Monthly Archives: November 2017

PLENTY TO BE THANKFUL FOR

               “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”                        (1 Chronicles 16:34)

I once knew a lady who would respond the same way each time she was asked the question, “How are you?”  In the time I knew her, her answer never varied. It was always, “Plenty to be thankful for.” I am sure she had experienced hardship, suffering and pain in her lifetime. Yet, one would have never known from a conversation with her. It was obvious that she could always find something good about her current station in life. From time to time, I will offer support to an older lady who in the past few years has lost her husband and a significant amount of her vision. While she can function fairly well in her own home, she is dependent on others to drive her to appointments or shop for things that she needs. Each time I bring her home and get her resettled into her familiar environment, she says, “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Her triple-fold expression of gratitude always humbles me, knowing that her words of appreciation are not just frivolously spoken but are rather a sincere expression of thanksgiving.

As I recently looked over my prayer list, I became conscious of the fact that many of the persons on it have lost love ones this past year. In several cases, it was the father/husband of the family. In another, it was a mother who had been faithfully cared for by her daughter. And in others, it was an adult child who departed this earth far too soon. I thought about the empty chairs at Thanksgiving dinners. Even though in many cases, those chairs will become physically filled by another individual, holidays are exceptionally difficult times to face the absence of a loved one. The Apostle Paul once said, “I thank my God every time I remember you” (Philippians 1:3). When his letter was written it would be read by the living, but such words can certainly be applied in tribute to those who have passed on to their eternal home as well. While some share around the Thanksgiving table something for which they are thankful, it would be an even greater blessing simply to be grateful for those who occupy the chairs.

Unfortunately, like many other things in our lives we have come to take our blessings for granted. Charles Dickens once said – “Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” In a reading of the Old Testament, one will find that Job’s wife, in a moment of despair, encouraged him to give up his loyalty to God because of the many difficulties they had encountered. “But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad? So in all this, Job said nothing wrong” (Job 2:10). In other words, Job understood it wouldn’t be right to receive the blessings which God sends and not also accept the trials He allows. Likewise, Paul steps in to remind us that we should “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

In the hustle of completing to-do lists and meeting personal deadlines, it has become far too easy to block out the details of the day forgetting that each and every one holds precious gifts. From the air we breathe to the persons we hold dear, there is always something to be thankful for. I recently read a ‘thank you letter’ a lady had published in the local newspaper. She had become acutely ill and needed to be transported to the hospital where she received care for several days. Her letter echoed appreciation to everyone who shared in her service delivery including not only physicians and nurses but also the housekeepers, food service personnel, and even the ambulance staff. While it sometimes takes a crisis to elicit an attitude of gratitude, we can be moved to incorporate acts of appreciation into our regular routine. William Arthur Ward put it this way: “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”  Thanksgiving is a choice we can make daily. We simply need to recognize God’s wonderful blessings and ask Him to give us a grateful heart. For as one wise woman once reminded me – there is indeed “plenty to be thankful for.”

REFLECTION: Who are those folks for whom you are ever so grateful that you could easily tell them, “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:16). How can we take on some of the characteristics of Christ (such as goodness, love, kindness, and compassion) in order that we might become a more grateful person?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., DECEMBER 2, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

RELFLECTING WHO WE ARE

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.” (Ephesians 5:1)

The little girl stood on the seat of the booth looking over the divider that separated the eating area and an entrance hallway into the restaurant. Not more than a few years old, she began to smile and giggle. Then she waved, as the small child on the other side of the partition waved back. At the urging of her mother, she sat down and ate a few bites of food. As her curiosity got the best of her, she once more stood on the seat and peered over the panel. Again, she giggled and waved and, as before, the other child did the same. It was amazing how much they looked alike. Indeed, they could have been twins for one was, in fact, a mirror-image of the other. The mother decided to glance over the divider to see what was so intriguing. Then she realized that her daughter had been seeing herself reflected in a mirror on the opposite side of the entrance hallway. As this child grows in age, she will become more focused on others and will learn to reflect that interest in games such as “Follow the Leader.”

Throughout the history of Judaism, one of the most honored positions for a Jewish man was the privilege of becoming a “follower” of the local rabbi. The decision to ask to be a rabbi’s disciple and receive religious training from him was not made lightly. Followers sat at the rabbi’s feet as he taught. They would study his words, observed how he acted, and contemplate how he would react to life situations. A student would count it the highest honor to serve his rabbi even to the point of emulating the rabbi’s gestures and mirroring his persona in every aspect of his tradition. A rabbi in the First Century would only choose a very few, highly promising young men from whom he thought could fully measure up to his standard. The young Jewish lad readily agreed to totally surrender to the rabbi’s authority in all areas of interpreting the Scriptures for his life.  If a rabbi judged a potential disciple to have the capability to become just like him, then he would utter those cherished words of acceptance that they yearned to hear – “Follow me.”

When Jesus used those same words to call His disciples (Matthew 4:19), it was an invitation to be changed by Him sharing His passion for all who need a Savior. Jesus deliberately broke the protocol of the traditional rabbi by calling His own disciples. It would seem He had no choice but to do it that way, for no observant young Jewish man would ever have had the courage to ask Jesus if he could become His disciple. Following Jesus also meant that one doesn’t just duplicate His teachings but rather demonstrates through actions that even with an imperfect life, one can be faithful. One of his very own put it this way: “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it–not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it–they will be blessed in what they do” (James 1:23-25).

Everyone follows something or someone: friends, popular culture, sports, social media, family, selfish desires, or God. We can only effectively follow one thing at a time. To follow Christ means we apply the truths we learn from His Word and live as if Jesus walks in person beside us. When we decide to follow Jesus, we apprentice our lives with Him. We commit to listening to Him, to obeying Him, and to allowing Him to shape our whole being. No one can imitate Jesus flawlessly, but over time the disciple begins to reflect the master’s influence. “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely” (1 Corinthians 13:12). For like a child, we can look in a mirror and not truly understand who we are. Or we can mature as a faithful disciple and begin to see our image reflect His own.

REFLECTION: Are you personally following Jesus? Does your day revolve around Him? Do you start the day seeking Him, go through the day serving Him, and end the day by thanking Him? How might you apply this scripture to your life – “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart” (Proverbs 27:19)?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., NOVEMBER 25, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

IN HARM’S WAY

“Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:3)

It is at this time of the year when we remember those who fought for our country, allowed themselves to be put in harm’s way, and who we have come to observe on a special holiday known as Veteran’s Day. The phrase “in harm’s way” has been attributed to the American Revolutionary War hero John Paul Jones, forever known as “The Father of the American Navy”. In 1778, American Navy Captain Jones went to France, hoping to persuade the French government to give him a ship to use in the American colonies’ rebellion against the British. In a letter dated November 16, 1778, he said: “I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast, for I intend to go in harm’s way.” Unfortunately, the best that the American agents in France could find for Jones was a slow, refurbished, 14-year old vessel. Jones proceeded to sail into harm’s way with his tub of a ship and motley crew, and that led to his most famous battle.  With his ship sinking and burning, guns wrecked, and half his crew dead or wounded – John Paul Jones had a chance to surrender which any normal person would have taken. But Jones himself answered with the call that he had “not yet begun to fight.”

Those who serve in our armed forces understand that freedom comes at a cost. And since the birth of our nation, brave men and women have stepped forward, weighed that cost and chosen to lay down their lives in service to their fellow countrymen. When one of them dies, the words extended “on behalf of a grateful nation” seem inadequate at times. These days, it is not only those in uniform who occasionally  march into harm’s way. Indeed, that could be any of us who walks into a public building or shops at a local mall. No one would have suspected that attending worship at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas would have placed themselves at risk of being among those 26 persons who were mortally wounded on November 5, 2017. In those brief minutes after the attacker began to fire his weapon, a mother shielded her four children as best she could by throwing her body over theirs. Only two of the children survived as this mother who sacrificed her life realized they were all in harm’s way.  A concerned neighbor who heard the massacre unfolding grabbed his rifle and placed himself in danger by opening fire on the shooter and chased him down in a stranger’s truck. Reflecting on the event, he later stated – “I’m no hero. I think my Lord protected me and gave me the skills to do what needed to be done.”

Undoubtedly, you must like have heard someone say – “Things are going to get worse before they get better.” While some may see this as pessimism, others simply view it as a call of preparation. Lest there be any doubt, we live in uncertain times. In the apostle Paul’s last letter to his beloved son in the faith, Timothy, he gave this insight: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days” (2 Timothy 3:1).  In the verses which follow, He goes on to describe what these end times will look like. It is clear that dangerous, harmful, high-risk periods have already arrived. We are living in a generation that faces world threats like no other generation has ever known. The obvious follow up question for any believer then would be . . . “Now that I know the Lord, what am I to do in perilous times?’” Paul provides this answer: “But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you” (2 Timothy 3:14).

As we face each new day knowing that we will be in a spiritual battle for all that is good and right, it’s easy to reflect on the words of the great hymn – “Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war; With the cross of Jesus going on before.’ Taken from New Testament references to the Christian being a soldier for Christ, none of us know if and when we might be called to stand for our faith. We might march in the ranks of the armed services, engage in the protection of a loved one or neighbor in need, or come face to face with some other hateful act of this world. We can hold onto those words: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). We will sense the presence of His protection and know the assurance of His love as we move to confront whatever places us in harm’s way.

REFLECTION: As a child of God, how can you fully embrace that you are equipped to minister to someone who is suffering? Do you feel overcome with fear or filled with faith as you contemplate facing the special challenges of being in harm’s way? Are you heeding the warnings of the Holy Spirit to be spiritually alert?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., NOVEMBER 18, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

GROUNDED . . . A PLACE OF QUIET REST

“Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.” (Luke 8:13)

They worshiped together every Sunday. The service was a simple one with the old hymns of the church, familiar scripture readings, and short prayers of reassurance. To the casual acquaintance, the mother and daughter strongly resembled each other. The younger could recall what her mother looked like in earlier years, and she had to admit that the features of the elder at her age were quite similar.  When the mother looked at her daughter, she could not identify her. But there she was holding the hand of this unnamed other who surrounded her with affection. Perhaps there were hints of recollection of her former self. Or maybe, she was just comforted by the presence of the one who visited, knowing somewhere in the tangles of the Alzheimer’s Disease which she possessed that this lady was indeed very special to her. And although she could not begin to verbalize a name or understand the relationship, when the piano started to play – she effortlessly began to sing, “There is a place of quiet rest . . . ”

How is it that one can forget the name of her only daughter but at the very same time know the words of a hymn? While great progress has been made in finding a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, some of the mysteries such as ‘selective memory’ continue to baffle us. It is at times amazing to observe a person of deep faith progress through the various stages of the disease. Frequently those connections which were established at an early age, such as memorization of scriptures and reiteration of prayers, remain intact. Similar experiences are at times true for a person who is dying and seemingly in an unconscious state but who appears to respond to recorded gospel music or scripture reading. The prophet from long ago reminds us: “But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8). There is something to be said for those who are grounded in the faith being able draw upon the comfort it provides during the difficult times.

The concept of being grounded has somehow taken on too much of a negative tone. Children are grounded because they have broken certain rules or need to improve their grades. Flights are grounded due to bad weather, projected threats, or mechanical concerns. However, in each of these cases – the act of being grounded is for our own good. Yet when it comes to our faith, the idea of grounding through the discipline of daily devotions or Bible readings seems incomprehensible to us. The Apostle Paul said, “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:7). Even those who are ungrateful or who happen to stray from the faith for a time will have something to which they can return, if they have developed strong roots in their earlier years.

Increasingly, there are those who claim to be persons of faith but whose lives are easily uprooted when the troubled winds of life prevail.  The only way for a believer to become grounded in Christ is to grow in the word of God. It strengthens and maintains us. His word is transformative and powerful, because it is alive. Jesus explained that seed sown on rocky ground without much depth of soil would wither in the heat of the sun because it lacked root (Matthew 13:5-6). The word of God provides all of the nutrients and moisture for strengthening to the innermost core of our soul, joining our heart with His very own. And that, my friend, is exactly why the lady who was afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease so clearly articulated those words, “There is a place of quiet rest.”  For she also remembered that the words which followed were . . . “near to the heart of God.”

REFLECTION: What early recollections of scripture do you have that you may have memorized at Bible School or heard repeated time and again by an older person? Is there a part of your daily routine that helps to keep you grounded in the faith? What changes might you make this week for sowing seeds to grow deeper roots of faith for yourself and others?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., NOVEMBER 11, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.