Encouraging Words for Today

Last Sabbath Ana and I traveled to Wenatchee for the first time in almost a year. Ana’s brother, Danny, had come back from Puerto Rico and was staying with a friend in Wenatchee, so we went to visit him.

Before we saw Danny, however, we stopped in at my old job to see our friends at the Walk-in Clinic. It was wonderful getting to see Jennifer, Vicky, and Chip after a whole year! We just wish more of our friends had been there. We miss all of you!

After stopping at the Walk-in, we went to church at Cashmere Seventh-day Adventist Church. There we heard an excellent sermon by Christina Ford and then shared a meal with many of our wonderful friends. It was so much fun catching up and sharing old memories.

Finally, we got to see Danny and learn about everything he’d been up to in Puerto Rico this last year. It was great to hear about the family and about his plans for the farm..

Reunions are the best, but, unfortunately, they end too soon, and we have to say, “Good-bye”, not knowing when or if we’ll see each other again. That is so hard!

But there’s good news! We’ve all been invited to a reunion that will never end. On that day “the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

Then there will be no more sad good-bye’s, no long separations, no tears of regret. On that day “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4 NIV).

Now that’s a reunion worth going to! It’s going to be amazing! See you there?

Today’s the day! For football fans this is the day we’ve been waiting for all year, a day right up there with Christmas and New Years! It’s Super Bowl Sunday!

Even though my Buffalo Bills blew it and won’t be there (again!), missing a clutch field goal at the end of the game (again!), I’m still looking forward to seeing the Chiefs and the 49er’s face off. It should be a great game!

This one’s going to be even better, because my kids and I will be watching it together. The last few years I’ve watched it by myself, so this should be a lot more fun. We’re getting pizza and lots of junk food and we’re going to have a blast!

As much as I’m looking forward to the Super Bowl, there’s another day I’m looking forward to even more. The Bible calls it “that great and terrible day of the Lord…” (Joel 2:31 NLT). Joel describes it that way, because it’s going to be the greatest day ever for those who’ve accepted Jesus as their Savior, but a truly terrible day for those who’ve rejected Him. I know which side I want to be on!

On that day “the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16 NLT). There will be no need for a television broadcast then, because “every eye will see him…” , “For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes.” (Revelation 1:7, Matthew 24:27).

The Super Bowl will happen today, but when it comes to Christ’s second coming, “no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen…” (Matthew 24:36). However, Jesus does promise over and over, “I am coming soon!” (Revelation 22:12, 20; 3:11). So “keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:42).

Kickoff for the Super Bowl is just a few hours away, but when it comes to getting ready for Christ’s return there’s not a moment to lose. Paul warns “the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2).

Super Bowls come every year, but when it comes to your salvation, today is the day! Don’t wait for tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come. Give Jesus your heart now and live every day for His glory and honor. If you do, then, “when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.” (Colossians 3:4). And that’s better than any old Super Bowl ring!

God bless and have a Super Day!

Ana and I are going to be taking a step forward in faith in the next couple months (more on that later). I posted the following about 6 years ago and it’s reflects how I’m feeling right now, so I thought I’d repost it today:

When we hear the story of Peter walking on the water we like to get on Peter’s case for his lack of faith. After all, even Jesus, as he pulled Peter out of the drink , said to him, “You of little faith…why did you doubt?”

I think we’re too hard on Peter, though. At least he had a little faith. At least he got out of the boat. And remember, he actually did walk on water, even if for only a few steps! How many of us can say the same? For that matter, how many of us would even have the courage to get out of the boat?

We beg Jesus to work a miracle for us, to get us that new job or help us leave our old job. We plead with Him to bring the right person into our lives, Mr. or Ms. Right. We ask Him to open doors, remove mountains, or make a way through the Jordan, and He says, “Sure, let’s do it.”

That’s when we hit “pause.” He reaches out His hand and says, “Come,” but we freeze. Glued to our seats, trembling in fear, we refuse to get out of the boat, refuse to take a chance on Him. Our focus is on the waves, rather than the One who calms the seas.

When Israel was preparing to cross the Jordan the waters didn’t stop flowing until the priests stepped into the waters. When God parted the Red Sea Moses first had to hold out his staff. And before Peter could walk on the waters he had to step out of the boat.

Today Jesus is inviting you on an adventure. To all your God-given hopes and dreams, the ambitions He’s put in your heart, He is saying, “Yes.” His hand is outstretched to you right now. His voice whispers, “Come.”

What will you do? Will you stay safe and secure in the leaky boat of your humdrum existence? Or will you show a little faith, climb over the side, and walk on water?

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather walk through the storm with Jesus then ride it out alone in the boat. I’d rather go over the side, and maybe sink, then stay “safe” and never really live.

This morning, when you hear Him say, “Come”, don’t hesitate. Jump over the side and into His arms! Keep your eyes on Him and He’ll never let you down. Put your hand in His and prepare to be amazed!

Walking on water is just the beginning! So, get out of the boat and walk on the waves!

Moving last year took a toll on me. Somewhere in the midst of lifting heavy boxes and moving furniture I pulled something in my left shoulder and my neck and I’ve been dealing with pain there ever since. I’ve tried heat and cold, stretching and muscle rubs and Ibuprofen and Tylenol. In the end, what has helped the most is the physical therapy I’ve been getting the last couple months.

The only problem with physical therapy is, sometimes it hurts! I’ve got great PT’s, but even though they’re careful, sometimes when they massage the knots in my shoulder or stretch the tight muscles in my neck it’s not the most pleasant sensation. However, in the end it’s worth it. I feel so much better after a PT session and with each session my neck and shoulder keep getting better.

The Bible tells us “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11 NIV).

Sometimes God, in His love for us, has to give us a little “therapy”, applying gentle pressure, so we will let go of that cherished sin or stretching us out of our comfort zone, so we can reach higher heights in our walk with Him. It’s not always comfortable and sometimes it’s downright painful, but we must remember that God only “disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.” (vs. 10).

If I resist my physical therapist’s efforts, just because they hurt a little, I will never achieve relief from my pain. The same is true when it comes to God’s work in our lives. It may be uncomfortable at times, but if we will “endure hardship as discipline” (vs. 7), we will receive ‘the end result of [our] faith, the salvation of [our] souls.” (1 Peter 1:9).

So, if “for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials”, don’t despair. “These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6, 7).

So, hang in there, because even in the pain, God is working everything together for your good. (Romans 8:28).

Just a quick note. Life’s gotten pretty busy in my little corner of the world, so for the foreseeable future, I’ll be posting just once a week. I hope to get back to the daily devotionals in the future. Please pray that God will continue to bless Encouraging Words for Today and guide in this ministry.

I’m so embarrassed!

Back in November I posted I was taking a break from writing so I could study for the Lifestyle Medicine Boards. (I passed, BTW! Thank you for your prayers.) My intention was to start posting again after taking the boards, but one thing led to another, life got incredibly busy, and now it’s been a month and a half and I haven’t written in weeks. Like I said, I’m so embarrassed!

The wonderful thing is, I serve a God of second chances. Even though I dropped the ball when it came to this blog, He’s right there to help me start again and get me back on track.

He’ll do the same for you. No matter how bad you’ve blown it, no matter how far you fall short of the goals you set, He is always there for you, ready to forgive and to help you make a new start.

So, if last year didn’t go quite as planned, if you, like me, had good intentions, but fell woefully short of where you hoped to be, don’t give up. It’s a new year, a new beginning, and God is eager to help you make a new start.

As you begin this New Year don’t let the mistakes and failures of the old year hold you back. Instead, “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,…press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13, 14).

May God bless and guide you in the coming months and help you to always aim high, remembering “with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26).

In just 11 days I will be taking my Lifestyle Medicine Boards. I’m feeling both anticipation and apprehension. Anticipation because this is something I’ve wanted to do for three years, but have had to put off once due to illness and once because of our move to Walla Walla. Apprehension because this is my last chance to take this test and I don’t feel like I’m ready.

Thankfully, I’m not in this alone. I have a Heavenly Father who has promised, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5 NIV). I still have to put in the time studying, but I am confident He will give me the wisdom I need when the time comes.

I don’t know what challenges or decisions you are facing right now, but I do know God will give you all the wisdom you need if you will just ask. Call on Him today. He won’t let you down!

PS:

I’m going to be hitting the books pretty hard the next few days, so I may not be able to post to Encouraging Words For Today every day till then. Please know, however, you will all be in my prayers and I will get back to my daily posts ASAP. Until then, please keep me in your prayers too. Thanks and God Bless!

On my walk this morning the wind was blowing pretty hard. At times it was coming at me from the front, while at other times it hit me from the side or from behind. One moment it was slowing me down and the next it was pushing me down the street.

The leaves which had fallen from the trees were also being blown around, swirling down the street. Detached from the branches where they’d been growing all summer, they had nothing to hold them in place, so they were sent spinning in whatever direction the breeze was blowing at the moment.

Without staying in constant connection with Jesus, through Bible study and prayer, each of us is at risk of being like those leaves, “tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching.” (Ephesians 4:14 NLT). We must let “Christ…make his home in [our] hearts as [we] trust in him.” Then our “roots will grow down into God’s love and keep [us] strong.” (Ephesians 3:17).

If we do this “We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” (Ephesians 4:14, 15).

Colorful autumn leaves blowing in the wind can be a beautiful thing to see, but Christians who are “tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching” are in danger of being swept away. Our only hope is to stay connected to Christ everyday and every hour and to “hold firmly to what we believe.” (Hebrews 4:14). Then, no matter how hard the winds of strife swirl around us, we won’t be blown away.

What do you usually do when a friend knocks at your door? Open the door, right?

Well, Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart right now. Don’t leave Him out in the cold.

Open the door and let Him in!

The Walla Walla Valley has been socked in by heavy fog all day. It’s a cold, damp fog that penetrates into your bones and makes you just want to get home and curl up by a warm fire.

The fog also makes travel difficult, because it’s hard to see more than a short distance in front of you. If you don’t know where you’re going it’s easy to make a wrong turn.

This is one of those times I’m grateful for GPS. I just program in my destination and, as long as I follow its directions, before I know it I’m where I want to be. How in the world we got anywhere before GPS is beyond me.

It’d be nice if life came with a GPS, something to tell us when to turn and which way to go. Thankfully, it does! It’s called the Bible. Psalm 119:105 tells us, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (NLT).

If we will faithfully study God’s Word, asking the Holy Spirit for understanding, we will know the way we should go. It’s only when we don’t follow its guidance that we lose our way.

This Sabbath don’t wander in the fog of disbelief any longer, with no clear idea where to turn. Instead, let your prayer be, “Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil.” (Psalm 119:133). Then open your Bible and let God’s spiritual GPS guide you safely back into the light.

God Bless and Happy Sabbath!

I spent a good portion of today at WalMart, waiting to have the battery on Ana’s car replaced. The car wouldn’t start yesterday and we ended up having to jump it. I figured it was either the battery or the alternator but, since my mechanical ability is limited to changing the oil and filling the car with gas, I decided to take it to someone who knows what they’re doing.

Initial testing showed the battery was still good, but when they put it on the charger it wouldn’t hold a charge. So, I had to bite the bullet and buy a new battery. Batteries are a LOT more expensive now then the last time I bought one! Hey, but at least it’s not as bad as a bad alternator.

It’s easy to be content in our faith, going to church, singing in the choir, living a “good” life. It may seem to ourselves and others that everything is fine, but when put to the test, whether by hardship or temptation, we often fail, because we haven’t kept our spiritual batteries charged. When we need it the most we find there’s no power inside.

The only way to prevent this from happening is to stay connected to the Source, daily and even hourly recharging our spiritual life, through regular Bible study and prayer. Without that constant connection with Heaven’s Power we won’t have the energy we need when trials come our way.

Paul tells us “the word of God is alive and powerful.” (Hebrews 4:12). Take time today to stay connected to the Power found only in God’s Word. Then when you’re put to the test, “you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.” (Colossians 1:11).