COMPASSION, THY NAME IS LOVE

COMPASSION, THY NAME IS LOVE

Empathy is the ability to stand in the shoes of others, to be fully aware of their situations while being absolutely sensitive to their emotions and needs, to proactively demonstrate sincere and selfless compassion.

In February 2012, Cory Weissman led the men’s basketball team of Gettysburg College onto the court for the last game of the season.  Four years earlier he suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed on one side.  After years of rehab he was able to walk with a limp, but was still physically incapable of competitive play.  Before his stroke he had been a member of the team and the coach wanted to give him a few seconds on the court in his senior year.  So Cory was nominated captain and led out the starting five for what would be his last game at Gettysburg.

Aware of his physical challenges and struggles, the crowd and the players from both teams greeted Cory with wild applause.  The Gettysburg coach gave him a few minutes on the court before benching him.

With one minute to go, Gettysburg was well ahead so the coach sent Cory back onto the court.   The Washington College coach then called time out and instructed his players to foul Cory Weissman.  For those who don’t know basketball, this was a generous act because it meant Cory would be given two free shots at the basket.

Cory took his place at the line, felt the weight of the ball in his hands, lifted it, shot, but missed badly.  He had a second shot left.  Again he felt the weight of the ball in his hands, lifted it and shot.  This time the ball flew straight through the hoop, and the crowd broke out in thunderous applause.

David Wright, Gettysburg’s vice president for athletics, wrote a letter to the Washington College president: “Your coach, Rob Nugent, along with his staff and student-athletes, displayed a measure of compassion that I have never witnessed in over 30 years of involvement in intercollegiate athletics.  Thank you.”

Sometimes we simply fail to ‘see’ others.  Somehow it’s easier to adopt a DEFICIT MODEL which allows us to magnify the flaws and failures of our fellows.  However, no one should be defined by his/her ‘life-limp’ or challenges.  Centuries ago, the abundant grace and mercy of Jesus Christ mobilized an atoning intervention that (thankfully) looked beyond human fault and addressed our salvation need.  His life was compassion personified.  His story is unconditional and unlimited love.  Today, we strive to emulate the character of our living Lord, which can be summed up in one word: AGAPE, which is sacrificial love. 

Are you ready and willing to display the compassion of CHRIST in your family and community?

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

PARTNERSHIP WITH GOD

PARTNERSHIP WITH GOD

A newly appointed pastor went to visit the home of a congregation member.  Upon arriving, the minister discovered that his host was an avid gardener and was delighted to show his pastor around his lovely garden, a magnificent sea of green, purple, blue, white, pink and yellow.

Wanting to set their relationship off on both a positive and spiritual note, the pastor remarked, “Praise God for the beauty of his handiwork!”

But his host replied in a somewhat offended tone, “Now pastor, don’t go giving all the credit to God.  You should have seen this garden when the Almighty had it to himself!”

The gardener’s comment seems somewhat irreverent on the face of it, but there is a theological truth in his perspective.  Actually, God has designed this world in such a way that HE works in partnership with US.  And as we work in harmony with Heaven, God’s objectives will be achieved on earth.  Indeed, we are His planetary stewards – not only over His entire creation – but over all our allotted time, talent and treasure.

Invest yourself.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

WE THAT ARE STRONG

WE THAT ARE STRONG

A little girl arrived home late for dinner and her Mom made a concerned parent’s expected demand to know where she had been.

The little girl replied that she had stopped to help her friend, Janie, whose bicycle was broken in a fall.

“But you don’t know anything about fixing bicycles,” her mother responded.

“I know,” the girl said. “I just stopped to help her cry.”

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak. (Romans 15:1)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

ARE YOU GOD'S WIFE?

ARE YOU GOD'S WIFE?

How you respond to others really matters.

One cold wintry day a 10-year-old boy was standing barefoot in front of a shoe store, peering through the window, and shivering with cold.  An elderly lady approached the boy and asked what he was doing.

“I was just asking God to give me a pair of shoes,” the boy replied.

The lady took him by the hand and went into the store, and asked the clerk to get a half dozen pairs of socks for the boy.  She then asked if he could provide a basin of water and a towel.  The clerk knew the lady quite well, so he immediately responded to her request.  She then took the boy to the back part of the store, knelt down, washed his little feet and carefully dried them with a towel.

Placing a pair of the socks on the boy’s feet, she then purchased him a pair of new shoes, tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him with a loving smile.  She patted the young boy on the head and asked, “No doubt, my little fellow, you feel more comfortable now?”

As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand.  Looking up in her face with tears in his eyes, he answered her query with an innocent one of his own: “Are you God’s wife?”

Life always affords opportunities to be channels of blessings for others.  We might not have the financial resources to contribute significantly in tangible gifts to others, but we can always give of our time and our talent.  Why not make the wise and wondrous decision to be the extended hands and feet of GOD?

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

GEESE TALK

GEESE TALK

When we see geese flying in “V” formation, we should consider what science has discovered regarding the reason they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately behind. By flying in “V” formation, the whole flock creates a 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew along on its own.

Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of going it alone – and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. Likewise, people who share a common direction and sense of community get where they are going more rapidly and smoothly because they travel utilizing the emotional and spiritual thrust of one another. If we have the same common sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with people who are headed in the same direction.

When the lead goose grows tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose then flies point. It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether it be with migrating geese or with mission-minded people.

Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. What messages are we giving to those in our ‘life formation’ – whether they are in front or behind?

Finally, when a goose gets sick or wounded and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend support and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies, and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group. If we have the wisdom of geese, we will stand by each other just like that.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

BROKEN, BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL

BROKEN, BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL

Just because something in your life breaks, it does not mean that you are through! 

The Italian violinist, Niccolo Paganini, is thought by many to have been history’s greatest proponent of his musical art.  As his fame swept through Europe in the early 1800’s, it was something similar to ‘Beatlemania’ in the 1960s!  His level of musical skill was so extraordinary that a popular rumor suggested that he might have gained his ability from a pact with the devil.

One summer evening Paganini was performing before a packed house.  As he embarked on the final piece, one of the strings on his violin snapped.  Undeterred, Paganini kept playing.  A few moments later, a second string snapped.  Again Paganini persisted with his performance, at this point reduced to playing a classical masterpiece with just two strings.  And then the unbelievable happened – a third string snapped.  Yet Paganini continued and finished the piece beautifully, on just one string.  So brilliant was his violin performance that the audience simultaneously rose to their feet and gave him a very long standing ovation.

Paganini was not finished for there was the encore to come.  Raising his violin above his head Paganini called out to the audience “Paganini, and one string!”  With that the orchestra joined in and Paginini completed a phenomenal encore on just one string.

The musical maestro had a magnificent violin, but it experienced a catastrophic failure that night.  Yet even with three strings broken this master musician was able to produce magnificent music.  Paganini’s situation only seemed broken, but his boldness and proficiency resulted in profound, rare and awesome beauty.

Never fear.  F.E.A.R. is False Evidence Appearing Real.  Consider this.  What would you DO, if you KNEW you couldn’t fail?

Indeed, you and I are just like that flawed instrument, providentially positioned in the loving hands of The Master.  It’s a grace thing.  No matter how fragile and flawed we might be, as we surrender our time, talent and treasure to Him, bountiful blessings will “overtake” us. (Deuteronomy 28:2)

Our destiny as the BROKEN is to become a BOLD and BEAUTIFUL channels of God’s grace, mercy and love.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of GOD, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” (II Corinthians 4:7-9)

In the wise words of Our Lord, “If you CONTINUE in My word, then are you My disciples indeed.” (John 8:31)

Winner-believers never quit.  My friend, persevere!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

WHO WILL IT BE...BOAZ OR BOZO?

WHO WILL IT BE…BOAZ OR BOZO?

My brother, Bishop Edwin C. Bass, is the Chief Operating Officer of the Church of God in Christ. He is also an anointed preacher.  I love his theological treatment of the sacrament of marriage, particularly as it relates to those mission-critical destiny decisions that are made by women regarding their future spouses. 

My brother’s sermonic exegesis contains a brilliant analogy that goes something like this: In the field of mathematics, we classify integers such as 1, 2, and 3 as WHOLE NUMBERS.  Invariably, whenever a WHOLE NUMBER is multiplied by a FRACTION, the PRODUCT is something substantially LESS.  For example, if you multiply the whole number “10” by the fraction “1/2” – the answer [the product] is “5” – which means that the whole number “10” has been greatly reduced by its interaction with the fraction, one-half. 

The spiritual application is simple, yet quite profound.  Instead of seeking and submitting to the WISE COUNSEL OF GOD, many women (who start out in life as WHOLE NUMBERS), choose to join in marital covenant with a FRACTION (a broken, immature, undisciplined and ungodly man) and thus their PRODUCT (the results that are produced) are significantly less than what they started out with and what GOD ultimately intends for their lives.  WOW!

It reminds me of the biblical story of a young woman by the name of Ruth who had the courage to abandon her cultural roots in order to align herself with a righteous woman by the name of Naomi.  Originally, Naomi’s family members were citizens of Bethlehem of Judah.  Yet they spent a decade in the nation of Moab due to a severe famine in Israel.  In the intervening years, her husband died.  And, after marrying two Moabite women, her two sons also died.

Ultimately, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, although she was now impoverished and penniless.  Ruth loved Naomi and sought to do all she could to comfort and sustain her mother-in-law in her old age.  Ruth’s story is both fascinating and providential.  One of the directives God had given Moses to observe was that harvesters would leave a portion of their fields unharvested so that the poor would be able to glean the remnants and have food. (Leviticus 19:9-10) While Ruth was gleaning for grain, a wealthy landowner by the name of Boaz noticed her.

What initially caught the attention of Boaz was not Ruth’s appearance, but her dedication, focus and industry.  Boaz directed his harvesters to deliberately drop ample amounts of grain in Ruth’s vicinity so she could gather them without undue labor or embarrassment.  Boaz was a type of Christ.  As a family relative of Naomi, he was a kinsman.  As a gracious benefactor, he was a redeemer.  Therefore, Boaz is a KINSMAN-REDEEMER, a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah who, as our ELDER BROTHER, i.e. “the firstborn among many brethren,” REDEEMED us from the power, practice and penalty of sin. (Romans 8:29)

Because of Ruth’s HEARTFELT DEDICATION to living the right way, she was positioned and empowered for a covenant connection with BOAZ and with GOD.  To wit, both Boaz and Ruth’s names are included in the family genealogy of Jesus Christ: “Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, BOAZ begot Obed by RUTH, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.” (Matthew 1:5)  Indeed, they were the great-grandparents of King David, who is a direct ancestor of JESUS CHRIST!

One final thought…

RAHAB, the mother of Boaz was a PROSTITUTE who did not allow her past to get in the way of choosing the right side, GOD’S SIDE. (Joshua 2:1-21)   Despite Rabab’s past, she is afforded a very honorable mention among those whom GOD designates as HEROES OF THE FAITH. (Hebrews 11:31) You see, it’s not what you are going THROUGH that counts so much.  It’s what you are going TO that really matters to God!

My sisters, regardless of your past choices, conduct, or character, you are now living in a DESTINY MOMENT.  As such, you have the gracious option to make wise and Godly decisions from this point forward.  Boaz adds substantially to your life-situation.  Predictably, Bozo merely distracts and subtracts.  So ladies, who will it be?  Boaz or Bozo?

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

WHAT ABOUT TOMORROW?

[Editor's Note: Belinda and I were ministering in South Africa for the past month, and devotional posts have been unavailable.  We are now home in Connecticut.  Thanks so much for your understanding and prayers].

WHAT ABOUT TOMORROW?

Belinda and I were deeply saddened on Sunday when we learned of the passing of Lady Valerie Sexton while we were ministering in South Africa.  Lady Valerie ‘is’ an extraordinary disciple of Jesus Christ, a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and capable First Lady of Mt. Sinai Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York.  We are fully confident that she now inhabits eternity – in sweet communion with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

We offer fervent prayers for Bishop Clarence Sexton, Jr., the entire Sexton Family, the Mt. Sinai Cathedral Family, the New York 4^th Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and all who have known and loved Lady Valerie Sexton.

In a world where supreme emphasis and confidence are all too often invested in the here-and-now, what thought have YOU given to the possibility of meeting your Maker, either today or tomorrow?  What will it be like to see JESUS and inherit the benefits of an eternal fellowship with Him and all the saints of the ages? Harry Blamires offered an apt description of the afterlife in his article entitled “The Eternal Weight of Glory,” published by “Christianity Today” in June, 2003.

Blamires confirms the grand and glorious hope of a resurrection for all believers in Christ Jesus.  But he wonders (in his article) what the resurrected body would actually be like.  Not surprisingly, Blamires offers the helpful illustration of the butterfly.  As the caterpillar is to the butterfly, so our present body is to our resurrected body.  There is continuity but there is also difference.

Just as the caterpillar’s body is suited to the realm of the ground, and the butterfly’s to flight through the air, so our present bodies may be suited to this world of sin, but our resurrected bodies will be suited to the life of the Spirit, existing in a world that is eternal and without limits.  And just as it would be impossible for the most intelligent caterpillar to begin to imagine what life would be like as a butterfly, so we struggle to imagine the resurrection life.  In the words of the Apostle Paul, “we know in part.” (I Corinthians 13:12)

But we may be absolutely sure that it will be an entirely superlative and supernatural experience.  The Word tells us that “eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which GOD has prepared for those who love Him.” (I Corinthians 2:9)

When we think of the caterpillar, we think of its life in terms of it morphing into a butterfly.  We define its present existence by its future.  So too, our present existence is defined by the future God has in store for us.  Hold on, my friend.  It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.

Keep your eyes on the prize!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!