I am wanted

Last week's blog focused on abortion and the struggle that some women face in making the decision to have or not have a baby. And while some of them choose to go the abortion route, others sum up their courage and deliver the baby. Some choose to keep it, while others may give it up for adoption.

For many childless couples, adoption may be their only hope. When they finally overcome all the red tape and hold that precious bundle in their arms, that baby is as loved and wanted as the baby who was conceived by a willing mother.

Last week I met a couple who had adopted one of our students. The interest they showed in the child's education was greater than some natural parents show in their children. That couple reminded me of my aunt, who with her husband, adopted a little girl, who is now a grown woman. Even though my aunt and her husband have now passed on, Susan, as I will call her, remains a part of our family. After she came to know her natural mother, Susan told me she didn't miss anything by being raised by her adoptive parents. She couldn't feel the bond with her real mother as she did with her adoptive mother. I have heard similar stories from other adopted children.

Which brings me to thinking of the way God adopted us into His family and showers us with the same love and the same blessings as He gives to His own. We receive the same inheritance as those who originally belonged to God, that is the Jews. "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Romans 8: 15). Abba is a Jewish term of endearment for Father, similar to Daddy or Papa. It is intimate; it is loving and is reserved for the children. But we, who have been adopted by God through Jesus Christ, have that same privilege to call Him Abba, Father.

"But when the fulness of the time has come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman. made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Galatians 4:5). So there we have it. We are God's children, His heirs, the apple of His eye, the ones He loved so much that "He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

So those of you who have been adopted by loving parents, consider yourself fortunate. You could have been aborted, but instead you were brought into the world and given a place in a loving family. Many children are born through unplanned pregnancies, but when you are adopted, the whole procedure is carefully planned and carried out. You are special. Someone went through a lot of trouble and paid money to get you. In the same way, Jesus went through a lot of trouble, paying for us with His own precious blood, because the Father wanted us. Think about that this week. He, the Creator of the Universe, wanted us and desired us.

The Big Picture

In a democratic society, elections come and elections go, but this US presidential election campaign will go down in history as one of the most exciting and electrifying the world has ever seen. As if an African American male and a white female vying for the democratic party's nomination wasn't enough, the staid Republican party went and nominated a female as their candidate's running mate. The political mercury could not possibly get hotter. However, the rhetoric from the Republican camp remains the same. Vote the candidate who says he is against abortion and homosexuality, while that of their opponent also remains the same: "I support a woman's right to choose."

Let me state here and now, that as a Christian I oppose abortion and homosexuality because the word of God says they are wrong. The word 'abortion' is not in the Bible, but it does call taking a life murder. Before I became a Christian, I contemplated abortion twice. Now that I look back on it, I feel ashamed for having thought about it, and I thank the Holy Spirit for keeping me from making a very grave mistake. Because if I had done it the first time I would have gotten rid of my only daughter, and I can't picture what my life would be like without her. The second occasion I would have destroyed my youngest son, with whom I have a special bond.

My college education (which took place after I had my children) also helped to convince me that life begins at conception, and to destroy a life, well, it is as the Bible says - murder. Before a woman realizes she is pregnant, the baby's heart is already formed-and beating! The first organ to be formed is the heart. In that blob of flesh is a beating heart! Then came my religious education that showed me, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee ..." (Jeremiah 1: 5). And again, "Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them" (Psalm 139: 16).

But can I tell this to a pregnant teenage girl, scared out of her wits and pressured by her boyfriend and friends to "get rid of it"? Or, an unmarried mother of three or four, on welfare, who gets no help from the children's father, and finds herself pregnant with her fourth or fifth child? Or, the woman climbing the corporate ladder, who thinks now is not the right time to have a baby? Oh, I know there are other reasons women have abortions and to us they may seem frivolous, but the fact is, to the woman, an abortion may seem like the only answer. The woman, the teenager, who doesn't know God, thinks she is all on her own and has no one to turn to. But, my dear sister, you are not alone. God is with you, whether you know Him or not. He loves you, whether you love Him or not. He said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).

My new perspective of abortion came about as a result of being born again. The Bible says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new" (II Corinthians 5:17). Being in Christ helps us see things in a new light. We begin to see the big picture. We come to realize that it's not so much what we want, but what God wants for us. We come to view that baby not as a threat to our security, peace of mind or whatever, but as a precious gift from God, and as His gift, He will help us love it and take care of it. He is there with us in this predicament, and the next, and the next.

Forgiveness

Yesterday afternoon as I was driving home from church, something from my growing-up years suddenly flashed through my mind. It was not a pretty memory. I couldn't imagine what it was about the cars rushing past me at 80, 90 miles per hour on a Labor Day weekend that brought that ugly memory to my mind. It was enough to bring me to a screeching halt in the middle of the highway, but I kept going.

When I got home I thought about my unsettling flashback that had not occurred in decades. Why now? Why after a church service filled with fervent celebration of God's goodness? I don't know, but after I spoke to God about it, He said, "I don't remember it. Why are you allowing the enemy to torment you with this after all this time? I have forgiven you; now you forgive yourself."

Humbled and grateful, I said, "Thank you, Lord."

And I thought about forgiveness.

It's never an easy task to forgive someone who has wronged us. We can always say "I forgive you", but oftentimes we harbour the pain and resentment of whatever the act was. That is not what forgiveness means. If we cannot let go, if we cannot pray for and bless that person without cringing, then we haven't really forgiven them. Notice I said, without cringing. Because we are going to remember. It might come to us suddenly and without warning, or it may come each time we see the person. But if being in the same room with that person causes us pain, anger or any negative emotion, then we haven't really forgiven.

Even more difficult is forgiving ourselves. We have seen videos of people in other cultures who flagellate and cut themselves to atone for their sins. To those of us who are born again Christians, these acts may seem absurd, but we are doing the same thing when we struggle with guilt over past sins. We are saying to God, "I don't believe I've been forgiven. I don't believe the blood of Jesus can really wash away my sins."

The Bible has a lot to say about forgiveness. One example is the story of Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers. After they found out who he was, they were afraid he would try to pay them back for what they had done to him. But Joseph said, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:19-20). NIV

After God spared the life of Hezekiah, king of Judea, he prayed, "...In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all sins behind your back" (Isaiah 38:17). Isaiah prophesied to the people of Israel, "I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist ..."(Isaiah 44:22).NIV. And the One who bought our redemption, Jesus Christ, said, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:14-15).

Let us, therefore, thank God for His wonderful love that causes Him to forgive us when we ask, and just as He does to us, let us also do unto others.

Grace period

My last water bill contained a penalty charge of $5.98. I picked up the phone and dialed the water company to enquire about the charge. The lady on the other end informed me that I had paid my bill two days late and had incurred a penalty.

Feeling unusually testy I said, "I pay my bill just two days late and I get a penalty?"

She replied, "I'm sorry. There's no grace period."

Those words stayed with me all day.

No grace period.

Where would we be if God had not extended His grace to us by sending His Son Jesus Christ to redeem us from our sins? Or what if, like the water company, as soon as we did something wrong, he inflicted punishment on us? Thank God for His grace. Thank God that He tempers His law with grace.

Some people, anxious to excuse acts of wrongdoing, say we are now under grace and not under the law. It is true that grace came to us through Jesus Christ, but even He said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17).

Therefore the law is a "schoolmaster" to help us distinguish between right and wrong. "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet" (Romans 7:7).

In the same way I would not have known about the penalty had the water company not imposed one. However, while I had no choice but to pay the penalty, we who are in Christ can "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

And that's the difference. Law punishes, but grace forgives. Which one will you choose?

Heavenly Father, how grateful we are that through the blood of Jesus Christ we have grace and forgiveness for our sins. We accept this precious gift, Lord along with your laws and precepts, and it's in His name we pray. Amen

Praying for our children

I realize I haven't posted anything in a while, and I apologize. Vacation and other things clouded my priorities and just kept me away from my blog. Anyway, things are now back to normal, and with the beginning of a new school year, my thoughts turn to our children and what this year might hold for them. The fact is, none of us knows what the future holds. Only God, and this is why we need to place our precious little ones in His capable hands. Having said that, here is a little prayer I composed for them.

Heavenly Father, we bring our children before You, knowing that you are the only wise and powerful God, the only One who can protect and care for them. Lord, we come in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who shed His precious blood on the cross so that we might have life. Therefore, when we call on the name of Jesus, we are speaking life over our loved ones and over our situation.

Father God, we pray that this year our children will be protected from the forces of darkness; that they will be safe and at peace in the classroom, the playgrounds, the buses and wherever they may go. Father God, we decree that our children will be able to pursue their education without fear, and that no weapon formed against them will prosper.

Father, we ask that you protect their minds from those who seek to pollute them with false doctrines and beliefs. We pray especially for those young people who are holding up the godly standard in our schools and colleges, that they will adhere to their principles and not be swayed by all the temptations around them. We ask, O God, that you protect our children from the dope peddlers, the child molesters and anyone who may try to destroy our children.

Father God, we thank you that we train up our children in the way they should go, and they carry this training with them into the schools. Father God, we thank you that our children are of upright conversation and they follow godly company. Lord, we ask you to bless the teachers and other professionals who work with our children. Give them patience and wisdom as they deal with the variety of personalities, for we ask it all in the name of Jesus. Amen.

In The Wilderness

My steps drag, my breath comes in ragged gasps,
My tongue clings to the roof of my mouth.
In the wilderness.
Wearily I sink to the ground
and bury my face in the dust.
A gentle touch makes me look up.
"Come into a desert place and rest awhile"(Mark 6:31).
I lean against You,
Breathe a sigh of relief.
A covering appears over me,
Shading me from the merciless heat.
"...the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite you by day,
nor the moon by night" (Psalm 121:5).
You dip your finger into a sparkling stream
And touch my parched lips.
"Whosoever drinks of this water
shall never thirst" (John 4:13).
A gentle breeze fans my hot cheeks;
I sigh with contentment.
You put bread to my lips;
It satisfies my hunger.
"I am the bread of life."
I snuggle closer to Your everlasting arms
"The God of all comfort" (2 Corinthians 1"3).

A solid rock,
A welcome shade,
A cooling stream,
The bread of life,
The everlasting arms.
That's what I find,
In the wilderness.

Buffet or one-pot meal?

You receive two dinner invitations for the same date. The first one reads: You are invited to have dinner with us on June 6, 2008. Dinner will consist of a one-pot meal served promptly at 8.00 p.m. The other one reads: Come dine with us on June 6, 2008 and enjoy a buffet dinner served promptly at 8.00 p.m. Which one will you choose? Even though neither invitation listed the exact dishes or components of the meal, you rightly assume that the buffet dinner will offer you the choices that you can partake of and so you reply to that invitation.

For some, that's the way we approach God's Word. A little bit of this and a little bit of that. No, not that one, the other one. Is that how God wants us to approach His table? Do some parts of His meal cause us indigestion while others are okay? "... Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4)KJV. The word "every" is the operative word. Not some but every.

I think of the time when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. After He had finished washing their feet He said to them, "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you" (John 13: 13-15). This event recorded only in the gospel of John took place just after Jesus had finished breaking bread with His disciples at the feast of the passover. The breaking of bread has been promulgated by the church as Holy Communion, one of the tenets of the Christian faith, while the washing of the feet is ignored altogether.

The text above is rarely preached from the pulpit, and when it is, the act of foot washing by Our Lord is referred to as a symbol. A symbol of servanthood, of love, of humility or whatever. I am no preacher or theologian, but I believe that if we take the Word of God literally, approach it as a one-pot meal and not a buffet, then we ought to follow everything it says-everything, that is, that falls under the new convenant.

When I was a child I attended a church where foot washing was carried out after Holy Communion, and that was long before latex was ever invented. If they could have done it then, why not now? We live in a time when many of the basic tenets of Christianity are either being diluted or eradicated altogether. In some churches one never hears about Holy Communion or Holy Baptism. I even heard one minister say that we don't have to follow the old ceremonial laws any longer, referring to the two mentioned above. Old ceremonial laws? There is nothing old or outdated about the Word of God. It is as relevant today as it was when it was first written. James warns us, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass" (v 22-23).

Who should die?

This past week we were summoned to a meeting at the Board of Education for what was to be a "Pandemic training." I have to admit, the e-mail didn't spark much interest and I only attended because the subject line said "mandatory." The presenter spoke about the possibility of a pandemic flu that may strike the world due to an increase of the bird flu. From the way she spoke, such a possibility appeared to be imminent. It was not a matter of if it would happen, she said, but when.

We were told that we were now at Level 1 of this crisis, which is educating personnel on what to expect when the flu hits. A video was shown, instructing us on how to prevent the spread of germs by sneezing into our sleeves (instead of on the person nearby, or into our hands and then shaking someone's hand), and of course, by hand washing. Then we were given the comforting news that a vaccine was being developed, but most likely it would not be ready in time, however there were sufficient antibiotics available.

I came away from the meeting feeling just mildly concerned. After all, the Bible does speak of pestilences coming upon the face of the earth and one fourth of the earth will die (Revelations 6:8). Could this be it? My concern increased that evening when Yahoo carried a news item on the pandemic flu. But what really lit my fire was this section of the report: a task force comprising personnel from prestigious universities, the military and government agencies has decided to draft a policy for doctors and hospitals, outlining who should be allowed to die in the event of a pandemic flu. Heading the list was the elderly, followed by those who had been in car crashes or who suffered burns, then those suffering from chronic diseases and last of all, the mentally ill, including Alzheimer's patients.

"Emotionally difficult", "battlefield decision", "minefield" and other terms were used to describe the compiling of such a policy. But how about a policy that demonstrates "love", "compassion" and "doing unto others as you would have them do unto you?" I understand that in the event of a global catastrophe many people will die, but why should anyone assume the "Godlike" authority of determining who lives or who dies?

This ethical dilemma is not a new one. It has affected single families many times over, and will continue to do so. But when this decision has to be made on a global basis, one wonders if we are not standing on the verge of the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. In the event of such a crisis presenting itself, I am prepared to die if need be so that my children and grandchildren may live, but that is my decision. And that's the way I think it ought to be. Not some faceless person in some part of the world deciding that I should die because they may or may not have enough medication for someone else. Jesus said, "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12).

The Greatest Teacher

They called Him "Rabbi", "Teacher" and "Master", names which seem to adequately fit one of the roles Jesus performed while on earth. But how did He, the Son of God, come to be called by these names?

Luke's gospel gives us a view into the life of Jesus when He was a child. While He and his parents were in Jerusalem for the passover feast, they missed Him and later found Him in the temple "sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions" (2:46).

This scene set the stage for Jesus' ministry. The Bible gives accounts of a lot of miracles that He performed, but most of the time we see Him teaching. Mark 12:35 and Luke 19:47 show Him teaching daily in the temple. In John 7:14 He is teaching during the feast of tabernacles.

However the temple was not His only classroom. The streets, a fishing boat, people's homes, the shores of Galillee and the famous Mount of Olives all became His platform. And He taught not only in the day, but in the night as well. Remember Nicodemus? A ruler of the Jews? He came to Jesus by night, and Jesus didn't turn him away(John 3:2).

He taught them the three Rs.

He taught them how to read the Scriptures. "What is written in the law? how readest thou?(Matthew 10:26). "Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him,(12:3) And He read the Scriptures to them often. "And He came to Nazareth where he had been brought up: and as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read(Luke 4:16).

He taught them the right things. "Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself"(Matthew 20:19). "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them:for this is the law and the prophets"(5:46).

And, yes, he taught them 'rithmetic. "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" (Luke 14:28). "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?(Matthew 16:26).

Jesus' teachings were different from those taught in schools, however they never grew redundant or obsolete. They are relevant now as they were two thousand years ago. If we would only follow them, we would gain a diploma that would put us in good stead not only in this life, but in the life to come.

Speak the truth

As the election campaign heats up, political commentators and the public in general are watching every move and listening to every word that comes from the lips of the political candidates. This week there was a bit of a furor as Senator Barack Obama spoke some things which his opponents did not hesitate to brand as "demeaning" and "elitist" among others. This brought to mind some of the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ which many times inflamed the ire of his listeners, chief of whom were the religious leaders of His day.

Listen to some of Jesus' words: "... Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye" (Luke 6:42). "Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?" (Matthew 23:17) and "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness" (v27).

Strong words indeed. But Jesus was not running for office. He was not trying to win the popular vote. He had simply come to "seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). He didn't care whether they liked Him or not. But He did care that they would mend their ways and seek after God with their whole hearts, and if using strong language would help them do that, then that's what He would do.

The Bible tells us that even some of Jesus' disciples left Him after they heard His words. And those who had the power to do so eventually brought charges against Jesus and had Him crucified. But many were convicted by His words, and continue to be convicted, and are saved.

As Christians we are called to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, and even though we may not want to hurt people's feelings, we must speak "the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). We cannot sugar-coat the truth or compromise the word of God in our day to day interaction with others. Even Paul asked the question, "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"(Galatians 4:16).

Let us not be as politicians who strive to say the right thing in order to be popular, but rather let us witness truthfully, and by so doing we will save others from the fires of hell. God bless.

Hosanna!

It's Easter time again, and for many that conjures up images of Easter bonnets, new dresses and Easter eggs. But for us Christians, Easter means a lot more. We think of the triumphant resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene and the other women coming to the tomb and finding it empty, Peter and John running to the tomb and also finding it empty, and Jesus appearing to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

Yes, it's a happy time, a glorious time, a time of hope that follows a period of excruciating pain for Our Lord. Just three days earlier He was crucified, betrayed by one of His friends(Matthew 26:48). That marks the beginning of sorrows. Then comes more sorrow as Peter, a member of His inner circle, denies knowing Jesus Christ(vv 69-74). But the most excruciating pain comes when Jesus is forsaken by God, His Father on the cross as the crushing weight of the world's sins are thrust upon Him and He cries out "Eli, lama sabacthani, that is to say, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27: 46)

But three days later, Jesus shakes off the grave clothes and rises in victory from the tomb. The stone that has held His body is rolled away, and nothing stands in the way of His triumph. The weight of sin and death are off Him, signifying that we, who are in Him, can be rid of the weights that have buried us for so long. Drugs, alcohol, sickness, financial burdens, failing relationships, whatever might be in that stone can be removed through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Yes, Easter is the most significant day in the Christian calendar. We have only to look around us to see that this is a time of new beginnings. Tender green leaves are sprouting from those dead, dry tree branches. Flowers are blooming everywhere, birds are singing, and the air is invigorating. Everything in nature salutes this time of year. And so it is for us. We, too, can salute our new beginning with praises to the One who has given us a new birth. Let us rejoice for our victory is won. Hosanna to the King!

Get Into Heaven

This week I saw something on television that made my jaw drop in amazement. The reporter and his guest were talking about a website that is offering to get people into heaven for the sum of twelve dollars and ninety-seven cents. Yes, that's right, $12.97. Hilarious, isn't it? The host laughed and said, "They sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, how do they expect to get people into heaven for $12.97?" While I commended him for having some knowledge of the Bible, this was no laughing matter. Try ludicrous, absurd, ridiculous, but certainly not hilarious.

While I do not expect anyone in his/her right mind to take the claim of that website seriously, let me point out what one of my favorite books in the Bible, Isiah, says: "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat without money and without price(55:1)". "Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you-the sure mercies of David"(v3).

Here we have it from God Himself. He invites us to come to Him without money and our "soul shall live." We do not have to pay one dime. It's free. Salvation is free. Jesus paid the price for us all when He took our sins upon Him and allowed Himself to be crucified on the cross of Calvary. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:" (John 11:25).

And again He says, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14: 2-3). He's talking about heaven, y'all. His Father's house. Where the mansions are. The streets of gold. The pearly gates. The place where there is no sorrow or weeping or death. The land of milk and honey. The place with a free entrance through the blood of Jesus Christ. Halleluiah!

Do you want to go? Then keep your money in your pocket. Run to Jesus. He'll let you in-without money and without price. God bless.

Like A Little Child Part 2

I feel led by the Holy Spirit to continue this blog about becoming like a little child. Last week I spoke about children being passionate, exuberant and excited. This week I want to touch on two other characteristics that make children perfect candidates for heaven.

I work with children in schools who are developmentally delayed, and there is this one little boy who always slips his hand in mine whenever I go to get him. One day I thought, he trusts me. He really does. Most children, if they have not been abused or mistreated, are trusting. They trust their parents or other adults in their lives to keep their promises.

What about us? Are we trusting of our heavenly Father to keep His promises? I know I have doubted Him a few times. I am still working on being as trusting as a little child. In 2 Samuel 22:3 David says, "The God of my rock: in him will I trust: he is my sheild, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour ..."

For many Christians, like myself, trusting God means the difference between walking in victory or walking in defeat. For when we do not trust God, we make decisions that may jeopardize God's plans for our lives. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).

Children are sincere. They do not hesitate to show you how they feel about you. If they like you, you will know it, and if they don't like you, well, it can be a painful experience. One of my granddaughters makes me feel guilty at times. Whenever she sees me, she runs to me, hugs me and will not let go. It matters little whether I'm busy or not. Sometimes I push her away with, "Not now, sweetie," or "Granny is busy." And yet the next time she sees me, she repeats the same action. She shows me love whether I'm willing to receive it or not.

Are we sincere in the way we treat others-our family members, friends, co-workers- and God. Do we say we love them, but attach conditions to that love? Do we only love God when things are going our way, but turn our backs on Him when things get rough? Job said, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (Job 13:15). Job had every reason to turn his back on God. Even his wife urged him to do just that. But he said unto her, "Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?(Job 2:10).

This childlike faith does not come about by mere wishful thinking, but is developed through a life of prayer, Bible study and fellowship with other believers. That's the only we can grow in faith. Many times I have had to beg God's forgiveness for not trusting Him. I looked on my circumstances instead of looking to Him. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, I am learning to trust in God's promises even when things don't look very promising. And you can, too.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you that you loved us while we were yet sinners, and that You continue to love us even when we don't deserve it. Help us by your Holy Spirit to love and trust You with that childlike faith, for we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

Like A Little Child

Whenever I look at my grandchildren I am reminded of how different we adults are. These children are full of exuberance, passion and purpose in everything they do. They have a healthy curiousity that leads them to touch, examine- did I say touch? and probe each new object they come across. They greet me in the morning with bright smiles, hugs and cheery good-mornings, while I'm thinking, What's so good about this morning?

But what did Jesus say? "...Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). Little children have the passion and excitement for life that many of us adults have lost. We have allowed the challenges of life to wear us down, to erase our smiles, to silence our song. Many of us don't even have the energy to fulfill our activities of daily living, making us one of the many depression and anxiety sufferers in the United States today.

What can we do to recapture this joie de vivre, this passion for life? Psalm 118: 24 says, "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." What is there to rejoice about, you might say? We live in a world of turmoil and uncertainty that seems to be getting more turbulent daily. However the apostle Paul said, " Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, Rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). In 1 Thessalonians 5:16 he says, "Rejoice evermore."

The apostle Paul was not a man who enjoyed the good things of life. After he became converted, he spent most of his life being flogged, stoned, left for dead and thrown into prison. In fact, he wrote the book of Philippians from his prison cell, and later, just before his martyrdom, he wrote to his spiritual son, Timothy, "Persecutions, afflictions, which come unto me at Antioch at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured; but out of them all the Lord delivered me" (11 Timothy 3:11).

Can we have the attitude of this beloved servant of God? Can we endure all things for the sake of Christ, who endured so much for us? Can we praise Him even when our world is collapsing around us? Can we rejoice when we don't see anything to rejoice about? As difficult as it may seem, it is what God expects of us. Listen to what Jesus said: "In the world you shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Joy is the believer's heritage. When we come to Christ we enter into a new dimension of peace and joy, notwithstanding our present circumstances. If we had been sour, disagreeable and hard to get along with, we should become just the opposite, because we now walk in love and Jesus is love. If we used to worry when our dog caught fleas, we should become lighthearted because Jesus "is our glory and the lifter up of our heads". If we couldn't find peace in our homes, we should have peace because He is our peace.

So if you are a believer and find yourself tormented by depression or worry, turn it over to Jesus and watch Him take it all away. If you are not a believer, why not give your life to Jesus and be amazed at the transformation He will work in you? God bless.

Grace and Mercy

It’s amazing how we can read the scriptures many times over and then one day something jumps out at us that we never noticed before. This happened to me one night as I was reading Psalm 90. This Psalm was written by Moses, appealing to God on behalf of the children of Israel.

For those of you who may not know it, God had sent Moses to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt where they had been in bondage for four hundred years. After many trials, Pharoah, the ruler, finally agreed to let the people leave Egypt. However, no sooner had they been freed, they began to rebel and complain. Their journey into the promised land which should have lasted a few days took forty years to complete. During that time God became so angry at their rebellion, he threatened to wipe them out, and would have had not Moses interceded for them. They were bitten by snakes, and many other troubles overcame them.

The children of Israel suffered the wrath of God. Hence the reason Moses wrote this Psalm. In verse 7 he writes, “For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.” Again in verse 9 he says, “For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.”

I read these verses over and over, then I thought, we are no longer under wrath, but under grace. When Jesus gave His life for us on the cross, He got rid of the curse that we had been under since Adam fell. When Jesus died, He restored us to a right relationship with God, the Father. When Jesus shed His precious blood for us on the cross, we obtained “grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Timothy 1:2).

“But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6). “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). Had Moses lived in Jesus’ day he would never have written that Psalm the way he did, for he would have realized that God hath dispensed with His wrath and bestowed grace and mercy on His people.

And there’s the operative word- His. Those of us who belong to Him through Jesus Christ are assured of His grace, but those outside of Christ are still exposed to His wrath. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). So that’s the key to escaping God’s wrath-accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and you will not perish. God bless.

Falling Angels

I watched with sadness as the aging pastor pleaded guilty in a court of law to lying and other indiscretions. In recent times many negative stories about pastors have hit the media, sending shockwaves through the body of Christ. Why is all of this happening? As in everything, the word of God holds the answers.

"For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us; what shall the end be of them that obey mot the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" (1 Peter 4:17-18).

Why is God judging His house?

"Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"(2 Thessalonians 2:3). That day refers to the coming of Christ in glory to receive His church. A church that is to be "holy and without blemish" Ephesians 5:27.

Is that what we are seeing in the body of Christ today? Are we showing the world the way to holiness, or are we simply bending over backwards to accommodate the world so we can have large congregations. Churches today are larger than they have ever been, yet sin and lawlessness still abound, and in some cases, emanate from the top.

What can the righteous do when we observe these things?

"But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 15-16). It does not matter what we see our leaders doing. We are called to be holy, because one day each of us has to give an account to God for the way we have lived our lives.

Also, we are to "forsake not the assembling of ourselves together" as the Bible has commanded us. Many people use what they see in the media as an excuse for not going to church, however we do need that Christian fellowship, as well as the covering of a godly pastor.

"A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again ..." We have to remember that man will always disappoint us. There are many stories of men in the Bible who fell. Great men of God like David and Solomon succumbed to temptation. Even Peter, who walked with Jesus Christ, fell when he denied the Lord. But God forgave them, therefore we, too, must forgive and not be judgmental.

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Galatians 6:1). I want to emphasize "in the spirit of meekness". Not in a holier than thou attitude, but meekly, lovingly, knowing that we, too, can be in the same position if we are not careful and seek God's presence daily.

So let's pray for our falling and fallen angels that God in His mercy will restore them to a position of grace. Let's pray for those who are standing firm that they may not fall. And let's pray for ourselves that we may remain faithful to God's call on our lives, so that when we stand before Him we may hear the words "Well done thou good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21).

Let's do some gardening

There was a time when I used to be an avid gardener. I could hardly wait for spring to begin digging, planting and fertilizing. Now that I live in an area where the seasons are more distinct, I find myself not knowing what to plant and when to plant it. Therefore, whenever I go walking through my neighborhood I look at gardens in the hope of picking up some inspiration. Occasionally I see a garden that leaves me ogling with pleasure. Then I walk another block and I see another garden that makes me shake my head.

Two gardens. Two gardeners.

Which makes me think of Adam in the garden of Eden. God placed Adam, the first man, in the garden of Eden, and gave him charge over it to till and fertilize it and take care of the animals. However, Adam gave in to temptation, and as a result the perfect garden was messed up. Thorns and thistles grew up among the shrubbery, broken branches hung from the trees, dead leaves and stems remained unpruned. Chaos and neglect replaced order and caring.

Then along came Jesus.

God placed Him in a garden as well. The Garden of Gethsemane. Here, in a moment of agony, Jesus shed His blood through His sweat and began the task of restoring the damage that Adam had done. It was in the garden of Gethsemane that Jesus prayed,"O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matthew 26:39)KJV. Jesus didn't give in to the temptation of the flesh as Adam had done, but instead He gave his flesh willingly to be tortured and crucified.



What are you doing with your garden today? Have you given in to sin and temptation and allowed your garden to become untidy and neglected? Has the job become too overwhelming for you? Have you thrown up your hands in despair, or are you persevering in faith, pulling up those weeds, pruning those dead leaves and tilling the soil? If you are not, then you need to ask Jesus to come into your life. He will restore your garden and equip you with the necessary tools to keep your garden in good order. Why not ask Him today?

Keep Christ in Christmas

Listening to the evening news is not my usual pastime. Sometimes I feel guilty when others speak of current events and I realize I’m as ignorant as if I lived on the moon. So occasionally I force myself to listen. One evening last week I was taking my unpleasant dose, when I groaned, “Not again.”

The news item had to do with a nativity scene in Paulding County that had provoked the ire of someone, and as a result the county was facing legal action. Several citizens of the county interviewed said they saw nothing wrong with the scene. One elderly lady said, “Without Christ there would be no Christmas.” But what got my attention was when the mayor spoke up in agreement with what the others had said. He took a bold stand for what he believed in.
Many public officials are afraid to do that for fear of the consequences.

This season, as we celebrate the birth of Christ, the Savior of the world, let us remember how boldly He confronted the naysayers of His day. He was not afraid to tell it like it was, and neither should we. God bless.

Gifts of Love

We are now in the month of December, and that means that Christmas preparations are underway in all parts of the world where the season is celebrated. One of the ways we celebrate is by giving gifts. For many here in America that means spending a lot of money, maybe even going into debt. Financial analysts say that the average American spends nine hundred dollars on gifts at Christmas. That’s more than a week’s wages for a lot of people. Add to that food and other goodies plus decorations, and the seasonal outlay can be rather large.

Is gift-giving really necessary? Do we have to give gifts every year? True, the wise men brought gifts to Jesus when they found Him, which may or may not have been at Christmas time. But nowhere in the Bible does it say that people brought gifts to Jesus every year, neither did He give gifts to anyone. Sure He gave- of Himself. He spent time with people, teaching and healing. When He did give material things, He gave them food because they were hungry.

I am not saying we should all be cheapskates and not give gifts. I think giving is wonderful. I love to give, and I am also guilty of getting caught up in the shopping frenzy, making sure I have just the right gift. And yes, in previous years, I have gone into debt doing so. But now, I’m beginning to look more at the reason for the season, and if it is to celebrate or remind us of our Savior who came into the world as God’s gift to us, then I think at Christmas time we should give back to Him.

Let’s give to those who can’t afford to give back to us. The beggar on the street corner, the young woman raising her children alone, the elderly person in a nursing home who doesn’t have anyone to visit him/her, those in prison, and I’m sure you can think of others. Better still, ask your family members to join you in giving to these less fortunate members of out society. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40 NIV). Then you will receive bountifully from the One who has everything in His power to give. God bless.

Give Thanks

When I first planned to write this blog, the last thing on my mind was giving thanks. My mind was so cluttered with grief, questions, doubts, fears and even anger at the sudden passing of my beloved daughter-in-law just three weeks ago. I wore my grief like a cloak every moment of the day and even when I went to sleep. How could someone so young, beautiful and vibrant be dead? I had lived long enough, had come across death many times to know that death is a reality. One we hate to talk or think about, much less face. But here we were, face to face with death in all its cruelty and meanness.

Even though, or maybe because I am a Christian, I believe that death is an enemy. It is no friend-not something to be embraced-as some people think. And I base my belief on the fact that Jesus, when He walked this earth, ran death out of town every time He met it. Even on the cross He raised all the righteous dead who were in paradise, and they appeared to many! (Matthew 27: 52-53) However, death is an enemy that has been conquered by Jesus Christ. "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesu Christ" (1 Corinthians 15 55-57).

So for those of us who die in Christ, death is a glorious thing, because we have conquered it, and we go to meet our Lord. But for those who die outside of Christ, the sting of death is present because after death is judgement. So I ask the question again, why did a thirty-six-year-old beautiful wife and mother die so suddenly? For answers I look to the cross of Jesus Christ. He was only thirty-three when He died. But He had finished the work that God had appointed Him to do here on earth. I believe Lisa had finished the work God called her to do.

While attending the University of the West Indies, Lisa became a member of Campus Crusade for Christ, telling others about the Lord, but gave it up when she married my son. She threw herself into helping her husband in his business and raising their three children. However, she continued to work for the Lord, and just the night before she died, Lisa prayed with one of her friends whom she had been counseling. Even after her death, she continues to work for Him, leading us through her testimony to greater faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Just eleven days before she died, Lisa began writing a journal. Here’s an excerpt of what she wrote:

"Begin with the end in mind,” somebody once said.
What shall my "end" on this earth be? And is there really an end? Death is the end, but after death is judgement and to_be_absent from this body_is to be present with you, Jesus. So my question should be - what is my purpose for this phase of life — this human phase, this short capsule of time before I pass from death to life and enter eternity?

To lead as many as I can to the place He is preparing for us. We can't miss out! At the end of this phase I want to hear Jesus say, "Well done, thou, good and faithful servant. You have picked up your cross, you abode in me, you loved me with all your heart and you loved others and loved yourself. You told others the Truth, that I am the Way, the Truth and the Life and that no one gets to Our Father, but through me; that their sins are forgiven them - all their sins were nailed with me on the cross and they now qualify to enter heaven for all eternity — because of me".
Jesus, I want you to be proud of me. This is my end on this earth, not to please men, but to please God.

Yet there is the-tug of war in my soul. For I still want the typical, human end - wealth, honour, a nice home for my family, money to pay all my bills comfortably, good cars that I can afford and maintain, well behaved and educated children, a romantic marriage, success and recognition in the local community. Alas, Lord Jesus, I am overwhelmed at the thought of it all. Where do I put myself? Time is short.
But then I hear You say "Delight yourself in me and I will give you the desires of your heart." "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.'' And "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, then you shall ask what you will and it shall be given."..... "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be given to you as well. Cast all your cares on me because I care for you".

Lisa had come to the place where the most important thing in life to her was to do the will of the Lord and to prepare herself and others to be with Him. She had come to realize that all her dreams-the typical human end as she put it-took second place to being all that God wanted her to be. As for me, whenever I think of her, I thank God for the ten short years that I knew her. She was more than a daughter-in-law. She was a friend, a counselor, a bearer of hope.

At the news of her death my faith took a beating, but now, the more I reflect on how she lived and how she died, I have renewed faith in Jesus Christ. I realize that He is with us in our joys and our sorrows, in our fears and our cares, in our todays and our tomorrows. Yes, I do have something to be thankful for. I’m thankful for the love of Jesus.

Home Remedies

I've decided to give out a few home remedies this week. With the flu season approaching, some of you may appreciate this one. Pound a piece of ginger root, pour a cup of boiling water over it, and let stand until cool. You may then sweeten with honey for the cold, or gargle for a sore throat. For insomnia, a pinch of nutmeg in a cup of warm milk taken half hour before bedtime has been found to be helpful. And how about this one for high blood pressure. Add 5-8 drops of apple cider vinegar to a cup of hot water, sweeten with honey and drink early in the morning. It's supposed to reduce cholesterol as well. I remember my mother doing this one with very good results. Boil 5-6 leaves of olive in a cup of water and drink three times a day.

I have only tried the first one and it worked very well for me. Hope it does for you too. However, some people are skeptical of home remedies. If they don't have to go any further than their pantry to get it, they won't put much faith in it. That's pretty much the way Naaman must have felt when the prophet Elisha told him to go and dip in the river Jordan seven times in order to be cured of his leprosy. Naaman felt that the waters of his homeland were far superior to those of Israel, and therefore he refused to do it. But one of his servants came to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it?" 11 Kings 5:13.

And therein lay the problem. In Naaman's mind, the prophet's simple home remedy could never work. Centuries later, our Lord Jesus Christ used a simple home remedy to open a blind man's eyes. Today there are many who doubt that believing in Him would give them eternal life. Why so simple? Why not pay huge sums of money to have your body frozen so you can later be brought back to life? Or, perform some mighty works in order to get into heaven. No. The Bible says God has chosen the simple things of this world to confound the wise. "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

That's all it takes. You don't even have to go to Israel and dip in the Jordan river seven times. Just stay right where you are and give your heart to Jesus, and watch Him do the rest. The home remedies given above are not medical advice by any means, and may not work for everyone. You may still have to go to the doctor to check on your blood pressure, cholesterol or whatever, but you can trust the spiritual advice. "...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31.

Crossing the Red Sea

I was watching a documentary this week about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. The narrator said that the Israelites walked on dry land through the Red Sea, but no one has since been able to locate the exact spot where this phenomeon took place, or give any explanation for how it could have happened. We can only conclude that the hand of God wrought this miracle through Moses.

This set me thinking about my own life and the times God helped me out of some difficulty. When I looked back, I realized that I couldn't always pinpoint when or where it happened. All I know is that it did, by the grace of God.

So it is with salvation. Some people are able to give the exact date and time when they came to believe in Jesus Christ. With others, like myself, it's a process. I woke up one morning and realized that I was not the same person I used to be. Things that used to interest me no longer do. "All things have been made new." I had crossed the Red Sea and left Pharoah and his armies behind.

If you are in a difficult situation today, or struggling to find your place in Jesus Christ, take heart. Wait on Him. He will part that Red Sea and He'll bring you over to the other side.

Let Us Pray

One of the things I like about traveling is that it affords me the opportunity to read. Nothing like a good book to help you forget you are thirty-something thousand feet in the air with nothing holding you up. After reading the back cover, I chose This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti as my traveling companion, thinking if it did not accomplish the aforementioned goal, it would at least put me to sleep. By the time I’d read the first page, I was very much awake, and knew I was in for quite a ride.

The story tells about a small town which was being overtaken by the powers of darkness, and goes on to show how demons and angels battle it out to gain control. Now the Bible tells us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers and the rulers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). However, what is amazing is the role that the prayers of the believer play in determining who wins the battle, something Peretti shows in startling detail.

He also shows why it sometimes appears that God is silent, or that our prayers are not being answered. The solution? Keep on praying, keep on believing, keep on serving. God’s angels are standing by, waiting on the right time to do God’s bidding. The protagonist of the story, a young praying pastor, with the help of other praying souls, was able to defeat the powers of darkness and restore peace to the town.

Whether you are a believer or unbeliever, this book will help you pass the time on a rainy afternoon, or while you’re airborne on your way to some exciting destination. But it will do more than that. It will fascinate, educate or even scare you, but most of all it will increase your faith in the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent God. Shall we pray?

Our Father and our God, we thank you for the weapon of prayer and the Name of Jesus with which we can defeat the enemy. Help us, Lord, to not become complacent and take this weapon for granted, but instead to use it without ceasing on behalf of ourselves and others, for we ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen

The Exchange Factor

Some of you may remember the movie Sleeping with the Enemy which was made popular some years ago. I recall feeling traumatized by the fact that this woman was living with a husband who planned to murder her. But as in most movies, his plan did not succeed.

I thought of this movie as I read the story, for the umpteenth time, about the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot. How could Our Lord, who sees and knows all things, eat, sleep, talk and walk with Judas day after day, knowing his intentions? Jesus knew He came to this earth to die, no question about that. He knew he would be hanged on a Roman cross like a common criminal because that was His Father’s plan of redemption. And Jesus bore His cross willingly. But to be betrayed by a close friend in that manner seemed to be adding salt to the wounds.

And yet, many of us humans also bear our cross every day. In fact, Jesus said in Matthew 10:38, “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” And again in Matthew 16:24 He says: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

I believe that as long as we are following Jesus, we will have a cross to bear. It may be a marriage, a child, a job, our finances, our health. The list can go on and on. The Christian life is not an easy one, but while we are bearing that cross, if we would keep our eyes on Jesus, He will one day take it from us, just as His Father took His. And God didn’t just relieve Jesus of the cross, He gave Him a crown. He crowned Him King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We too will eventually exchange our cross for a crown if we keep on following Jesus.

Make God Happy

When we read the four gospels we can't help being struck by the amount of work Our Lord did during the three short years of His ministry. He Himself said in Matthew 20: 26-28: "Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Our Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, left the splendor of his home in heaven and came down to earth to serve sinful man.

With that thought blowing through my mind, I began praying that God would show me opportunities for service. Last week He answered my prayer in an astounding way. I mentioned to a friend that I needed help getting into my attic to clean my air condition filter. Helpful person that she is, she said she would come and do it for me. Before she went into the attic, we sat down and chatted about our love for God and what He was doing in our lives. Then she said, "I want to serve Him. I want Him to know how much I love Him." My interest grew because I'd been thinking the same thing. She continued, "I want to gather a team of women to visit the sick in the nursing homes, especially the ones who have no one to visit them."

I immediately said, "Count me in." We chatted some more, then she went into the attic. It turned out that my filter was perfectly fine, did not need cleaning. I laughed and said to my friend, "You didn't come here to help me with my filter. You came to bring a word from the Lord."

Isn't it amazing the way God answers prayer? Just ask Him to show you where the harvest is, or where the field is that needs to be sowed, and He'll lead you to it. Then when you stand before Him, you'll hear the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

ASK FOR HELP

The story of Barak and the prophetess Deborah in the book of Judges fills me with some amusement, as well as food for thought. Deborah was judge over Israel at a time when they had been sold into the hands of Jabin, king of Canaan. The commander of Jabin's army was a man named Sisera who cruelly oppressed the Israelites.

Deborah sent for Barak and told him that the Lord had commanded him to take ten thousand men and go up against Sisera, and the Lord will deliver him into Barak's hands. Barak's response? "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go." Now I could just picture Barak telling his buddies, "I'm going to fight Sisera, and Deborah is going with me." Their hoots of laughter would most likely ring out across the Kishon River. Then they would sober up and ask, "You're kidding, right?" But Barak's serious face would show he wasn't kidding.

Why would a man abandon his male ego and risk ridicule from his friends to ask a woman for help? I believe it could be one of two things: Deborah was a woman of power. As a judge, she settled disputes and people looked up to her. As a prophetess, her word could be trusted. But the other reason could be that Barak knew the anointing of the Lord was upon her, and he needed that if he was to succeed. But to ask a woman for help still seemed a bit cowardly. Nevertheless, the story goes on to say that Deborah accompanied Barak, and they defeated Sisera.

I think we could all, men and women, learn something from Barak. When we face tough issues, we should not be too proud to ask for help. And if it means asking someone who we might consider beneath us in station, let's do it. However, sometimes we might not find anyone we can ask. But Jesus is always there. He is the Christ, the anointed One. All power and wisdom reside in Him. We do not have to face our battles alone. We can say like Barak did: "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go." It's the only sensible decision to make.

Forgiven

Some of the things I hear on the news never cease to amaze me. This week a case was brought before the court against a mother who gave false information about where she lived in order to get her kids into schools in another city. The prosecutor asked that the woman be sent to jail for one year because of this. However the woman pointed out that while she and the kids did not live at that address, her family did, and they would be able to provide after school care for her kids when necessary.

My heart filled with compassion for the woman, and I could see no earthly reason for such harsh punishment. Had the prosecutor ever lied in his life? How many criminals are walking about scot free because they and their attorneys lied? What happened to mercy, understanding and forgiveness? Our court system is based on the laws of the Bible, and I think that prosecutors should consider this before bringing certain cases before the court. I thought about Jesus and the compassion He felt for mankind. He forgave sinners and commanded us to forgive.

I'm not saying that everyone who lies should not face the consequences. What I'm saying is that each case should be judged on its own merit. I'm happy to say that the jury found the woman not guilty on all counts and she was set free. After the hearing the D.A. said his office never intended for her to be sent to jail. So why tie up the court's time with matters that could be settled otherwise? Do taxpayers have time or money to waste? Not with gas prices at over $3.00 a gallon. Are we being told the truth about the reason for those hight prices? Hmm.

A Prayer For Mothers

This is a prayer for all mothers, young and old, single or married, divorced, widowed or otherwise. As long as you are a mother, biological or adoptive, this prayer is for you.

Dear Lord, I thank you for gving me the gift of being a mother, the opportunity to love, cherish and nurture the precious human being you have loaned to me. Help me, Lord, to always remember that I'm not in this by myself. You are with me when I go into the delivery room, when I nurse that infant at my breast, when I sing him to sleep, and when I walk the floors at night. You are with me whether I feel pride at some small achievement, or whether I feel exasparated, overwhelmed or confused.

Help me to remember, Lord, that I am not perfect. You are the only perfect parent. In you lies all wisdom, strength and patience. So Father, when I don't know what to do or where to turn, remind me that you are there. That you see that child when I can't see him, because he is also your child, a heritage from You, and You guard your own fiercely.

So Father God, I thank you for this Mother's Day. A day that celebrates the most priceless miracle of all times - the birth of a human being. I do not take this miracle lightly, and everyday I fall on my knees I say thank you to My Heavenly Parent for the honor of sharing the joys- and the sorrows- of parenthood with You. Thank you, Lord.

One for the birds

Every morning I drive through densely wooded areas on my way to work. Nature lover that I am, this affords me the opportunity to enjoy God's creation in all its virgin beauty. Fall, with its varying shades of orange, red and yellow leaves, fills me with awe, and when the leaves begin to fall off, I feel a sense of personal loss. Winter offers little here in Atlanta by way of snow, so I wait eagerly for spring. This year, however it seems that the trees put out their decorations one morning and took them down faster than we do our Christmas decorations. And with the present drought, color is few and far between.

However, the birds are there. Flitting, swooping, zooming in and out, they attract me with their calls and their swift movements. One of my favorites is the red bird. I don't know the scientific name for it, but it's just red all over. It flits by and is gone quicker than my eyes can follow it. A friend told me she also loves the little creature. She said when her sister had to undergo an operation she was so worried, she prayed constantly that the surgery would be successful. She said while she sat on her porch praying, a red bird flitted by. On impulse she prayed, "Lord, if my sister is going to be allright, let me see another red bird." Not long after her prayers were answered. Since she told me this story, every time I see a red bird I ask the Lord to let me see another. And always, without my thinking about it, I would see another one before I get to work.

What does it mean? Maybe nothing. Or maybe God is just assuring me that He is there. Just as my friend prayed for that sign and God answered, I believe God is telling me, "I am here whenever you need Me. You may not see Me all the time, but I am here." In Isaiah 65:24 he says, "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear."

Fess up.

This week a family in Atlanta scored a victory when two policemem involved in the shooting death of a ninety two year old woman pleaded guilty to planting evidence in the woman's house, lying and other things in an attempt to cover up the fact that they had botched a drug bust. I celebrate with the family, although the officers' confession and subsequent jail sentence will not bring the lady back. However it does give a sense of satisfaction to the family and to the community.

This reminds me of a passage I read in the Bible a few days ago in Luke 12:2-3. "There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs"(NIV).

Did those officers really expect to get away with what they had done? Maybe. Others have in the past. But God is watching them and He is watching us. We may not commit a dastardly act like these policemen did, but God still sees, and He expects us to fess up before He "proclaims it from the roofs".

So let's ask ourselves, what are we hiding? What have we done that we would not tell our best friend about? Cheating, lying or even murder? No problem. We have another Best Friend we can confide in, and He won't tell anyone. His name is Jesus. He will forgive us and keep on loving us, just as He loves those policemen. And if we ask Him, He will give us the grace to abstain from whatever it is. God bless.

Sound off!

I usually don't sound off on things that are happening in the country, but after the tragedy at Virginia Tech last week, I feel I should say something. Contrary to what the President of the college said, I don't think every thing was done to prevent the massacre. I believe that after the first two people were murdered, shock must have rendered the authorities impotent to handle the situation, because in my opinion more could have been done to offset the massacre that followed.

For the college to remain open after the first two murders is to treat the situation like if someone had just stolen cookies from the cookie jar. Did authorities think the atmosphere following the shooting would be conducive to learning, or teaching? Did they expect to have business as usual after two people had been murdered on the campus? Did they hope to find the gunman on a campus of over twenty thousand students?

However, leveling blame would not bring back that teacher who used his body to protect his students, or those students who left home that morning with hopes of a bright future. My heart goes out to the bereaved families and friends and to the Chos who are hurting in a way we may never understand. But as some have said, let us hope that this incident would spark a lot of dialog as to how to prevent a similar recurrence from happening anywhere in the country.

Be a gold-digger

I recently discovered that the pages of my journal in which I've been writing for years now, are gilt-edged. So, you say, what is so special about that? Nothing, really, except that I discovered it after the pages have turned cream and are not so crisp any more. And as I stared at the gilt edges glinting in the light of the morning sun filtering through my bedroom window, I thought, how many people, situations in my life that seem ordinary are really extraordinary?

Have we searched for the gold in that husband, wife, child, brother, sister or friend with whom we interact day in and day out? The one who appears to have no special gift or value? Sometimes it's only when that person is removed from our lives that we appreciate the valuable qualities he or she had.

Or that job that seems so mundane, useful only to pay the bills, may have some gold beneath the dreary exterior. Maybe it's the friends we've made there or the skills we've acquired, or the fact that they always remember our birthday.

How about that situation that keeps you up at nights, sometimes causing you to reach for the Pepto Bismol? Even there, in that situation, you may find some gold. For the Bible says, "All things work together for good to them that love the Lord, and are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

So take a closer look around you, at the people in your life, the situations, the job, your environment, and you may find things beneath the surface that astonish you. You may strike gold, and when you do, treat it as the precious substance that it is,never becoming obsolete, always increasing in value.

God bless.

Good news

This week I received the good news that the book Cup of Comfort for Mothers, in which one of my devotionals is published, is about to hit the bookstores, just in time for Mother's Day. And why is this good news? Because it's the first meaningful publication I've ever had. This book will be widely circulated throughout the US and possibly abroad.

However, I'm also excited because the book will really be a source of comfort for mothers everywhere. Just yesterday I was speaking to a new found friend, and I told her about a program I listened to on my car radio where a woman was lamenting the fact that she'd brought up her child in church, but the child rebelled, and now she is filled with guilt. The host told her she should not blame herself because God, the perfect Father, created Adam and Eve, put them in a perfect environment, and they still rebelled.

As a mother, I also struggled with guilt over my two younger sons who have also rebelled against my Christian teachings. And that's what prompted me to write the devotional for Cup of Comfort. After I spoke to my friend yesterday, she shared with me her own struggle with guilt over her child. When I told my friend about the devotional, and how I'd come to realize that God never gives up on us, she hugged me and said, "Thanks. I needed to hear that."

It's true. God never gives up on us, no matter how much we hurt Him, therefore we should not feel guilty, neither should we give up on our children. I hope this encourages somebody today, and remember to look for Cup of Comfort for Mothers in bookstores next month. God bless you.

Turn Around

As a new resident of Atlanta I find the roads, particularly the expressway, confusing. Every time I head south I get lost. This weekend I was sure I had good directions and would not make the same mistake again. Wishful thinking. I exited at a place where the numbers were lower than the exit I was supposed to take. I kept thinking the miraculous would happen and the numbers would get higher again. More wishful thinking. I passed four exits before I decided to get off and call the hotel where my meeting was being held. Sure enough, I was instructed to turn around and head north.

Has this happened to you? Have you ever felt yourself going in the wrong direction and waited too long before deciding to turn around? Fortunately, I had left home early so I arrived at the hotel exactly on time, but harried and nervous. All of this could have been avoided had I turned around sooner.

So it is with sin. Many times we feel the warning signs telling us to stop and turn around, but we do not heed them. We keep on going until circumstances force us to stop. As we travel along the road of life, let us pay attention to the signs along the way, and as soon as we realize we're going in the wrong direction, let's turn around. If we don't, we may arrive before our Maker, not just harried and nervous, but frightened and condemned.

Hold on

This past week my mind was saddened by the disasters that occurred here in Georgia and neighboring Alabama. In case you didn't watch the news, tornadoes touched down in these two places taking a number of lives, including that of eight children in Alabama. And as if that wasn't enough some baseball players and others injured when their bus hit the overpass and tumbled over to the highway below.

Always one to cry easily, I wept as I watched the news, thinking of the age-old question, Why do bad things happen to good people? Of course there are no answers, but I do want to extend some words of comfort to the families who lost their loved ones and to the people who lost their homes and possessions.

When the storms hit
And life looks bleak
When all we can do is ask "God, why?"
As lives and dreams bid us good-bye.
Hold on.

When we have no more tears to shed,
And sorrow still rears his ugly head
When nothing one can say will bring back
that child, that house, that smile.
Hold on

For the sun will shine again,
Hope and peace will be yours again
Your shoulders will straighten
Your burden will lighten
Dear one, hold on.

We'll Be Together

Celebrities usually draw nation wide attention during their lifetime, but sometimes even more so through their death. And when this passing is an untimely one as happened in the case of a super model recently, the attention is widespread and riveting.

But what prompted this blog more than anything is the action of a Florida judge who had the task of deciding where the lady's remains should be buried. According to the news report, the judge broke down in tears as he read his ruling, viz that the lady should be buried next to her son who also died under tragic circumstances last year. The judge, amidst tears said, "I want them to be together."

Those words have stuck with me ever since. How many of us share that same wish when we think of our own passing? I know my dearest wish would be to have my loved ones with me when I pass on. Not their earthly remains, but their eternal soul, and I want us to be together in a place where worms will not eat at us, a place where we'll live happily ever after.

I can think of no better place but heaven with my Lord Jesus Christ. But in order to get there we, and our loved ones, must first accept Him into our lives and live according to His teachings. Then we can be assured we will be "together" and the judge who will make that ruling will be none other than Jesus Christ Himself. Just think about it.
God bless.

The Alligator Story

This week I came across a little story about a woman, let’s call her Liz, who was in love with a man we’ll call Greg. Liz wanted to go and meet Greg but in order to get to him she had to cross a river teeming with alligators, and to make matters worse the bridge over the river was washed out. So Liz went to Captain Sinbad and asked him to take her across in his boat. Sinbad demanded certain favors which Liz refused. She then approached Harry who turned her down, so she went back to Sinbad and agreed to his terms. Once the deal was closed, Sinbad fulfilled his promise and delivered her into Greg’s arms. However, when Liz told Greg what she had to do in order to get to him, Greg became angry and dumped her. Liz found another guy, Sampson, who beat Greg up for the way he treated Liz, and in the end Liz and Sampson ride off in the sunset together.

Now this did not happen on the Jerry Springer show or one of the popular soaps. However, when we examine the story closely we may judge Liz for her lack of morals or Greg for his unwillingness to forgive, but I think the take of the story is how far would we go to get what we want. This lady was willing to cross a river teeming with alligators in order to get to the man she loved, or thought she loved.

I think for all of us there is a Greg that we may be prepared to go to any lengths to have. Our Greg may be a job, a promotion, a spouse, a car. Whatever it is we have to be careful, especially as women, not to compromise our values, because like Liz we may realize that our Greg is not really worth the trouble. God bless.

Lose The Weight

This month two of my female co-workers have had liposuction to make their bodies look slimmer and more sexy. I admire their courage as well as their new appearance, and while at first I was tempted to criticize, the more I thought about it the idea began to appeal to me. After all, I have some areas, my arms especially, that could benefit from suctioning as well.

Plastic surgery is the fastest growing area in the medical field. Face lifts, tummy tucks and breast implants, initially the domain of the Hollywood crowd, are now being sought after by ordinary housewife or working woman. One of my co-workers said the liposuction took ten pounds off her instantly. No sweat, no hunger pangs, no pain. Just a few thousand dollars and the surgeon’s scalpel. Sounds tempting, very tempting.

But I know of another procedure that can take pounds and pounds of weight off you instantly. It might not flatten your tummy or trim your thighs, but it will give you a sense of peace and unspeakable joy you never dreamed possible. It’s giving your life to Jesus. He can trim the weights of anger, hopelessness, depression, guilt, fear and many others.

All you have to do is believe that Jesus, the Son of God, came to this earth and died that you might live. Then ask Him to come into your heart, and He will. He will fill you so completely there will be no room for any other weight. And as an added bonus He will show you how to lose any extra physical weight you may be carrying around. Try it and see.

Hope in God

In my job as a behavioral health therapist I come across a lot of people suffering from depression who are hopeless and helpless. In fact, one depressed patient once said to me, "I have no dreams; I have no hope." And from his constricted affect I knew he was speaking the truth.

Many times I ask myself what terrible circumstances conspire to render someone so hopeless that they think of taking their own lives, or occupy their thoughts with death wishes.

In my own life I can identify with some of the struggles that many of my patients face, and yet I continue to function normally. My friends, too, have issues that beg for understanding and compassion - the death of a child, loss of a job, an unexpected diagnosis, divorce - and yet they continue to function. Sometimes the circumstances may not be severe, but they gnaw at our peace just the same. And we all experience them. Someone said, "Show me the person who doesn't have problems and I'll show you someone who isn't breathing."

So what separates those of us on the outside of a psychiatric unit from those on the inside? Better mental and emotional health? Inner strength? God? Our genetic make up? All of these can determine whether we succumb to depression or not, but the fact is if we do succumb there is hope in God. We do not have to say like that young man, "I have no hope." The Bible tells us, "Hope thou in God." We need to hope in Him, not in our wealth, position, our physician, or our therapist, but in God.

Father forgive them

I recently became a fan of a secular program, and for me that is a rare thing. It happened because of one contestant who had the nerve to stand up to the insufferable Simon after he insulted her with his remarks about her size. The charming, talented young woman told Simon in no uncertain terms that she forgave him without needing an apology because Jesus had forgiven her! To have the boldness to say that on national TV is a gift that could only have come from God. When I heard it I thought, I have to see who this person is, so I watched the show this week and was very impressed.

In reading about the trailblazers that shaped the future of African Americans, I came across a young lady who also displayed a great lesson of forgiveness. Six-year-old Ruby Bridges was bused to the Franz Elementary School in New Orleans under desegregation laws, and met with a great deal of persecution from the white parents, so much so that President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered that she be escorted by marshals to school every day.

As a result parents kept their children away from the school as a mark of protest, so little Ruby sat alone in the school while her teacher taught her. But it is recorded that while she was being escorted she prayed, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Eventually the whites woke up to the realization that their kids were not being educated and they sent them back to school.

I spoke to a man the other day who said, “I will never forgive my ex-wife for what she did to me. Never!” He admitted that he was only hurting himself, and when I told him that Jesus chose to forgive the Roman soldiers who tortured and killed Him, he became even more angry and stormed away. But whether you’re dealing with a Simon, an errant spouse or a whole bunch of enemies, forgiveness wins every time.

Women of courage

How does a woman juggle housework and babies while her husband spends more time in jail than in helping to raise the kids? And in addition to performing her role as wife and mother still finds time to take part in protest rallies, speak to scores of people and protect her children from a bomb or two. This week we mourn the passing of one such woman, Coretta Scott King.

In writing this blog I was prompted by two things: one, it’s Black History month and two, a film of Gandhi which I viewed recently. Coretta King, wife of civil rights leader Martin Luther King and Kasturba “Ba” Gandhi were married to men who achieved world wide acclaim because of their extraordinary dedication to fighting injustice in their societies. However, I believe these men would not have achieved such greatness had they not been blessed with such exceptional mates.

Coretta King gave up the bright lights of a singing career to become the wife of a Baptist minister in 1953. Like Kasturba, Coretta also gave birth to four children. Early in the marriage she worked alongside her husband, or it was more like walked in marches beside him, traveled abroad with him and spoke on her husband’s behalf when he was unable to do so. However, while Mrs. Gandhi passed away before her husband, Coretta survived Martin Luther King by four decades. Determined that the work her husband began would live on, Coretta gave herself no time to mourn. Just four days after his death she led a march through the streets of Memphis, and attended the Poor People’s March in Washington later that year.

Over the years, Coretta King continued to work tirelessly in her husband’s memory, establishing the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia and achieving the goal of having her husband’s birthday honored as a public holiday in Jan. 1986. She continued to travel the globe preaching the gospel of equality and became a goodwill ambassador and advisor to world leaders including Nelson Mandela.

Like most wives of men in the limelight, Coretta and Kasturba had to put up with the scores of women who admired and followed their husbands. Despite rumors of infidelity on Martin Luther’s part, Coretta “stood by her man” as did Kasturba when women took her place in attending to Gandhi’s needs, and the world speculated on their non-sexual relationship. Whether we are married to a leader or a subordinate, we can learn from Coretta and Kasturba. Two women, two different worlds, many eras apart, but their message is the same: loyalty, devotion and courage. God calls us to no less.

Father forgive them

This past week my heart was warmed and saddened at the same time by a story in the Miami Herald about a man who had been set free after being incarcerated for twenty four years for a crime he didn’t commit. Crotzer is not the first, and hopefully would not be the last. Technology, via DNA testing, has made it possible for someone’s innocence or guilt to be proven years after a crime was committed. So today Crotzer and many others are free as a result of this, as well as the untiring efforts of their defense lawyers and the New York-based Innocence Project.

Many people rejoice at this turn of events, but for Crotzer and others like him who lost a big chunk of their lives, the road to true freedom is littered with obstacles. Diaz, a man freed after twenty six years, hardly ever leaves his house. His wife remarried, and he now lives with his daughter and her family. Crotzer, on the other hand, would like to find a job. But what skills does he have to live and work in the twenty first century? When he was released he had to be taught how to use a cell phone and how to swipe a card to open a hotel door, according to the Herald. A lot has taken place in twenty-four years.

However, two things struck me most about this story. The first is that Crotzer said he had no bitterness against anyone for robbing him of twenty-four years of his life. To suffer what he suffered and not be bitter is almost unbelievable. It’s almost like Jesus asking God to forgive the Roman soldiers for crucifying Him. How many of us could be like that? I don’t know if I could.

The other thing that struck me is that Crotzer’s mother passed away four years prior to his release. Crotzer said that is the one thing he regretted. And I believe that mother must have been praying all the while she waited for something to happen. Never underestimate the power of prayer. You might not live to see the answer, but the answer will come if you persist in prayer.

So let us send up a prayer of thanksgiving for Crotzer and the others, let us pray for the defense lawyers and the Innocence Project. Most of all, let us pray that the deadline, set for July of this year in Florida, for cases to be retried based on DNA evidence will be removed completely so that more innocent victims could be set free.

Happy New Year!

Jan 8, 2006

Believe me, this is not what I planned for my first blog for 2006. I wanted to open with something upbeat like goal-planning or New Year’s resolutions, instead I find myself writing about death. The son of one of my co-workers died by accident the day before New Year’s Eve, and it put a damper on my spirits as well as the rest of the staff who worked with her.

Even though I never knew him, his passing filled me with such sadness that I had to force myself to get over it. He was only eighteen, cut off in a horrible way while not yet in his prime. As we attended the viewing, my heart broke at the sight of the lonely casket standing at the head of the aisle, unopened, while my friend courageously greeted friends and acquaintances. I couldn’t say anything to her. No words, however eloquent, would be adequate. I conveyed my feelings with a deep hug, and left as soon as I could.

And yet death is a daily occurrence. Someone said in the midst of life there is death. We heard of the death of the coal miners in Virginia, the death of the soldiers in Iraq, and many others, and we feel sympathy for the families. But when death dares to come inside, or close to, our door, our feelings are shattered. That this enemy could triumph over us is more than we can bear. The Bible says “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). And again in v 22 it says, “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death”).

Thank God that because of Jesus Christ death is not the end for us or our loved ones who have accepted Him as our Savior. No, it’s not the end, but the beginning of a glorious reign with Him in His heavenly kingdom.