Monthly Archives: September 2023

Last evening Ana and I spent about a half hour standing in a light drizzle waiting for our order at a local burger joint. We’d heard they made a delicious garden burger, so we’d decided to try it out. The place was super busy, so it took quite a while to get our food. Finally, order in hand, we headed home, cranking up the heat in the pickup to ward off the chill seeping into our bones.

On arriving at home we quickly unloaded the bags filled with greasy fries, onion rings and those much anticipated garden burgers. Eagerly we took our first bite, ready to gorge ourselves on this delicious meal we’d waited so long to try.

Turns out we should have kept waiting. The garden burger was underdone, the bun was soggy and the onion rings dry. I don’t think we’ll be going back to that place anytime soon. Let’s just say we were less than satisfied

Isaiah 55:2 asks the question, “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?” We waste so much of our time, resources, and energy in pursuit of things which leave us feeling less than satisfied or, even worse, guilty and ashamed. God wants so much more for His children.

Jesus said in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” God wants us to have amazing, fulfilling, healthy lives, filled with purpose and meaning. But this can only happen when we daily walk with Him.

Someday soon all who have accepted Jesus as their Savior will sit down at “the wedding supper of the Lamb!” (Revelation 19:9). There won’t be any underdone garden burgers or greasy fries on that table! No, that will be a meal worth waiting for! Don’t miss it by chasing after “what does not satisfy.” Choose to follow Jesus instead and discover what it’s like to “have life, and have it to the full.”

Ana loves flowers and this time of year she enjoys perusing the garden catalogs for bulbs she can add to her flower beds. Recently we put a couple orders in for bulbs, but accidentally had them shipped to our old address in Cashmere, instead of here in College Place. We’ve spent the last couple days trying to track them down and get them redirected.

Like those packages, each of us has been heading in the wrong direction at one time or another. That’s why Jesus came to this earth, “to seek and save the lost.” (Luke 19:10 NIV). We all were lost, but with His death on the cross He paid the cost to redirect us to a new final destination.

Unlike our missing packages, which have no say in where they end up, we each have a choice. “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9).

Today, make sure you’re heading for where you really want to be. Don’t end up lost like our missing tulip bulbs. Accept Jesus as your Savior, give Him control of your life, and He’ll make sure you get delivered safely to your heavenly home someday soon!

God bless and have a wonderful day!

I remember the first time I saw the Grand Canyon. I had been going to college in LaSierra, CA, and was driving back home to New York. I decided to take a detour to visit the Grand Canyon, not knowing when I might have a chance again. I’d seen pictures of the canyon, but didn’t really see what the big deal was. After all it’s essentially just a big, long ditch. At least that’s what I thought. Then I saw it and everything changed.

I was driving down the road leading to Grand Canyon National Park and saw a rest area off to the side. Pulling in I noticed a path leading through some bushes and decided to check it out. I wandered down the path, just enjoying the day, when suddenly I came around a corner and my mouth just dropped open. I’d never seen anything so amazing. Spread out before as far as I could see was the Grand Canyon, in all its majesty. It was massive! The sun was just setting and the play of colors on the canyon walls was breathtaking!

We get so caught in the mundane, everyday business of life, we forget there is something amazing awaiting us, just around the corner. As the old song says, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passin’ through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue…”.

Jesus told His disciples He was going to prepare a place for them and what a place it will be! Scripture tells us, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT). It is going to be amazing!

Today, when the stresses of everyday life in this dark world get to you, don’t lose hope. Keep following that narrow path that leads to life (Matthew 7:14). Just around the corner lies “a better place, a heavenly homeland.” (Hebrews 11:16). Don’t give up now. It will be worth the wait!

“You’re a great doctor!”

These kind words, from the mother of a child I had just seen, came at just the right time. It had been another long day and I was tired. Her words were just the pick-me-up I needed at that moment. Even though it was a little embarrassing, and I’m not sure I deserved her assessment that I’m a “great doctor” (especially since I’m a PA, not a doctor), it still brightened my day and gave me the boost I needed to keep going.

Kind words have such amazing power. Even when they’re undeserved, they can change a person’s outlook, bring comfort, and make their day. As Solomon wrote, “Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” (Proverbs 16:24 NLT).

Showing kindness, whether by words or deeds, is always the right thing to do, even if the person we’re dealing with doesn’t seem to deserve it. After all, if God treated any one of us the way we deserve, we’d all be in trouble. Instead, God “is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.” (Ephesians 1:7).

Today you will run into all types of people, some who are pleasant to be around and others you’d rather avoid. No matter the circumstances, showing a little kindness can make a big difference. Even if it feels like the person doesn’t deserve a break, give it to them anyway.

Wherever you go today, choose to be kind. Spread kind words like honey and sweeten someone’s soul.

None of us likes to lose. Whether we’re playing Monopoly or tennis or competing for a promotion at work, we all live by the adage, “Winning’s a lot more fun.”

When it comes to the game of life, however, things get all turned inside out. God’s way is not our way. To gain victory in life, not just for now, but for eternity, we first have to surrender. Only by total surrender to God’s will can we attain total victory.

This is so hard for us to accept. We resist the very idea of surrender, of accepting our own weakness, our inability to save ourselves, but it is the only way to truly win. God promises if you “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10 NIV).

Sometimes it’s okay to lose. It all depends who you’re losing to. When you lose yourself to Jesus, you win the biggest price of all – eternal life. When we give up what’s holding us back from Jesus, we gain so much more. Don’t be afraid to surrender your life to Him today. It’s the only way to truly win the victory, both now and for eternity.

Almost everyone has seen shirts or posters or mugs starting with “Keep Calm…”, followed by something like “and Drive On” or “and Enjoy the Day.” There are all sorts of variations, but all start with that same sage advice, “Keep Calm.”

The original saying was “Keep Calm and Carry On”. It was found on posters issued by the British Ministry of Information during World War II in an attempt encourage British citizens to stay calm in the face of aerial bombardment and possible invasion by Nazi Germany. In recent years, in reaction to the stresses of modern life, this saying has again gained popularity, with multiple variations.

“Keep Calm” is something that’s a lot easier to say than to actually do. Just watching the evening news can send your stress level into the stratosphere. Add on the pile of bills on your kitchen table, layoffs at work, relationship problems, or any of the innumerable challenges we face each day, and you have the recipe for a serious anxiety attack. It’s no wonder anxiolytics and anti-depressants are some of the most widely prescribed drugs in the world today.

It doesn’t have to be this way, though. God offers a solution. He invites you to “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV). He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). He wants to carry this load for you, if you will only surrender it to Him. When you do “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7).

No matter what challenges you are facing today, remember you are not alone. God is on your side. Just as He delivered Israel from their enemies so long ago, He can deliver you. If you will let Him, “The Lord Himself will fight for you” so “Just stay calm.” (Exodus 14:14 NLT).

Whatever comes your way today don’t give up. God is with you. “Cast all your anxiety on Him”. then “Keep Calm and Carry On”. God’s got this!

We spent yesterday evening visiting Alex at his place. Our grandson had gotten a hold of a ball of his mother’s yarn just before we got there and rearranged it for her. It is amazing what a mess a 6-month old can make out of a ball of yarn. It was knotted and twisted and all tangled up. We spent most of our visit slowly working the knots out and rolling it back into a neat ball, while we chatted with Alex. What took our grandson about 10 minutes to mess up took 3 adults about 1-½ hours to untangle.

Our lives are a lot like that ball of yarn. We’ve done an amazing job of messing our lives up, getting ourselves hopelessly entangled by our sins and mistakes, till we can’t tell one end from the other. We struggle to free ourselves from the cords that entangle us, but we end up just making things worse.

There really is only one solution to this problem. We need someone wiser than us to free us from “the sin that so easily entangles.” (Hebrews 12:1 NIV). There is only one who can do this for us, Jesus Christ, the “one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” (Heb 4:15). He alone can set us free from the jumbled mess we’ve made and “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36).

Come to Jesus today and hand him the knotted and twisted threads of your life. “In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:6). Let Him have control and he will take those tangled threads and make something beautiful of your life.

There are days when I just have nothing to give. Today’s one of those days. Nothing is wrong. I’m just dried up, uninspired, empty. No trite spiritual parallels to share. No divine inspiration. No insights on life’s mysteries. Just me, the computer, the empty page.

Thankfully, my God doesn’t have this problem. He always has an answer. He always knows what we need. Here are a few things He’s been teaching me:

Problems are opportunities. They are how we grow. They strengthen us, prepare us, not just for the challenges of this life, but for the joys and wonders of the eternity to come.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” (Romans 5:3-4 NLT).

We all could use a little grace. None of us are perfect and we all need to give and receive a little mercy sometimes.

“God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7).

We need each other. We need friendship, a listening ear, a nudge in the right direction. It’s how God made us.

“The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.” (Proverbs 27:9)

Sometimes being empty is a good thing. Until we feel our need, experience the vacuum only God can fill, we can never really appreciate the joy of His presence in our hearts.

“The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.” (Psalm 28:7).

“But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, ‘The Lord is great!’ ” (Psalm 40:16).

Today, if you’re feeling empty, embrace it. Ask God to fill you with His joy till you overflow. Then go and share it with someone else who’s running on empty too!

I usually eat a pretty healthy diet, but last night I got a craving for pizza. There’s a pizza place near here that makes a delicious vegan pizza, loaded with veges and non-dairy cheese. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. It was so good!

That craving we all feel sometimes, whether it’s for pizza, ice cream, or some other delicious treat, is what God wants us to feel when we think of Him. That’s what Jesus meant when He said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6 NIV).

God wants us to crave being in His presence, to thirst for a relationship with Him, to long to be like Him. Why? So He can fill us up, bless us beyond anything we can imagine, satisfy our hunger with the Bread of Life.

All the things this world has to offer will never relieve the hunger we feel in our souls. Only God’s presence, His righteousness, can do that. So, don’t wait a moment longer. Come to Jesus. Invite Him into your life today. Let Him fill you with His righteousness and hunger and thirst no more!

“Bob, we need you down here right now!”

The nurse’s urgent tone barely penetrated Bob’s sleep-deprived mind. He worked as a physician assistant in a small rural hospital in upstate New York, pulling 24-hour shifts in the ER. Some nights could be brutal and this was one of them. Bob was exhausted. But duty called, so he pulled on his shoes and headed wearily towards the in-patient wing.

“Okay, I’m here,” he announced. “What’s the emergency?”

The head nurse took in his rumpled scrubs and bleary eyes and declared, “You look awful!”

“Thanks,” Bob snarled, “Three hours of sleep will do that to you. What’s the problem?”

“Mrs. Jeffrey, Room 14, is having a mental breakdown. She’s hallucinating and screaming there are frogs in her room. We need you to order something to calm her down.”

Bob groaned. He hated dealing with mental health patients and never more than on nights like tonight, when he was barely holding onto his own sanity. Shaking his head in disgust, he grabbed Mrs. Jeffrey’s chart and headed toward her room. He told himself he’d just take a quick peek, prescribe some Xanax and head back to bed.

A few minutes later, Bob reappeared at the nurses’ station, grinning from ear-to-ear. He unceremoniously plopped a huge bullfrog on the counter, then turned and walked away, calling over his shoulder, “There’s your frog! Next time, take the time to actually check the patient before you call me. Just because a patient sounds crazy, doesn’t mean they actually are!”

Jesus said, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” (Matthew 7:1 NIV). It is so easy to make a snap decision about someone based on their appearance, how they talk, or where they come from. However, until we actually step into the room with someone, get to know them, we have no business criticizing them.

We need to give each other a break and “Be kind and compassionate to one another…” (Ephesians 4:32). We need to give each other the benefit of the doubt. Who knows? After we get to know someone, we may just discover there really was a frog in the room.