Month: February 2024

I have written about the storms we must go through as Christians. Once in a while Jesus speaks peace be still to the storm we are in, but most of the time He speaks peace be still to our spirit as He takes us through the storm. We must ask ourselves if we are still at peace in the sunshine beyond the storm.

In my long life as a Christian, I have lost my peace several times when a storm was over, the sky was bright and the way ahead seemed smooth. I told God, “I can take it from here” and I slipped back into the driver’s seat of my life. That never ended well. The view from behind the wheel was always rougher than it appeared when God was in control. That undue pressure robbed me of my peace and always ended with me begging God to take control again.

I have known people who have lost their peace while chasing after happiness and contentment. God gives the gift of joy as we keep the line of communication open with Him through Jesus, but happiness is a choice we have to make. What makes people think that more would make them happy if they aren’t happy with what they already have? A friend posted this on Facebook and it describes this threat to our peace. “Beware of Destination Addiction – an obsession that happiness is in the next place, the next job or with the next partner. Until you give up the idea that happiness is somewhere else, it will never be where you are.”

Keep the peace God gives you in the storm always by keeping Him in control of your life and choosing happiness every day in sunshine or rain.

I avoid politics in this blog, but I must express my love for my country. I was a student of our Constitution long before I joined the Air Force and swore to protect that document from enemies. That vow I took 62 years ago won’t expire until I do. Some have falsely identified my country as a “Christian Nation”. There has never been or will ever be a religious requirement for citizenship or public service here. The only sad part is that many of us tend to take our freedom for granted.

I know I have readers from around the world and some of you are reading this where there is severe government persecution of Christians. I want you to know that you are in my prayers that you remain safe and strong in your faith in Jesus Christ.

One of my heroes of the Christian faith is Corrie ten Boom,During World War II, she and her sister hid Jews from the German occupiers in Holland. They were eventually caught and sent to a German concentration camp which she described as the deepest darkest hell man has ever created. In spite of the horrible conditions, she and her sister conducted Bible studies with the women prisoners until her sister was killed and she was scheduled for execution. God created a paperwork glitch and she was released. This is one of my favorite quotes from Corrie; “When you forgive someone, you set a prisoner free. It is then you will discover that prisoner was you.”

I want to share with you a personal praise report. Inflation has driven up prices of everything the last few years and as an 80 year old man with limited mobility, it has been difficult making ends meet on Social Security. To make matters worse, I get paid on the third Wednesday of each month and the third Wednesday of February and March isn’t until the 21st of the month this year. After my mortgage and utilities were paid, I began to run short on money for groceries. Two food pantries I’ve used before have closed so I contacted my church to see if they could direct me to one in the area that I could send a caregiver to pick up some food for me. They gave me the number of two faith based food pantries in my area that are still open one day a week. Then they asked if I needed something right away. I told them about four items I was completely out of. They called me back a few minutes later and told me they were having those items and others they thought I could use delivered to my home this evening. When the food arrived, it was four bags full with the four items I requested plus an entire fried chicken.I had two pieces for dinner It was delicious and there is enough for three more meals. They also sent a box of cereal,two large bags of snacks, fresh fruit and orange juice.

I am blown away with God’s provision. When Jesus teaches us in His sermon on the mount that God will feed us as he feeds the sparrows, It is almost always through the love and generosity of his sons and daughters in Christ Jesus. Throughout our fifty years of marriage Carol and I gave to our church and donated to other faith based organizations. We prayed that God would direct that help to those who need it the most and I know He did. I’m sure that scripture is true that “it is more blessed to give than to receive,” but I am very blessed this evening. My brother or sister in Christ, be the answer to someone’s prayer by giving your time and resources. You will never regret it.

In my previous post, I quoted Jesus’ prayer for you and me to be united with God and each other. (John 17:20-23) May we always feel God’s Holy Spirit in us and feel ourselves in Jesus and our Heavenly Father. We can foster and deepen our relationship with God through daily prayer, Bible study and through our obedience to God’s Word and the promptings of His Holy Spirit within us. I encourage you to pray for God to take your hand and guide you through the mine fields of this life into the next life. I have done just that because I know I can be distracted and weak and might let go if I try to hold His hand, but I know that whatever happens He will never let go of me.

That leaves one question -what does He mean when He says you and I and all believers are to be united? Jesus teaches us to love one another as He loves us. Is love the unifying force? Love is a strong force in our Christian life, but we are also commanded to love our unsaved neighbors and even our enemies. As usual,God provides the answer when we pay attention. The reason Jesus wants believers to be unified is to show to the world that God sent Him. So, it is our testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that must unify us. That must begin with my words and actions agreeing to form a strong testimony. Then my testimony must agree with yours and all other believers providing iron clad proof that Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life.

Over two thousand years before we were born physically and reborn spiritually, you and I were in the heart and mind of Jesus. John 17:20-23 records Jesus’ prayer for you and for me before He went to the cross in our place. “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” Even after He paid the price for our sins, Jesus told Thomas that you and I are blessed because of our faith. “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe and have not seen me.” (See John 20:29)

Do you think Jesus forgot about us when He returned to heaven? Of course not! Every time we pray to our heavenly Father in Jesus’ name, He will lean over and whisper to our Father “That is my brother (or sister) I told you about.” Our Father will then stamp our request “High Priority” and assign an angel to provide the answer. I am living proof of God’s answers to prayers and I’m sure you are too.