BEING GRATEFUL

BEING GRATEFUL

Gratitude looks good on you.  As we arrive at the twilight of this year and the dawn of the next, we should prayerfully recall all of God’s manifold blessings and clearly voice gratitude for every single thing that He has done.  After all, no matter what challenges we have faced during this year, God has been mighty good to us.

An unknown author penned these very wise words.  “Ingratitude denotes spiritual immaturity. Infants do not always appreciate what parents do for them. They have short memories. Their concern is not what you did for me yesterday, but what are you doing for me today.” 

My friends, let us continue to mature in our thankfulness and be rightfully accused by Heaven of living in a state of sincere and persistent gratitude.  “Thank You, Lord, for all that You are…and all that You’ve done.”

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

NO SHORTCUTS

NO SHORTCUTS

There are no easy answers in life.  Indeed, we must work our way through difficult moments and challenging circumstances.  Life is a process.  A constant search for shortcuts results in disappointment and limits on personal growth and development.

The Christian author, Philip Yancey, penned the following in his book, Disappointment With God.  “Human beings grow by striving, working, stretching; and in a sense, human nature needs problems more than solutions. Why are not all prayers answered magically and instantly? Why must every convert travel the same tedious path of spiritual discipline? Because persistent prayer, and fasting, and study, and meditation are designed primarily for our sakes, not for God’s. Kierkegaard said that Christians remind him of schoolboys who want to look up the answers to their math problems in the back of the book rather than work them through. We yearn for shortcuts. But shortcuts usually lead away from growth, not toward it.” 

My friend, never disdain or avoid challenges.  A Chinese proverb says, “Every crisis has two heads, one of danger and one of opportunity.”  We must go through it (difficulty)…to get to it (destiny)!

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

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER

The following story from “Our Daily Bread” is reprinted for your information and inspiration.

While crossing the Atlantic, F.B. Meyer was asked to address the first-class ship passengers. At the captain’s request he spoke on “Answered Prayer.” An agnostic who was present at the service was asked by his friends, “What did you think of Dr. Meyer’s sermon?” He responded, “I didn't believe a word of it!" That afternoon Meyer went to preach to passengers in the lower decks. Many of the listeners at his morning address tagged along, including the agnostic, who claimed he just wanted to “hear what the babbler had to say.”

Before attending the service, the agnostic put two oranges in his pockets. On his way he passed an elderly woman sitting on her deck chair fast asleep, and her hands were open. In the spirit of fun, the agnostic put the two oranges in her outstretched palms. After the meeting, he saw the old lady happily eating one of the pieces of fruit. “You seem to be enjoying that orange,” he remarked with a smile. “Yes, sir,” she replied, “my Father is very good to me.” The agnostic sneered, “Your father? Surely your father can’t be still alive.” “Praise God,” the woman replied, “He is very much alive!”

“What do you mean?” pressed the agnostic. She explained, “I’ll tell you, sir. I have been quite seasick and I asked God to somehow send me an orange. I suppose I fell asleep while I was praying. I woke up and found He had not only sent me one orange, but two!” The agnostic was speechless. Later he was converted to Christ. Yes, praying to God definitely brings answers.

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

IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE

IT’S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE

There might be moments in life when self-perceptions are at an all-time low.  However, appearances can certainly be deceiving.  Although it’s a lengthy story, consider the case of one man whose actions brought about national condemnation and ostracism.

As a student of history, I love the story of U.S. Senator Edmund G. Ross of Kansas.  Historians could casually label him as ‘Mr. Nobody’ since no national law bears his name.  Not a single list of Senate greats would reference his service.  Yet when Ross entered the Senate in 1866, he was considered a rising star destined to surpass his colleagues, but he tossed it all away by one courageous act of conscience.

Here’s what happened.  In the aftermath of the Civil War, conflict seriously divided our government.  President Andrew Johnson was determined to follow Lincoln’s policy of reconciliation toward the South.  However, Congress wanted to rule the defeated Confederate states with an iron fist.

Shortly after Senator Ross was seated, the Senate introduced impeachment proceedings against the hated President.  Thirty-six votes were needed and everyone concluded that the thirty-sixth would come from Edmund Ross.  But to the surprise of many, Ross declared that the president “deserved as fair a trial as any accused man has ever had on earth.”  As a result, Ross received an avalanche of anti-Johnson telegrams from every section of the country.

The fateful day of the vote arrived and courtroom galleries were packed.  Only the vote of Senator Ross was needed to impeach the President.  The Chief Justice asked in a trembling voice, “Senator Ross, how vote you?  Is the respondent Andrew Johnson guilty as charged?”  Ross later revealed his thoughts at that moment: “I looked into my open grave.  Friendships, position, fortune, and everything that makes life desirable were about to be swept away by the breath of my mouth, perhaps forever.”  Then, his answer came, unhesitating and unmistakable: “Not guilty!”  With that, the trial was over and the response was quite predictable.

Officials from his home state wired Ross to say: “Kansas repudiates you as she does all perjurers and skunks!”  His political career was in ruins.  Extreme ostracism, and even physical attack awaited his family on their return home.  One gloomy day Ross turned to his faithful wife and said, “Millions cursing me today will bless me tomorrow...though no one but God can know the struggle it has cost me.”  It was a prophetic declaration.  Twenty years later Congress and the Supreme Court verified the wisdom of his position by changing the federal laws related to impeachment.

Ross was appointed Territorial Governor of New Mexico, and he was thereafter awarded a special pension by Congress.  The national press and people eventually honored his courage which saved our nation from crisis and division. 

My friend, your current courageous convictions could cost a great deal – the loss of fortune, fame, or friendship – but they will be affirmed in time by righteous people and honored in eternity by God.

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

THE BRIGHTER SIDE OF HOPELESSNESS

THE BRIGHTER SIDE OF HOPELESSNESS

The past two years constitute a collective time of tempest and trouble in our society and world.  The Coronavirus pandemic cost the loss of over one million lives in America and 6.7 million worldwide.   Sadly, that number is once again trending upward, and many have lost scores of family members, friends, co-workers, professionals and fellow clergy.  Millions of young students are caught up in a dangerous vortex of confusion, fear and despair due to the increasing threat of school violence and the disconcerting social disconnect in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.  To wit, depression is escalating at a monumental rate that is totally challenging for mental health professionals.

Nevertheless, in the middle of such overwhelming obstacles, there is hope.  May I offer ‘Exhibit A,’ the following true story, as a rational basis for my optimistic belief:

Many years ago a young Midwestern lawyer suffered from such deep depression that his friends thought it best to keep all knives and razors out of reach.  He seriously questioned his life-calling and wondered whether it would be worthwhile to continue.  During that terribly depressing time, he wrote, “I am now the most miserable man living.  Whether I shall ever be better, I cannot tell.  I have an awful foreboding that I shall not.”  But somehow, Abraham Lincoln received the encouragement and hope he so desperately needed.  He got back on track and the historic achievements of his life are remarkable indeed.

My friend, if you or your loved ones are experiencing a sense of hopelessness or clinical depression, please know that there is no stigma or shame in pursuing counseling and therapy.  Get help, and keep looking up; brighter days are coming.  It’s too soon to quit.  Our God has a mysterious and miraculous way of showing up on time.  He did it for Abraham Lincoln, and since He loves us all in equal measure, surely He will do the same for you.  There is hope.  Hang in there…and believe.

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

NOEL: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SEASON

NOEL: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SEASON

The French word “Noel” is derived from the Latin root, “natalis,” which means BIRTHDAY.  When capitalized, it is synonymous with the angelic heralding of yuletide or Christmas, the birthdate of Jesus Christ.  This term came into popular usage when popular Christmas song, “The First Noel,” was penned during the 18th century by an English composer.  Its joyous lyrics are perennially familiar:

 

The first Noel, the Angels did say

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep

On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,

Born is the King of Israel!

Nevertheless, as we reflect upon our contemporary celebrations of Christmas, the central message of the miraculous incarnation and birth of the Messiah seems noticeably absent.

Our focus seems to be mostly on the festivities, food, parties, exchanging of gifts and gatherings with our family and friends.  The result is a time of tremendous emotional upheaval and widespread depression (even suicide), especially among those who lack sufficient resources to fulfill the mundane and material expectations of the season.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is virtually sidelined by our cultural and customary traditions.  True believers silently ask: “Should this be?”

Another question is begged: “Is it logical (or even possible) to remove CHRIST from Christmas?”  I think not.  After all, HE is The One who voluntarily disrobed Himself of the eternal splendor of Heaven and entered a fallen and finite world system dominated by the insidious quest for fortune, fame, prestige and power.  Jesus Christ, alone, is the Savior of our world.  The scriptures testify of this matchless and miraculous gift to humankind:

Psalm 40:6-8

Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened.  Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.  Then I said, “Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me.  I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.”

Isaiah 9:6

FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Matthew 1:21

And she will bring forth a son, and YOU SHALL CALL HIS NAME JESUS, for he will save his people from their sins.

John 1:11-12

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  But as many as received him, TO THEM GAVE HE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, even to them that believe on His name.

Romans 8:1-4

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in CHRIST JESUS, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS HAS MADE ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH.  For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, GOD DID BY SENDING HIS OWN SON in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin.  HE condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Because of the vital life, vicarious suffering and victorious atonement of JESUS CHRIST, we are forever freed from the power, practice, penalty and shame of sin.  HALLELUJAH…WHAT A SAVIOR!

Bottom-line: JESUS PAID IT ALL!  So, in this celebratory season (and always) we thank you, JESUS, for your timely birth, your sinless life, your substitutionary death, your victorious resurrection and your gracious legacy of spiritual power, life and peace so lovingly bequeathed to us.  We pledge to remember the real reason for the season: OUR GREATEST GIFT WHO CAME ALL THE WAY FROM HEAVEN TO SAVE FALLEN HUMANITY!

Merry Christmas, TO ALL!  And may you experience the very highest of peace, prosperity, health and happiness throughout the coming year of 2023!

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

THE INCARNATE CHRIST FOR ALL HUMANITY

THE INCARNATE CHRIST FOR ALL HUMANITY

We may never fully apprehend the mystery of the incarnation.  While God the Father lovingly acted for us, God the Son graciously acted with us as Emmanuel. (Matthew 1:23)  In the words of the Protestant reformer, Martin Luther, “The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that He sunk Himself into our flesh, is beyond all human understanding.”  Unquestionably, He loves us with everlasting and unfathomable love.

Jesus Christ entered this earthly plain with manifest humility and love, with the express intent of redeeming fallen humanity.  As such, the King of Kings was fully content with a modest stable at His birth – so we would have a mansion upon our death.

He never appeared as a Messiah sent solely for the empowered or elite, those whom we customarily equate with fortune and fame.  Rather, He came to compassionately minister to the lost and dispossessed – to set the captives free, to liberate people of every culture and color.

I love what one of my ministry mentors, the late Dr. E.V. Hill, said concerning this.  When questioned about the racial heritage of Jesus, due to the fact that He is often depicted in Eurocentric paintings as Caucasian, Dr. Hill wisely responded: “I don’t know anything about a white Jesus.  I know about Christ, a Savior named Jesus.  I don’t know what color He is.  He was born in the brown Middle East; He fled to black Africa; and He was in Heaven before the gospel came to white Europe.  So, I don't know what color He is.  I do know one thing: If you bow at the altar with color on your mind, you’ll get up with color on your mind.  So go back again, and keep going back until you no longer look at His color, but at His greatness and His power to save!"

Indeed, Jesus Christ liberates us from our inbred indoctrinations of prejudice, discrimination and racial animus.  According to Luke, the physician-apostle, “He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth.” (Acts 17:26)  Therefore, our celebration of the birth of Christ should be the most unifying moment of our year.  And since the Word declares that Heaven will include persons “of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation,” wouldn’t it seem both logical and imperative that we learn to live together respectfully, amicably and lovingly down here?

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

ONE NEVER KNOWS

ONE NEVER KNOWS

If any of you are tempted to feel sad or depressed during this Christmas season due to a lack of resources or the loss of a loved one, you must read and share the following story written by an unknown author.  It will surely inspire, encourage and bless you.

A pastor and his wife were given their first assignment, to reopen a church in Brooklyn, New York. They arrived in early October, thrilled beyond measure to be entering an exciting new phase of ministry.  However, as they entered the church, their enthusiasm faded when they found the building to be run down and in dire need of restoration and repair.  But right then and there, they set a goal to have all the necessary work done in time to have their first worship service on Christmas Eve.

They worked diligently, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc., and on December 18th they were well ahead of schedule, just about finished.  Nevertheless, on December 19th a terrible winter storm hit the area and lasted two full days.

On the 21st of December, the pastor went over to inspect the church edifice.  His heart sank when he found that the roof had leaked, which caused a large area of plaster to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary behind the pulpit. The pastor swept up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do, he headed homeward, planning to postpone their first service.  On the way home he noticed a local business sponsoring a flea market for charity, so he decided to stop by.

One of the items on sale was a beautiful, hand-made, ivory colored, crochet tablecloth.  It was truly an exquisite work of art, with striking colors and an ornate cross embroidered at the center. The new pastor thought, ‘It’s just the right size to cover up that hole in the front wall of the sanctuary!’  So he bought it and quickly headed back to church.

By that time it had started to snow.  An older woman hurried along the street, trying to catch a passing bus, but she missed it.  The pastor invited her to wait inside the warm sanctuary for the next bus, which was due to arrive 45 minutes later.  The grateful woman sat in a pew and paid little attention to the pastor while he gathered a ladder and wall hangers to mount the gorgeous tablecloth as a wall tapestry.  The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and how perfectly it covered the entire problem area.  Just then, he noticed the woman walking slowly down the center aisle, wearing a shocked facial expression.

“Pastor,” she inquired, “Where…where…did you get that tablecloth?”  The pastor related the story of his recent purchase.  Then the woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials “EBG” were present there, and they were.  These were actually the initials of that very woman, who had made the tablecloth herself, 35 years previously while living in Austria.

The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do citizens of Austria.  When the Nazis arrived, her husband sent her to safety, and planned to follow the next week.  Unfortunately, she was captured, detained in a camp, and never saw her husband or her home again.  The pastor offered to give her the tablecloth, but she insisted that he keep it for the church.  He said, “Then I will drive you home; that is the least I can do.”  The woman lived on Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day doing a housecleaning job.

Christmas Eve arrived, and what a wonderful service they had!  The church was nearly full, and the Holy Spirit moved upon the hearts of all in attendance.  At the close of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many people promised to return often.

One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood, continued to sit in one of the pews with a blank stare on his face, and the pastor wondered why he had not left with all the rest.  The man asked, “Where did you get the tablecloth on the front wall?  It’s identical to one my wife made years ago when we lived in Austria before the war.  Could there be two tablecloths so much alike?”  He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for safety with plans to follow her, but then he was arrested and placed in a concentration camp.  He never saw his wife or his home again for all the 35 years in between.

The pastor smiled inwardly and asked the gentleman if he would accompany him on a ride.  They drove to Staten Island, to the same building where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier.  He helped the elderly man climb three flights of stairs to the woman’s apartment, knocked on the door and witnessed the greatest Christmas reunion one could ever imagine!  What a miraculous story of the matchless grace and marvelous love of our God!

Prayerfully consider this.  None of this heartwarming story would have been possible without that terrible winter storm and the resultant hole in the church sanctuary!  My friends, very often our apparent storms are divine appointments in disguise that will ultimately bless us and others.

ONE NEVER KNOWS WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE!  So please, do not ever surrender to doubt or despair.  It is my prayer that your Christmas will be endowed with the fullness of love, peace and joy that is the precious gift and life-legacy of OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.

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

LOOKING BEYOND THE OBVIOUS

LOOKING BEYOND THE OBVIOUS

Chuck Swindoll penned the following insightful article.  Check it out.

“In 1809 the international scene was tumultuous. Napoleon was sweeping through Austria and blood was flowing freely. The society did not seem to care very much about the welfare of babies, but the world was actually overlooking some highly significant births.

For example, William Gladstone, who was destined to become one of England’s finest statesman, was born that year. That same year, Alfred Lord Tennyson was born to an obscure minister and his wife, and he would profoundly impact the literary world. On the American continent, Oliver Wendell Holmes, arguably the most accomplished Supreme Court justice in American history, was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. And that same year, the cries of a newborn infant were heard in a rugged log cabin in Kentucky. His name was Abraham Lincoln.

If there had been live news broadcasts at that time, they would have contended that the destiny of the world was being shaped on the Austrian battlefield. But history was actually greatly affected by occupants of baby cradles in England and America. Similarly, everyone thought Roman taxation was the big news at the time Jesus was born. But a young Jewish woman cradled the biggest news of all, the birth of our Savior.”

Truth.  

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

OUR AMAZING GIFT

OUR AMAZING GIFT

Long ago, in Persia there ruled a wise and good king who sincerely loved his people. He wanted to know how they lived and wanted to know about their hardships.  So often he would dress in the clothes of a working man or beggar and visit the homes of the poor. No one whom he visited thought that he was their ruler. One time he visited a very poor man who lived in a cellar and he ate the coarse food that the poor man ate. He spoke cheerful and kind words to him, then he left. Later he visited the poor man again and disclosed his identity by saying, “I am your king!” The king thought the man would surely ask for some gift or favor, but he didn’t. Instead he said, “You left your palace and your glory to visit me in this dark, dreary place. You ate the course food I ate. You brought gladness to my heart! To others you have given your rich gifts, but to me you have given yourself!”  -Source Unknown.

We shall forever treasure and worship the wonderful King of glory, our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself freely and fully for you and me. What a marvelous and miraculous Savior!  That’s why the Word reveals Him as “the indescribable gift.” (II Corinthians 9:15)

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

OUR GREATEST NEED

OUR GREATEST NEED

Prayerfully consider this:  If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator.  If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist.  If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.  If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.  -Source Unknown.

We absolutely need Jesus Christ. Indeed, He is the reason for the season. And it is impossible to celebrate the gift of His birth without contemplating the ultimate endowment of His life.

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

HONOR IS MISSION CRITICAL

HONOR IS MISSION CRITICAL

In Gary Smalley and John Trent’s  book entitled, “The Gift of Honor,” the authors reprise the following true story.  “Keith Hernandez is one of baseball’s top players. He is a lifetime .300 hitter who has won numerous Golden Glove awards for excellence in fielding. He also won a batting championship for achieving the highest average, and was honored as the Most Valuable Player in his league and in the World Series. Yet with all his accomplishments, he missed out on something crucially important to him -- his father’s acceptance and recognition that what he has accomplished has value.

In a candid interview about his relationship with his father, Keith recalled a challenging conversation with his father: 'Dad, I have a lifetime 300 batting average. What more do you want?' His father replied, 'But someday you’re going to look back and say, I could have done more.’”

My friends, that story represents a tragic and painful missed opportunity.  So let’s mutually respect and honor one another.  It’s the key to relationships, and to life.

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

MUCH MORE IS HAPPENING THAN WE REALIZE

MUCH MORE IS HAPPENING THAN WE REALIZE

I found the following 1980 USA statistics to be intriguing; perhaps you will also.  On an average day, 1,169,863 people take a taxi, 176,810,950 eggs are laid, 63,288 cars crash, 28 postal carriers are bitten by dogs, 2 billion dollar bills are in circulation, industry generates 1 pound of waste for every person in our nation, 1.1 million people are in the hospital, the U.S. Postal Service sells 90 million stamps while handling 320 million pieces of mail and delivering 833,000 packages, 500 million cups of coffee are consumed, 80 million people listen to or ignore elevator music, 10,205 people give blood, $54,794 is spent to fight dandruff, bricklayers handle 22,741,000 bricks, amateurs take 19,178,000 snapshots, 9,077 babies are born, 5,962 couples wed, and every one of us produces nearly 6 pounds of garbage. 

What’s the point here?  There’s  always more going on behind the scenes than we might imagine.  First natural, then spiritual.  It occurs to me that the same truth is applicable in our daily lives.  GOD is always up to something…behind the scenes.  So, my friend, no matter what appears to be going on at this moment, be encouraged and trust The Good Shepherd. (Psalm 23 – Proverbs 3:5-6)

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

SEEKING FULFILLMENT VS. SEEKING SUCCESS

SEEKING FULFILLMENT VS. SEEKING SUCCESS

America is truly a great nation, but sadly many have been ensnared and imprisoned by an endless quest for fame and fortune.  All too often, the hunt for more has stranded those  prosperity pilgrims on the road to loneliness and despair.  In his book, “Facing Loneliness,”  J. Oswald Sanders writes, “The round of pleasure or the amassing of wealth are but vain attempts to escape from the persistent ache.  The millionaire is usually a lonely man and the comedian is often more unhappy than his audience.”

Sanders goes on to emphasize that being successful often fails to produce satisfaction. He refers to Henry Martyn, a distinguished scholar, as an example.  Martyn, a Cambridge University student, was honored at only 20 years of age for stellar achievements in mathematics and awarded the highest recognition possible in that field.  And yet he felt an emptiness inside.  He said that instead of finding fulfillment in his achievements, he had “only grasped a shadow.” After evaluating his life’s goals, Martyn sailed to India as a missionary at the age of 24.  When he arrived, he prayed, “Lord, let me burn out for You.”  In the next 7 years that preceded his death, he translated the New Testament into three difficult Eastern languages.  These notable achievements were certainly not passing “shadows.”

We should never trade enduring fulfillment for temporary success.  At best, it constitutes a very shallow and empty exchange.

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

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

Bear Bryant, the legendary coach of the University of Alabama had a simple philosophy of leadership.  In his words, “I’m just a plowhand from Arkansas, but I have learned how to hold a team together. How to lift some men up, how to calm down others, until finally they’ve got one heartbeat together, a team.  There’s just three things I’d ever say: If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, then we did it. If anything goes real good, then you did it. That’s all it takes to get people to win football games for you.”

Sounds like substantive and substantial wisdom to me.  I’m convinced that it will work well for any group, including your family.

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

EVERY PROBLEM ISN'T EASY TO SOLVE

EVERY PROBLEM ISN’T EASY TO SOLVE

We shouldn’t be naïve about the daily situations that confront us along this journey called life.  Some challenges are rather easy; some not so much.  I love the following story that humorously illustrates this point.

An old woodsman offered this advice about catching a porcupine: “Watch for the slapping tail as you dash in and drop a large washtub over him.  The washtub will give you something to sit on while you ponder your next move.”  😊  Think.

Two things we should never abandon along the way are an abiding sense of humor and the determination to be wisely guided by our Creator.

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

GRACIOUS MERCY

GRACIOUS MERCY

Dictionary.com defines mercy as “compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender or another person in one’s power.”

It calls to mind an incident that took place in the early days of the presidency of Calvin Coolidge.  He awoke one morning in a hotel room to find a burglar going through his pockets.  Coolidge spoke up, asking the burglar not to take his watch chain because it contained an engraved charm he wanted to keep.   He then engaged the thief in quiet conversation and discovered he was a college student who had no money to pay his hotel bill or buy a ticket back to campus.  Coolidge counted $32 out of the wallet he had persuaded the dazed young man to give back.   He declared it to be a loan, and advised the young man to leave the way he came to avoid his Secret Service agents.  That’s gracious mercy; and yes, the loan was paid back! 

It has well been said that “grace is getting more than you deserve, and mercy is getting less than you deserve.”  At one point or another during our lives, all of us shall need both; so let’s be generous in gifting them to others.

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 WILLING TO WAIT FOR WATER

ARE YOU WILLING TO WAIT FOR WATER?

I am cognizant of the fact that this devotional presents a rather odd question.  However, it is expedient to highlight the fact that some are never refreshed in life due to an impatient and petulant spirit.  Nevertheless, good things do come to those who wait.  For example, Major V. Gilbert recounts this story of struggle with thirst while his allied army traversed a dry desert: 

Driving up from Beersheba, a combined force of British, Australians and New Zealanders were pressing on the rear of the Turkish retreat over arid desert. The attack outdistanced its water carrying camel train. Water bottles were empty. The sun blazed pitilessly out of a sky where the vultures wheeled expectantly.  “Our heads ached,” writes Gilbert, “and our eyes became bloodshot and dim in the blinding glare...our tongues began to swell...our lips turned a purplish black and burst.”  Those who dropped out of the column were never seen again, but the desperate force battled on to Sheria. There were wells at Sheria, and had they been unable to take the place by nightfall, thousands were doomed to die of thirst. 

“We fought that day,” writes Gilbert, “as men fight for their lives. We entered Sheria station on the heels of the retreating Turks. The first objects which met our view were the great stone cisterns full of cold, clear, drinking water. In the still night air the sound of water running into the tanks could be distinctly heard, maddening in its nearness; yet not a man murmured when orders were given for the battalions to fall in, two deep, facing the cisterns.” He then describes the stern priorities for water: first the wounded, then those on guard duty, then company by company. It took four agonizing hours before the last man had his drink of water, and in all that time they had been standing twenty feet from a low stone wall on the other side of which were thousands of gallons of water.

My friend never ever give up.  Your refreshing days of renewal and rejuvenation are coming.  Isaiah prophetically describes your current struggle and ultimate success far more eloquently than I:  

“Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.  His understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31, NKJV)

Wait On The Lord…

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

ARE WE DESPERATE TO FIT IN?

ARE WE DESPERATE TO FIT IN?

Elwyn Brooks White made the following apropos observation about our collective drive toward conformity: “People have re-cut their clothes to follow the fashion.  People have remodeled their ideas too -- taken in their convictions just a little at the waist, shortened the sleeves of their resolve, and fitted themselves out in new intellectual ensembles designed out of the latest page of history.”

Conversely, true Christian faith frees us from following the patterns and dictates of this world system.  We must be true to Christ by steadfastly following (only) His Word.  Referring to the tendency of some believers to be swayed by the prevailing influences of society and follow the dictates of the crowd, Chuck Colson wrote, “many churchmen sport theological bell-bottoms.”  Wow!  By Heaven’s reckoning, being out-of-style with the world is tantamount to the vogue garments of true faith. 

In the spirit of our Savior, let’s dare to be different.

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

ATTITUDE DETERMINES ALTITUDE

ATTITUDE DETERMINES ALTITUDE

How we evaluate and process what we see and experience will profoundly impact both our emotions and outcomes.

For example, an Army chaplain was trying to comfort a soldier who was laying on his bed in a military hospital.  “You have lost an arm in a great and noble cause,” he said.  “No,” replied the optimistic and dedicated soldier replied with a smile.  “I didn’t lose it--I gave it.”

This story reminds me of the good and gracious truth that, in a similar manner, Jesus Christ did not lose His life.  He gave it willingly, purposefully and lovingly.  My friend, your cup only seems to be half empty; actually it’s half full.  Success in life is somewhat similar to the aerodynamic laws that govern flight.  An aircraft’s proper attitude is mission critical to attaining and sustaining the proper altitude.

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

BEHIND THE MASKS

BEHIND THE MASKS

In Basel, Switzerland the townspeople have an annual festival in which they don masks – going to places and doing things they would never consider under normal circumstances.  It is their masks, that veil their identity and embolden them to do unusual things.  One year, when the Salvation Army was deeply concerned about the abandonment of moral standards, they put up signs all over the city which simply read, “God sees behind the masks.”  And He does.

No matter how hard we try to hide ourselves, whether under a pile of money, or in the guise of pretense, or in some secret corner we imagine to be known to no one else…GOD SEES.  We must never forget that He always blesses the honest heart, the contrite spirit that is willing to be transparent enough to say, ‘It was my fault.’ (or) ‘I was wrong.’ (or) ‘I have sinned; I repent.’ 

My friends, let’s remove our masks and become the authentic beings of the Creator’s design.  It will be an immeasurable benefit for ourselves, and for others.

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

BE READY TO MEET OUR MAKER

BE READY TO MEET OUR MAKER

This evening, I learned of the passing of Bishop Derrick Hutchins.  During the early 80s, I served as Administrative Assistant to Bishop H. Jenkins Bell while he was jurisdictional bishop of South Carolina; there I met the young Elder Derrick Hutchins. 

Bishop Hutchins was an exceptionally gifted preacher and an accomplished national evangelist in the Church of God in Christ.  He traveled extensively throughout the USA and other nations to effectively spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

His death was quite a shock to me in light of my own recent health challenges, and because I had known him so long, and since we are in the same age bracket.   Although I do plan to continue for a time in this journey called life, it is apparent to me that we must be increasingly conscious of our own mortality and carefully prepare for the coming of Christ, whether it be through our transition or the Rapture.

Tonight, I read an article that detailed the last words of several well-known figures in Christendom.  I’ll share a few with you.

Martin Luther

“Our God is the God from whom cometh salvation: God is the Lord by whom we escape death.”

John Knox

“Live in Christ, live in Christ, and the flesh need not fear death.”

John Wesley

“The best of all is, God is with us.  Farewell!”

Charles Wesley

“I shall be satisfied with Thy likeness--satisfied, satisfied!”

All have an appointed hour to meet The Creator face-to-face.  Let’s live right and genuinely honor Him here so we can live eternally in His loving and glorious presence.  Amen.

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

WHAT ARE YOU MAKING OF YOURSELF?

WHAT ARE YOU MAKING OF YOURSELF?

Years ago, I became acquainted with Henri Nouwen, a former professor at Yale Divinity.  He penned a classic theological treatise entitled, “The Wounded Healer.”  In it he recalls a tale from ancient India about four royal brothers who decided each would master a special and unique ability.  Time went by, and the brothers met to reveal what they had learned and accomplished.

“I have mastered science,” said the first, “by which I can take but a bone of some creature and create the flesh that goes with it.”

“I,” said the second, “know how to grow that creature’s skin and hair if there is flesh on its bones.”

The third said, “I am able to create its limbs if I have the flesh, skin, and hair.”

“And I,” boasted the fourth, “know how to give life to that creature when its form is complete.”

Thereupon the brothers went into the jungle to find a bone so they could demonstrate their extraordinary skills.  As fate would have it, they found a lion’s bone.  One added flesh to the bone; the second grew hide and hair; the third completed it with powerful limbs; and the fourth gave the lion life.  Shaking its mane vigorously, that ferocious beast arose and jumped on his creators.  He killed them all and vanished contentedly into the jungle.

The lesson in this fictional tale?  We, too, have the capacity to create what can ultimately devour us.  Goals and dreams can consume us.  Possessions and property can turn and destroy us--unless we first seek God's kingdom and righteousness, allowing Him to breathe into what we are making out of this life.  Think. 

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