's events.

I had to wait a bit to see her but it was worth it. When she saw me she reached out her arms for a hug. So I bent down and gave her one. That's when it hit me - the topic for today's story.

I dropped to my knees in front of my friend and we had a wonderful conversation. It was a little hard getting up afterwards but it was worth it. Lol!

When we interact with people in our daily  lives we often do so from "our level." We do not tend to meet people where THEY are, emotionally or spiritually. To pick something up, don't we first bend down to get it?

A grieving widow should not  be the one to be walking around. We should come to her,  offering encouragement and support. And not as one handing scraps of food down to a dog under the dining room table. No. We should meet them face-to-face, heart-to-heart, if you will.

Think about it. A child can feel lonely in a room full of adults who are standing there, talking. But get down on the floor with a child and interact with them at their own level and you've gained a friend.

We spend too much time trying fit people into OUR lives. Instead, shouldn't we be trying to fit into theirs? And when we do, we can see them face to face. 

"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face." - 1 Corinthians 3:12

I have heard it said, "Just be yourself. Your friends will find you." But if we truly love the lost and hurting, won't we search for them no matter where they are, until we find them and join them in their pain? To take them to a much happier place?

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be." - John 14:3

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’" - Luke 15:4-6