Encouraging Words for Today

Back in June I shared a post, “Why I Wear a Mask”. It was well received, getting shared 56 times on Facebook and generating 36 comments. Most of the comments were very positive, but two were negative. Guess which two I kept playing over-and-over in my head? You guessed it! In spite of all the kind, positive responses I received, I couldn’t stop thinking about those two negative ones. This taught me 2 things. First, I’ve got a problem with pride and second, I need to change my focus.

This tendency to focus on the negative seems to be a natural part of our fallen human natures. You can see it every day on the news and hear it every time a politician opens his mouth. The problem is, this negative mindset holds us back from reaching our full potential.

Ryan Hall, Olympic athlete and American record holder in the half marathon, discovered this when he was training in college. One day he read some reviews about his running on the internet. The majority of the comments were positive, but a few were critical. Those few negative words really bugged him.

Working out later, Ryan couldn’t get those negative reviews out of his head. He decided to prove the naysayers wrong, using their comments to help motivate him to run harder. However, when he tried this Ryan soon discovered the truth of Proverb 23:7, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” The more he thought about those critical comments, the slower he ran. He’d get angry and tighten up and tight muscles don’t run as fast as loose ones.

What we focus our minds on is what we become. When I focus on problems at work I just end up making myself miserable, but if I look for something positive to think about, it changes my whole attitude.

The apostle Paul understood this. That’s why he wrote in Phillippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

This Sabbath and in the coming week, let’s purge the negative from our thoughts and focus on the wonderful positive things all around us. Let’s stop and smell the roses, lift our eyes to the hills, bask in the sunshine, and share a kind word or just a smile with a friend. Most of all let’s fix “our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:2).

There’s plenty of negativity in the world already. Let’s not add to it. Instead, let’s focus on the positive. Let’s focus on Jesus!

This is the best time of the year!

Ana’s garden is growing like crazy and I’m reaping the benefits!
Garden-fresh tomatoes, crisp just-picked cucumbers, delicious zucchini, mouth-watering summer squash! I am a lucky man!

All this bounty didn’t just happen, though. It took a lot of hard work. Tilling up the soil, fertilizing, fertilizing, planting seeds, and endless watering. It was a lot of work, but If we’d left the soil as we’d found it, we’d have grown nothing but weeds. We had to break it down, till it up, before we could hope to reap a harvest.

God’s been doing something similar to me in the last few weeks. He’s been breaking me down, teaching me submission, surrender, acceptance. He’s been tearing down my pride, helping me learn to trust, even when life doesn’t seem to make sense.

It hasn’t been a pleasant experience, which is why I haven’t been able to write the last couple weeks. The inner struggle has left me so drained I had nothing left to give. Yet, I find it’s been worth it all.

Through it all, I am slowly learning true victory is found only in surrender and to grow in Christ I must first bury self. I’m finding I don’t need to understand the “why”, because I know “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).

I suspect many of you are going through similar experiences right now. Some of you are out of work, dealing with illness, or have had plans fall through. You’re left wondering why God’s abandoned you, why you can’t hear His voice, why He leaves your prayers unanswered.

The truth is, it is in times like these, when God seems the farthest away, He is actually the closest. He is at work in you “to equip you with all you need for doing his will.” (Hebrews 13:21). Like a loving father He is using these trials to prepare the soil of your heart, break down your pride and self-reliance, and teach you to trust in Him.

The process is not always “enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” (Hebrew 12:11).

Trust the Master Gardener. He knows what He’s doing. Let Him “plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.” (Hosea 10:12) Ask Him to plant in you “the good seeds of righteousness” that “you will harvest a crop of love.”

God promises “what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.” (Romans 8:18). “At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” (Galatians 6:9).

So hang in there! Let God work and remember, “Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.” (Psalm 126:5) So rejoice – Harvest Time is almost here!

Life isn’t always easy. In the last few months, our world has been devastated by forces beyond our control, leaving many struggling with doubts and fears. People’s finances have taken serious hits and their peace of mind has suffered even more. The future seems dark and frightening, filled with uncertainty.

I’m not immune to these emotions. In the last couple months, with my salary cut in half due to COVID-19 cutbacks, I’ve woken many a night with our financial situation playing through my mind, worried whether we’d make it through another month. It’s not a fun way to wake up.

I’m sure many of you have felt the same. So, how can a person deal with the work stresses, financial challenges, and uncertainties about the future which have become such a part of life in this “new normal”? The answer is by taking one day at a time.

The truth is today is the only day any of us are given. We can’t change yesterday and tomorrow is hidden from view. Today is all we have and God calls us to make the most of it.

As each new day dawns, we must recognize it for the precious gift it is, 24 hours filled with possibilities. With David we can sing, “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

Why waste hours worrying about tomorrow and miss out on the blessings of today? Worrying doesn’t change a thing. That is why Jesus tells us, “do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Matthew 6:34).

Instead of wasting time worrying about the future, take one day at a time. Make the most of today, living each moment as if this were your last day on earth. Instead of complaining about your problems, do what you can to lighten another’s burden, brighten their day, or point them to Jesus, their only real hope.

Determine to spread kindness wherever you go and use every minute to brighten your corner of the world. With Jesus in your heart, your life can be a stream of living water, refreshing thirsty souls, bringing them help for today and hope for a better tomorrow.

Today is the day, my friends. It’s the only day you get. Use it wisely. Put your trust in Jesus. One day at a time, claim His promises, lean on His mercy, trusting Him with today and all your tomorrows.

Some day soon this will all be over. Soon Jesus will return. Until then, “press on today and tomorrow and the next day…” (Luke 13:33). Make the most of every day, until you see God’s glory split the sky and hear Him say, “Welcome home my child. Today is the day!”

May that day come quickly!

Ana and I spent yesterday evening coring and pitting cherries. We pitted hundreds of them, getting them ready for freezing and canning. Our hands are still sore and our fingers are stained, but we’re looking forward to enjoying the fruits of our labors for months to come.

As I was washing my hands this morning, the old hymn “Jesus Paid It All” was playing in the background. Struggling to remove the cherry stains from my fingers, the hymn’s words struck me as never before. “Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow.”

This is a perfect description of my life. My past mistakes, my sin, had left my soul stained and bruised, but Jesus blood has washed it white as snow. The stains on my fingers may linger for a while, but they will eventually fade and disappear. However, only Jesus could remove the stain of sin from my life.

Do I still make mistakes? Oh yeah! Do I still sin? Far more than I would like to admit? But when I do I hear my “savior say, thy strength indeed is small. Child of weakness, watch and pray. Find in me thine all in all.”

On my own my case is hopeless. The stains are too deep, my debt too great. But the same God who “can change the leper’s spots and melt the heart of stone” can take my sin’s crimson stain and wash it white as snow.”

He will do the same for you, my friends. Come to Him today with all your guilt and regrets, your past mistakes and sin. Show Him the crimson stain of sin on your soul and with David plead, “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:7).

No matter how great your sin or how heavy your guilt God will never say “no” to this request. He promises, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

This morning, stop struggling to remove sin’s stain on your own. It’s hopeless. Only Jesus can take that crimson stain and wash it white as snow. 1 John 1:9 promises, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Don’t wait a moment longer. Confess your sins and give Jesus your heart today. Let Him take your crimson stains and wash them all away.

God bless, have a Happy Sabbath, and a safe 4th of July!

Do you believe in the power of prayer? Ana and I do. Every morning and every evening we pray for our children. We pray for God to bless them, guide them, and, most of all, protect them. Thursday those prayers were answered in a big way!

On his way home from work Andrew had a car accident while going about 50 mph. As you can see from the picture his car was totalled. Thankfully Andrew walked away with just a bad chemical burn from the airbag on his hand and a soft-tissue injury of his arm. I shudder to think what could have happened.

Now some might say it was the ingenuity of American automotive engineering, rather than our prayers, which kept Andrew safe that day, but I know there was much more at work than well-designed safety features and crumple zones. I’ve been in enough accidents to know good engineering can only go so far. God’s angels were protecting Andrew Thursday, in answer to our prayers.

In this time of crisis thousands are discovering the power of prayer. In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, entitled The Science of Prayer, the author reports in a recent Pew Research survey more than 50% of Americans admitted to praying for the coronavirus pandemic to end.

This is good news, but why wait until a time of crisis to take advantage of the power of prayer? 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “pray continually”. Prayer should be something we do all the time, not just when a crisis hits. It should be as natural for us as breathing, but this can only happen if we consciously choose to do so.

In the beautiful little book Steps to Christ the question is asked, “Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven’s storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence?”

Why indeed? There is power in prayer, power beyond anything we can imagine and it is ours for the asking.

This week let’s take Paul’s advice in James 5:16 to, “pray for each other” because, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Let’s together “unlock heaven’s storehouse” with the key of prayer and see what blessings God has hidden inside. Let’s together discover the power – The Power of Prayer!

BTW:

Do you have a problem you can’t find a solution to, a loved one you’re concerned about, a situation keeping you up at night? If so, then share it in the comments below and we’ll pray about it together. (All prayer requests will be kept private and not shared publicly in the comments, unless you request I do so). Remember, no matter how hopeless the situation may seem, there is power in prayer. Have a Happy Sabbath! I’m praying for you!

Yesterday I passed one of those dreaded decade markers on life’s journey – the big Six “O” – as in “Oh, no! I can’t be this old!” I’ve heard things speed up from here – 65, 70, 75…. I’m looking forward to hitting 100! Then I’ll really be moving!

These decade birthdays naturally make a person stop and think. Looking back over the last 60 years, I am overwhelmed by how much God has blessed me. Amazing parents, wonderful siblings, growing up in the country, success in school and medicine, a comfortable home – I could go on and on. The greatest blessing of all has been my beautiful wife and amazing children. They’ve made the last 36 years incredible and I love them each with every fiber of my being.

Of course, when I look back at my life, I see more than just roses and rainbows. There were dark clouds and difficult times too. The deaths of my brother, my grandparents, and, last year, my father, were especially hard. And there were other potholes, disappointments and broken dreams which made the road rough at times.

A lot of the hard times were my own fault. Mistakes and poor choices many times darkened my path, leaving me struggling with depression and despair. At times I’ve wondered if I could make it through another day.

Yet even these dark times have had a silver lining. Through them I’ve learned to lean harder into the arms of the One who promised to never let me go. With David I can truly say of my Heavenly Father, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

The last 60 years have been an adventure, but it’s in the past. It’s time to step into the future! “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13, 14).

I don’t know what the future holds, but I can hardly wait to see! One thing I do know is I will never be alone. The same Jesus who promised to be with me always will walk with me every step of the way. “Surely [His] goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6).

My friend, I’m sure as you look back over your own life it hasn’t always been easy. Mistakes and disappointments may have darkened your way too. But remember this – the past is in the past! It’s time to forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead.

This morning put your hand in the hand of Jesus. Give Him your heart. Let Him heal your past and then walk with Him into a brighter future. Remember, with Jesus leading the way, the best is yet to come!

I spent yesterday evening in the garden, pulling weeds from the beet patch. I love beets, so I am eager for them to get a good start. Unfortunately, the weeds were taking over, threatening to choke out the tender shoots before they had a chance to grow. The weeds needed to go!

While I worked, my mind replayed the events of this last week. Once again our nation is facing the results of our racist attitude towards people of color and the brutal tactics used by some in power to control them. Racism is a noxious weed, choking out all that is good and right about America. Racism needs to go!

Yet, what is the solution? How do we rid our society of racism and injustice, so we all can grow together, realizing the promise in the Declaration of Independence “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”?

There are no easy answers to these questions, but one thing I do know. Violence is not the answer. Responding to police brutality, with violence and looting only makes the problem worse. It is like trying to rid my garden of weeds by hacking off their tops with a hoe. The roots remain buried in the ground, ready to spring up even worse than before. Violence solves nothing. Racism’s root cause remains, ready to spring to life once again. We must find a better way.

As always, Scripture is our guide. Isaiah 58:1 commands us, “Shout aloud! Don’t be timid. Tell my people…of their sins!” As Christians we have a responsibility to speak up in peaceful protest when injustice occurs, whether it is against black people or any other group.

Our responsibility does not end, however, with marching through the streets and shouts of
‘Black Lives Matter.” As James 2 asks, “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions?” Words are not enough. We must back them up with action.

What kind of action? Isaiah 58 tells us to:

Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
and remove the chains that bind people.
Share your food with the hungry,
and give shelter to the homeless.

To eradicate weeds from our garden I had to get down into the dirt and get dirty. Likewise, if we are to eradicate racism and injustice we can no longer sit on the sidelines. We need to speak up, vote our conscience, and most importantly, get involved. We must look out for each other, and treat each other with kindness “that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble [us], corrupting many.” (Hebrews 12:15)

The noxious weeds of racism and injustice have poisoned the soil of our nation for far too long. It is time for us to work together to rip them up by the roots and with acts of love and kindness and firm resolve heal this land, so we may once again truly be “one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.”

Brothers and sisters, the time is now! Let’s get to work! Racism is a weed destroying our nation! It needs to go!

This week was a difficult one for our nation and our world. COVID-19 continued its march around the planet. In the US over 100,000 have died, worldwide almost 6 million have been infected, and the virus is decimating the impoverished residents of Brazil’s crowded cities.

Meanwhile, in Minneapolis a black man died with a white police officer’s knee on his neck, sparking violent protests, which are rapidly spreading across the nation. Our televisions are filled with images of burning police stations, angry crowds, and police in riot gear.

In a world that seems to have gone insane, where violence, hate, and despair seem to rule the day, what is a child of Christ to do? Called to share the Good News, how can we make our voices heard over the angry shouts and hateful rhetoric spewing forth from every quarter? Can one man or one woman make a difference against such evil?

Jack Kemp, American politician, thought so. He said, “The power of one man or woman doing the right thing for the right reason, and at the right time, is the greatest influence in our society.”

Over-and-over in earth’s history we have seen the truth of this statement. Whether a humble nun like Mother Theresa or a gifted orator like Martin Luther King Jr., for a person willing to move forward in faith, nothing will be impossible for them. (Matthew 17:20).

The power of one is inestimable. Jesus proved that. Romans 5:14 & 17 tells us that “just as sin entered the world through one man, and…death reigned through that one, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!”

Faced with a world filled with disease and hate we may feel we can’t make a difference, but we are wrong. We cannot save the world, like Jesus did, but we can live for Him in our little corner of it. We can’t cure COVID-19, but we can comfort a grieving heart or feed a hungry child. We are unable to stem the hate spilling into our streets, but we can let God’s love flow through us in acts of kindness and love.

The power of one is beyond measure. This week God is looking for one, one person to be an instrument of His peace, one man or woman to sow love where there is hate; faith where there is doubt; hope where there is despair, one He can use to change the world. Will you be that one today?

I woke this morning to another spectacular day in our beautiful valley. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the irises Ana planted along our fence lines are in full bloom. Their brilliant colors and varied hues brighten the landscape, making me marvel at the beauty of God’s creation.

I love this time of year. “The winter is past, and the rains are over and gone. The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come, and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.” Song of Solomon 2:12. It’s a great time to be alive!

Yet the beauty I see all around me pales into insignificance compared to the wonders just over the horizon. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, ““No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” Heaven is a place of spectacular beauty, joy, and love, a place beyond our wildest imaginings.

Our world is beautiful in so many ways, but that beauty is marred by the effects of sin. The irises I took pictures of yesterday are spectacular, but if you look closely you can see where the bugs have eaten them, fraying their edges, and hurrying their demise. Their beauty lasts for just a few days, then they wither and die.

So it is with our own lives. We start life with great plans, lofty hopes, and expansive dreams, but then reality hits. Plans go awry, hopes fade, and dreams turn into nightmares. Before we know it the days before us are far less than the days which are gone. “We blossom like a flower and then wither. Like a passing shadow, we quickly disappear.” (Job 14:2)

Yet, in spite of this, a spark of hope still glimmers in our souls and when we gaze upon the beauty of a flower or the magnificence of a sunset, it fans for a moment into life. In spite of the detours thrown in our path, we know God has a plan, that the same Jesus who created such beauty on this earth, who gave His life that we might live, has gone to prepare a place for us, that where He is, there we may be also. (John 14:2).

That is what we must focus on. In this life we will have hardship and disappointment, but we will also have joy and laughter and days like today, filled with beauty and hope. It is these things we must cling to. Jesus told us to “Consider how the flowers grow.” (Luke 12:27 GW). In the beauty of the flower we catch a glimpse of the beauty which awaits us and we find hope to face another day, secure in the knowledge the best is yet to come.

This Sabbath morning Jesus invites you to “Come aside…and rest awhile.” (Mark 6:32). Open your eyes today to the beauty around you. Consider the flowers and for just a little while, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2). And may “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding…guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7).