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When we used to live in Upstate New York, our church would sometimes get together for a cider-making social. One of the members had a cider press and everyone would bring apples and throw them into the press. The children would take turns turning the crank, pushing the press down into the apples. Within moments, some of the sweetest cider I’d ever tasted would come pouring out of the spout at the bottom.

Sometimes I feel like I’m in a cider press, “pressed on every side by troubles.” I think we all feel this way sometimes. Financial pressures, relationship problems, career difficulties, health setbacks – for each of us the challenges are different. Whatever it is we face, we can feel that crank turning, the pressure building, till we are sure we will be crushed under the weight of our problems.

It is at that moment we must remember “…that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” 2 Corinthians 4:7. On our own we cannot stand, but if we trust in God and lean on Him, when we “…are pressed on every side by troubles, we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.” 2 Corinthians 4:8, 9.

I love this quote from the book, The Faith I Live By, p. 64:

“God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could    see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him.

We may not always understand why God lets troubles come our way, but we can rest assured He only has our best interest in mind.

The Apostle James understood this. He wrote, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4.

We may not enjoy the pressures life brings our way, but remember, “…our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” 2 Corinthians 4:17.

Today, let’s not “look at the troubles we can see now…” Instead, let us “fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:18.

Apples cannot produce sweet cider until they are pressed. Likewise, the pressures we face each day help us grow in faith, so that someday soon “…we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9.

So, bring the pressure on! I may not enjoy it now, but in the end I know it will be worth it all!

God bless and have an awesome day!

Yesterday, my brother-in-law, Danny Alvarado, and I worked on my wife’s car, replacing the wheel bearings. We gathered our tools and set to work.

Everything went well until it was time to remove the bearings. It turns out the tool we’d bought for the task would not do the job. We had to stop what we we’re doing, and leave the car up on the blocks until we could buy the right tool.

Too often we do this with our spiritual lives. As we strive to grow as Christians, we go to church, watch videos, read devotional books and talk about theology. These are all good things, but, by themselves, they won’t get the job done.

If we really want to grow in our walk with Christ, we need to make use of the most important tool of all, “…the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 3:15.

2 Timothy 3:16, 17 tells us, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

In the pages of the Bible we will find everything we need to become the people God made us to be and to make a real difference in our world.

Today, you may be trying to repair the damage from past mistakes, heal a broken marriage, or build a closer relationship with your Heavenly Father. If you want to succeed, make sure you choose the right tool.

You wouldn’t try to fix a car with a hammer when you need a wrench, would you? Well, then, don’t try to fix your life with good works when what you need is the Good Word.

No matter what the task, you’ll find all the tools you need in the pages of God’s Word. Why not open it’s pages right now and see for yourself?

God bless and have a great day!

This morning, as I set out for my daily 2-mile walk it was cold and rainy. Spray blew in my face and my jogging pants were getting soaked. It was a generally miserable day for a walk. At the ½ mile mark I’d had enough. I said to myself, “Forget this”, and turned back. A mile was plenty of exercise for a day like today.

However, after about 15 steps back towards home. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t quit. I’ve been quitting things all my life and I’m done with that. I’d given myself a goal of 2 miles and I was going to do it, no matter what the weather. Turning around I headed back up the hill, the rain coming down heavier than before.

The weird thing is, when I reached my turn-around point, I didn’t want to quit. I kept going, my feet pounding the wet pavement, the wind in my face, and loving every minute of it. By the time I got back home I’d done 3.1 miles, running a good portion of it, and I felt great! I’d not only reached my goal, I’d surpassed it.

On a day when 30,000 people are running 26.2 miles in the pouring rain in the 2018 Boston Marathon, my little victory may seem pretty insignificant (and it is), but for each of us the race is different, the challenges unique. For some, a walk around the block may be all they can do. For others, like the Boston Marathoners, a 5K is just a warm up.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 says, “The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle.” What is important is not to quit, to keep pushing, to keep our eyes on the goal. As Rich Roll says, in his book Finding Ultra, we have to “Just keep moving forward.” (p. 197).

The key to success, not just in athletics, but in all areas of life is persistence. As Paul says in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Right now it may seem like your goals are unreachable, your dreams unattainable. The storms of life have left you battered and worn. Tears stream down your face and you’re ready to turn back. You’re ready to quit!

Don’t do it my friend! Lift your head and set your eyes on the goal. Cry out to God for help and then just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Keep moving forward and before you know it you will cross the finish line and be able to say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7.

Today, don’t let the rain slow you down or the wind turn you back. Jesus runs beside you every step of the way, so don’t be discouraged. Don’t give up! Don’t wait for the storm to pass! Run in the rain!

It was a rough day Thursday at the Walk-in Clinic. The patients just kept coming in droves. We’d get the board whittled down to 4 or 5 people waiting to be seen and 6 more would walk in the door. Colds, flu, chest pain, anxiety, lacerations…by the end of the day they all began to blur together. I got my last patient out the door at 10:20, finished my charts by 11:10 and got home after 11:30. To say I was weary would be an understatement

We all have days like that, days so intense we barely have enough gas left in our tanks to stumble into bed at night. It would be easy to be discouraged, to want to throw in the towel, to just pull up the covers and block out the sun. The race of life can be long and arduous at times and it can seem like the finish line is nowhere in sight.

If that’s how you’re feeling right now, don’t give up, because, “Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth…He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (Isaiah 40:28, 29).

God promises in Isaiah 40:31 that “…those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Today, no matter how tired you are, no matter what challenges you face, don’t despair. Have faith in God. Declare with confidence, “I am weary, God, but I can prevail.” (Proverbs 30:1). With God by your side you can do anything!

God bless, Happy Sabbath, and get some rest!

Many times in the Bible God tells His people to “Go up!” “Go up to Bethel and settle there…” Genesis 35:1. “Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey.” Exodus 33:3. “Go up and take possession of the land I have given you.” Deuteronomy 9:23.

We like to hear these stories where God says, “go up”, “take a chance”, “move forward”, “be bold”. But what about when God says, “Stay put”? That’s not usually what we want to hear, especially if we’re in a marriage that is less than ideal, a job we can’t stand, or place we feel we don’t belong.

God told Israel to “stay put” while they were captives in Babylon. Through the prophet Jeremiah He said, “Build houses and settle down…seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:5, 7

Israel didn’t want to hear this. They wanted to go home. They were tired of being servants in a foreign land. They wanted to be able to do their own thing, make their own plans, be in charge of their own lives.

Israel wanted to “go up”, but God told them to “stay put.” Why? Because it wasn’t time yet. He said, in verse 10, “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.”

Right now you may feel trapped in a situation you can’t stand. You’re natural inclination may be to call it quits, to move on. That might be the right thing to do, but it might not. God sees the end from the beginning and He may see it is best for you to stay where you are for right now.

Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 NIV. Sometimes this may mean staying in a job or a situation which is less than ideal. If so, remember He always “works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.

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. If He’s telling you to “Go up”, then get moving! But if He says, “Stay put”, then be thankful. You’re right where you belong!

In his autobiography, Finding Ultra, Rich Roll, named “one the world’s fittest men” by Men’s Fitness magazine, tells the story of his second Ultraman race on the Big Island of Hawaii. The Ultraman World Championship is a 3 day double-ironman distance, 320-mile triathlon. On Day One competitors complete a 6.2 mile ocean swim, immediately followed by a 90-mile bike race. On Day Two they race 170 miles on their bikes and then, on Day Three, run a double marathon.

After ending the first day in the lead , Rich had gotten off to a slow start in the bike race. As he labored alone down the pothole-strewn Red Road, in the pouring rain, he hit a bump and crashed, his body skidding across the wet, red cinder, pavement.

Painfully getting back to his feet, Rich discovered his helmet was cracked, and he had severe abrasions of his shoulder and his knees, making movement very painful. However, far worse than his physical injuries was the damage to his bike. The left pedal had shattered. As Rich looked at the carbon fiber pieces strewn over the road, he realized his race was over. All his training, all his sacrifice was for naught.

Get it done!

A short time later, however, as he limped to the end of the Red Road, Rich was met by, not only his support team, but the support teams of several other racers. He tried to tell them that it was over, that he was done, but they just ignored him and got to work.

Within a few minutes Rich was back on the bike, his wounds bandaged and his left foot resting on a new pedal provided by another team. Peter McIntosh, the crew captain for another competitor, looked him in the eye and said “This is not over. Now get back on your bike and get it done.”* And Rich did just that.

The Race of Life

As I read this story I realized we are all in a race, a race called life. Athletes run to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.“ 1 Corinthians 9:25. This is a race we cannot avoid. We are in it every day of our lives, whether we like it or not.

Sometimes the race seems long. Sometimes we crash and burn and find ourselves laying on the wet, cold pavement, the broken pieces of our dreams scattered around us. Bruised and battered, we wonder if we can go on.

It is in these moments we realize we cannot win this race on our own. We need Jesus. We need His healing hand, His loving touch. And we need to “Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, [we] will be proud that [we] did not run the race in vain and that [our] work was not useless.” Philippians 2:16.

We also need the support of our friends and fellow believers so we can “press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:14. We need to “encourage each other and build each other up…” 1 Thessalonians 5:11.

No One Runs Alone

It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve crashed and burned. It doesn’t matter how broken you are, how many painful scrapes you have on your soul. Jesus Christ ran this race before you. His blood has paid the price for your sin and “By his wounds you are healed.” 1 Peter 2:24. You also have the rest of us, your fellow competitors and we’ve got your back.

Today, as you run your race, remember – you do not run alone. Jesus is with you and so are we. We’re here to encourage you and build you up. So, “since [you] are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith…run with endurance the race God has set before [you].’ Hebrews 12:1.

Your race is not finished. You’ve only begun. “This is not over. Now, get back up and get it done!”

God bless and have a great day!

*Rich Roll, Finding Ultra, (New York: Crown Archetype, 2012), p. xvi

I’ve read dozens of self-help books through the years, in a continual quest to “find myself”, to find my “true purpose”, my “why”. The books have been helpful, to varying degrees, but I’ve noticed most have one thing in common – it’s all about me.

These books offer advice like, “Look within yourself”, “Think back to your childhood and write down what made you happy”, or “If you could do anything you wanted, what would it be?” I’m sure there’s merit in some of this advice, but I’ve come to believe the focus is wrong. You see I’m the problem, so why would I look inside myself for the solution?

Look Up

The more I’ve come to know Christ the more I’ve come to realize I’ve been looking in the wrong place for answers. The answers are not to be found by looking in, but in looking up, in “…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2.

You see, if I have given my life to Jesus and accepted His blood as payment for my sins, the Bible says, “…it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

So, if the old me is no longer alive, then it doesn’t do much good to look to inside to find my “why”, my “purpose.” If it is Christ living in me, then I need to look at Him to find my purpose, my reason for living. His purpose must become my purpose, His ways my ways.

What was Jesus purpose? Luke 4:18-19 tells us. It says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me,to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Find Your Why

Are you looking for your “purpose”, your “why”? Then look no further. If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, then this is why you were reborn, this is your reason for living: “To preach the gospel…to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty…”, in short, to do the work of Christ, to be His hands and feet.

In spite of what the books may tell you, the best way to help yourself is to help others. Fulfillment comes not from being served, but in serving others, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45.

Don’t waste your time any longer looking inside to find yourself. Instead, look to Jesus “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3. You have to die to find your “why”. His name is Jesus!

God bless and have a wonderful day!

One day, while working in the walk-in clinic, I was examining a teenage girl. As I went to check her reflexes, I accidentally bumped her forearm and she yelped in pain. When I asked her what was going on she didn’t want to answer. Finally, reluctantly, she pulled up her sleeve, revealing a bandage. Under the bandage were 3 slices across her forearm, one of which was gaping open. She’d been cutting.

A Growing Problem

Cutting is, unfortunately, a growing problem among troubled teens and tweens. It is usually an attempt to deal with emotional pain and stress. Cutting releases endorphins creating a “feel-good” effect, similar to what cocaine users feel.

It is most commonly done by girls, but boys also cut. Many have a history of being abused, either physically, sexually, or emotionally. Cutting can also be a symptom of psychiatric problems such as anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Over-achievers and perfectionists often cut. Often there is an associated eating disorder or depression.

The world of a teenager often is a confusing, stressful place. Cutting gives them a sense of control. When they are hurting emotionally, cutting dulls the pain, which is why it can become addictive. The more they hurt, the more they cut. They are literally trying to cut away the pain.

What You Can Do

Psychotherapy should be the first step in treatment for someone who is cutting. This girl’s physical wounds will heal, but, as the saying goes, “The scars you can’t see are the hardest to heal.”

She is going to need lots of help in the days and weeks to come. That is why, after sewing her up, I asked our on-site clinical psychologist to talk with her. He was able to counsel her and start the process of getting her the help she needs.

If you have a friend or loved one who is cutting don’t overreact. Self-injury is a sign of emotional pain and the last thing a “cutter” needs is your condemnation, your anger or for you to panic. They need you to be there for them, to listen to them, to support them, and to assist them in getting professional help.

Oh, and by the way, don’t call them “cutters”. They are hurting kids, who need to be loved, not labeled. They need to know they are important to you. They also need to know God loves them too and He “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3.

Open Our Eyes, Lord

This experience shook me. If I hadn’t accidentally bumped this girl’s arm, I never would’ve known what was happening. I couldn’t have gotten her the help she needed. I wonder how many other opportunities to help I have missed because I wasn’t observant enough. I wonder how many others have been crying out for help, but their voices have gone unheard, because I wasn’t listening.

Everyday we each come in contact with people, both young and old, who are hurting, who are crying out for help. Some are cutting, while are others are acting out in other self-destructive ways. For each, God longs to heal their broken hearts and bind up their wounds, but He needs us to show them the way.

Today, I pray God will open our eyes to see their need, open our ears to hear their cries, open our hearts to feel their pain, and give us the wisdom to know how we can help. Because if we don’t, who will?

To learn more about cutting and how you can help, check out these articles:

www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/cutting-self-harm-signs-treatment#1

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/self-injury/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350956

kidshealth.org/en/teens/cutting.html

This is my favorite time of the year! New life is springing up all around. The flowers are pushing up through the soil, the birds are building nests, the sun is shining, and the hills are turning green. Our valley is bursting with life and song. It just feels good to be alive (in spite of this kidney stone, which is still working its way down)!

I think this is how the disciples must have felt the Monday after the resurrection (minus the kidney stone, of course). They had ended the previous week in the depths of despair. All their hopes had been dashed, their plans had been destroyed, and the one they thought was the Messiah had been hung on a tree. All had seemed lost. But then Sunday came!

Now, where once despair had darkened their minds, hope springs up! Where once the future seemed dark, there is new light! He’s alive! They felt like they had been reborn, been given a second chance, a new beginning. The winter of their souls had passed and Spring had begun.

We all go through times of doubt and disappointment. We all must endure the winter of our souls when the cold winds of despair claw at our hearts, threatening to sweep away all our hopes and dreams. But hold on! Spring is here! A new day has dawned! Jesus is alive and new life is yours for the asking, for“if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

This morning, as you see spring arriving in all its glory, don’t hold on to the past. Let it go and open your heart to light of the Son. Rejoice in His presence! Revel in His love! Let Him fill your heart with song and then, like the birds in Springtime, share your song with the world!

God bless and enjoy this beautiful new day!

For many, the fact that Easter falls on April Fool’s Day this year must seem quite appropriate. After all, they argue, anyone who believes in the resurrection of the dead must be a fool and anyone who believes Jesus was raised must be the biggest fool of all.

In a way, they are right, “For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” 1 Corinthians 15:16–19 NIV

But what if, as Paul testifies, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead”? What if the Easter story is true? Then who is the fool?

I cannot prove to you Christ was raised. I’ve never seen anyone come back to life. But I can tell you Jesus has given me a new heart and put a new spirit within me (Ezekiel 36:26). When I was dead in my sins, God made me alive in Christ, forgiving all my sins. (Colossians 2:13). If having a heart filled with “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7), makes me a fool then may I be the biggest fool of all!

On this Easter morning, I chose to believe “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Call me a fool if you will, but remember “…the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.

Today, join me in declaring Christ crucified and risen, “a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.” 1 Corinthians 1:23. Let us together become “fools for Christ”, that others may know Him who gave His life that they may live.

The world will tell you Easter is a fable, a mere concoction of immature minds, but don’t be fooled. Christ is risen! This Easter, “set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1) and together let us spread the Good News – He Lives!

God bless and Happy Easter!