“Son of Sam” will go to Heaven?

A man named David Berkowitz terrorized New York City 50 years ago, killing six people in a murderous rampage that lasted a year before he was arrested. This week the man nicknamed “Son of Sam” outraged many with a proclamation that he fully expects to go to Heaven when he dies. 

Berkowitz said, “I’m already free. Jesus, who is my Lord and Messiah, has already set me free from the power of sin and Satan.”

A man who survived after being shot by Berkowitz met the bold assertion of eternal life with angry words, including some a little too crude for this blog. He opined - “I sincerely doubt he is going to heaven. He is lucky he is not already in hell.”  https://nypost.com/2026/05/21/us-news/son-of-sam-killer-david-berkowitz-predicts-hell-go-to-heaven/

The scandal of God’s amazing grace is that even the worst of the worst are never beyond redemption no matter how offensive it may seem to our sense of justice. I can empathize with the man who suffered terribly, and, at the same time, I am grateful for the sacrifice of the Savior that reaches to the lowest and includes me!

In Matthew’s Gospel we learn the stories of the men that Jesus chose to follow Him. They were invited to be with Him, to learn His ways, and to hear His words. In just 3 years He would send them with the Good News to the ends of the earth.

Who was worthy of the calling? Who did He choose?
It was not the religious, the outwardly pure, or the society elites. He did not pick those who were well-connected or who held positions of influence. He chose ordinary men, even some that society considered outcasts! One of them was a person despised by general society. His name? Matthew!

"As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:9-14, NIV)

Matthew was labeled by the town because he cooperated with the occupation army of Romans as a tax collector. Many who held those positions were also crooks who enriched themselves from their fellow Jews. Shunned for their work, tax collectors avoided the synagogue which was the center of Jewish life. Thus, they were also labeled, ‘sinners.’ Jesus saw past the job title and the social label into the heart of the man and there he saw a hunger for God. And He called him – “Follow me!”

It was scandalous. How could the Rabbi, a teacher about the things of God, invite a person so compromised in character to become His friend and associate?

Those who were thought to be closest to God because of their scrupulous observance of the Law of Moses were confounded. “Why does your Teacher eat with these ‘low-lifes,’ these nobodies, these people who are not worthy of our God?”   Jesus overheard the conversation and defined His mission for them.

He was the Advocate of the Broken,
the Healer of the spiritual sick,
the Giver of mercy to those who had failed.
And He still is.

Jesus never told ‘sinners’ to keep on living the same way they were when He found them. He accepted people and led them to change and transformation. Oh, how I pray He would give Christians today the sensitive and loving ability to do the same.

We tend to fail at one extreme or the others. Either we determine that only the ‘select’ are good enough for God and our fellowship, our spiritual pride making us ugly and exclusive; or we make grace cheap and we are unable to ‘speak the truth in love’ and thus, to invite people to become like Jesus, to wrestle with those parts of life that need to be restored to the will of their Father.

The inarguable fact is this - Nobody is beyond the reach of God’s grace, not even a man like David Berkowitz. Everybody can be transformed by the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.

He loved me and is changing me, day by day, into Christ’s likeness. How about you?

Have you been told you were the wrong … gender, color, age … not smart enough … too scarred by your past … to be included in God’s love, to be invited into His Kingdom? Those are lies. Reject them and listen to the Spirit of God who says, “You are invited.” 

Respond with faith and God will put you on His team, equipping you for spiritual service, preparing you for an awards banquet where He will overlook nothing, forget no one.

When you experience God’s grace, accept His great love, and find a place in His family let your life become one marked by love that is scandalous, that reaches to all, that is willing to forgive others.

Here is a word from the Word. I pray it will remind all of us to open the doors to Christ to ALL. Regardless of your pedigree, your performance, or your pride soak your mind in the Truth declared here that is beyond amazing.

“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world…^. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) …  God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”  (Ephesians 2 NLT)

Isn’t that just amazing?

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Do you have ‘good guts?’

Sometimes this old man sheds real tears while watching the news. I hurt for refugees living with nothing and little hope. I ache for woman treated like possessions. I truly feel for the person who makes an awful mistake in the moment and faces a lifetime of consequences. Last week, I pulled up to a city intersection about 9 pm and there in the cold rain stood a once pretty younger woman who face showed the results of long-term addiction. Her ragged clothes were mute evidence of poverty. She held a sign that said “Homeless. Any amount appreciated.” Not wanting to take the chance of feeding an addiction I drove on, but her face haunted me the rest of the evening.

Then, sometimes I just want to turn it all off when something real called compassion fatigue sets in! When any person is repeatedly exposed to suffering people, there is a built-in defense mechanism that kicks in. Compassion fatigue can cause a person's heart to become hard as a stone! We see an awful lot of human need and suffering, don't we?  

It’s simple to blame the victim. The other night the easy answer would have been to just dismiss the young woman with a label – addict- and made her an object rather than seeing a broken human being whose life experience I know absolutely nothing.

If we develop a hard heart and choose to throw the problem back onto those in pain or need, thinking things like -
"That's their problem, not mine!"
"What do you expect me to do about it?"
"They made their bed; guess they'll have to sleep in it."
"Fools!"
then, we don’t have to care.

We're all subject to compassion fatigue!
When busy days pile one on top of another; when deadlines line up; when there are demands to meet the expectations of others - we might find ourselves saying, "Oh no, not another person with a problem."

If that's where you are emotionally, won't you join me in prayer asking the Father for a heart that beats with His love, a tender heart? The Lord promises those who are hardened by sin: "I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart!" (Ezekiel 11:19, NLT)

My prayer this morning is for a tender heart! In several passages of the New Testament, disciples are urged to be 'tender-hearted' towards others. Ephesians 4:32 says "Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."  Peter teaches us that "All of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds." (1 Peter 3:8)

In this gentleness towards those in need, we are like our Heavenly Father "because he is full of tenderness and mercy!" (James 5:11)

I thought you might like a little insight on 'tender hearted' or 'pitiful' - the word in the King James Version. It means 'good bowels!' Gross, right? Not really. Those who lived in ancient times believed that emotions were centered in the abdominal cavity, the heart, the liver, and the intestines! They, like us, experienced fear, joy, love and felt those things physically - pounding heart, nausea, etc.!  We get ‘butterflies in our stomach’ when we are excited. Extreme fear can make us nauseous. Passionate love can make us tremble and sweat.

So, the ancients concluded that their gut was the center of emotion and they spoke of tender emotions using the word "eusplagchnos," (NT Greek) meaning in a literal translation- ‘good bowels!' And to be sure, they were not talking about poop!

Let the lesson take hold of you and pray for restoration of 'good guts!'
Will you allow God to restore your emotions?
Will you allow yourself to feel the sorrow of those who mourn, to share the joy the of those who rejoice?

When we are gentle and kind, moved by the suffering of others, we are like our Lord Jesus. Jesus is often described at deeply tenderhearted. We read that He was "moved with compassion" when confronted with human suffering, grief, and physical needs.

He openly wept at the tomb of his friend Lazarus, reflecting deep empathy for those who were hurting (John 11).

He healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, and fed massive crowds simply because he cared for them and did not want them to go home hungry.

In the famous story of His interaction with an adulterous woman, He refused to condemn, choosing to stand with her as He offered forgiveness and restoration in a profoundly gentle way that left her accusers speechless. (John 8:1-11).

Yes, by nature, this Lord of the Universe, Creator of all things, is "gentle and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29).

So, let’s be willing to have great guts -- a tender heart!

Once more hear the challenge of the Spirit who says to us – “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32)

Amen!

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Lonely?

In a time that offers us all kinds of ‘social’ connections, Americans report an epidemic of loneliness. About 1 in 5 of those under the age of 50 report that they feel isolated, alone, a majority of the time. An even higher percentage of young adults (18-29) report being lonely. Ever larger numbers of senior adults wrestle with intense loneliness.

There are many reasons for this including our social and political divisions, the rising cost of living that limits social outings, and the fact that fewer people marry; continuing to live in their parents’ home which often causes increased social isolation. Add in our mobile society, lower rates of engagement with community groups such as church and you have the making of lives that are marked by the sadness of loneliness.

Doctors report that loneliness is more than just a terrible experience. It can contribute to increased health with heart disease, dementia, and even premature death.

We are reaping the harvest of our affair with individualism! For a time, we can find immense pleasure in ‘doing our own thing’ but failing to appreciate the value of long-term relationships, shared purpose, and the ‘give and take’ that comes with real community will lead us to isolation eventually.

The Psalmist poetically writes about it. “I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof.” (Psalm 102) Most of us have experienced that at least some of the time.

So, how do we defeat loneliness? The answers to that question are neither simple nor easy.

Primarily, we find comfort in the unfailing LOVE of God for us.

By feeding our mind with the declarations of the Scripture, we can move past ‘feeling’ and accept, by faith, what we find there. John declares “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3) In a favorite passage of mine, we find this – “Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” (Ephesians 3)

I am convinced by the Word that the One who knows us best, loves us most! So many let false notions of a ‘gotcha God’ keep them from knowing the joy of the security of our Loving Father. But that is Who He is.

When we learn to live centered in Divine Love, we become capable of being loving, of developing the kind of acceptance of others that builds strong ties. “We love because He loved us first,” the Word says. A secure person has no need to be critical, exclusive, or mean. The generous overflow of God’s love will make us truly generous with others, willing and capable of true forgiveness. Few things separate people more than holding onto old hurts, nursing emotional wounds, or insisting on ‘fairness’ as they understand it. JForgiveints to the critical importance of this when He teaches us to ask God to “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”  Do you want God to generous in His love then give away the things that are holding you hostage to bitterness, isolating you from others. Indeed, Jesus goes on to repeat the point - “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6)

In Christ, we find a new ‘family’ connecting to a higher purpose with others.
Christ’s Church can be a place where loneliness is defeated. To be honest, it often does not meet that purpose. People fail. Churches are imperfect. Many attend as ‘consumers’ demanding that their ‘own needs’ be prioritized. But, when Church becomes a place where the focus is on worshipping the Living God and serving others selflessly, a beautiful community unlike any other can emerge.

In one of his earliest letters to the Church, Paul speaks of the family of Believers. “Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more.”  (1 Thessalonians 4)  

Few things can defeat loneliness more than being loved in a church family, finding a place of service there, prioritizing attendance at gatherings, and creating long-term relationships with others centered on the shared love of Jesus Christ!

Lonely? Don’t stay that way. Yes, it can be difficult to change old patterns, to learn new social skills, and to find a place to ‘fit’ in this world. But it is possible!

Here is a word from the Word – David’s lament and prayer.
“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.” (Psalm 25)

May you find the joy of belonging,
the comfort of true relationship,
and the security of the love of the Eternal Father.

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You CAN do it!

Who among us has not had moments when we feel inadequate, simply not up to the task? 
Am I up to the challenge of this new job?
Am I ready to help my child into the new season of life just ahead?
Can I survive the loss of my spouse?
Will I please God today in my life and work?

I readily admit that I have heard those questions and many others bringing whispers of doubt and fear to the doorway of my mind! There is an answer that lies outside of my own skills or strengths. The Lord God promises to be my Rock and Resource.

In writing of the Old Testament preacher, Zechariah, we find this passage. "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’"

Then the word of the LORD came to me: "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. "Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. " (Zechariah 4:6-10, NIV)

Zerubbabel was leading the work of rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem many years after its destruction by invaders. He had all kinds of difficulties -  clearing the rubble and meeting the threats from the nations that surrounded Jerusalem. His greatest challenge was motivating the people to do the work when it dragged on and failed to meet their expectations of a Temple as glorious as the one that Solomon had built.

His call was to do something BIG and his resources were limited so, using the preacher, God sent him a word to encourage his efforts, reminding him that his greatest resource was the Spirit of God and that when he finished the task, everyone would realize that it was God, not Zerubbabel who made it happen.

What does that ancient story have to do with you and me?  We, too, take the promise of His power to be in us, making us capable, resourcing us with everything we need. 

You and I, in the purposes of God, are also temple builders. God, the Spirit, lives in us. The Word says “our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God.”  He desires a way of life that honors Him, that allows His majestic grace and love to be on display to the people with whom we live.  Naturally, I am not equipped for such a high calling. Living a life where God’s love is consistently shown, where my daily actions are graced with goodness is a huge challenge.

Given that we are flawed by a sinful nature, the idea of being God's temple seems ridiculous - except that I am reminded that it is "not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit."

In Ephesians God's promise to empower us is clear. Paul writes, "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:8-10, NLT)

The Good News is that God’s love is greater than all my failure! (and yours, too!) Christ Jesus does for us that we cannot do for ourselves, making us right with God, taking away our guilt and shame, and granting us the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Take the Word to heart. Look up with faith. Ask for strength remain steady, for greater wisdom to see the solutions, and for release of Divine resources so that anyone who walks through life with you will say “Look what God is doing!" And, in that, you will have accomplished the calling we each share - to glorify the God who saved us.

Here is a promise. Paul writes after nearly dying in a time of awful persecution. “We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die.

But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.”   (2 Corinthians 1:9-10, NLT)

Put your confidence in the Lord and He will bring you safely home! Amen.

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My really mean Mom

(20 years ago I wrote this about my Mom.
She was an amazing lady who went on ‘home’ in 2011. Enjoy my memories.)

I'm writing this while watching my Mom sleep in a hospital bed. Occasionally she sort of rouses to recognize that I'm here, but mostly the morphine has her in a haze of semi-consciousness. It's my privilege to sit here by her bed, but it's oh, so hard to see her in such pain.

She was on a stepladder on Saturday evening changing a light bulb and she fell breaking her shoulder and hip! Mom doesn't like to acknowledge that she's days shy of 70 years of age, hence being on a ladder when she might have been more cautious. I'd scold her, but I'll probably be just like her 20 years from now - resisting every limitation of age with kicking and screaming.

It's Mother's Day and while I was leading the worship service at church this morning, I was thinking about my Mom; worrying really. In between worries, I remembered - Somehow thinking back to the way she was when I was 10 or 12, made thinking about the 'now' less frightening. I hated that she was a no-nonsense Mom then, but sure appreciate it now.

She believed in making her kids self-reliant, disciplined, and capable of understanding life's choices have consequences. I hated making my bed to her specifications, (lines on the bedspread straight, corners tight!) and I despised that I had to keep my room picked up neatly (no dirty socks on the floor, all clothes on hangars, thank you!) - but from those little daily chores, I learned that IF a person tends to the simple stuff, the harder stuff in life tends to fall into place, too.

She didn't let me think of letting school work go. It aggravated me that other kids could blow off assignments and that their Mom would cover for them with written excuses. Mine said, "you deal with it" and let me take the detention or whatever was coming my way for my irresponsibility. It taught me that deadlines mean something and to get my work done, on time!

She modeled the same diligence she expected of me. I can't remember when she didn't have dinner ready, when the laundry was piled up, or when the house was a mess! I didn't her complain too often either. She showed us that life was about doing what needed to be done. Yep, there's a lot of Mom in me.

So, sitting her watching her face, a lot more lined than the face that I remember when I close my eyes, I believe she'll be OK, because she's one tough lady and because she trusts God. I oughta know, cause she raised me to be tough and to trust Him too!

An anonymous author penned this in tribute to his Mom -- "Because of my mother, I missed out on lots of things other kids experienced. I've never been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other’s property, or ever arrested for any crime. It was all her fault. I didn't get drunk, didn't take up smoking, wasn't allowed to stayed out all night, or a million other things that other kids did. Sundays were reserved for church, and I didn't miss ever, that I can remember unless I was deathly ill. And, I knew better than to ask to spend the night with a friend on Saturdays. Now I'm a God-fearing, educated, honest adult. I am doing my best to be a mean parent just like Mom was. I think that’s what is wrong with the world today. It just doesn’t have enough mean moms anymore."

Forgive me for this little reverie... I'm only thinking about my Mom today!

• "Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise." (Proverbs 31:28-31, NLT)
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To all the Mom’s out there – HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY.

I’m gonna work for His ways

The news of a friend’s death hit me like a sledgehammer blow. Last Monday she slipped and fell, and she was critical, then a day later, she was gone! It made me sad and angry all in the same moment. Somewhere deep in me I knew that this tragedy was yet another evidence of the brokenness in this world that is counter to what God intends for His creation. We were made for joy, for life, to know Him and worship Him with delight, which I do. But then come those awful days, those tragic moments, ultimately coming from Evil that mars perfection.

I hate the suffering that sin causes in this world.
When power is used to demean or abuse others – it outrages me.
When I learn about someone who willfully abuses a child, I am deeply angered.
When I learn of the greed of corporation that causes people to die from some toxic product, I am ready to go to battle.

Such anger is right and good. Jesus Himself was angered by abuse and misuse of people, by the pain and suffering that was introduced to this broken world because of evil.

In the 11th chapter of John's Gospel, we find Jesus in a little village where He faced pain. Despite the request of Martha and Mary for Him to come and heal their brother, Lazarus, He waited and when He arrived the man was already dead four days. Naturally, He walked into a scene of great sorrow.

What happened next is stunning. When Mary saw Jesus, she fell at his feet, crying accusing words.  "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. "Where have you put him?" he asked them. They told him, "Lord, come and see." (John 11:32-34, NLT)

Why did Jesus get angry at that moment? 

Because He knew that Death was the ultimate result of the work of Satan and human disobedience! What God made and declared “it is good” was marred by the entrance of evil into Creation.

God is the Giver of Life, the Lover of Humanity, Light and Joy. Death is none of those things. As Mary and her friends surrounded Him that day, He was stirred to anger because of the suffering visited on people that God loved by sin and the Devil. Another translation of that passage tells us that Jesus was "deeply moved in His spirit."  It was an anger that caused Him to go to the tomb and command, "Lazarus, come out!"  

At that moment a dead man was restored to life and walked into the light. Jesus was the Lord of Glory demonstrating the power of God over sin and death! He had told Martha moments earlier,"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies." (John 11:25, NIV)

Christian let’s care enough to become angry but to remember to act redemptively like our Father in Heaven does. Sin angers God but He does not choose to erase this Creation and start over. He loves! He sent a Deliverer, Jesus Christ. God’s anger moves Him to reach out with amazing grace that offers forgiveness and restoration, in place of guilt and alienation. This is truth that -"While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, NIV) By that death, He made life possible.

When we become followers of Christ Jesus we are inducted into His holy cohort, commissioned to two tasks that are parallel –
to invite others to receive the salvation that restores them to Life and right relationship with their Father, AND
to work to make the rule of God and good visible in this present world.

We are sent with a message of salvation and the promise of an Eternal home. In addition to that work, we must, like our Father, care about hunger, abuse, oppression, racial hate, war and such things. With great wisdom and the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we allow ourselves to feel angry enough to give ourselves to bring about change!

Ponder what we learn of Jesus’ work in this passage – “Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him  along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.”  (Luke 8)

Paul preaching included a message of God’s rule on earth, too. In Acts 19, we learn of his work in Ephesus.  “Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God.”

Make no mistake, this is not about creating a new theocracy or anointing some politician as the savior of humanity. Nothing corrupts the true Gospel more than marrying it to political power. The good we share comes from within, a changed heart that is born anew through Christ Jesus.  Jesus says our true influence is like ‘salt and light’ – influencing, healing, preserving, and bringing clarity.

We do NOT compel with power; we convince with Love that flows sacrificially just like the love of Christ who gave Himself for us. Let’s get angry, then give ourselves to Him – radically – to do Kingdom work.

Here is a word from the Word. May it inspire us to hunger for the Kingdom come and to work with the Oen whose ‘yoke’ fits well even as we labor for Him.
At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”  (Matthew 11)

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Do You Know How to Be Tough?

Americans are losing the ability to deal with hardship; many of us simply do not know how to deal with life’s realities! We (yes, I include myself!) too often confuse what is inconvenient with what is truly hardship. We grow irritated when asked to step outside of our comfort zone. We refuse to engage with the normal rhythms of life with acceptance; aging, sickness, even death- and become graceless and mean because of it. Parents often work at eliminating every stressful situation in a child’s life, creating a person who is overwhelmed by ‘adulting.’

Tish Harrison Warren, author of What Grows in Weary Lands: On Christian Resilience, reminds us that stress and difficulty can serve the purpose of making us deeper, stronger, and better persons. That may sound ridiculous to a person who has been trained from infancy that being happy is life’s highest aim. Warren said “If your chief identity is as a consumer and your main goal in life is individual happiness or having an ‘Instagrammable’ life, then anything that seems hard and threatens a sense of bliss is something to be avoided. If that is the story we tell ourselves, our goal will be to as comfortable as possible for as long as we can.”  With great wisdom she also says, “What brings our life meaning – faith, relationships, generative work, the commitment to celibacy or marriage, and parenting – is difficult.” (Christianity Today, page 80, May/June 2026) 

The Scripture, which should shape the life and values of those who follow Christ, 
is filled with stories of hardship, difficulty, and resilience 
in the lives of the faithful! 
Revelation lauds those who faithfully remain 
through tests and trials calling them ‘overcomers.’

Abraham left the city where he was born to follow God’s call to become a ‘great nation’ through which the whole earth would be blessed. He was promised an heir and waited through disappointment for many decades before the miraculous birth of his son.

Joseph, pressed through 2 long decades of rejection, false accusation, and imprisonment before he experienced the promise that God had made to him in his teen years. Those hard years formed the character in him that made him the Prime Minister of Egypt in a time of national crisis. He summarizes his life with these words – “Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, ‘It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.’  The second son he named Ephraim and said, ‘It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.’  (Genesis 41:51-52)

David was anointed to be the next king of Israel by Samuel but then found himself chased through the hills as a fugitive, threatened with death by a mad king, and struggling with mutinous followers. He waited through many long years to take the throne. In times of hardship, we learn that “David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.”  (1 Samuel 30)

Jesus left the perfection of His Glory to embrace humanity and ultimately to suffer death on the Cross. He did so for the purposes of our salvation. Paul writes that Jesus “made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.”  (Philippians 2)

Not for a moment I am suggesting that we go looking for hardship or that we try to make martyrs of ourselves, but for Christ’s sake (literally!) we need to stop running from hard things and avoiding the call of God. James says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, a 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. … Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”  (James 1)

Peter, who knew a thing or two about hardship and failure, urged us to choose to be faithful as we hold onto this promise. “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So, after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.”  (1 Peter 5) He sees that the obvious experience of the disciple of Jesus is to live counter-culturally and thus, to know hardship.

Friend, the best life, one that is fully engaged with others and committed to excellence, will be hard from time to time. Choose to really LIVE, refusing the call of the ‘broad way’ to destruction and following the way of Jesus.

Here’s a word from the Word. “Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
 “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay.
And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”
But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.” (Hebrews 10)

Press on. Choose the best way. Faith is our victory.  Amen.

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You need more than Social Media!

Social Media – Facebook, Instagram, TikTok - some hate it, some love it, a few are casual users. I confess to signing into my accounts on a daily basis. I enjoy seeing pictures of friends and family, reading about where people have been, what they are doing in life.

Can social media be a time waster? It sure can. Mindless scrolling through video reels can eat an hour without conscious thought.
Can it be addictive? Yes, again.
Is it a great way to connect with people? In my opinion, yes, too! Last night our pastor posted a prayer need on our church’s ‘virtual prayer room’ and in just a few moments, a dozen people connected and promised to pray!
You are I are mostly connected for this devotional thought through some social media platform, and I hope that the time spent ‘together’ is beneficial.

However - the virtual connection can never replace flesh and blood friendships. There is no way a Facebook post will ever replace a shared meal; laughing together, being around each other. Our church offers an ‘online’ experience for those who cannot make it to the church building. But it is a poor substitute for being in the same room, singing, prayer, and hearing the Word with others.

Yet I am convinced that virtual ties enhance the living one.

Why do we enjoy connections?

God made us to be social! The circle of friends in our lives steady us, encourage us, and help us to avoid that sense of meaninglessness that so often accompanies anonymity. Real and living social interaction keeps us healthy- physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

The Proverbs reminds us that "A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need." (Proverbs 17:17, NLT) Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, said “In poverty and other misfortunes of life, true friends are a sure refuge. They keep the young out of mischief; they comfort and aid the old in their weakness, and they incite those in the prime of life to noble deeds.”

Friendships do not simply form and sustain themselves. Like all things of value, they must be cultivated, protected, and strengthened by investment of time and energy. Are you building friendships? Are you forming and nurturing connections with other people?

A healthy Christian cannot be a Lone Ranger, even though he realizes that relationships can be trying as well as a blessing. He will not give in to misunderstandings or hurt feelings. Jesus said, "This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." (John 13:35, The Message) The quality of that love is such that relationships take priority over convenience, work obligations, and even personal feelings! We are committed to one another.

Paul’s prime illustration for the Christian’s connection to others is the human body. My body is a collection of limbs and organs, different parts, still - a unit- each part critical to the function of the whole! Of Christians he says - "You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your "part" mean anything." ... The wisdom of the Word reminds us that “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. …

Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.” (1 Corinthians 12)

Let’s be friends – real, loving, deeply connected with others. You might think you’re strong, not really in need of others at this time. Let me tell you from personal experience – the time will come, sooner or later, when you will need others. I am now in a season of life when I cannot even imagine how I would live well without the amazing friends that share life with me, who cry with me, who laugh with me, who share my worship of God.

Here is a word from the Word. "If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:10-12, NLT)

We are, indeed, better together!

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Rejected?

Among the hard things to endure in our shared human experience is rejection! How do you react when someone that you have cared for turns on you, cutting off meaningful dialogue, and seeming to erase all the good things that once existed?  This has happened to me more than a few times. A relationship I thought was deep and solid disappears in a moment of misunderstanding. Politics, religious convictions, even money issues are reasons that even someone we thought to be a life-long friend pulls away, rejecting us.

You have probably been in that situation, too. Yes, there are situations where we do know why.
Perhaps we were abrupt in an angry moment.
Maybe we failed to show the kind of love the other person expected because of distraction.
No matter. It is just a reality that rejection by others happens – when priorities change, when a new relationship takes over, when life’s circumstances shift.

Why does it hurt so much? 
Rejection rips at many parts of us; our sense of belonging, how we feel about our worth, and our hopes and expectations for the future. The loss of a relationship, accompanied by a refusal to explain or reconnect, is deeply painful and can last for months, if not years!

Christian, there is healing to be found. Our Savior understands. He was “despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.” (Isaiah 53) Rediscovering joy after experiencing rejection by another is a process that we can walk through with the sure knowledge that He will guide us, love us, and keep us.

Healing requires a few essential actions.

First, try to see the rejection separately from how you think of yourself.

Rejection does not automatically mean “I am not good enough.”  Being turned down for a promotion might not indicate a lack in you. It could simply be that someone else was a better fit. When a friend pulls away it might not even be about you.  It could be factors in their own life experience that were prioritized over the relationship.

If every rejection becomes a referendum on your self-worth, you will live from crisis to crisis, and self-esteem will be badly damaged.

Second, listen to the way you are telling yourself the story! 

Are you blaming, making the other person ‘the bad guy?’
Are you making sweeping assumptions about their character, their intentions, their motives?

“All is lost, the future is hopeless, there is no way forward.”  These kinds of stories we tell ourselves can turn into self-fulfilling prophecy.  Stop the spiral. Find a trusted friend with whom you can speak honestly but who is capable of challenging your conclusions. Ask them to help you rewrite the story you are telling yourself. Even better, find someone who shares your spiritual values and ask them to pray WITH you, not just for you.

Third, learn from the experience!

If rejections happen with regularity, in similar patterns, there might be choices to be made to change the way you relate to others.
Did you make demands on a relationship too young to bear the weight? 
Are you overly dependent on the other person, replaced real love with ‘smother love?’ 
Were you too transparent causing the person to withdraw because they are not ready for that depth of connection?
Are you expecting too much of others, unwilling to accept that people’s emotions and need can be very fickle?

Fourth, let it be, but don’t ignore it.

Two mistakes are common. Sometimes we want to bury the pain, and we tell ourselves it does not matter, that we ‘just fine.’  That’s a sure way to build a reservoir of resentment. The other is to keep poking at it, revisiting constantly.  Truthfully, it can often take months to see the reality that surrounds a rejection. It can help us to refuse to obsess about the loss, to set it aside for a time before we revisit the situation or attempt a reconciliation.

Fifth, face it and grow.

I am reluctant to say this because it can become an excuse for cruelty or isolation.
But we must become tolerant of rejection. Not getting that job or having a friend move on need not cause us to be overwhelmed with feelings of despair.  We can refuse to be fragile, without becoming brittle. Think about that!

We can use the pain of rejection to grow into a better person. We can learn to be more accepting, to love others more deeply, even to develop more tolerance for difference in our friends and family members.

Lastly, Jesus teaches us to forgive!

Forgiveness is not a moment; it is a process. It is not telling ourselves “it didn’t matter,” it is giving the hurt to the Lord and praying for His way to be found. He is always just. He knows your heart better than you know yourself. You can trust Him with the pain and with the future, a choice that allows you to ‘let go’ of the need to get your own way or even to see the other person ‘set right!’

Even the best Person who ever lived was rejected by people. Jesus gave His best and was judged the worst by some who had their own agenda. But His rejection became the reason for the acceptance you and I can know that is the most important thing in our lives – God’s love and promise of eternal life!

He willingly chose to love, to give of Himself, without self-pity, without resentment. I pray we will choose that path, becoming like Him in our willingness to serve the world in which we live regardless of their love or acceptance.

Here is a thoughtful word from the Word. May the wisdom of Jesus guide us today. “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.  “When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly.”  (Matthew 5)

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Who is given the place of honor?

While leading a class on baptism last Sunday morning, I read a passage that describes the social structure of the Church. “You are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”  (Galatians 3) I have read that passage hundreds of times but this week it arrested my attention in a new way. God wants His Church to be without the divisions that exist in human society. Simply said, in Christ Jesus ALL of the ways that we divide ourselves are erased. We are “one” in Him when we are baptized into His Body.

Let’s be honest. While we might say “amen” to that passage, the reality is often far from the truth, isn’t it?  Christians are just as likely to favor some over others as anyone else. One of the more common ways we do it is around economic status. Wealth has always attracted the attention of others - as far back as we can track history! Money is a magnet. Access to resources gives a person power over others; the ability to buy services and influence.

This issue was a problem all the way back to the first Church of Jerusalem. James, who led that church, spoke pointedly about it.
“My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?” (James 2)

The natural way to approach life is to honor those that we believe provide resources – money, leadership, skills of various types – for the Church’s existence. So, we give the guy with the fancy clothes and expensive jewelry to James’ terms, the front row expecting that he can help pay the mortgage. We justify our choice by pointing out that his donation benefits so many. But God sees it differently.  

That autistic boy who sometimes noisily disrupts the gathering is every bit as valuable to the Body of Christ as the person who is able to put a large donation in the offering every time, he enters the building. That immigrant woman who can barely speak English is as beloved by God as the eloquent preacher in the pulpit.

I love the way Russell Moore writes about this. He says “the Kingdom of God turns the Darwinist narrative about the ‘survival of the fittest’ upside down. When the Church honors the vulnerable among us, we are not showing charity. We are simply recognizing the way the world really works. … if we allow a fascination with elite forms of cultural influence – political and/or economic- we will drive away the truth of the Kingdom.”

The only way to defeat the natural (yes, sinful) choice to give preference to the rich, the beautiful, or the talented is to give the Holy Spirit full access to our minds and heart. Unless He does a deep work of transformation, we will slip into discriminatory patterns without even a conscious thought.

“The Church is not built on the rock foundation of geniuses and influencers but on apostles and prophets. This should hardly be surprising, since the kingdom is not greater than the King. When confronted by the Gospel, the natural response parallels that of those who heard about Jesus and asked, “can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”  - Russell Moore

May the humble Jesus find a place of honor in our hearts and make us like Him – filled with genuine love, without the sin of preference for supermodels and billionaires. May our churches truly be ‘the Body of Christ’ where His cross is remembered and His selfless life is our model.

The word from the Word is familiar. May it take new meaning for us all. Jesus said ^“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”  (John 13)

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Confident and Competent

Last night I watched a stage filled with students performing a musical. They were terrific! They hit their cues, delivered their lines, and sang their hearts out on some really difficult music. I loved their confidence and because I know one of the cast members well, I knew that performance was shaped by hours of training and a director who coached them to competence. They were convinced before they set foot on that stage that they were ready, that they could do it!

Are you a Christian who lives with a holy confidence, who is prepared to meet the challenges of life as a joyful person? Or, perhaps, do you feel confused, or lost, or alone?  When you pray do you “approach the Throne of grace with confidence… finding grace in time of need” as the writer of Hebrews says?

We need not wander or wander! We need not struggle to find our footing each day as a Christian IF we know the core of our hope, secure in the love and goodness of God through Christ Jesus. Paul wrote to us urging us to look beyond the approval of others, to find our security in a place higher than the commendation of people. 

“Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. … Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” (2 Corinthians 3:4-12 NIV)

Our Christian hope rests squarely on Jesus’ death and Resurrection. He has provided complete reconciliation with our Creator God. His gift to us is the Holy Spirit, who lives in us and makes us ‘competent as minister (servants)” of a whole new way of life based in God’s promises. This, dear friend, is transformational truth!

Moses, the one-time prince of Egypt, left the palace after killing a man, ran off to the wilderness and disappeared into obscurity, tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, for 40 years! Then, at the time when the people of Israel needed a leader God knew the right man for the job. He met Moses at a “burning bush” in the desert.  Moses’ attention was captured because though the bush was aflame, it was not burning up.

God spoke to that failed prince, now an obscure shepherd, and called him to return to Egypt and deliver his people from slavery, leading them to the land of promise. 

So did Moses say, "Great! When do I start?"   That is not the way it went. He grasped the apparent impossibility of the job, looked at his resume which included murder and flight to avoid prosecution, and asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”(Exodus 3:11, NIV)   In the dialogue with the Lord he points out his inability and God answers, not by reminding him of his charisma, intelligence, education, or court access. 

 God says to Moses -I'll be with you! … "The LORD said to him, “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." (Exodus 4:12, NIV) 

News flash! God has a calling for you and me, too.

Paul says that we are ministers of grace, given a message of reconciliation, and ambassadors of the Kingdom of God. We bring God’s light to dark places. We lead those who are captives under Satan's deception into truth. Yes, like Paul, we say, "Follow me as I follow Christ." (1Corinthians 11:1) Sounds like a job that is bigger than me or you, doesn’t it? It is! That is why Paul’s words from that text we read a moment ago ring so true – “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves.”

If we look only to our training or our natural abilities as a qualification for living the Christian life, if we try to find confidence in our own goodness, if we attempt to gain boldness through degrees, titles, or accomplishment- we will falter, feeling fearful.

That is why we look to Christ Jesus, putting our full faith in His work on our behalf, accepting the gift of grace that we could never earn, and opening our mind and heart to the Spirit who will make us competent as ministers of a new covenant!

He is what we can never be on our own.”
He loves us where we are, as we are, and invites us to find the purposes of God.
In Him there is ‘life to the full!’ (John 10.10)

Here is a word from Word. Pray it. Own it. Secure yourself in this truth and then go live in holy boldness today!   "Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. . ..   who is equal to such a task? . . . Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. … Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.”  (2 Corinthians 2,3)

Humbly thank God, the Holy Spirit, for empowering you for the task, then just do it. 
I have walked with Him, served Him for many years, and I am still filled with wonder about what He has done in my life. I pray you know that wonder, too!

__________________

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Living, not just Existing!

 
Just a couple of miles from my house, there is place to which I often return along the banks of the Delaware River. Whenever I walk that trail that meanders along the river, I am renewed by the sounds of the water tumbling over rocks, the rustle of the breeze in the branches, and the songs of birds. It is a place that is alive! Particularly now in the months of Spring it is a delight to see the green emerging, new life bursting even in the smallest flowers on the forest floor.

In my spiritual life I turn often to another Source of life, taking time to renew my hope in the Lord, fed by the water of the Spirit. The stress of daily life, the hot dry winds of anxiety, the uncertainties that are the common human experience all combine to sap my strength. Without that renewal, life can become hard, seemingly futile.

Jeremiah, the ancient preacher, was inspired to write the people of God during a time when they were under threat of attack from a great foreign power. Their future was dark, hope almost non-existent. Their whole way of life was in peril. Where could they turn to find renewal?

This is what the Lord says:
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”  (Jeremiah 17)

In what or whom have you centered your life’s hope?

If you are hoping that a political party will secure your future, you are sadly duped!
If you think that a charismatic leader will make your life richer and fuller, you are destined for disappointment.
If you have made your job or wealth your anchor in life, you will find yourself worried by every fluctuation in the economy.

We choose to “trust in the LORD,” to make Him the Source of our confidence.

Let me be authentic at this moment. Trusting Him does not mean that you will be exempted from the difficulties of life. Good and devout people of faith still get cancer, still grow old and infirm, still find life touched by the meanness of people with whom they live. The faithful find themselves confused, hurt, and even sometimes doubtful. The question “why?” is one that we all ask in the inevitable dark days.

I have found solace many times in the words of the 73^rd Psalm. The writer finds his faith under assault and says “I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. … These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for!”  Has life been like that for you? Have you ever wondered why God seems to have forgotten you?

That song continues with this point of change. “I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into your sanctuary, O God … “I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.”

Simply said, we choose to trust. We choose faith. We grasp the truth, supported by the Scripture and the long experience of those who walk with God, that there is purpose, that there is Eternity; that we are ‘held by His hand!’

In that faith, our lives are watered by the Spirit, finding refreshing and renewal. There is a kind of lasting beauty in the one who does not wither even in times of drought. They do not turn into grumpy old cynics. They are not full of regrets. They are not locked into some time of glory that happened decades ago. They are not hateful.

Instead, they are marked by real joy, anticipating the goodness of God, and filled with a godly compassion for others.

Will you continue to make Him your Source?
Will you trust Him in the darkest moment, steady and faith-filled?
Choose to live by the River of Life!

Take this word from the Word with you today and meditate on the promise of Jesus. “Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him.)”  (John 7)

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But, What If?

Do you ever get caught in the ‘what if’ kind of thoughts, the ones that create one script of dread or doom after another? What if I get cancer? What if my son gets called to war? What if the economy collapses? What if …   It happens to me occasionally around 2 am. In the darkness, my mind goes into high gear with anxious thoughts about the possibilities of tomorrow.

Most of us become fearful or anxious every now and then, but for some anxiety is a daily curse. Some feel it so acutely that they are caught in a panic that paralyzes. For others, it is nagging worry that robs their energy, like carrying a heavy weight through life. Sometimes that anxiety creates a sense of inadequacy that makes the person retreat from life.

If you are one of those who wrestles with anxiety, know that it is not because you are weak or flawed in character. I want to encourage you NOT to just ‘learn to live with it’ for there are choices that can defeat those thoughts.

We are a combination of “Thoughts-Feelings-Behaviors.”  How we live is shaped by what we think, from what we are taught to believe, or even from values we absorb without conscious thought.

What are you feeding to your thoughts? What kind of stories do you believe? If we are often in the grip of anxiety, we do well to examine our thoughts, perhaps with the help of a skilled counselor. We may become aware of thoughts not based on truth, exaggerated fears, assumptions unsupported by facts.

Christians go a step further! God, by His Spirit, enters me and the Word informs me. There is a wonderful promise in the Scripture, a key to a changed life. We learn that the Spirit will direct us and we can “be transformed by the renewing of our mind.” (Romans 12)

Another inspired passage points to the way to ‘peace.’ "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:6-10, NIV)

How do we get control of anxiety?

First, that passage urges us to pray! Real prayer is not a rote set of words we offer sleepily right before we go to bed. We engage our mind with God; we take our genuine concerns to Him. We ask for wisdom, insight, and provision. We can pray by choosing a place alone, in silence, focusing our thoughts on the Presence of God, breathing slowly, letting our thoughts become quiet so we can ‘hear’ the voice of Holy Spirit.

Next, we are told to “give thanks!”  Yes, friend, gratitude is more than a response to pleasant situations. It is sometimes a ‘sacrifice’ offered with conscious choice. We look away from our need to see the good, what God has provided. Thankfulness elevates God over Self in our minds. It helps us to see His work in our lives.

Then, that passage tells us to choose to redirect our thoughts!

“If anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
A Psalm of praise helps reshape them.
Turning all the stream of negative news that makes us feel as though the whole world is on fire will help us to better thoughts.
Setting aside the endless distraction of social media will give us clarity.

Yes, we may need to speak to ourselves to break a cycle of negative reactions. “Stop! Lord, come near and own my mind!”  It is a simple prayer that can be powerful.

That Word we read a moment ago reminds us that “you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”

There will be times, in every life, when fatigue comes after major effort, or when illness depletes us, or when many pressures come from all side, or when disappointment finds us and won’t let go. God is still God those times. Isaiah invites us to enter the promised peace of God. "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you." (Isaiah 54:10, NIV) The peace of which that Scripture speaks is a state of being. “Shalom” is the Hebrew word, rich in meaning – including being whole, complete, and living with a tranquil mind, as we know God’s full provision for life!

So, let me ask it again – are you entering into the promise of God, living in His holy peace, the ‘shalom’ promised to people who are embraced by His great love?

Defeat anxiety with simple prayer, by choosing gratitude (to God and others), and by redirecting your thoughts. The ‘peace of God’ is real, but we must own it! When we build our hope around money, reputation, or even the acceptance of other people – we will turn into unsettled, confused, and anxious people.

I pray that the “peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”   Amen

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No One Left Behind

 

In the darkness, just hours before Easter morning, a rescue was unfolding in the mountains of Iran. An airman who survived when the F15E in which he was the weapons officer was shot down. Injured and alone, he made his way to a rocky mountaintop and waited …  while hundreds of military personnel and intelligence officers worked to create a rescue plan! Millions of dollars were spent; many lives were put on the line to complete the mission.

In the end the motto that ‘no one is left behind’ became truth and the man was saved. What a story of courage and commitment on the part of so many for the sake of just one.

This recent weekend Christians marked another rescue mission, accomplished at great expense. God’s grace caused Him to come to His Creation, in the Person of Jesus. The death of Christ at the Cross opened the way to freedom, your rescue and mine. Luke records Jesus’ words – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”  (19:10)

John says that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (3:16-17)

Do you sometimes feel that you are beyond hope, that for reasons known only to you you’re convinced that God could not love you? Perhaps the scorn of another has made you feel worthless. It might be the memory of some great failure that you cannot forget. It may be weight of accumulated shame as you have become more aware of just how sinful you are. I know those feelings, too, but I also know the love of God that provides a grace so wide and deep that no person it outside its reach – truly!

Jesus did not just die for the world, my friend. He died for you and me so that we could live eternally. He met Evil and paid the ransom so that we can walk freely with God, our Father. The Word says that (God) “has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.”  (Colossians 1) Believe it and live!

Further developing the thought the inspired passage says – “May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”  (Colossians 1: 12-14)

A Gospel song expresses the truth this way –
In lovingkindness Jesus came,
My soul in mercy to reclaim.
And from the depths of sin and shame
Through grace He lifted me.

From sinking sand – He lifted me,
With tender hand – He lifted me.
From shades of night
To plains of light,
O praise His name He lifted me!

Don’t live in the shadows any longer. Banish dread and guilt today.
With faith, tell the Lord Jesus that you accept His rescue.
Thank Him for forgiveness, for freedom, and for life eternal.

For it is true that “if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” (John 8)

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