Monthly Archives: November 2014

FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE

“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness overcame it not.” (John 1:5)

You may not know the name Tom Bodet, but if you were around in the mid-1980’s or after you will remember his famous saying, “We’ll leave the light on for you.”  The voice actor and radio personality used the tag line to close out commercials for Motel 6 that became a successful advertising campaign of the lodging franchise for many years.  It reminded us that even in our own homes, it’s the polite thing to do when we are expecting company or the arrival of a family member. Lights are a symbol of welcoming. We are entering that season when the lights of Christmas are beginning to appear throughout our neighborhoods. Many communities throughout our nation will display lights as a means of public attraction to promote commerce.

For the Christian church, the beginning of Advent is upon us. The term Advent is derived from a Latin word for ‘coming’ – in this case the expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. Most denominations will use Advent readings during a portion of their services, and a new candle will be lighted weekly for each of the successive four weeks. It is not uncommon for Advent wreaths to be displayed not only in those churches but in the homes of their members as well. The metaphor of light is at the very center of the Christmas message and is reflected in the hymns we will sing. One of the best known is ‘Silent Night’ – “Son of God, love’s pure light;  Radiant beams from Thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace.”  The words from the great prophet foretold of the coming Prince of Peace and the light He would bring:  “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine” (Isaiah 9:2).

Walking in the Light is a recurring theme throughout scripture. “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life’ ” (John 8:12).  The world is filled with darkness, and many of us exist in it for a time. It is only through an accepting and growing relationship with Christ that our light can begin to shine. As we mature in Him, we come to experience a very personal journey that commences in Bethlehem and ends on a cross at Calvary.  As children, many of us learned the words, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”  One of my greatest memories of this song is a performance by a church choir in which one of the oldest members, well into her eighties, embraced the tune by letting her body swing melodically from side to side as she sang.  She displayed a true understanding of the apostle’s writing: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

As our walk with Christ deepens, it is important to understand that the Light others will see in us is not our own but a mere reflection of Him.  “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord.  So live as people of light!” (Ephesians 5:8). Like the words to the song portray: “It is better to light just one little candle, than to stumble in the dark. Better far that you light just one little candle; All you need’s a tiny spark.”  In many corners of the earth, we can easily be drawn into dark places.  Advent is a perfect time to acknowledge or perhaps rekindle that spark of light. And as we nurture it throughout our own spiritual journey, we will once again allow the star over that simple manger many years ago to become a beacon of light for all the world to see.

REFLECTION:  Have you made decisions that have caused the light of Jesus to flicker and grow dim in your life?  During this busy Advent season, are there ways that you might pause, reflect, and draw closer to Him? How can you develop your spiritual gifts and share your talents so that others may see a renewed Light of Christ in your life?

(MY NEXT WEEKLY DEVOTION WILL BE UPLOADED ON SAT., DECEMBER 6, 2014.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE REMINDED OF THE FREE WEEKLY POSTINGS, SEND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO: LookUpwrd@aol.com  YOUR ADDRESS WILL NOT BE SHARED)

IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES . . . THANKSGIVING

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,  for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.”  (1 Timothy 4:4-5)

Of all places, it had to occur during what was described as an ‘epic’ snowstorm.  When Bethany Hojnacki of South Buffalo, New York recently went into labor, there was probably no way she would make it to the hospital. Her husband, Jared, began to search for help.  He ran into a fire lieutenant and asked for assistance with his wife. Firefighters had heard that a nurse happened to be stranded in her car not too far away. As it turned out, she was a labor and delivery nurse. With Bethany’s contractions only minutes apart, firefighters became aware of another individual also delayed by the snowfall who just happened to be a maternity nurse.  Not long after in the nearby firehouse, baby Lucy Grace was born with the help of a few angels.  Although the Hojnacki’s had previously picked out the name, it now had a greater significance. “Lucy means light or illumination,”Bethany said. “It’s kind of like grace illuminated, which really does capture, I think, how she came into the world.” Husband Jared is also convinced that there was divine intervention and not just lucky odds for the family.  “It’s not odds; it’s God,” he said. “It’s more than amazing. We’re so blown away by God’s grace.”  Affirmation, for sure, that in the midst of some of the worst storms of our lives – God is there to provide a peaceful blessing.

“Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God hath done.” They are the first two lines of the refrain of an old hymn.  It’s that time of year when church congregations all over America will be singing these familiar words by Johnson Oatman, Jr.  Indeed, as we gather around the table on Thanksgiving Day, we are encouraged to pause and take stock of the many blessings in our lives.  As we do so, we will be grateful for our family and friends, the warmth of our home, our personal health, and the many other abundances with which we have been blessed. Certainly the Hojnacki parents will remember their blessing in the midst of a monster storm. There will be few, however, who will express gratitude for their misfortunes. Is it possible to rejoice in our sorrow, on the bed of sickness, and in the other adversities we must each face?  There are some who believe we should, and they have actually done so.

Several years ago, a friend introduced me to musician Laura Story’s song “Blessings.” It was composed after her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor and later contracted spinal meningitis during the surgery to remove it. At one point he became very close to dying. The refrain to Story’s “Blessings” echoes:

‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops;                                                       What if Your healing comes through tears.
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near.                       What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise.”

“The song shows that we still have more questions than answers,” Laura confesses. She draws her inspiration from several scriptural passages including: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy” (James 1:2).

Through time, we come to realize when our current situation includes the trials and tribulations of life – it is important that we focus on our growing relationship with God and not on the difficulty of the moment. The great Biblical commentator Matthew Henry once said, “Many are taught with briers and thorns of affliction that would not learn otherwise.”  Sometimes there is a blessedness that eventually comes through not knowing, not understanding, but by simply trusting in our faith and waiting on the Lord. So as we pause to reflect on our blessings this Thanksgiving, we must consider not only what we have but also what we do not have. For it is during those times with little left but Him when we learn that so much of what we have come to count on as blessings is purely temporal. The Apostle Paul wrote: “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).  So be strong, my friends, and seek to find the blessing He has in store for you in all circumstances.

REFLECTION:  If you are currently going through a period in your life when you do not feel blessed, how can you spend more time alone with God learning to trust in the eventual outcome?  Could God possibly be blessing you by not giving us the very thing for which you are praying?  Are there others you can reach out to who you know have become stronger through adversity in their lives?  If your faith has been affirmed through a difficult situation, how might you help someone else who is likewise struggling?

To hear Laura Story’s song “Blessings” go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CSVqHcdhXQ

(MY NEXT WEEKLY DEVOTION WILL BE UPLOADED ON SAT., NOVEMBER 29, 2014.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE REMINDED OF THE FREE WEEKLY POSTINGS, SEND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO: LookUpwrd@aol.com  YOUR ADDRESS WILL NOT BE SHARED)

IN FORGOTTEN PLACES

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” (Proverbs 19:17)

I just received my annual appeal letter from The Salvation Army asking me to reply with a contribution.  Like many other organizations who solicit during this time of year, it begs the question – if this is the season of giving, is there then a time of non-giving? For a 90-year old in Fort Lauderdale, Florida – charitable giving knows no season. Arnold Abbot has been feeding the homeless there for over two decades. Recently he has been cited according to a new city ordinance that makes what he is doing a crime punishable up to 60 days in jail. Abbott says that he believes “in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, and we should be allowed to feed our fellow man.”  He hopes that the city will locate a place for him to legally share his public generosity, but until that is accomplished – he stated that he has no plans to discontinue what he has been doing for years.

Singer/songwriter, Caitlin Crosby, had the idea to start engraving old, used keys with inspirational words and would sell them after her performances.  Realizing that in some ways we are all like these keys – unique, flawed, scarred, and at risk of being discarded – she encouraged her fans to buy a key that spoke to them. She asks that in time they ‘pay forward’ the key to someone else to whom it will have significance. While the keys had meaning for individuals, she knew that there was a missing link, One Sunday while walking down Hollywood Boulevard from church, she passed a homeless couple holding a sign which said “Ugly, Broken, Hungry.” She invited them to have dinner with her at a local restaurant and was moved by their story.  The man had been raised on the streets, and the woman revealed that she enjoyed making jewelry.  That was Caitlin’s aha moment, and she engaged the couple as her business partners.  As demand for the keys increased, she employed more homeless people, founded ‘The Giving Keys,’ and in doing so enabled many of them to transition out of homelessness.

Both of these individuals were motivated with a desire to serve humanity.  One had his mission disrupted; the other had her mission fulfilled.  These examples are proof that when we perform a deed with an open and pure heart, God will provide direction. His Word tells us:  “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (Psalm 32:8).  In the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46), Jesus is clear that when we journey with Him we become honorable, have a heart-burning desire to reach out to those in need, and serve Him as a result. “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’  And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’ ” (Matthew 25:37-40).  It is not our good works but more about our relationship with the Shepherd that makes us righteous.

Our acts of service do not need to be on a grandiose scale, and our mission field doesn’t have to be far-reaching.  While it is wonderful when that happens, such expectations can be very daunting to many of us. The ‘least of these’ can be a struggling person in line ahead of us at the grocery store or the lonely neighbor in the house next door.  I recently heard someone say that if we would just become more aware of those in the 15-foot space around us, we could do a lot of good.  Paul stated: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:4-5). Caitlin Crosby says, “It’s within our power to find beauty and potential in forgotten places.”  I believe that to be true, and some of those may not be very far away.

REFLECTION: Do you a remember a time when you saw someone in need but rationalized a reason for not helping?  Can you think of ways you might become more conscious of the needs of those right around you?  How can you sustain this level of awareness throughout the year?

For more on Arnold Abbott’s story, go to: http://www.local10.com/news/90yearold-man-charged-for-feeding-homeless-back-at-it/29566212   To hear the story on Caitlin Crosby’s ‘Giving Keys’ – http://www.thegivingkeys.com/

(MY NEXT WEEKLY DEVOTION WILL BE UPLOADED ON SAT., NOVEMBER 22, 2014.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE REMINDED OF THE FREE WEEKLY POSTINGS, SEND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO: LookUpwrd@aol.com  YOUR ADDRESS WILL NOT BE SHARED)

AMAZED . . . ONCE AGAIN

Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming,        “We have seen amazing things today!” (Luke 5:26)

As a child it may have been when you saw a magic trick, hearing a recorded playback of your voice, or sitting on Santa’s lap for the very first time. Those early moments of awe were special ones.  I remember my first flight like it was yesterday.  I was on the East Coast at the time, and my destination was California.  I had breakfast at home, an early lunch at the Baltimore airport, and was able to eat dinner that evening in Los Angeles.  It took awhile for me to wrap my mind around the totality of that day, but I recall thinking it was an awesome feat.  Then flying became more frequent, and by the time I flew across the Atlantic to Europe a decade later, the magnificence of the experience was less impressive.

The constant stimulation and immediate gratification that we have as a society concerns me, because I fear we have come to take for granted any deep sense appreciation for special times.  While I am still able to attend a concert of my favorite musician and thoroughly enjoy being in the moment, if I am not careful I can allow myself to be very conscious of those around me who are making videos of the event. I don’t want to lose my admiration for the instrumentation, the back-up vocalization, or the staging and backdrop visuals.  For so many, its just something they have come to expect for the price of a ticket. Being in a state of awe on an occasion like this can attach us to a memory of a person or place that won’t easily be forgotten. When we are no longer amazed, impressed, or feel a sense of wonderment – then I believe we are less than our Maker intended for us to be, and that’s just downright sad.

It is difficult, however, to have an awe experience when we are preoccupied with so much around us that demands our attention.  We multi-task through our hours of the day finding little that we would define as astonishing. But when we do find it, it may be one of the most significant emotions of our journey.  On those occasions, it would behoove us to nurture it in a way in which we might grow spiritually. When the Lord spoke to the blinded Saul on the way to Damascus- those who were with him were speechless (Acts 9:1-19), and He provided very specific direction as to how Saul’s sight would be restored if he obeyed. The miraculous power of God is again demonstrated in the Old Testament when the walls of Jericho fell (Joshua 6:2-5). Here we find that Joshua followed God’s direction explicitly. We come to the understand that when we listen for and obey God’s word, we will witness the awesome display of His glory. “God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding” (Job 37:5). Are you listening for the distant thunder?

Much of our time these days is spent trying to establish the right level of connectivity with the world around us, often neglecting our ‘out of this world’ direct line to God. When our awe of God is lacking, He can and will be replaced by something far less significant if we are not careful. For: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever” (Psalm 111:10). Until we rediscover the meaning of awe in our lives, we cannot possibly experience the fullness of a relationship with Him. The upcoming holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas might serve as a wonderful time to start searching. As we gather together to count our many blessings and reflect on Him as the Christ-child in the manger, He will rekindle our hearts . . . and we will be amazed once again.

REFLECTION:  What are some of the things in your life that have numbed your relationship with Him? Are there ways that you and your family might be able to instill a deeper sense of appreciation for God and each other during the events of the holidays ahead?  If you are fortunate to have your sense of awe renewed, can you identify a manner in which you might maintain it during the course of the upcoming year?

(MY NEXT WEEKLY DEVOTION WILL BE UPLOADED ON SAT., NOVEMBER 15, 2014.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE REMINDED OF THE FREE WEEKLY POSTINGS, SEND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO: LookUpwrd@aol.com  YOUR ADDRESS WILL NOT BE SHARED)

A SPIRITUAL MULLIGAN

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”  (Isaiah 43:18-19)

I was sitting in front of the sub shop where I had just made my purchase.  As I perceived it, I had three choices.  I could throw my food away.  I could eat it and hope that there would be no repercussions. Or I could go back into the store and ask for a refund or a replacement.  But you don’t really know how my story began.  It is a fairly simple one, actually.  I was hungry, didn’t feel like cooking, and decided to stop at a local eatery for a sub. Upon my arrival, I noticed that the only attendant behind the counter was closing with another customer at the cash register. I observed that while handling the money she was wearing disposable gloves which she did not replace as she took my order and made my sandwich.  I was rather stunned at her carelessness but allowed her to finish, paid for my order, and exited the establishment.  So now I am sitting in my car, feeling angry, and faced with the decision of what to do. Ultimately, I went back into the shop and asked for a do-over.

In most states at this time of the year, we hear the saying – “Spring Forward, Fall Back.”  It’s a phrase for us to remember which way we move the hands on our clocks as we switch from Daylight Savings to Standard Time.  In doing so, we are psychologically made to feel we will somehow regain the time that we had lost with a simple reset. Similarly, golfers are familiar with the term mulligan in which a player who blunders a shot is allowed to reset a ball in the same location with no penalty for doing so.  While not part of the formal rules, it’s a nice do-over opportunity for a player who is having a bad day. Just drop another ball, and get on with it.  Wouldn’t it be nice if life was that simple?  Instead, we end up making decisions far too quickly, speak words that perhaps should never have been spoken, or form a judgment about another person using information that wasn’t accurate at the source. Consequently, we find ourselves in regretful situations where do-overs seem to be almost impossible.

We are fortunate to have a God who cared so much about us that He created a path for resolution in these and similar matters. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).  Lucky for us, He is all about fresh starts and new beginnings. His Word is filled with examples of people who messed up and yet were given opportunities to step up in their faith journey.  In the Old Testament, we find King David struggling in many ways with His power. Saul of Tarsus became the converted Paul, the prolific author of much of the New Testament, after persecuting many followers of the faith. Nonetheless, these individuals were offered not only do-overs but also given new beginnings to serve. So, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:15-16).

In most situations, we cannot change past circumstances. However we can change how we handle the future. For our God is a God of patient restoration. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). By acknowledging that God is the One who looks at our heart and sees the desire for change, He will equip us to walk on a fresh journey. When we come to realize that we’re working through His power, not our own, we understand that we’ve been given a spiritual mulligan of sorts. In doing so, we experience that special moment of redemption that allows us to be as close as possible to the person He intended us to be all along.

REFLECTION:  If God offers us do-overs in our spiritual journey, why are we sometimes reluctant to make a change and unsure how to go about it?  If you are not where you want to be or where you want to stay spiritually, what will it take for you to reach forward to all God has in store for you?  What past circumstance must you get by in order to do so?

(MY NEXT WEEKLY DEVOTION WILL BE UPLOADED ON SAT., NOVEMBER 8, 2014.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE REMINDED OF THE FREE WEEKLY POSTINGS, SEND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO: LookUpwrd@aol.com  YOUR ADDRESS WILL NOT BE SHARED)