Month: February 2023

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 (RSV)

If there was a reel of video images playing back our entire life, it would consists of a series of moments. We cannot recall every detail that happened in our life but we do have a collection of moments stored in the treasury of our minds and hearts. Days, weeks, months and years are condensed into key moments. We have childhood moments that we treasure, memories spent with siblings, cousins and old friends. We remember the sacred moments of our last goodbye to a beloved friend or loved one. We cherish the joyful moment of first meeting a new born addition to our family.

Whether moments bring laughter or tears, they are the moments that compose the playback video entitled “Your life.” I remember a moment in my life when I was so sick with a virus while I had four month old twin babies to care for. My husband was on strike but had an obligation to his union to go to the picket line that day with the others who were striking. No one was available to help with the babies and I was too sick and weak to care for them that day, so he took them with him to the picket line.
I packed diapers and bottles and he took them in a twin stroller for a few hours as he took it all to the picket line, while I was able to rest at home. A newspaper reporter who was covering the strike, came by and took a picture of him with the twins in the stroller and the local newspaper article the next day read, “Striker does double duty on picket line.”

It was a memorable moment, and we were all amused. Not every key moment in life makes it to the newspaper, but in every moment, we give Jesus the steering wheel of our lives. We trust Him to calm the storms that come, and we proclaim Him Lord of our life through sickness and health, through the best and the worst of times.
There have been moments where we win battles over sin and moments where we lose, with moments of rebellion followed by moments of repentance. If we reviewed the moments of our lives, some will make us laugh and some will make us cry, some with cause a sense of achievement and others a sense of shame. Our faith waxes and wanes through the different storms of life, but we always pick ourselves up again and keep moving forward, because God’s grace and strength is perfected through our weaknesses.

It is those redemptive moments that secure our confidence to keep coming back to God.
Everything in the video of our life that is summed up in this combination of moments, is a brief flashback compared to eternity that we will spend with Jesus. We were created to live eternally, and our present life is the time we are given to live out the key moments from this day onward, in a state of grace.

Lord, thank you for your grace in giving us time and a fresh start to try again and do better, in living every moment for your glory. Amen

“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

1 Timothy 6:19 (NIV)

I recently lost a friend I had known for fifty years. She was childless and her husband passed away three weeks prior to her death. I met with her closest relatives, who came to clear out their home. The relatives left me with some boxes of home decor items, to do what I want with.

I put photos of the items on a website, to give away for free. The last item, a picture frame, was picked up by a very kind woman who cherished the unique frame made of carved wood. She planned to use it to display a photo of her great grandfather. Then she said something very special to me, “We are all caretakers of our treasures for a little while, until they are passed on to other loving hands.” Her wise words stirred my thoughts. I knew my friend would have loved this woman for taking her picture frame as well as her intended use for it, and I felt good that it went into loving hands.

I also thought about our “treasures” on earth, pondering what Jesus said about it. He told us not to store up treasures that can be destroyed or stolen, but to store lasting ones. Timothy encourages believers to be rich in good deeds, by sharing and giving to others, which lays a foundation for lasting and eternal treasures. As the lady said, we are just care takers of our treasures for a little while, until passing them on to other loving hands. Whatever we share that counts for eternity, is passed into the loving hands of Jesus.

Someday He will introduce us to the souls of people in heaven, who have benefited from the eternal treasures we are sharing here and now. 

“We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,”

2 Corinthians 10:5 (RSV)

Every spiritual battle begins in the mind. How we think affects how we live our life and the choices we make. Taking control of our thoughts can change our life and our eternity. If you think it, you will live it.
One example of how thinking affects things is my mother, who was very gifted in learning foreign languages. She always said if you think in the language, you will speak it. When she married my father, who was from Greece, she wanted to learn to speak Greek, but he was determined to speak only English as a new American. My mother decided to hire a tutor to teach her Greek, and she learned to speak fluent Greek without an accent, which amazed all of our Greek relatives. She always said that her secret to mastering the language fluently, was to think in it. That principle also applies to living the Christian life. We have to think it to live it. It’s probably why we are told to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
If I encounter something that triggers my anger towards someone, or have any thoughts that are against the knowledge of God, I don’t want to cover it up by merely acting like a Christian. Sincerity of thought produces sincerity of action. 

When my friend was in a nursing home, I offered to help her husband who was left living alone. I checked on him every weekend, ran errands for him and washed his dishes while I was there. As time went by, I felt that he was taking advantage of my helpfulness, and after a while, it grew into feeling a strong resentment towards him. I felt like a hypocrite in doing good for him while thinking bad of him.
I took all my thoughts of resentment to God, telling Him how I honestly felt. I asked Him to forgive and change me, since change can only happen when I come as I am and confess what I lack. After being honest with God, He intervened in my thoughts and changed my attitude. I was reminded that what we do for others, we are doing for Jesus.
With a fresh new outlook, I was planning to go to the next visit with the state of mind, that I was doing it for Jesus. When I arrived at his home, I was shocked to find him lying  lifeless on the floor. After all that, he died of a probable massive heart attack. It was an awful experience, but a sober reminder not to grow weary in doing good. I’m glad I helped him when I did, God surely knew he didn’t have long to live, but He also knew that I needed an attitude adjustment.
Our minds are where all the battles take place, and there is so much to take captive there. Although it’s up to us to take our thoughts captive, only God can transform and change our way of thinking.
He makes us new creatures in Christ, so we don’t have to pretend to be something we aren’t. When God changes our thinking, we can live genuinely with actions born out of sincerity. He helps us to think right so that we can live right. 

“The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was.

The Lord called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.”

1 Samuel 3:3-4 (NAB)

I love the story of Samuel, the little boy who was dedicated to the temple by his mother, Hannah. It’s a story usually told to children about a little boy who hears the call of God while he is sleeping. The story of Samuel has a lot to say about a grieved heart, both the heart of God and the heart of a parent. Hannah had a grieved heart until God answered her prayer and gave her a son. The high priest Eli had a grieved heart over his irreverent sons. God’s heart is also the heart of a parent, and He becomes grieved over sin. We can learn from Samuel to tune ourselves in to what grieves God.
There are many details in this story that are never told to children. The high priest, Eli, raising Samuel in the temple, and preparing him for priesthood, had two adult sons who were priests. Being a very passive father, Eli’s two sons grew up to disrespect God, and abuse their office of the priesthood with bribery, sexual promiscuity and greed. They brought shame to their office, to their father and to God. Eli begged his sons to reform but he never had the courage to remove them from the priesthood.

God was very grieved over their wickedness and planned to raise up Samuel to be a priest after His own heart. While Samuel was still a boy, learning the roles and rituals of priesthood from Eli, one day God spoke directly to him. He called his name out in the middle of the night, waking him up out of his sleep. After the third time Samuel heard his name called, he answered “Hineni”, meaning “Here I am”, in Hebrew. Then God revealed His heart to Samuel, explaining that He was going to remove the two evil sons of Eli and cut their lives short. Samuel went and reported all the words of the Lord to Eli.
This was the beginning of Samuel’s personal relationship with God. He grew up to understand what grieved the heart of God as well as what pleased Him, leading Samuel to become an intimate friend with God. Jesus called us His friends, not slaves or servants. If we were meant to have friendship with God, then friends share their joys as well as their sorrows with one another. This would mean that Jesus wants to share his joys with us, but He also wants to share what grieves Him.

Other faiths do not believe we can have friendship with our Creator, but rather believe men are only servants of God, but Christianity is clear that we are called into a friendship with God, our Father. Jesus said in John 15:15, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” God desires to share what is on His heart with us, just as He did with young Samuel.

Friends listen to each other, sharing joy and grief. It’s a two way communication that Jesus wants to have with us as well. We are all sinners like Eli’s sons, but we have been washed and cleansed in the precious blood of Jesus, renewed by His Spirit, and adopted as children of His Father.  The friendship Samuel had with God is offered to us through Jesus.

The same Spirit that dwelled with Samuel, dwells in us and is there when we sleep and when we wake up. He has things to say and share with us. Lord, help us to shut off all the outside noises, so we might hear what you are saying, and we can answer like Samuel, “Hineni, Here I am, speak Lord, I am listening.”

“While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.”

Mark 14:3 (NIV)

Greeting with a kiss, washing feet and pouring fragrant oil on the head were all routine customs of hospitality in Jesus’ day. These acts of hospitality were done for house guests who spent hours walking in the hot dry sun.

This woman went beyond the routine custom of the day, and poured out all her oil on Jesus, saving nothing for herself. As others complained about her waste, Jesus praised her for showing Him so much love.

For me, the valuable oil kept in my alabaster jar is my time. Time is sacred and sometimes I just want to keep it for myself. When we sacrifice time to serve others, it’s like washing Jesus’ feet or pouring oil on His head. I remember once staying late at church washing silverware after an evening event, and I kept thinking how much I disliked washing dishes, and wished I was at home relaxing on my couch. This bible story was an awakening for me, and I realized that whether I give my time in a menial task like washing church dishes or taking the time to call someone who is lonely and struggling, it is like pouring oil out of my alabaster jar. Serving others, is serving Jesus and there’s nothing menial about serving Jesus. The narrow spout on the alabaster jar was used to moderate the flow of oil and avoid waste, but the woman broke off the spout, and poured it all out on Jesus. In holding nothing back, her action was interpreted by Him as a gesture of love.

Jesus loves us in the same way, and gave Himself for us without moderation. He held nothing back, but emptied Himself completely, all the way to the cross. This story is a reminder that He is worthy of whatever we hold valuable in our alabaster jars. Whatever we do for others is done for Him. In breaking off the spout, Jesus becomes our first priority and our first love.
Jesus, thank you for showing your love to us in giving all of yourself. Help us to love you more by giving you more of what is kept in our alabaster jars. Amen

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

1 Corinthians 3:16 (NAB)

“For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.”

1 Corinthians 6:20 (NAB)

On Pentecost, the Spirit of God filled the temples of the believers in the upper room. Afterward they all left the room and began their journey as renovated people, empowered with His Spirit. It didn’t end with Pentecost, and the Holy Spirit is working an ongoing renovation project within our temples today. Renovation requires tearing down the old and adding fresh new features, giving a beautiful new look. It’s all for the purpose of pleasing Jesus, the one who dwells there. Every uncomfortable event in our life is part of His renovation design project within us. By allowing Him to tear down and remove the old, our temple becomes more pleasing for Him to dwell in. We wouldn’t argue that our old deteriorating kitchen cabinets with broken drawers and loose hinges are not so bad, or that the filthy carpeting isn’t filthy enough to remove. To paint over deteriorated wood is like trying to get along with sin, instead of ridding  ourselves of it.
The final reveal is going to look fresh and beautiful to the one who dwells there. Jesus becomes an honored guest during this renovation, He doesn’t wait until it’s finished and perfect. He dwells within us every step of the way, as our interior designer, coordinating all the plans and implementing the changes. He wants to discuss His renovation plans with us, and will never force His will upon us. He patiently helps us to realize that we are not finished products yet. We want Him to feel comfortable dwelling in our temples, so we give Jesus the seat of honor and talk with Him every day. He enlightens us with wisdom from His word while He brings about those changes within us.

He is the chief designer of our renovation and He loves meeting with us daily, to discuss His newest design plans and how He is working them out in us. We may not always understand what or why He is doing what He is doing, but we can trust that He loves us and holds the perfect blueprint to complete our interior design. 

“And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Mark 5:34 (RSV)

The woman with the hemorrhage was determined to go see Jesus. It all began by speaking to herself saying, ”If I but touch His clothes, I shall be cured.” In most other gospel accounts of healing, a person is brought to Jesus by friends or family. Scripture doesn’t explain her family situation, only that she suffered with a hemorrhage for twelve years, and came to see Jesus alone. She was probably lonely and physically weak from losing blood over many years. Her healing is unique because she inspired herself to go where Jesus was, to touch the edge of His clothes and to be healed.

There will be times in our lives when we are weak or alone and need to speak faith to ourselves. We may need to go to church alone, go to the doctor alone, pray alone, or troubleshoot problems alone. 

During those times, when we feel that no one is around to support us, we need to tell ourselves, as she did, that touching Jesus is all we need. When the woman in this gospel story touched the hem of His garment, she unleashed His power. Jesus instantly felt power leave His body, and turned around, asking who touched Him. 

The woman didn’t stand by, dwelling in self pity, and waiting for Jesus to approach her. She initiated her healing by persevering to push through the crowd, and put her faith into action by touching Him first. Immediately the flow of blood dried up and she knew that she was healed of her twelve year affliction. Jesus was impressed with her faith, which started by speaking to herself. 

Sometimes we need to speak words of faith to ourselves, and then put our words into action. This woman’s example teaches us that even when we feel weak or alone, or suffer for years, we can still find perseverance deep within, to reach out to Jesus and believe for our miracle. Our faith unleashes God’s power, and if we reach as far as we can, Jesus meets us the rest of the way, saying, “Your faith has healed you, Go in peace.”

Lord, give us the self determination to persevere and believe for our miracle, even when we are alone. Give us the courage and the faith to reach out and touch you, in faith and trust. Amen

“For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing”

2 Cor 2:15 (KJV)

I once dreamed someone gave me a very expensive bottle of perfume and I was in awe at the value of the gift. Although I didn’t smell it in my dream, I just knew how costly and extravagant this gift was, and woke up with a sense of awe. After thinking about the dream I realized God has given each believer a highly valuable gift of His fragrance to wear in the world. I don’t wear perfume anymore, but I do love a certain men’s cologne, and whenever I smell it on someone, I always linger in place, after they walk away, just enjoying the scent. God also has a special fragrance that He loves most. It was purchased for us at a very extravagant price, and whenever He smells it, He loves to linger in the scent. It’s the scent of Jesus, His son, living in us who believe. God can smell the aroma of Christ in His believers, everywhere on the earth. The scent of Christ lingers after we walk away, leaving His impression on others. The crucifixion was a gruesome scene, yet the criminal hanging next to Jesus was able to smell His fragrance of mercy, and turned to Him, asking for forgiveness. The sweet scent of Christ touched his heart as he was dying and led him to heaven. Since the thief on the cross, there have been many death bed conversions, because of someone who carried the scent of Christ to them. We are wearing the costliest perfume of all, it was purchased with precious blood, and as we go about our life, the sacred scent of Jesus is trailing behind us. When we pray in Jesus’ name, God lingers in our midst, as He smells the fragrance of His beloved Son.

Lord, we pray that others may come to know you through the valuable gift of your fragrance in all of us who believe. Amen

“Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”

Mark 2:21-22 (NAB)

Since antiquity, wine was stored in the carefully prepared skins of animals. A wineskin is made of leather, the most common of which is goatskin. Goatskin was better suited for craftsmen to handle because of its flexibility. It was also harder wearing, increasing the life of the wineskin.
Jesus said in this parable not to put new wine into old wineskins, but I never really understood the reason until now. New wine is still fermenting in the wineskin, which would require the leather to stretch as it ferments. Only a new wineskin could be stretchable enough to handle new wine. It was not wise to use an old used wineskin after it was empty, because it had already been stretched to the max, and wasn’t capable of anymore stretching. If new wine was poured into that old wineskin it would burst or tear under the pressure of fermentation. That is the mystery I never understood before.

Jesus has new wine He wants to pour into us, and we are to be His new flexible wineskins, His containers for what He is fermenting in us. We were meant to stretch, not tear under pressure. To remain stretchable and new, we need to abide in Christ. In other words, He is saying “I am going to do a new thing in your life that will require some stretching, so abide in Me.” The Bible tells us “Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.”

 (2 Corinthians 5:17) This verse seems to go hand in hand with the parable about new wineskins. To abide in Christ is to stay new in Christ, so that we won’t be like old, stretched out wineskins that easily burst. We want to be flexible enough for the new things or the special new wine He wants to pour into us. We may not always understand the new thing He is doing, or why we are going through some strange trials, but He is fermenting His special new wine within us. If we remain flexible for Jesus, trusting that He is doing all things for our good, He helps us to stretch with the plan. The Lamb of God is the source of our new wine, who is worthy of all honor, glory, and praise. He is also worthy to work with stretchable containers.
Lord Jesus, thank you for making us the new wineskin containers that you desire, and as your new wine is fermenting within us, give us the grace to remain strong, yet flexible for your glory. Amen