Month: January 2023

There are two quotes that keep running though my mind about the power of what we feel in spite of how we feel. “Positions are temporary. Titles are limited. But the way you treat others will label you forever.” “People may forget what you said to them. They may even forget what you did for them, but they will never forget how you made them feel while they were with you.” We must never let our feelings or opinions overshadow reality. However, have you ever noticed that when a memory is connected to strong feelings you can’t forget it even if you try?

In order to instill those strong, positive feelings (and memories) in others, we must possess and express the feelings of caring and empathy for them. If you haven’t made the connection yet, caring and empathy are simply the forms of Christian love that we are commanded by Christ to share with our neighbors and even with our enemies. So many times in the Gospels, Jesus demonstrates the power of that kind of love for others – even those who crucified Him. It is a power that will continue in the hearts and lives of others long after we have departed this life. There is no greater legacy we can leave behind us than the proliferation of Christian love in the hearts and lives of those we have touched in our lifetime.

So, my Christian brother or sister, continue to spread empathy and caring (Christian love) wherever you go. You may never fully know the powerful impact it has in someone’s life, but God knows and He will be very pleased.

I was scheduled to have  the tube removed from my kidney yesterday and get back to normal. It required taking an ADA bus to the VA out patient clinic, then transferring to a VA shuttle bus to the VA Hospital. Special arrangements had been made for the hospital shuttle bus to drop me off at home after the procedure. I scheduled the ADA leg of the journey early enough to allow plenty of time to make my connection, got up early and was waiting at the door when the bus was scheduled to arrive. No bus! I called and they told me because of icy conditions buses were running 90 minutes behind. I missed my connection and my procedure. I can’t remember ever being so disappointed.

Disappointment is the difference between our expectations and reality. Things, situations and people may disappoint us, but Paul points out to the church in Rome the one thing that will never disappoint. “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (Romans 5:3-5)

Many people were praying for my travel and procedure yesterday. I’m sure those prayers were answered by keeping me off of my icy driveway and the icy streets. i’ll try it again next Wednesday. My plans and I will once again be in God’s loving hands.

Don’t worry! This post is not about the identify game taking place in society today where you can “identify” as anyone of anything and actually become that person or thing. That belief is not scriptural and certainly is not a part of my Christian experience. I was simply asked once, “Which person mentioned in the Bible do you most identify with?”

That question isn’t easy. The Bible is a history of God’s relationship with humans from the creation of Adam and Eve. Every person mentioned in scripture has some human characteristics that I recognize and understand. My answer may surprise some of my avid readers, but I think every Christian will be able to follow my reasoning.

My answer was Barabbas. Although he is mentioned in all four of the Gospels as the person the crowd chose to be released before Passover instead of Jesus, all we know about him is that he was a criminal on death row scheduled to be executed. What could I, or any Christian for that matter, have in common with such an individual? Only the most important thing – Jesus died in his place.

I was eleven years old when I discovered that I was on death row; sentenced to die for my sinful nature. But then I learned that God sent His Son to die in my place. I still remember that freedom from the penalty of sin I felt as I accepted His gift of eternal life through His sacrifice on the cross in my place. Yes, Jesus died in my place and He died in your place as well.

I have no way of knowing if Barabbas ever accepted Jesus as his savior, but he could never escape the fact that Jesus took his place on the cross on that Good Friday. I am also sure that the word of Jesus’ resurrection  reached his ears and his heart.

Every Christian has been saved through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and we are brothers and sisters in God’s family. However, we each have our own unique testimony, DNA, calling and mission in this life, as well as our unique relationship with God’s Holy Spirit within us. All comparison is useless and false. God created us as unique human beings and although He loves us all, He treats us as individuals.

l have mentioned before that comparison is a coin minted by the enemy for his con game. On one side is pride and on the other side is envy. Heads he wins, tails we lose. We only see what others allow us to see, but God alone sees and knows all. If the grass looks greener on their side of the fence, it just might be Astro-turf.

An important part of having a productive, satisfying Christian life is our ability to stay in the lane God has chosen just for us and focus on the goals  He has set out for us to accomplish. The miracle of human creation is that we are not solitary individuals; we need fellowship and support from our Christian brothers and sisters. While we must never compare ourselves to others, we must share in the joy of other believers’ success and encourage them to remain on track and stay the course. We must also ask others for prayers and encouragement for our success. This life is not a sprint, it is a marathon and we can all cross our finish lines successfully if we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to keep us putting one foot in front of the other until our race is successfully complete.

We are not in competition with each other. Our challenge is to be better today than we were yesterday until we are the best God has created us to be. Be the best you, because everyone else is already taken.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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George Orwell wrote, “However much you deny the truth, the truth goes on existing.” That is certainly true for Christians. Eternal, unchanging truth is found in the person of Jesus Christ; is found in all of God’s word; is experienced in the promptings of God’s Holy Spirit within us; and is discovered in God’s creation around us.

I have written before about the constant change that is life on earth. As our environment changes, so does our perspective. What seems true to us today may not be the same as yesterday and might change again tomorrow. The New Age Movement teaches that we each have our own truth and every one of them will lead us all to God and heaven. Christ Jesus teaches us that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to God or enters heaven without going through Him. (John 14;6) God’s truth continues to exist, unchanged with or without us or our approval or opinion. All we have to do is hold on to God’s truth; study His word and pay close attention to His leadership. God’s truth will set us free. (John 8:32)

As our relationship with God through Jesus Christ deepens, His truth will drown out every lie of the enemy and his followers in this world. Jesus is not only the personification of truth; He is the only way into God’s presence and the only source of eternal life.

It has now been more than eight years since my wife went on to heaven ahead of me. Don’t believe that line in the wedding vows that says, Until death do us part. When you have shared every part of life for fifty years, love doesn’t die with your spouse. I still love and cherish her in my heart.

A Facebook friend lost his wife last year and he posted a video of this song by Casting Crowns that has helped him heal. I want to share those powerful lyrics with you.

“If I had only known the last time would be the last time  I would’ve put off all the things I had to do. I would’ve stayed a little longer; held on a little tighter; now what I’d give for one more day with you; ’cause there’s a wound in my heart where something’s missing and they tell me it will heal with time, but I know you are in a place where all of your wounds have been erased and knowing yours are healed is healing mine.  The only scars in heaven won’t belong to me and you; there’ll be no such thing as broken and all the old will be made new. The thing that makes me smile now even as the tears fall down is that the only scars in heaven are on the hands that hold you now.”

If you have lost a loved one, look up the song on Youube. If you can watch and listen without tears, you are stronger than I am.