Monthly Archives: February 2016

LEAP OF FAITH

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Every four years our calendar grows by an extra day, adding February 29 to make a total of 366 days. We call it Leap Year.  Since the earth revolves around the sun every 365.25 days, a corrective measure is made every fourth year to enable the calendar to catch up with itself. This synchronizes the seasons with the true solar year. In a common year, all dates on the calendar move up one day of the week. If Christmas was Wednesday last year, it will be on Thursday in the current year. It all flows along very nicely until we have an extra day in February. In those years one’s birthday, which last year occurred on Friday, will leap over Saturday and be celebrated on Sunday this year. It has become rather logical to most persons, and unless you were born on February 29 – most of us really don’t think much about it.

In the 1992 movie Leap of Faith, a touring Christian evangelist played by Steve Martin takes his faith-healing revivals from city to city. The donations flow freely, but the healings are bogus. When the evangelist and company find themselves stuck in a remote nook of Kansas, they decide to perform for the locals and take them for all they are worth. The shows go off without a hitch, until one man recognizes the acts for the scam that they are and sets out to expose them. Thirty years before, in 1962 – Neil Armstrong joined the NASA Astronaut Corp. In 1969, on his second and final spaceflight – he exited his Apollo 11 spacecraft and became the first man to ever walk on the moon. On that day, no one thought he was a fraud as he spoke those words which have since become immortalized: “This is one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

The act of leaping takes on many meanings as we go through life. When we are young, we learn to play leap frog in which, with our legs parted, we learn to jump over the backs of others who are bent down. As we get older, we may hear the expression ‘leap of faith’ being used. I am not sure that I completely understood what that meant until I bought my first home. I remember saying to a relative of mine that I was a little apprehensive about the whole thing. What if for some reason I would lose my job, become ill, or otherwise not be able to make my payments. He said, “So what do you have now?”  “Nothing,” I said. “What would you have then?” he prodded. I again responded, “Nothing.” It was his way of saying to me that unless we make a change from where we are now to where we want to be, nothing really gets done. He didn’t exactly use the words, but I understood what he meant. It was a leap of faith.

Jesus loved it when persons with whom he came in contact took a spiritual leap of faith. In one situation, a centurion came to Jesus and asked him to heal his servant who was paralyzed and suffering. Jesus asked to be taken to the servant, but the centurion said that he was not worthy to have Jesus under his roof. He then expressed great confidence that if Jesus would just will it to be so, the servant would be healed. “When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, ‘Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith’” (Matthew 8:10). As a man with power, the centurion understood that authority transcends distance. On another occasion, He found himself in the midst of a large crowd. “Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned to the crowd and asked, ‘Who touched my robe?’” (Mark 5:30). A woman who had suffered with bleeding for twelve years was certain that if she could simply touch His clothes, she would be healed. As she came forward, falling at His feet and trembling with fear, “He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering’ “(Mark 5:34). As we pass down the Road of Life, like the centurion and the sick woman – we will undoubtedly face many obstacles along our Journey. Unlike the cartoon characters of our youth, we cannot simply confront each new challenge by jumping off the edge of a cliff. We must pray for discernment. If it’s a risk God has blessed, then we will find the courage and the strength to embrace the Journey. It will be more than a leap year to remember.  It will be a leap of faith worth taking, and it will enable us to fulfill one of God’s purposes for our Life,

REFLECTION: When God calls you to step out and take a risk, how do you respond?  In what ways might you pray for direction when God seems to be leading you to demonstrate an act of faith? How can you use what God has already done in your life to give you the strength and courage to follow His lead?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT.,MARCH 5, 2016.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

A LOOSE CANNON

“A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.” (Proverbs 25:28)

In any election year, it’s interesting to listen to the political candidates debate the issues. If you observe them with any frequency, there will most likely be one or more who will come across as being a ‘loose cannon’. Theodore Roosevelt was once credited with having made the statement, “I don’t want to be the old cannon loose on the deck in the storm.” The phrase itself originated years before as a nautical term referring to cannons that were once carried on ships. As one might expect, cannons were very heavy and were secured to the deck of their vessel. During a battle or a storm, these guns would sometimes break loose. Whenever this happened, there was a great chance they would crush anything in their path, including individuals or the ship structure itself. Similarly, a person who becomes labeled as a loose cannon is one who is seen engaging in reckless behavior (saying or doing anything) that may ultimately endanger the reputation or welfare of others, at times in a most undignified manner.

In a position I once held, my responsibilities contained various personnel functions which included the hiring and firing of individuals. There were times when I was faced with the task of having to dismiss a colleague, sometimes one whom I may have once hired. I always proceeded with the foremost principle that regardless of the circumstances, the person should be allowed to leave with their dignity. I suppose I did this knowing that is how I would want to be treated. I also understood that the way I would respond to these individuals was deeply engrained in my faith.  I knew of supervisors who would literally try to destroy people they were terminating. I thought it was better to make a person believe that just because it did not work out one place did not mean that they could not go on and live a successful life. I would like to think I might have taken wise counsel from Timothy who said: “A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people” (2 Timothy 2:24).

In Jesus’ day, it would not be uncommon to stone one who committed adultery. The Pharisees brought a woman to Him who had done so, stating that her act was in direct violation of the Law of Moses. Aware that they were trying to trick Him, Jesus simply wrote on the ground using his finger. “And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, ‘Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” Eventually, when they had all gone away, He asked her who now stood in condemnation of her. ” ‘No one, sir,’ ” she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you, Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin’ ” (John 8:3-11). Had Jesus been a ‘loose cannon’ – He would not have been nearly as effective. Instead – He paused and prodded the consciences of the accusers. When they left, it gave Him private time to show forgiveness toward the one who had, in fact, sinned.

It’s been said that ‘people should always be an ends and never a means’. Everyone has intrinsic value, and to use or tear down someone in order to build yourself up would certainly not be in accord with the teachings of Jesus. We shouldn’t treat people as an object or resource in order that our own goals might be accomplished. Instead the Apostle Paul said: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). Sometimes, it is far better to say nothing if it may ultimately hurt or destroy another person. We all have cause to do so on occasion. The political pundits will tell you that it’s an effective way to gain an advantage in the polls. However, when we talk more than we listen and accuse more than we praise – then we become much less than God would have us be. We end up becoming one of theirs rather than one of His . . . just another loose cannon.

REFLECTION: Looking back on your life, are there times that you have been reckless with the lives of others while acting like a loose cannon?  How has your faith journey taken you to a different place?  Are there situations or persons that you need to avoid to prevent falling back into this pattern?  In what ways might you help others learn from today’s scriptures?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., FEBRUARY 27, 2016.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

HEARTBROKEN

“So you got your heart broke in two, and you hurt so bad you don’t know what to do;
And you think that you’re the only one who’s ever felt this way. But there was sure another One another day.” (from the song A Broken Heart by Dallas Holm)

You discover that heart-shaped box of Valentine’s Day candy you saw in his car wasn’t intended for you. If you are a teenage girl who thought the guy really liked you, you probably feel like your world is coming to an end.  If you are his fiancé, it could be the beginning of a slippery slope leading to mistrust and the questioning of whether this relationship is really going anywhere. Either way, your heart is broken. Heartbreak comes in many forms.  It can surface in the death of a family member. It may present itself in the mishap of a child. Or it might occur when you realize that a person you once considered to be a close friend has turned their back on you. The only thing you can know for certain is that you are not the first person who has gone down this path and, for sure, you won’t be the last.

The medical field has grown to recognize a condition known as “broken heart syndrome”. It can result from emotional stress so severe that it actually causes physical damage to the heart. Consider an older couple who had a loving marriage for over half a century and centered their lives around each other. When one of them passes, the grief can be so intense that the other one suddenly dies as well. Their heart is broken.  In his book “The Broken Heart”  – Dr. James Lynch states: “We have learned that human beings have varied and at times profound effects on the cardiac systems of other human beings.  Loneliness and grief often overwhelm bereaved individuals and the toll taken on the heart can be clearly seen.  As the mortality statistics indicate, this is not myth or romantic fairy tale.  All available evidence suggests that people do indeed die of broken hearts.”

Heartbreak can move from a temporary emotion of anguish and distress to a sustaining condition of hopelessness and despair. It can be crippling if you allow it to be and may affect the way you view the world. It can separate you from God, or it can bring you nearer. Scripture tells us that “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).   Since we don’t quickly recover from a heartbreak situation, it is important that we place our hope in the One who will help us to return to some form of normalcy one day at a time. In the interim, His “grace is sufficient” (2 Corinthians 12:9). If we make God our constant when everything around us seems to have changed, then little by little we will find healing.  It might be in the form of new relationships, old hobbies that have found meaning again, or other persons who have a need and give you renewed purpose. We should take heed from the words of Helen Keller: “When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us.”

No one understands our heartbreak better than God, because He experienced decisive heartbreak. He allowed His Son to suffer for the world in order that we might be saved from our own sinful nature. Shortly before Jesus died, “He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and He became anguished and distressed. He told them, ‘My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me’ “(Matthew 26:37-38). We must first notice His suffering before we can truly understand His heartbreak and ultimately His great love. Then we come to understand what is meant by “We love God because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). So, yes, there will be times in each of our lives when we feel like our heart is broken beyond repair. We should not minimize the real feelings we have when this occurs. Nothing about this place is ordinary. It is actually sacred ground…it’s the place of the heartbroken, and He can help us through it because He has been there.

REFLECTION: What heartbreak from your past will assist you in sharing God’s love and showing it to others? On Valentine’s Day and during the Lenten Season, are there ways that you might be sensitive to those who have recently experienced heartbreak?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., FEBRUARY 20, 2016.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

AN EVERLASTING SHIELD

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13)

In recent years, all of us have had to become increasingly more aware of the term protective shield. You can get it in the form of a screen shield for your tablet device to resist breakage. Toothpaste makers are marketing enamel-strengthening toothpastes, making your teeth more resistant to attacks from acid erosion found in food and beverages. There are products that can be purchased when you install carpet that will safeguard your new floor covering from dirt and help it to resist stains. And you can also buy protective sleeves for your credit cards and passports in order to guard from identity theft.  Likewise we have also heard about terrorists who have been surrounded by innocent civilians or their own family members acting as human shields in order to shelter themselves from attack.  Indeed protective shields come in varying forms, some of them helpful to our lifestyle and others which bear negative consequences.

I remember once hearing a story told by a friend of mine about a time she was intimidated by a reason to advocate to local school officials regarding a special need for her child.  Another mother whose child had a similar concern came to her aid and offered to attend the meeting with her. When my friend told this mother how apprehensive she was about this appearance, the mother asked her if she had a nice suit jacket or blazer. She indicated that she did and was told by her comrade to wear it during their conference with school administrators. When she asked why she should do so, the lady told her that she should allow the garment to serve as her suit of armor and that God would protect her during her presentation. She wore the blazer and said that when she began to lose confidence, she would think about her blazer and it gave her the strength to carry on. She felt that she needed to fight for what her child needed, much the same as a soldier goes to war for an ideology.

As Christians, we are also called to put on our armor. When we make a decision to be a believer in Jesus, we are more than simply His child and servant. We are also called upon to become like a soldier taking a stand against the evil that has infiltrated the world and eventually finds its way to us. The Apostle Paul told the Church at Ephesus:””Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:10-17). Now that’s real protection!

Peter counseled us to “be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9). We live in a world where we have become so accustomed to sin that it frequently doesn’t bother us. We find it far too easy to rationalize our desires based upon what the world values, and our beliefs are sometimes challenged with false doctrine and inaccurate information. James said, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). The full armor of God is not something to be put on and taken off occasionally but is wisely put on permanently. When we equip ourselves in full armor we have alerted Satan that we’re armed, because we know who we are in Christ. Unlike the safeguard products we buy, we don’t owe a penny for the extra protection. For Christ already paid the price at Calvary, and what we are left with as Believers is an everlasting shield.

REFLECTION: In what ways has God guided and protected you in order to live every day with an unwavering expectation? How could you use the symbol of God’s armor to give hope to others?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., FEBRUARY 13, 2016.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.