Monthly Archives: March 2018

On Easter weekend much is said about Good Friday and Easter Sunday, and rightfully so. But what about The Day in Between, the Sabbath when Jesus rested in the tomb? What, if anything, do those sacred hours have to teach us? As we consider this, two primary lessons jump out.

First, in Acts 13:29, Paul describes how “…they took [Jesus] down from the cross and laid him in a tomb.” Luke, however, adds an interesting observation, stating, “It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.” Luke 23:54

In Luke 23:55-56 he also mentions that “The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee … went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.”

Why this emphasis on the Sabbath? If Jesus’ sacrifice had abolished the 10 Commandments why even bother to mention it?

In Genesis 2:2 and 3, it says, “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”

When God finished His work of creation he rested on the seventh-day, blessing it and making it holy. Now again, as the Son of God finishes His work of redemption, He and His followers rest again on the seventh-day, “in obedience to the commandment.”

By doing this Jesus sets an example for His followers for all the ages to come. The Seventh-day Sabbath was not abolished at the Cross. It was and always will be a special day set aside to commune with God and to celebrate His creative and recreative power and everlasting love for His children.

The second lesson we learn from The Day in Between is a message of hope. All of us have lost loved ones, but this day gives us reason to rejoice. Just as Jesus rested in the tomb throughout the Sabbath hours, so also our loved ones and friends who have died merely rest in their graves, waiting to hear Jesus say, as He did to Lazurus, “Come forth!”

Our loved ones are asleep, awaiting the last trump, when “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.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16. On that wonderful day, “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.” (v. 17).

This is the hope of The Day in Between, the promise of these sacred hours. Just surely as Jesus was raised on the third day, so also all who have believed on His Name and accepted His sacrifice as payment for their sins, will also also rise again. Families will be restored, parents and children will be reunited, never again to part.

So, on this Day in Between, these sacred Sabbath hours, rest from all your worries and your fears. Look back with joy on the Cross and look forward eagerly to Easter Sunday. And as you do, remember this same Jesus, whose death and resurrection we celebrate, is coming soon to take us home. On that glorious 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.

Now that’s a reason to celebrate!

We were supposed to be on our way to Walla Walla right now for a get-together with Alex’s in-laws and some of their friends. It’s something we’ve been looking forward to for several weeks. However,instead of being on the road, we just returned from the ER.

I woke up early this morning with pelvic pain, which progressed into left flank pain. The CT at the ER showed not just one, but two nice sized kidney stones. I’m doing okay now. Still some pain, but morphine is wonderful stuff!

This experience got me thinking, though. We all make lots of plans, but things don’t always go the way we expect. As Psalm 94:11 explains, “The Lord knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile.”

Robert Burns put it well when he wrote:

“The best laid schemes of Mice and Men
oft go awry,
And leave us nothing but grief and pain,
For promised joy!”

I can certainly attest to the “grief and pain” part after this morning!

So, when faced by disappointment and plans which “oft go awry” how should we react? Do we give into our frustration, respond with anger, or resign ourselves to defeat? Too often this is what we do, but there is a better way.

Ministry of Healing, p. 479:

“Christ in His life on earth made no plans for Himself. He accepted God’s plans for Him, and day by day the Father unfolded His plans. So should we depend upon God, that our lives may be the simple outworking of His will. As we commit our ways to Him, He will direct our steps.”

I was really looking forward to getting together with the Bannisters and our children this weekend. Kidney stones were definitely not part of my plan. But it’s okay with me, because I know “in all things God works for the good of those who love him…” Romans 8:28. God knows what He’s doing, so I think I’ll just let Him do the planning from now on. I encourage you to do the same.

I don’t know what plans you’ve had or if your life has turned out like you hoped, but I do know God has great plans for your life, “…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremaiah 29:11

Today, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5, 6. Follow Jesus example and commit your ways to God and let Him direct your steps. Let Him do the planning. I promise He’ll never lead you astray.

Now, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll take it easy today, drink some extra water, do a little writing and reading, and just see what God’s got planned. Whatever it is, I know it’s going to be good – kidney stone or not!

God bless and Happy Sabbath!

It is Good Friday, the day once a year when Christians all over the world pause for a moment to consider what Christ did for them when He gave His life on the cross.

It is good that we take this time to remember, but my question is, “Why only once a year?”

Consider the following advice from the book Desire of Ages, p. 83:

“It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones.”

The Center of our Faith

The Cross is the very center of our faith, the foundation of our hope, the surety of our salvation, yet we too often relegate it to a once a year celebration. We go about our busy lives, rarely considering “…him who endured such opposition from sinners” and, because we of this, we instead “grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3.

What would happen if we took the advice above “to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ” taking it “point by point and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones”? I think it would transform our lives.

Look again at Desire of Ages, p. 83:

“As we thus dwell upon HIs great sacrifice for us our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit….Beholding the beauty of His character, we shall be ‘changed into the same image from glory to glory.’ 2 Corinthians 3:18”

Consider the Cross

Why not give it a try it between now and next Easter? Set aside a little time each day to just think about what Jesus did for you, to consider the Cross:

• Kneel by His side in Gethsemane, as He, “…being in anguish…prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Luke 22:4
• Hear His plea, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me…” as His humanity drew back from the suffering which lay ahead. Luke 22:42a
• Listen, as He, thinking of you and all who be saved by His sacrifice, whispers, “…yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42b)
• Feel your hand swing the whip which scars his back, form the crown which pierced His brow, and strike each blow that drove the spikes through His hands and feet.
• As life ebbs from His body, hear His triumphant cry, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” and realize anew He did all this for you.

We Shall Be Like Him

The glory of the Cross cannot be contained in just one day, once a year. It will be our study through all the ages of eternity. Start today to make it your daily study. As you “contemplate the Lord’s glory” in the light of the Cross each day, you will be “transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory.” 2 Corinthians 3:18. If we do this then, “when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2.

God bless and have a wonderful Easter Weekend!

Are you happy?

If you answered “No”, then congratulations! You’re not alone:

• A 2013 Harris Poll found only 33 percent of people in the United States were very happy.
• A Gallup Poll found just 13 percent of people actually felt “engaged” at their jobs.
• Daily Mail.com reports only 3% of women in the UK are happy with their bodies.
• Another study in the UK, found only 3 in 10 were happy with their lives.

Life Ain’t Easy 

Pretty depressing isn’t it? Life ain’t always easy. But don’t despair. You don’t have to be part of those statistics. There is a secret to happiness and contentment. The apostle Paul found it and so can you.

Paul said in Philippians 4:12, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…” What was that secret? Before we answer that take a moment to consider what Paul went through.

Paul’s life was not an easy one. He described his sufferings in 2 Corinthians
11:24-26:

“Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move…I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.”

And you thought you had it bad! Yet in spite of all he went through, Paul said in Romans 8:18, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

The Secret

What was Paul’s secret? He knew that “…in all things God works for the good of those who love him…” (v. 28) Paul was “…convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (vs. 38-39).

Paul found the secret to contentment in all circumstances – Faith in God. He knew God loved Him with an everlasting love and believed Him when He said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5).

Don’t Fret! Be Content!

You too can be “content whatever the circumstances.” Put your faith in God today and “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

This morning, put your life in God’s hands, trust in Him, and let His peace “…which transcends all understanding…guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Whatever challenges you face today, never forget – you are a child of God! Put your trust in Him and – Don’t fret. Be Content!

Water  – It’s something most of us take for granted. We turn on the tap and out it flows, clear, cool and refreshing. But in many parts of the world they don’t have this luxury. Consider the following facts from Newsweek.com:

• According to the U.N., 2.1 billion people don’t have safe drinking water at home.
• Of those, 844 million don’t have access to a basic drinking water service, including 263 million people who travel for over 30 minutes per trip to collect water.
• 159 million still drink untreated water—a serious health risk—from surface water sources, such as streams or lakes.
• There are 663 million people who live without a safe water supply close to home.

World Water Day 2018

Thursday was World Water Day 2018. The goal of this annual UN-sponsored event is to focus attention on the importance of properly managing the earth’s limited freshwater resources so everyone can have access to clean water, both for now and in the future. The world faces a major water crisis and we must do something today to assure there will be enough for tomorrow.

A Greater Crisis

As serious as the Earth’s water crisis is, there is a far greater crisis, which affects every human on the planet. We are in the midst of a drought, a drought of Living Water, the Water of Life flowing from the Throne of God.

Unlike the Earth’s water crisis, this drought is not caused by a limited supply or finite resources. As the song says, God’s Well, “never shall run dry.” There is more than enough Living Water available for all. The problem is with us.

Broken Cisterns

Jeremiah 2:13 says, “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

With a bottomless reservoir of Living Water to be found in God’s Word, we:

• Are like my cat, who would rather drink from the toilet than from his own dish.
• Try to satisfy our thirst by drinking from the cesspools of our own creation, when Jesus is calling out to us, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37)
• Like the woman at the well, keep seeking for things which cannot satisfy, instead of drawing from God’s “well that never shall run dry.”

A Work to Do

As Christians, we have a responsibility to work to assure an abundant supply of clean water is available for all of Earth’s inhabitants for years to come. After all, as James 2:15-16 points out, it doesn’t do much good to tell someone to “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” if we do “not give them the things which are needed for the body.”

As important as that work is, however, we have an even greater work to do. We must become channels for God’s Living Water to flow in abundance on those who thirst. Instead of broken cisterns, we must become “a fountain of living water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14.

In order for us to do this, we must drink deeply of God’s Word for ourselves on a daily basis. We must pray for the Holy Spirit to be poured out in power on us and our churches. Until we do this, our churches will be nothing more then broken cisterns, empty and good for nothing, with no power to quench the world’s thirst. We must first be filled before we can fill another.

Thirst No More

Matthew 5:6 promises, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” And John 4:14 says, “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.” Living Water is ours for the taking, but we must feel our need before we can be filled.

Do you thirst for the Living Water? Do you long for something more than the broken cisterns this world offers? Then “the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come.” Revelation 22:17

Come and lift your cup into the healing stream which flows from the cleft of the Rock. Drink freely from the Water of Life. Then lift the cup of another that you may both Thirst No More!

God bless and Happy Sabbath!

My favorite thing to do at Costco is taste the samples. While my wife shops, I make the rounds, stuffing my face with yogurt, crackers with salsa, little chunks of cheese, and, of course, candy! If I make about 3 rounds I don’t have to buy lunch!

I rarely purchase what they’re offering. I’m satisfied with the samples. Many of us treat God the same way…

Instead of sitting down and enjoying a meal with Him, we’re satisfied with small samples of His love, mere morsels from His banqueting table, just a sip of the Water of Life. We call it our “morning devotions”, when, really, it’s just a poor excuse for a meal.

Life is busy. We’ve got places to go, people to see, things to do, so, instead of dining on God’s Word, we grab a quick bite and rush out the door, mumbling something about there being no time. The truth is time is running out and our souls are growing cold.

We miss out on so much by just sampling the goodness of God. He longs to spread a full smorgasbord in front of us. He wants to give us “living water” that we may never thirst again, spiritual food to fill that aching emptiness within our souls. He would love to sit down and share a meal, hear our troubles, share a joke – just spend time with us – but we’re too busy.

Got Milk?

When I was a kid, I loved milk. I couldn’t get enough of it! I loved the taste of it, it’s coolness as it slid down my throat, the way it filled my belly and took away my hunger. I was never satisfied with a sip. I wanted a whole glass – the bigger the better!

In 1 Peter 2:2-3 the apostle said, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

What Peter was telling us is, don’t be satisfied with just a taste of God when He has so much more to offer. God wants us to “crave” Him, to be unable to get enough of Him. He wants us to feel like David, who said, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 43:2)

The Best is Yet to Come!

This morning, don’t be satisfied with just a “taste” of God. “Crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation…”

But don’t be satisfied with just milk, because, “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.” (Hebrews 5:13).

Dig deep into the word of God and find a feast for your soul. Drink deeply of the Water of Life. Savor God’s love. Feast on His Word.

Milk is just the beginning. The best is yet to come! God has a whole banquet prepared – the “wedding supper of the Lamb”- and He’s looking forward to sharing it with you someday soon!

Until then, don’t waste your time on samples. “Crave pure spiritual milk” and – Drink Up!

When I was in my early 20’s I worked at a hospital in Auburn, NY as an orderly. The floor I was on was primarily for geriatric patients, many of whom were in the final stages of dementia. You could tell where you were on the floor by the noises coming out of each room. Each patient had their own routine, often shouting the same things day after day.

There was one woman I especially remember. Hour after hour, she yelled, “Help me! He-e-elp me!” Now, she was by no means neglected. We took very good care of her, keeping her clean and bathed, gently caring for all her physical needs, so it was somewhat of a mystery why she shouted this over and over.

One day as I was caring for her, I asked, “Why do you shout ‘Help me’ all day long?” I’ve never forgotten her response. Looking up at me, she whispered, “To break the silence.”

***

Loneliness is epidemic in our society, not just in nursing homes, but also in boardrooms, churches, and school playgrounds. Thousands, as Thoreau wrote, “live lives of quiet desperation”, longing for friendship, love, or just to be noticed, to have someone show they care.

When this need is not met, they either withdraw deeper into themselves or cry, “Help me!” to “break the silence.” Too often this cry for help is manifested in self-destructive ways, such as drug or alcohol abuse, risky sexual behaviors, or suicide. The truly desperate may turn to violence, breaking the silence with the sound of gunfire, as we saw recently in Parkland, Florida.

***

Jesus came to this world to “break the silence”, to “proclaim good news to the poor…to bind up the brokenhearted…to comfort all who mourn…” (Isaiah 61). This is to be our work too. The One “who comforts us in all our troubles” tells us to “comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:4.

We all are lonely at times. We all need the comforting touch of a friend, a voice of love to break the silence of our despair. In lifting each other’s burdens, our own burdens become easier to bear. Breaking the silence for another helps us to hear the voice of God for ourselves.

As you start another week, strive to listen to the world with God’s ears. Hear the cries of “Help me!” echoing in the silence and answer the call. Be a friend to the friendless, bring hope to the hopeless, and comfort to those who grieve. Let Christ’s love fill your heart and let Him use you today to “Break the Silence” in another person’s soul.

God bless and have a wonderful day!

“My name is Patrick. I am a sinner, a simple country person, and the least of all believers. I am looked down upon by many.” [i]

With those humble words, Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, begins his Confessio. Born to wealth and privilege in Britain, Patrick was kidnapped and taken to Ireland at 16 years old.

After arriving in Ireland, Patrick tended sheep every day and it was there he found God. Describing this experience, he said, “I prayed frequently during the day. More and more the love of God increased, and my sense of awe before God. Faith grew, and my spirit was moved.”[ii]

There in the fields, he saw his need. He said, “I recognised my failings. So I turned with all my heart to the Lord my God, and he looked down on my lowliness and had mercy on my youthful ignorance….He protected me and consoled me as a father does for his son.”[iii]

Overwhelmed by God’s love and mercy, he declared “I cannot be silent – nor would it be good to do so – about such great blessings and such a gift that the Lord so kindly bestowed in the land of my captivity.”

Escape to Britain

Patrick eventually escaped to his home in Britain, but he had been forever changed. Echoing the words of Paul in Philippians 1:21, he stated, “If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God…”[iv]

Christ had become Patrick’s all-in-all. He expressed his heart’s desire with these words, “Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort me and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger…”[v]

The Call

Although back with his family in Britain, Patrick thought often of the people of Ireland. He longed for them to know the joy he had found. In a vision one night, he saw a man from Ireland who gave him a letter from the Irish people, begging him to “come and walk again among us.”[vi]

Filled with gratefulness for God’s mercy, Patrick eventually returned to the Emerald Isle and spent the rest of his life sharing the Good News of God’s love with the Irish people.

Speaking of his decision to return, he said, “This is how we can repay such blessings, when our lives change and we come to know God, to praise and bear witness to his great wonders before every nation under heaven.”[vii]

What about you?

What about you, my friend? Will you answer the call? Have you tasted and seen that the Lord is good? Has He set you free from your captivity to sin? Can you say with the Apostle Paul, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”?[viii]

If so, then keep silent no longer, for all around the lost and lonely beg for you to, “come and walk again among us.” They long for the peace that only God can provide, the joy and hope only He can give.

Today, if you are grateful for God’s blessings in your life, then repay Him by sharing those blessings with the world. Bring “praise and bear witness to his great wonders before every nation under heaven….”

As you do this, I pray you will, like Patrick, feel Christ beside you, Christ before you, Christ behind you, and Christ within you, every step along the way.

God bless and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

[i] https://confessio.ie/etexts/confessio_english#01

[ii] ibid

[iii] ibid

[iv] http://www.azquotes.com/author/11389-Saint_Patrick

[v] Ibid.

[vi] https://confessio.ie/etexts/confessio_english#01

[vii] ibid

[viii] Philippians 1:21 NKJV

“Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God’ ”?  Isaiah 40:27 NIV

Have you ever felt like this, like your “way is hidden from the Lord”, like your cause is disregarded by…God”? Does it feel sometimes like your prayers don’t get past the ceiling and God is deaf to your cries?

I felt this way a little in the last week, like there was a disconnect between me and God. I kept up my daily Bible study, but the words just didn’t seem to reach to my soul. I couldn’t find any words to write. I felt down for no apparent reason.

At times like these, it can be tempting to just throw in the towel and give up on God. When your study seems to lead nowhere,your prayers go unanswered, and your life is a mess, it makes you wonder if it’s worth all the effort.

We all have days like these, but James tells us when we “face trials of many kinds,” to “Consider it pure joy…because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2-3)

If our faith is never tested it will never grow. If God’s light always shines on our path we will never learn to walk with Him in the dark.

It is when we can’t see God’s face, when He seems so far away, that we must reach out by faith, grasp His hand and never let go. We must persevere and not give up, trusting He meant it when He said, ““Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Today, if you will put your “hope in the Lord”, grasp His hand by faith and never let go, He will make you “soar on wings like eagles…run and not grow weary…walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31).

At this moment your world may seem pretty dark. Right now God may feel so far away. But remember, as the old Family Reunion song says, “It’s the darkest just before dawn.”

A better day is on its way! “Never give up, keep holding on!”

I have to admit, when I was a child, calling the Sabbath “a delight” would have been a foreign concept to me. Back then most of what I heard about the Sabbath was from adults telling me to “keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day.” To a young boy this was not very appealing, especially the part about not doing as I please.

Thankfully, people’s understanding of the Sabbath has changed. These days, while still upholding the importance of keeping the Seventh Day holy, the emphasis is much more on finding delight in this special day of the week.

My own attitude has also matured. Since I’ve fallen in love with God, “I delight in God’s law…” (Romans 7:22). I’ve learned when I find delight in the Sabbath, the honoring part takes care of itself. I keep it holy, because it pleases the One I love and it’s a special time He’s asked me to spend with Him.

Date Time

Spending time with people we love is something we all enjoy. That’s why we look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas. For me, I look forward to father-daughter dates with my daughter, Rishana. They are some of my favorite days of the year, because I love spending time with my girl. It would take wild horses to keep me away and even then they’d have a fight on their hands!

The Sabbath is the same kind of thing. It is a weekly date with my Heavenly Father, something I look forward to every week. On sundown Friday evening I put away all my troubles and cares, the worries and work of the week, and spend the next 24 hours enjoying His company and time with others who feel the same way. The Sabbath has become a delight to me, my favorite day of the week. It’s an appointment I never want to miss.

Your Turn!

How about you? Is the Sabbath a day of delight or dread? Or maybe you’ve never tried it. Either way, why not give it a try? Today, instead of your normal routine, take a day off to spend with Jesus and see what happens. You just might find it becomes your favorite day of the week too!