“Our help is from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124:8)

On April 27, 1791 – Samuel Finley Breese Morse was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, the eldest of three sons of clergyman, Dr. Jedediah Morse. The Morse boys were educated at a Christian boarding school and later at Yale College. As part of his studies at Yale, Samuel saw demonstrations of electricity, which had not yet been put to any useful purpose. His real interest was drawing, but his father believed that being an artist was not a suitable occupation for a gentleman. When his talent began to be recognized, the father finally agreed to send him to England to study art where he gained public acclaim. During his lifetime, Morse observed first-hand the problems that delays in communication could cause.  While on a ship traveling back to the United States from Europe in 1832, he conceived the idea of a single-circuit, electromagnetic telegraph. His ideas included the use of a code containing a series of dots and dashes representing letters of the alphabet, later known as Morse Code. In 1837, he applied for a patent for the telegraph. After many setbacks and disappointments, his projects eventually received funding. He demonstrated the telegraph for the first time on May 24, 1844 by transmitting a Bible verse, “What hath God wrought?” (Numbers 23:23), translated in modern versions as “See what God has done!”

On May 23rd, 1939, the submarine USS Squalus sank during a test dive off of the coast of Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 243 feet of water. A valve failure caused flooding of the torpedo room, both engine rooms, and the crew’s quarters – drowning 26 men. Quick action by the remaining 33 crewmen prevented the other compartments from filling.  It had only been a decade earlier when sailors in a similar situation tapped on the hull of their vessel a Morse Code message to their would-be rescuers asking, “Is there any hope?” They eventually died from a depleted supply of oxygen.  This time, for the USS Squalus – there was hope, in what became the greatest submarine rescue in U.S. history.  Navy and Coast Guard vessels rushed to the scene and picked up some of the Morse code messages hammered on the side of the Squalus. They knew 33 men were alive in the forward compartments. Having prepared for such an occasion, a rescue ship arrived carrying and attaching a never-before-tried device to the hatch enabling the remaining sailors to be rescued after a 39-hour ordeal.  The invention of Morse Code nearly a century before and the transmission of SOS alerts became an internationally-recognized distress signal. In popular usage, SOS became associated with such phrases as “Save our Ship” and “Save our Souls“.

Hope for rescue is a reality for all of us at one time of other. Indeed, it’s a customary life reaction when we are in distress. Stories of hope and searching for help from God affirm our faith. In the Old Testament, we read about a widow whose husband, a man who respected the Lord, had died and left her in debt. If her debt was not paid, the creditor would come back and take her two sons as slaves. In her distress, she looked to God for help by turning to His servant Elisha. When Elisha asked her what she had in her house, she said that she only had a little olive oil. He told her to ask her neighbors for as many empty jars as she could gather, and then to go to her home and close the door.  He further instructed her that she and her sons should fill each of the jars with oil, setting each one aside. When there were no more jars remaining, the oil stopped flowing. “When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, ‘Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over’” (2 Kings 4:1-7). This needy widow had hope that God could do something about her situation. And He did!

Four years before his death, Samuel Morse wrote: “The nearer I approach to the end of my pilgrimage, the clearer is the evidence of the divine origin of the Bible, the grandeur and sublimity of God’s remedy for fallen man are more appreciated, and the future is illumined with hope and joy.” Unfortunately, hope is what people often seek when it appears no one else will answer their cause. Some people live their lives trapped in an hull of emptiness and despair, wondering if there is any hope for escape. It is when we fully turn over our lives to God and trust that our help will come through Him alone that we will rejoice in the blessings that follow. We will then say to all who will listen – “See what God has done.”

REFLECTION: How can we become more reliant for God’s help in our daily walk rather than turning to Him as a last resort?  Are there ways that we can affirm the words of the Apostle Paul to others as He speaks of God’s Son – “This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls” (Hebrews 6:19).

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT. MAY 5, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

“You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?” (Galatians 5:7)

On the third Monday in April, the state of Massachusetts commemorates Patriots’ Day – the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first ones of the American Revolutionary War. On that day, mounted re-enactors retrace the midnight rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes. The festivities also include the Boston Marathon, an annual race which began in 1897. It is the world’s oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the best-known road racing events. The event attracts half a million spectators each year with over 30,000 registered participants from many nations. On April 21, 1980, the 84^th Boston Marathon, 26-year-old Cuban-born Rosie Ruiz finished first in the women’s division with a time of 2:31:56. It represented the third-fastest marathon time in history for a woman and was a 25-minute improvement over her New York City Marathon time the former year. Ruiz was unknown in the running world, and her victory raised suspicion with some. When interviews were conducted, it was discovered that neither the monitors at the various checkpoints nor any of the marathon runners remembered seeing her during the race. After studying photographs, it was noted that Ruiz didn’t appear in any of them until the very end. Eight days later – Ruiz was stripped of her victory after race officials learned she entered the race about a mile before the finish line. Apparently miscalculating, she had not realized she had jumped in ahead of the other 448 female competitors. Her New York time from the prior year was also later invalidated, when officials discovered she had taken the subway during part of that race.

The Greek philosopher Plato once wrote, “Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many; the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden.”  A further lesson we can take from the incident at the Boston Marathon is that we cannot always be certain that the world’s way of ranking things represents truth. Jesus was once asked by a young rich man what he had to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responded by saying, “Why do you ask me about what is good? “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17). The man replied that he felt he had been doing all those things and wondered what he still lacked. “Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth” (Matthew 19:21-22). Jesus teaches us that there will be many surprises in heaven. Heaven’s value system is far different than that of the world we know. Those who are esteemed and respected in this world (like the rich young ruler or others who are not always what they appear to be) may be frowned upon by God. The opposite is also true, for those who are despised and rejected in this world (like the disciples) may be rewarded by God. In fact, Jesus concludes this passage by saying: “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first” (Matthew 19:30).

So what is the take-away here? It is simply this. The world’s way of making judgments is often far too prone to error. In the 21st century, the impact of ‘fake news’ has become widespread with instant access to social media. In recent years, the usage of the term has also increased in the midst of heavily fought political campaigns. And while it wasn’t always a favorite subject of politicians and news media – misinformation, spin, lies and deceit have been around forever. It is up to each of us to speak for God. In opening the holiest week of the Christian calendar in 2018, Pope Francis delivered a Palm Sunday homily suggesting Jesus was the original target of ‘false public spin,’ as he urged young people not to keep quiet about their faith. That’s good advice for all believers, regardless of our age. In the words of Jesus: “The time promised by God has come at last! The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” (Mark 1:15).  If we want to be people of fact, then we must steep ourselves in the ultimate truth of Christ and share it with others. Unfortunately, good news of any kind is not always what our society values or wants to hear. And that’s too bad, because there will undoubtedly be times ahead when the Good News of Jesus may represent the only real news of the day that is not fake.

REFLECTION: How do you weigh the news you see and hear in published, broadcast, and social media against what you know to be true?  How can you do this without becoming judgmental? How might you apply the words of Peter: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT. APRIL 28, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.” (Psalm 46:1-2)

April 14 was a tragic day in history.  Five days after General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox in 1865 – the 16^th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was shot at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. by Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth. Many years later, Ward Hill Lamon—Lincoln’s former law partner, friend and sometimes bodyguard—related a story about the President’s premonition of his own death. According to the tale, just a few days before his assassination Lincoln shared a current dream. In it, he walked into the East Room of the White House to find a covered corpse guarded by soldiers and surrounded by a crowd of mourners. When Lincoln asked one of the soldiers who had died, the soldier replied, “The president. He was killed by an assassin.” Lincoln told Lamon that the dream had “strangely annoyed” him. However, on the afternoon before his death – he accompanied his wife Mary on her daily carriage ride.  It was a pleasant spring day and the Lincolns discussed their plans for life after his presidency. He was said to have been quite blissful on this final day of his life. Following the shooting, the President would live throughout the night but die at 7:22 am on April 15, 1865.

Forty-seven years later in 1912 just before midnight in the North Atlantic on April 14, the RMS Titanic failed to divert its course from an iceberg, ruptured its hull, and began to sink. One of the largest and most luxurious ocean liners ever built, the Titanic was considered unsinkable. On its maiden voyage, the ship carried some 2,200 passengers and crew. Because of a shortage of lifeboats and the lack of satisfactory emergency procedures, more than 1,500 people went down in the ship or froze to death in the icy North Atlantic waters. A number of notable American and British citizens died in the tragedy, including the ship’s architect and captain.  Some survivors later reported that the ship’s string ensemble played the hymn “Nearer My God to Thee” as the vessel sank. At 2:20 a.m. on April 15, 1912 – she slipped beneath the waters of ocean, leaving only 710 survivors. The wreckage itself was never discovered until 1985, and her memory was kept alive by numerous works of popular culture.

These two events give credence to the statement that we should live and have our best possible today. Jesus said, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). The song “A Lot of Livin’ to Do” tells only part of the story. While full of hope about the future, it might be more realistically titled, “A Lot of Livin’ to Do . . . Maybe!” These days, we often act as if we are going to live forever but, on the other hand, we expect to be protected from everything. A good example is the offer of travel insurance. Normally included is coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, baggage loss or damage, medical expenses, emergency evacuation, as well as accidental death and dismemberment. Some plans protect travelers from their driveway to their destination and then back home, including exposure to terrorist activities. One wonders if Titanic survivor Eva Hart’s parents would have made such an insurance purchase, had it been available in 1912. Hart once stated: “My mother had a premonition from the very word ‘GO.’ She knew there was something to be afraid of and the only thing that she felt strongly about was that to say a ship was unsinkable was flying in the face of God. Those were her words.”

For the Christian – the only insurance policy we have as we journey through life is the ‘assurance’ that our forever has been signed with the blood of Jesus. This is the wonderful gift of Easter. Lincoln seemed to agree when he said: “Surely God would not have created such a being as man, with an ability to grasp the infinite, to exist only for a day! No, no. Man was made for immortality.” Whatever you are facing this day, my friend, you can be certain that if you look toward the heavens . . . “You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed. My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course” (Proverbs 23:18-19). For if our hope is based only on holding tight to the things of this earth, then we will never know the things of God . . . and that would indeed be quite a tragic ending.

REFLECTION: When you think of hope for your future, what considerations to you have? How can you help yourself and others free themselves about obsessing over earthly matters?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT. APRIL 21, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

“Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.” (Romans 10:3)

On April 6, 1909, American explorer Robert Peary, assistant Matthew Henson, and four Eskimos reached what they determined to be the North Pole. Peary, a U.S. Navy civil engineer, made his first trip to the interior of Greenland in 1886. In 1891, Henson, a young African-American sailor, joined him on his second arctic expedition. In 1893, the explorers began working toward the North Pole, and in 1906, during their second attempt, they came within 150 miles of their objective. In 1909 they crossed hundreds of miles of ice to reach what they calculated as latitude 90 degrees north, believing they had reached the long elusive dream. Although their achievement was widely praised – Dr. Frederick A. Cook (a former associate of Peary) challenged their distinction of being the first to reach the North Pole, claiming he had arrived there by dogsled the previous year. A major controversy followed, and in 1911 the U.S. Congress formally recognized Peary’s entitlement. Decades after Peary’s death, however, navigational errors in his travel log surfaced, placing the expedition in all probability 30 miles short of its goal. In 1997, Robert M. Bryce released a book entitled, The Polar Controversy, Resolved, in which he used newly uncovered documentation from diary entries, ship logs, and newspaper transcripts. He believed that these were further evidence to settle the epic debate about the claim by Frederick A. Cook that in he was the first to reach the North Pole in 1908, a year ahead of rival explorer Robert E. Peary.

Peary’s destiny is not all that different from our own at times when we diligently try but somehow miss the mark in life. And like his, there is frequently someone in the wings who is quick to point out our blunder. For those who walk with Christ, we realize that it is impossible to be perfectly on target and, in the case of our spiritual journey, without sin. We are fortunate, however, to worship a God who is filled with grace which He extends to each of us. He is indeed the ‘God of second chances’ (and more). Some criticize this phrase, saying that it deceives folks into believing that they just need to try harder, trusting in their own works as being necessary to achieve righteousness, and thereby missing the point of His grace entirely. In reality, we find that scripture is full of second chances. After he had disobeyed God once, “Then the LORD spoke to Jonah a second time: ‘Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh and deliver the message I have given you’ ” (Jonah 3:1-2). As Jesus healed the invalid by the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-15) as well as when He refused to condemn a woman who was caught up in adultery (John 8:3-11), He told them both to “go and sin no more.” In saying this, Jesus was not speaking of sinless perfection. He was warning against returning to sinful lifestyle choices. His words both extended mercy and demanded holiness. Jesus was always the perfect balance of “grace and truth” (John 1:14).

With God’s forgiveness comes the expectation that we will not continue along the same path of rebelliousness. If you ever had the opportunity to experience parental discipline either through a child’s eyes or as a parent yourself, you know that it is not uncommon to repeat the phrase, “How many times do I have to tell you?” That same is true in our relationship with God. In the acceptance of His grace, we are expected to make a heartfelt change, try harder, and hopefully do better. The Apostle Paul stated it this way: “Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness” (Hebrews 12:9-10). We quickly learn in life that we can offer second chances to others until a healthy relationship is no longer realistic. So it is with God. He does everything possible to draw us into becoming more like Him, offering forgiveness and second chances. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).  At some point, however, if sin becomes our god, we find that we have not only missed the mark but instead may lose our way for all of eternity.

REFLECTION: When you examine your own life, in what ways do you fall short of becoming more like Jesus?  How can you avoid falling into the trap of thinking that because you have received God’s grace that you can do as you please? In what ways might you help others see both His grace and His truth?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT. APRIL 14, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

“It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:7)

Born on March 31, 1685 in the small German town of Eisenach, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest musical composers of all time. Johann Sebastian Bach was orphaned when he was ten, so he went to live and study with his older brother. By his mid-teens, he was ready to establish himself in the musical world, showing immense talent in a variety of areas and getting his first job as a church organist at age 17. His Lutheran family was pleased to see him carry on the family tradition in music. Besides being one of the most productive geniuses in the history of Western music, Bach was also a theologian who just happened to work with a keyboard. Through personal losses within the family and professional frustrations, Bach maintained a loyalty to perfection that never quit. During one of the unhappiest periods of his life, he wrote a cantata each week of which several hundred survive. Worship for Bach was not an end in itself but rather a collective response made by God’s people to His redeeming grace in Jesus Christ. Nearly three-fourths of his 1,000 compositions were written for use in worship. Today his music is played and studied around the world, as well as used in nearly every Christian denomination.

Most of us know that Bach is one of the most brilliant composers ever. However most of his works received little notice until the mid-nineteenth century. Bach had profound talent and eventually became a respected icon in the music world.  His enduring legacy is that in his life and work – he gave the glory to God. The story has been told that on one occasion, he was scheduled to debut a new arrangement. He arrived at the church expecting it to be full, but instead – no one showed on that wintry night. Bach told his musicians that they would still perform as planned. Taking their places, Bach raised his baton, and soon the empty church was filled with magnificent music. Bach often wrote I.N.J. for the Latin phrase In Nomine Jesu on his manuscripts. It is translated in English as “In the name of Jesus”. He also initialed S.D.G. for the Latin phrase Soli Deo Gloria on at least one of his works. It is a translation from Romans 16:27: “All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen.”

When Johann played music, he felt his soul praising God. In fact, he once said, “I play the notes as they are written but it is God who makes the music.” He undoubtedly understood Jesus’ words: “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come” (Mark 4:26-29). God invites us to know, serve, and praise the Grower, as He reaps the benefits of the spiritual maturity He creates within us. There are times, however, when God will cultivate us for His purpose, using the gifts He provides to further His kingdom long after we are gone.

One of God’s most faithful servants, King David, wanted to build a temple to honor God (1 Chronicles 17:1). But God spoke through a prophet and said, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD has declared: You are not the one to build a house for me to live in” (1 Chronicles 17:4). David’s desire to build a house for the Lord was noble, but God had other plans for David’s son to build the temple (1 Chronicles 17:11-12). David accepted God’s promise that it would be so. He contributed to the cause by gathering materials and making preparation for its’ construction before he died (1 Chronicles 22:5). We may find ourselves like King David, not always being able to see the fruits of our labor in this lifetime. As we work to further God’s kingdom, it is important that we do not allow ourselves to become discouraged. We are merely seed-planters. We should do what we can with the abilities God gives us, accepting that the fruits of our labor will be harvested only when He is ready. In the meantime, we serve . . . deferring appreciation for any triumph to the glory of God alone.

REFLECTION: What abilities and talents has God given you, and how are you developing those? Do you invest your abilities in order to secure public gratification? How can you follow Bach’s example and do all you can, simply for the glory of God?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT. APRIL 7, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

“So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” (Matthew 27:64)

Erik Weisz was born in Budapest on April 24, 1874 to a Jewish family. Weisz arrived in the United States just over four years later with his parents and brothers. The family changed their name to the German spelling Weiss, and Erik became Ehrich. They settled in Appleton, Wisconsin where his father served as a Rabbi and later moved to New York City in 1887. As a child, Weiss took several jobs, making his public début as a 9-year-old trapeze artist, “Ehrich, the Prince of the Air.” .” Later he became a professional magician, soon to be known as Harry Houdini. Initially he had little success, so he began trying out escape acts and was performing with great achievement by the early 1900’s. He would free himself from handcuffs, chains, canvas bags, coffins and straitjackets, sometimes hanging from a rope or suspended in water. The greatest and most sensational of all Houdini’s escapes was without doubt his ‘Chinese Water Torture Cell.’ In this trick, Houdini was to escape from an extraordinary contraption resembling a fish tank, filled with water, while he was placed head down in full view of the audience.

Houdini reappeared from many a desperate situation and anticipated he could also do so from the grave. But then on October 31, 1926, death laid its hands on Harry Houdini never to escape. Before dying, Houdini told his wife Beth that If there was any way out, he would find her and make contact on the anniversary of his death. He said he would communicate the message “Rosabelle believe,” a secret code which they agreed to use as it referenced their favorite song. For ten years on his birthday, she kept a vigil before a candle-lit portrait of Houdini believing and waiting for a signal from him. On the Halloween of 1936, Bess and a group of Houdini’s friends gathered in Hollywood for what would later become known as the ‘Final Houdini Séance.’ After trying to reach the late-magician’s spirit for over an hour, Bess finally acknowledged to a worldwide radio audience, stating these words: “Houdini did not come through. My last hope is gone. I do not believe that Houdini can come back to me, or to anyone…The Houdini shrine has burned for ten years. I now, reverently… turn out the light. It is finished. Good night, Harry!”

The expression of loss of hope that Houdini’s wife so profoundly expressed is often the sentiment articulated by far too many of us. As the followers of Jesus celebrated His arrival in Jerusalem on what we now refer to as Palm Sunday, their hope for a Messiah was soon shattered when He died on a cross by week’s end. While drawing his last breath, Jesus declared “It is finished” (John 19:30). However, the difference between Houdini’s wife giving up all hope and uttering those same words was that for her, it was indeed an end. For Jesus, it was only the beginning of hope for mankind. When He said, “It is finished,” He did not say, “I am finished.” As Jesus died, His spirit was released, removing the debt owed by each of us—the debt of sin. Three days later, His empty tomb was more than mere deception. Had Jesus Christ not died and risen again, we would have been lost and doomed to everlasting separation from God. But because of His suffering, each of us has been extended hope and the offer of eternal life.

What do we do when things fall apart and we’ve lost all meaning for whatever comes next? This is exactly where the disciples found themselves when Jesus was crucified. They did not understand the hope of His pending resurrection, even though Jesus had told them (Matthew 17:23). The lesson for all of His followers is that God can bring wonderful things out of the darkest moments of our lives. He surrendered His Son to death so we could have life, and He will not abandon us. While many of us enjoy a good magic trick from time to time, we appreciate that distraction is the key to a trick’s success. Houdini once said – “What the eyes see and the ears hear, the mind believes.” The Apostle Paul stated it differently: “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory’” (1 Corinthians 15:54). The Risen Christ will always seek to draw us away from the illusion that there is no hope. You can count on it!

REFLECTION: Can you think of a time when God brought you peace and newness when you thought it was too late?  How does Easter and the rebirth of the earth through Spring offer new hope in Christ Jesus?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT. MARCH 31, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

“We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall.” (Proverbs 16:33)

Images of tiny green men, rainbows with pots of gold, and lucky shamrocks are all symbolic of St. Patrick’s Day celebrated internationally each March 17. Although he was not Irish, he was one of the most successful missionaries in history. Saint Patrick was born into a Christian family in the late 4th century at a time when the Roman Empire, of which Britain was a part, was on the verge of collapse and vulnerable to attack. When Patrick was sixteen years old, a group of Irish raiders invaded his village and took him captive. They transported Patrick to Ireland where he spent six years in slavery. In those Irish hills where he worked as a shepherd, he was exposed to a harsh climate and nearly starved to death. Often completely alone, he turned to God for comfort and companionship. He discovered a way to escape finding passage on a ship to Britain, and he was eventually reunited with his family.

Believing he had been called by God to Christianize Ireland, Patrick joined the Catholic Church and studied for 15 years before being consecrated as the church’s second missionary to Ireland in 432. While spreading and preaching the Gospel, he faced frequent opposition and was in constant danger of being killed for his bold faith. By the time of his death, believed to be on March 17 in 461 A.D., the island was almost entirely Christian. Patrick used his sturdy resolve and ambition to advance God’s kingdom in a mighty way, making him one of the great saints of the church. Early Irish settlers to the American colonies, many of whom were indentured servants, brought the Irish tradition of St. Patrick’s feast day to America. For thousands of years, the Irish have observed the holiday of Saint Patrick’s death by attending church services in the morning and celebrating with food and drink later in the day. Today, Americans of Irish descent rejoice on St. Patrick’s Day by participating in parades and engaging in raucous partying. As millions around the globe put on their best green clothing and toast the luck of the Irish – it’s a day when many claim that along their ancestral line, there is just a ‘bit of Irish in their blood.

St. Patrick lived his years as a great example for us today.  Whether or not one believes his life held the “luck of the Irish” doesn’t much matter. For it’s easy to see that God’s Presence and Sovereignty were powerful throughout his years. The life experiences of St. Patrick are reminiscent of a different story that happened many centuries before. In the Book of Genesis (vs 37:1-50:26) – Joseph, a son of Jacob, was sold into bondage as a young man at the very hands of his jealous brothers.  As a slave in Egypt, he lived many years under the rule of another and suffered in prison.  He was unjustly accused of wrongs he did not do.  He was forgotten by those whom he had tried to help. Yet even in his loneliness, weariness, and confusion – God comforted him. Just as He provided a way of escape for St. Patrick, God paved a path of freedom for Joseph.  Slavery and imprisonment could not keep them contained, because the Lord had a greater purpose in mind. While some might describe their fate as luck, it is clear that both recognized who had been in control of their lives. In speaking to his brothers years later, Joseph said – “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:20).

St. Patrick would want us to remember him not for the secular revelry which has become so much a part of the day that bears his name…but more, as a reason to follow Christ. He stated this prayer: “Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me…” Years before, the Apostle Paul wrote – “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:11). The word ‘luck’ does not appear in The Bible or much adapt to the Christian faith. While the phrase “Good Luck” is often spoken by those who certainly have kind intentions, it’s important to understand that luck is a way of trying to explain things without including God in the discussion. Let’s honor Him with the sentiment of the Irish – “May God be with you and bless you, as He holds you in the palm of His hand.” Or just simply . . . “May God Bless.”

REFLECTION: When you look back on your life, what outcomes have you attributed to “dumb luck?” Are you able to rethink those events (good or bad) and attribute the navigation of your life to a Higher Power?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT. MARCH 24, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.” (1 Timothy 6:6-7)

Conceiving a life full of money, wealth, and power in the midst of the Great Depression – an unemployed electrical engineer by the name of Charles B. Darrow developed his version of a board game involving the buying and selling of land and the expansion of that land. Using playing pieces named after locations around his home in Atlantic City, New Jersey – Darrow introduced MONOPOLY® on March 7, 1933.  After showing a draft to Parker Brothers who rejected his design, Darrow decided to release the game on his own, but he was unable to keep up with production due to increasing demand for its popularity. He once again contacted representatives of Parker Brothers who turned Monopoly into a household name, as it soon became the best-selling game in America. It has been distributed to countries all over the world and has been translated into dozens of languages. Over the years, the most expensive version was made from 18-karat gold estimated to be worth roughly $2 million, and the world’s largest permanent outdoor Monopoly board is 30-foot square, made from granite, and located in San Jose, California. How fascinating that a game about living the high life as a financier would be introduced at a time when the country was trying to rebound from its worst economic depression and continue to have relevance today.

As we develop the skill-set of playing games as children, we sometimes learn valuable life lessons as well. Author and Pastor John Ortberg tells the story of playing Monopoly with his grandmother at an early age. He described the manner with which she maneuvered through the game as “totally ruthless.” As a little kid, his approach was always to hold on to his money. Inevitably his grandmother would buy everything she could, take his assets, and win the game. Without reservation she would always say – “One day you’ll learn to play the game.” After many hours of practice with a friend, he was determined to beat his grandmother at her own game.  When he finally did so, he thought it was a great moment. But grandma had a final word, one remaining lesson. She simply said, “None of it was really yours. You got all heated up about it for a while, but it was around a long time before you sat down at the board, and it will be here after you’re gone. Players come and players go. But it all goes back in the box.” Ortberg has written a book logically entitled – When the Game is Over. . . It All Goes Back in the Box.  It’s a profound lesson he learned from his grandmother and one he had also heard from Dr. James Dobson.

Our society often fosters the attitude that aggressive achievement is necessary to win in life and that you have to relentlessly get everything you can, while you can. Accumulate wealth, grow that résumé, build up power. Those who live out that philosophy can quickly succumb to feelings of great emptiness. Ortberg says: “You have to ask yourself: When you finally get the ultimate possession, when you’ve made the ultimate purchase, when you buy the ultimate home, when you have stored up financial security and climbed the ladder of success to the highest rung you can possibly climb it, and the thrill wears off–and it will wear off – then what?” Jesus said: “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (Matthew 6:19-21). The most valuable success for any Christian is to learn how to play the game in light of this one great truth: to consider what will matter a lot and what’s not so important in light of eternity.  Make sure that your heart is right with God, and all else will follow. “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you” (1 John 2:15). We can expend a lot of energy and time gathering things that merely go back in the box when the game of this earthly journey is over. We must realize that our ultimate goal is to become rich toward God and that accumulation of stuff is only an exercise in futility.

REFLECTION: Have there been times when you wished that your accomplishments could remain as a permanent memorial of your greatness? What might a life that is rich toward God look like? As you consider your life — where you have been, where you are today, where you’d like to be, and what you’d like to do tomorrow — what is it you are trying to win and how are you setting the strategy as you determine that successful conclusion?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT. MARCH 17, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

“If I were you, I would go to God and present my case to him. He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles.” (Job 5:8-9)

On March 3, 1887, two ladies met and changed each other’s lives forever. The older of the two, Johanna Mansfield Sullivan, was born to illiterate and impoverished immigrants who migrated to the United States from Ireland during the Great Famine. At a very young age, she contracted a bacterial eye disease which over time made her nearly blind. Through a course of events, she was enrolled in the Perkins Institution for the Blind where she learned the manual alphabet in order to communicate with a classmate who was deaf and blind. Eventually several operations improved her weakened eyesight. She graduated at age 20 as the valedictorian of her class and became known simply as Anne Sullivan. Then she was introduced to a seven-year-old blind and deaf girl by the name of Helen Keller. Challenged to socialize her wild, stubborn student – she began to teach her using the manual alphabet she had learned at Perkins. One day a breakthrough occurred and Sullivan stated, “My heart is singing for joy this morning. A miracle has happened. The light of understanding has shown upon my little pupil’s mind, and behold, all things are changed!” It was the beginning of a 49-year relationship during which Sullivan evolved from teacher to governess and finally to companion and friend. Literary references and performance productions labeled her “the miracle worker” because of significant contributions to Helen Keller’s most accomplished life.

Believers in Christ know that there is only one true miracle worker; that is if we define miracle as a wonder or marvel that defies rational explanation surpassing all known human or natural powers. The Biblical accounts of Jesus miracles here on earth are evidenced in the healings of the ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19), a blind man named Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52), and a woman who had been afflicted for 12 years who reached out and touched His garment (Matthew 9:20-22). Everyone whom Jesus willed to be healed was healed. Sometimes He healed those who expressed their faith in Him, and He clearly stated it to be so. Other times in His great mercy, He healed those who had no faith and later drew them to Himself. We come to understand then that it is only by the power of Christ that miracles occur, not through the influence of our faith. Faith is only the instrument, not the power itself. St. Augustine concluded, “Miracles were necessary before the world believed, in order that it might believe.” Some say that miracles no longer exist since the message of Jesus and His apostles has already been confirmed in the Scriptures. The logical question which follows then . . . does God still perform miracles today?

To answer that, you just have to give attention to the March, 2015 story of Lynn Jennifer Groesbeck, 25, who lost control of her car and landed in the icy Spanish Fork River in Utah. Fourteen hours later, first-responders found her 18-month-old daughter, Lily, in her car seat hanging upside down just above frigid river water. Prior to finding Lily, both police officers and firefighters report that they heard an adult voice yell “Help me!” All were emphatic it came from the vehicle. It looked as though no one could have survived, but the voice prompted three officers and firemen to lift the car. They determined that the plea for help could not have come from the young mother, who likely died from the impact. Authorities had no explanation as to how the girl survived hanging upside-down for those many hours in freezing temperatures in meager clothing with no food or water. Coincidence . . . left to chance, some might say? Little Lily made a full recovery and her survival could only be clarified by three words – “It’s a miracle.”

As long as people have faith in God, miracles are certainly possible, since it’s faith that ushers miracles into the world. After all – “Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow” (Hebrews 13:8) and God is still on the throne. Likewise, we should not necessarily expect miracles to occur in the same way they did in Biblical accounts. There will be occasions in which He will use His Holy Spirit to work through us. The Apostle Paul stated so: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). And yet the greatest miracle of all continues to occur each time there is a spiritual transformation of a sinful heart through faith in Christ.

REFLECTION: Are you able to give an example of a modern-day miracle? Can you argue the fact that something which happens at exactly the right time is more of a divine alignment than a true miracle?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT. MARCH 10, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

“Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8)

February 21, 2018 was the date that William Franklin Graham Jr. entered his eternal home. Known simply as Billy Graham, the man who came to be referred to as ‘America’s Pastor’ was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. Graham has been credited with preaching to more individuals than anyone else in history, not counting the additional audience he addressed through radio, television and the written word, resulting in leading uncountable millions to Christ. Graham’s preaching ministry first gained national prominence in 1949 when he held a crusade in downtown Los Angeles under a large white tent, termed a “canvas cathedral.”  He was the most prominent evangelist of the twentieth century, providing spiritual counsel for twelve consecutive Presidents from Harry Truman to Barack Obama. He has been rated by the Gallup organization as “One of the Ten Most Admired Men in the World” a staggering 51 times, more than any other individual in history. Billy Graham will finish the same way he started – under a large white tent in front of thousands of people in funeral remembrances by family and friends.

On the day that he died, his death was lost to some due to the other prominent news stories of the day. While many famous individuals acknowledged his passing, the opportunity for criticism was not unrestrained. One national headline read “Divorce, drugs, drinking: Billy Graham’s children and their absent father.” Graham recognized the imperfections of himself and his loved ones, acknowledging in later life that he wished he would have been able to spend more time with his family. He was strongly led by his conviction to evangelism. As people came forward during his crusades to the customary singing of “Just as I Am” – he made it abundantly clear that they were not doing it for Billy Graham but that they were giving their life to Christ. He once said, “Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion – it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.” He was never surprised by the words of his critics. He just kept his eye on the ‘heavenly prize’ (Philippians 3:14).

Jesus said that those who followed Him would subject themselves to criticism, even persecution. In the Sermon on the Mount, He proclaimed: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:11-12). He told His disciples, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves . . . You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:16, 22). If we choose to allow Jesus to direct our life, then we will no doubt face some type of persecution during our time on this earth. Social exclusion and insult from other individuals, however, will not turn off the growing Christian. For when we come to understand God’s reasons for allowing persecution, we not only expect it but are also willing to suffer because we understand who holds us. Reverend Graham put it this way, “The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.”

Upon hearing about Billy Graham’s passing, former Governor Mike Huckabee stated: “While the critics came and went, Billy Graham never turned to the right or left, but kept his eye on the Cross,” Huckabee said. “His influence was bigger than any of the people who temporarily held an office or had a fortune. His power was never his, but that of Christ, and his fortune was massive, but not on earth, but stored in the incorruptible vaults of heaven. ” Reverend Graham once adapted and personalized a line from another well-respected evangelist from the nineteenth century, D.L. Moody. That thought – “Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.” If we follow his lead, we too will be blessed to share that same address when our time here has come to an end.

REFLECTION: Have there been times in your life when you have faced criticism because of your Christian beliefs?  How did you respond, and how might you respond differently in the future?  In light of the promise of eternity, what type of persecution are you willing to bear in this lifetime?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT. MARCH 3, 2018.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.