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Sometimes love takes time.

For months now our daughter Rishana has been feeding a cat which appeared at her door one day. She named him Nesbit and has been slowly gaining his trust. It started with just a “Hello” and talking to him everyday. Eventually he took some food from her, let her get a little closer, and finally let her pet him and sit by him. But, no matter what she tried, the cat refused to come inside.

Something changed last night. Maybe it was the cold or something else, but Nesbit finally came in for 5 minutes. A step in the right direction. He even climbed on her lap and got a welcome home kiss from Rishana’s other cat, Robin.

Rishana says people are a lot like Nesbit. Sometimes it takes time for them to accept your love. You start by saying “Hi”, then meet whatever needs they have, whether food, shelter, or just a listening ear. After time they may learn to trust you enough to share a little bit of their heart, their fears, worries and cares.

Whatever you do, don’t rush them. Sometimes, in our eagerness to share the truth we get impatient and end up driving people away. If Rishana had tried to pick Nesbit up and force him to come inside he would have run away in fright. She had to let the relationship develop.

So, don’t bug people to come to church or overwhelm them with doctrine. Get to know them, meet their needs, be a friend. They don’t need doctrine right now. They need love. If we give them what they need, maybe in time they’ll trust us enough to come inside.

1 Corinthians 13:7 tells us “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

If Rishana had given up on Nesbit, she never would have had a new pet to love. Don’t give up on your friends or family either. Keep loving them, meeting their needs, being a friend. “At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

Sometimes love takes time. Be patient, have faith, cling to hope, and most of all keep loving them – no matter what.

The noise was deafening. Forty-seven babies all screaming in unison. It was all John could do not to cover his ears. The racket was giving him a headache.

As part of a group of hospital administrators from the United States John was touring hospitals in the People’s Republic of China to learn about their medical procedures and make suggestions on how they could improve.

During the tour of the various hospitals, John had seen many disturbing things, but this nursery was the worst. Forty-seven screaming babies, with only two overworked nurses to care for them all! It was chaos!

Leaning over the bassinet of a little dark-haired girl, who was loudly declaring her discontent with the world, John, almost without thinking, reached down and stroked her cheek. Instantly, the little girl stopped crying. Her legs stopped kicking and she looked up into his face and smiled. Before his very eyes John saw the transforming power of a loving touch.

1 John 3:18 says, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” Actions always speak louder than words.

We hear a lot about love this time of year, but words are cheap. People don’t need pretty speeches or noble sentiments. They don’t need candy hearts or fancy cards. They need loving touches and helping hands. They need someone to wipe away a tear or give a listening ear. They someone to clothe their bodies, fill their bellies, and give them shelter for the cold.

It’s love in action which changes lives and a loving touch which soothes a child’s cry. Who can you touch today with God’s love? Don’t just talk love of Christ. Be the love of Christ in your world today.

Last evening the Cashmere Seventh-day Adventist Church had a talent show in our fellowship hall. We heard beautiful piano solos, an amazing recitation of Psalm 34 by our very young children, and a song by the junior class.

In addition, we were treated to a wonderful rendition of “So Long, Farewell” by a couple families. Several others read poems or sang songs. I read my poem,“Snow Days” (See my Facebook timeline).

We even had an amazing demonstration of how to throw a football correctly (Tom Brady would have been jealous).

The highlight of the evening was a visit from Sven (Nick) and Olav (John), two “Norwegian” gentlemen who were trying to figure out the correct way to use a Thermos.

We laughed, ate lots of good food and just enjoyed each other’s company. It was a welcome break from the busyness of life and a warm way to end a cold day.

Hebrews 10:25 says, “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

This means more than just going to church on a regular basis. We need to be spending time together at other times too, visiting each other’s homes, going on hikes, and sharing a meal. We need to laugh together, eat together, have fun together, and, yes, help others together.

In a world which seems to be getting crazier everyday, we need to support each other, not just once a week, but all through the week. Paul says we are to “think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” (v. 24). We need to “encourage one another and build each other up…” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Let’s face it – we need each other. Galatians 6:2 says we are to “carry each other’s burdens.” Let’s keep our eyes open this week for someone who needs us to carry their load for awhile, could use a shoulder to cry on, or maybe just needs a listening ear. We can send them a note, give them a call, or, better yet, drop by (preferably with food!), and give them some of our time.

This world’s a lonely place. Let’s get together! It’s going to be fun!

God bless and Happy New Week!

BTW: If you’re looking for a place to call home you’re always welcome to join us at the Cashmere Seventh-day Adventist Church next week. See you there!

In my work I deal with a lot of anxious people. It’s bad enough they’re not feeling well already, but then they have to come into the walk-in clinic, with it’s bright lights, crying babies, and a bunch of strangers who check their weight, stick a thermometer in their mouth, and ask probing, personal, questions. It’s not exactly a relaxing environment!

I’ve found one way to get my patients to feel more comfortable is to find something we have in common. If I’m able to share a similar experience I’ve had or discover we have mutual friends or have been to the same place on vacation, they realize they’re not alone and they start to relax.

For many people God is a scary concept. They see Him as an overbearing tyrant constantly looking for some reason to squash them like a bug. It’s hard to feel a connection with a God like that and even harder to trust Him.

This is why Jesus came to earth, to help us see who God really is, not a tyrant, but a loving father. “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ…” 2 Corinthians 5:19.

We can relate to a God who got tired, felt alone, suffered disappointment, and was abandoned by His friends. We can feel a connection with a deity who “who has been tempted in every way, just as we are” and we find hope in the fact that, though He faced the same challenges we do, “yet he did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15).

This is such good news! Jesus understands what you’re going through, because He’s a human too. We do not need to be anxious or afraid in God’s presence, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses…” (v. 15). Instead we can “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (v. 16).

This morning, come boldly before God’s throne. You have nothing to be afraid of, because you have something in common – you both love His Son! So “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) He will never turn you away! How could He? Your part of the family!

I believe in hard work. I believe people should earn their way in life, that none of us should expect a free ride, for others to carry our burdens. I believe the truth of the saying I quoted yesterday, that we don’t get what we wish for, we get what we work for.

There are exceptions to this, of course. Many, through no fault of their own, find themselves in circumstances beyond their control. Sickness, divorce, downsizing, wars, and innumerable other reasons can leave any of us desperate, unable to work our way out, needing a hand up.

In these circumstances, we should, of course, do all we can to help these unfortunate ones. But what if they ended up where they were because of their own foolish mistakes? Drug addiction, unwise financial choices, lapses of judgment, all can lead to dire consequences. Why should we help people like that? After all they got themselves into the mess, shouldn’t they work themselves out?

Well, before you say “yes”, let me remind you of the words of Romans 3:23, which says, “…everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” We all are in the same boat. We all have messed up. We all need a hand up. We can work and do our best to get out of the mess we’ve made, but it will all be to no avail, because “no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands.” (v. 20)

There is only one way anyone can be saved. “People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.” (v. 25). That includes you and the beggar on the street. We all need a helping hand, someone to lift us from the gutter.

So the next time you feel like looking down on another, remember God is looking down on you too. You are both the same in his sight, sinners in need of a Savior, and to each He says, “Here take my Hand. Let me lift you up.” Shouldn’t we do the same for our brothers?

God bless and have a wonderful day!

“You don’t get what you wish for. You get what you work for.”

I’m not sure who originally said it, but the above quote struck a chord with me. I’ve wished for so many things in my life, but wishing doesn’t make it so. I wish to be a successful writer, but I haven’t written a word in over a week. I wish I was in better shape, but lately the only exercise I’ve gotten is jumping to conclusions. I can wish all I want, but to truly succeed I’m going to have to do the work.

The same is true in our relationship with God. While it’s true salvation is a free gift which cannot be earned, it is just the beginning. Jesus paid the price for your sin with His death on the cross, but He doesn’t want you to stop there. He wants you to “Grow to maturity” (2 Corinthians 13:11 NLT), to “grow in your knowledge of God” (Ephesians 1:17), and to have “a full experience of salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). All this takes work, not wishes.

Being a Christian is not just about sitting in a pew. It’s not just songs and sermons and quiet meditation. No, we are told to “Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.” (Philippians 2:12)

Wishing is fine for birthdays and fairy tales, but if in the Christian walk there are no shortcuts on the road to success. If you want to “grow in your knowledge of God” wishing won’t get you there.

To have a growing relationship with Jesus you have to spend time with Him in prayer every day, study His Word like your life depends on it (because it does!), and put your faith into action in service to others. In other words, you’ve got to do the work. It’s the only way!

God bless and have a great day!

Life sometimes feels like standing on a beach with wave after wave crashing into you. Just when you regain your balance from the last crisis or disappointment, the next one hits, threatening to sweep your legs out from under you and drag you under.

If you’re feeling like this right now, then hopefully this advice I found on a sign in Hawaii will help. The sign said, “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf!”

James 1:2-4 gives us similar advice. It says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Today we may be no more able to stop the trials which come our way, then we can stop the waves from crashing on the shore, but how we respond to these challenges is up to us. We can give up and let them drag us down or we can use them to grow stronger and to carry us toward our goals. We can drown in a whirlpool of despair or we can learn to surf. The choice is ours.

Today, I choose to surf!

After taking the red-eye back from Kauai, driving home through pouring rain from Seattle, spending Thursday running errands, and a busy day at work yesterday, I’m so glad it’s finally Sabbath! I really need it!

That’s the thing about vacations. After spending 9 days relaxing it’s hard to get back into the swing of things. It’s hard to concentrate on work, when your mind is back in Hawaii!

Our last day in Kauai we spent exploring the beautiful Waimea Canyon, the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” That description may be a little generous because Waimea pales in comparison to the Grand Canyon, but it is still amazing! Spectacular waterfalls, deep gorges, and sheer cliffs covered in lush vegetation make it one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.

In the afternoon we hiked down into the canyon, hoping to reach the top of the waterfall, but we took a wrong turn and ended up on the cliff trail instead. While I was a little disappointed in not getting to see the falls up close, the view from the cliff trail was amazing! We stood on the end and just drank in the beauty around us. It was well worth the hike!

Sometimes in life we make a wrong turn, ending up far from where we intended to be. This can be discouraging, but, thankfully, we serve a God who can use even life’s detours to lead us into a beautiful place. We need only trust in Him and remember He promises in Romans 8:28 “that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” – even our wrong turns!

God bless and have a Happy Sabbath!

Yesterday, Ana and I climbed Nounou Mountain, also called the Sleeping Giant, here in Kauai. When we started we thought it would be an easy hike. We were wrong!

The higher we got the steeper the trail. Towards the top we came upon a staircase of rock where we had to climb up using handholds and footholds. Unable to see what lay above, all we could do was keep moving. Step-by-step we kept going and before we knew it we were standing on the peak, the beauty of Kauai spread below us.

Many times in life we can’t see the way ahead. The way seems to hard to handle, obstacles appear on every side, and there seems no clear way through. Our options are limited and defeat seems inevitable.

Martin Luther King Jr., whose life we celebrate today, had some good advice for those of us facing such a situation. He said, “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but by all means, keep moving.”

Life isn’t always easy, but we must “not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9. So, whether climbing a mountain or facing a problem which seems as big as one, take Martin Luther King Jr.’s advice and “keep moving”, trusting God to show you the way.

God bless and have a great day!

This morning, I got to watch another spectacular sunrise on the beach in Kauai. Watching the clouds light up like fire, I was reminded of Jesus words in Mark 13:26-27, when he said, “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.”

This text was especially meaningful to me because, yesterday, my cousin Benji’s family and friends gathered for his memorial service, celebrating his life which ended much to soon. Obviously, we couldn’t be there, but they were in our thoughts and prayers.

Benji was a wonderful person who loved life and brought much joy to his family and friends. He will be terribly missed. However, our grief is tempered by the knowledge this is not the end. Soon we “will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds…” On that day, “he will send his angels and gather his elect…from the ends of the earth…”

Never again will parents have to bury their children or children their parents, for “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. No more memorial services, no more graveside tears, no more loved ones left to carry on alone.

When Jesus comes again no longer will we look to the horizon each morning for the sun to rise. Instead, with Benji and others we have lost, we 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 4:17.

Until then, we will rejoice at each new sunrise and give thanks each time it sets, knowing we are one day closer to the day when the Son will rise with healing in His wings. (Malachi 4:2). On that day we will all go home, never more to part. May that day be soon!