Month: December 2023

“We declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

1 Corinthians 2:7-8 (NIV)

Jesus used the substance of water and wine to reveal many of God’s mysteries and truths to us. There were so many momentous events in the New Testament which took place around water, starting at the Sea of Galilee. The first disciples, Peter, Andrew, James, and John, who all earned their living by fishing on that sea, were one day called by Jesus to follow Him. Our water baptism also represents the day that Jesus called each of us to follow Him. 

Jesus was in the boat with those newly chosen disciples, when a violent storm came upon the Sea of Galilee. The disciples were already frightened, especially in seeing Jesus sound asleep in the boat, and they cried out to Him, “Master, we are perishing!”

Jesus stood up and said three words to the stormy sea, “Peace, be still,” and immediately everything became calm. (Mark 4:39)

Some storms can make us feel like Jesus is asleep in our boat, but as long as He is in the boat with us, we are safe. He is aware of everything that we go through, and He still speaks peace and calms the storms within our souls today. 

Another example of a water related  moment, was when a woman met Jesus at a well, and had a brief conversation with Him. He offered her His living water, that satisfies the soul forever. Within those few minutes, she recognized that He was the Messiah and was so excited, that she returned home, overflowing with joy. Jesus is waiting for us to have a conversation with Him each day, so that we can be refilled with the joy of His living water.

The first public miracle of Jesus was at the wedding in Cana. After His mother, Mary, told the servants, “Do whatever He tells you,” Jesus then ordered them to fill all the empty wine containers with water.

The servants must have wondered why they were going to serve plain water to the wedding guests. After filling every container with water, it miraculously transformed into wine of the best and highest quality.

As we trust more and question less, we can do what Jesus tells us, by believing in His power to transform any situation, including the minds and hearts of people. 

Those earthen vessels of water turning into wine, reveal one final mystery about Jesus. He appeared to the world in the earthen vessel of a human body, yet He was fully divine. Even today, some consider Him to be a good man or a wise prophet, like plain water in an earthen vessel. No one recognized the divinity of Jesus until they drank the wine. After drinking, the guests at the wedding asked, “Why did you save the best wine for last?” Once anyone drinks of Him, and receives Him into their hearts, they will recognize Him as the highest quality wine, the divine Savior and the Son of Almighty God. 

Jesus, the best wine, who was revealed at last, by His Father in heaven, and He served Him to the whole world, to save all who are lost. Jesus is still served to whoever will receive Him.

“….to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

Receiving Jesus is not receiving a system or a code of conduct, but a person, the purest and innocent lamb of God, who shed His blood and laid His life down for all of us. 

The mysteries of God’s endless love for us, have all been revealed in Jesus, through His many lessons of water and wine.

Lord, thank you for calling us your disciples, and for your peace in whatever storm we face. Help us to 

talk to you daily and to be refilled with your joy. We thank you for being the best wine, and for your perfect sacrifice, which has saved us all by grace. Amen

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”

Jeremiah 31:3 (RSV)

The prophet Jeremiah wrote his book, trying to stir the hearts of his people to return to God, but instead, he suffered arrest, imprisonment and public disgrace. His nation was in a crisis and he was called to prophesy under very trying circumstances, and since it brought him so often to tears, he was known as the “weeping prophet.”

Jeremiah’s writings and influence over his community was much greater after his death, rather than before. When his people suffered by being exiled, they began to read and appreciate his writings much more after he was gone. Some of the most hope filled and beautiful verses of scripture come from this weeping prophet, and his tears bore fruit later on.

God told Jeremiah that He loves us with an everlasting love. He also tells us that He, the almighty God, will always continue His faithfulness to us.  How is that possible? We don’t deserve such love and faithfulness, but God sees great worth and value in each one of us, even when we cannot see it in ourselves.

It reminds me of what Jesus said in Revelation to one of the churches, “Your last works are greater than the first.” (Revelation 2:19)

Sometimes, God speaks to us for years in quiet, subtle ways, but it doesn’t register within our soul until much later in our lives. 

Our last works are where we are at today in our present state. There are people who have previously been apathetic or lukewarm in devotion to Jesus, but recently renewed their commitment to Him, meaning that their last works are greater than their first.

Other people have come a long way, after having worked, served, loved, and believed in Jesus, throughout the years. They have suffered many trials, but through it all, God has produced a divine endurance within them. Because of this, their last works are greater than their first. 

Wherever we are at, whether long time followers or recently committed believers in Jesus, we all equally receive God’s steadfast love and faithfulness, which is remarkably unchanging. We expect that we are to be faithful to Him, yet God says that He is continually faithful to us. 

This scripture revealed to the weeping prophet, tells us how highly valued we are in God’s eyes. He says that He loves us with an everlasting love. We never did one thing to earn that love, it is totally unconditional. 

No wonder Jeremiah wept so much.

If we could fully understand how much worth and value God sees in each one of us, we would probably collapse on the floor, overwhelmed in awe and weep like Jeremiah.

The only things that keep us from knowing the truth of God’s love and faithfulness is either pride or self hatred. According to a minister who counsels hundreds of depressed people, he concluded that pride and self hatred are fraternal twins, which coexist and trap people, while they fluctuate between the two. 

Jesus, however, is a chain breaker, and He breaks through all the lies of self hatred and pride which entrap so many people. Knowing we are all sinners, helps to humble the proud, and knowing how much God loves us, lifts us above all self hatred.

His love sets all the captives free from both pride and self hatred. He loves us because He sees our worth and our value in ways that no other human person on earth will ever see us. He would love for us to return that love to Him and to others. 

Lord, thank you for how much you love us, and remain faithful to us, all because you see great worth in us. May our current and last works always be greater than our first, by loving you with all our heart, soul mind and strength. Amen

“Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.”

Matthew 25: 23 (NAB)

I was watching the news one day  and as usual, it was full of tragedy, pain and sorrow, both locally and globally. I tend to talk to God about the really sad stories reported, and even pray for some of them. That day I asked Him, “Lord, what do you have to say about all the sadness in this world?”

Later that day, I think I received His answer. I was visiting my son at his Nursing Facility, where they started sitting him in a chair, with all the other residents, in the big community room. While sitting there, I observed a young woman who entered the room and walked around greeting all the residents, calling each one by name. She greeted some with a hug and put her arm around others, while she talked with them. Many residents in wheelchairs reached their arms out to receive her hug. 

I wondered who she was, so I asked her name, and learned that it’s Monica. At first I thought, she must be a therapist, or a visiting ministry person or maybe she is just a really kind employee on staff there. To my surprise, she is not a staff person or an employee at that Nursing Facility. 

Monica comes regularly to visit her own mother, who is a resident there. As I spoke with her, she pointed out her mother, who was sitting across the room. Throughout her frequent visits, she made it a point to know all the residents by name. She went on to say that her heart broke when she learned that many of them have no one to visit them. 

Watching how the people light up when Monica greets them, I realized she is a true gift to everyone in that room. I started to rethink all my former expectations for Jon. Instead of hoping for him to return to his normal, pre-accident mental state, or to function again at full capacity, I now hope that he will find the same simple happiness as those residents, in knowing that he is loved by his family members who visit him. 

I am not lowering my expectations, but I am raising them to a higher quality. The simplest and greatest joy in life is to be known, to feel welcomed and to be cared for, regardless of one’s mental status.  

People who suffer from brain injury or who live with in an altered mental state, can still find happiness in their current condition. They may even experience a type of joy that “normal” people are missing out on. There’s no point in being healthy if not happy.

God is still doing miracles today, but sometimes He chooses to do them through small and simple blessings over long periods of time. 

The all powerful God of the universe chose to reach out to this world as a tiny baby, asleep in a manger. His greatest gift came to us in a small and simple way, and the magnitude of His love was made known, by becoming one of us.

Monica brought love into that room, by giving herself, through a touch, a hug and in calling each person by name. Her presence brings joy to the lonely by becoming one of them, through small gestures of kindness, and she inspires me to do the same.

To treat strangers as one would treat their friends or family, is what Jesus asks of us, saying that whatever we do for the least among us, we are doing for Him.

It suddenly occurred to me that God had answered my question from earlier that day, when I asked Him what He has to say about all the sadness happening in the world. 

God seemed to be telling me that He knows many people just like Monica, who regularly share His love and kindness with those who are lonely and neglected in this world. They do it in small and simple ways, and while there are many beautiful stories to tell, which never make into the news headlines, God knows about all of them. It reminds me of words in the first chapter of John’s gospel,

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

The darkness will never overcome the light, and this meditation is to thank all those who shine their light in dark places, through small and simple acts of kindness. Jesus assures us that our faithfulness in small things, not only lights up the darkness of this world, but will some day reap an eternal reward in heaven. 

Lord, thank you for reminding us that the smallest gestures can bring your love to those who feel forgotten. Help us to be faithful in small matters, and to notice each stranger that you bring into our lives each day. Amen

“Though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself…..”

Philippians 2:6-8 (RSV)

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name….” 

Philippians 2:9 (RSV)

As the Israelites travelled through the wilderness to the promised land, they took with them a tabernacle, which was a mobile tent, highly revered and used for worship. It was filled with holy relics, golden candlesticks and temple items according to all the instructions given to Moses by God. 

Inside the tabernacle, there was a bronze altar with embroidered linens that were made especially to lay over the holy altar. Incense burned, filling the tent with the smoke of a scent made from a special blend of scented powders. 

When Moses entered the tabernacle to speak with God, the presence of a glory cloud would overshadow it. When the people saw the cloud, they bowed in worship. The presence of God brought reverence and awe surrounding that tabernacle, which was taken with them in their journey to the promised land.

Fast forward now to the birth of Jesus. He was conceived when the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary’s womb, and yet in His birth, He was introduced to the world in a common stable. He was given a name above all names and the same holy Presence of God that dwelled in the tabernacle with Moses, dwelt in the Jesus, in a Bethlehem stable. There was an invisible glory cloud that surrounded the infant Jesus, as all of heaven rejoiced to see their Lord appearing in human flesh. 

There was no scent of incense in that stable, only the scent of barn animals. He was wrapped in common cotton swaddling cloths, instead of beautifully embroidered altar linens. His bed was not a bronze coated altar, but a manger filled with straw. There were no golden candlesticks to light up the dark stable, but the baby who slept there, is the light of the world. 

Jesus left His kingdom and all His glory in heaven, to be born as an unknown helpless infant. He did it for us, illustrating what true humility is. This world was not His true home, but He resided in it for a brief thirty three years. He was not received by everyone with wonder and awe. Only a few bowed to worship Him while He lived among men. 

Being given a name above all names, He still knew what it was to be scorned, disrespected, falsely accused and continuously criticized for befriending sinners and teaching from the heart of the Mosaic law. 

He taught that those who humble themselves shall be exalted, and He led by example.

Although He had the power to call down a myriad of angels to punish His persecutors, His mission was to save the world, and not to judge it. He felt out of place at times, and He reminds us that we are not part of this world either. We are all resident aliens, because our true citizenship is in heaven. Whenever we feel out of place, He is sharing His lessons of humility with us, as we journey through our own wilderness. 

His church is made up of every ethnic group, and prayers come to Him in every language in the world. Jesus invited us to pray in His name, which is above all names, and our prayers arrive, filling a heavenly tabernacle with the fragrant blend of scented incense. We still celebrate His arrival into our world, in the form of a human baby, and since He did it for us, we joyfully share in His lessons of humility and exalt His name forever.

Lord, as you humbled yourself for us, help us to  embrace every lesson of humility in our lives, and show us how we can become a tabernacle of humility for you in the world today. Amen

“O sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth!

Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.”

Psalm 96:1-3 (RSV)

The purpose of Christmas carols are to inspire us to declare the glory of Jesus as the newborn King. As we read the lyrics in these traditional carols, they are so profound, our souls are inspired. Here is a brief background story of some of my favorite Christmas carol lyrics.

The oldest medieval hymn, originally written in Latin, in an 8th century monastery, and translated into English in 1851 by an Anglican priest, John Mason Neale. It’s one of my favorites;

O come O come, Emmanuel;

“O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.”

In 1818, a church organ broke down on Christmas Eve and a poem written by an Austrian priest was turned into a song and sung by a children’s choir with only a guitar accompaniment. The words were translated into English in 1820 and the song was Silent Night;

“Son of God, Love’s pure light,
radiant beams from Thy Holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.”

A French poem written by a once atheist Jewish poet, Placide Cappeau, who was inspired after reading the gospel of Luke in 1847. He wrote the poem with these inspiring lyrics, which later became the song, Oh Holy Night;

“Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Til He appears and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.”

In 1739, Charles Wesley, a Methodist, prolific hymn writer, wrote the carol, Hark the herald angels sing;

“Christ, by highest Heaven adored; Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.”

I love that there is such variety in the languages and backgrounds of those who wrote all these lyrics.

Lord, we lift our hearts up to you as we sing these carols this Christmas, and may these lyrics lead us to rejoice in your arrival, declaring your glory in every carol we sing. Amen

(Old carols are great classics, here’s my favorite new song)

 “Because of Bethlehem” written and performed by Matthew West

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NOGV5jcu2Oo%3Fsi%3D9YQo9fmzlOtirSBi

“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Luke 1:31-33 (NIV)

Gabriel told Mary all that she needed to know about the baby within her body. She could celebrate God’s plan and promise of salvation for the world, past, present and future. He announced the arrival of the Son of God whose name means Salvation, and whose Kingdom will reign forever. 

All of this good news had to be a lot to absorb and to wrap her head around, yet Mary kept the words of Gabriel in her heart. Those words would sustain her later, when she witnessed her son being treated more as a sacrificed Lamb, than a King.

Just like Mary, God also gives us reasons to rejoice, and memories to treasure in our heart, for times later in our life, when things don’t unfold the way we thought they would. 

We also look within our hearts, for God’s promises, our memories and the faith that sustains us when we are going through a trying time. In those difficult times, Jesus will arrive to us and bring us His peace, comfort and joy.

Christmas is a season to rejoice, in spite of all the troubles in this world. 

His first arrival was that day in Bethlehem, but Jesus arrives to individuals everywhere in the world, in the midst of their trials, to anyone who calls upon Him. 

The joy of God is greater than any sorrow, and the inner peace of God is more powerful than any external turmoil. The words of Gabriel remind us that whatever we are going through, Jesus will arrive in each of our personal lives and give us many reasons to rejoice. 

Lord Jesus, we invite you into our lives today, and we welcome your arrival in the midst of every problem as you bring us your peace, comfort and joy. Amen

“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.”

John 15:15 (RSV)

“For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.”

Romans 11:29 (RSV)

This time of year has everyone very preoccupied with thinking about gifts, so while we are in that line of thinking, there is one gift that is greatly under emphasized. We all know the gift of eternal life, but Jesus also offers us the gift of His friendship. The friendship we have now with Jesus, prepares us for the reunion we will have with Him on the day we meet Him face to face.

Jesus said to His disciples, and to all of us, who are His disciples today,

“No longer do I call you servants, I call you friends….”

How amazing it is to think about the 2nd person of the Trinity, who became incarnate, and lived among ordinary men, all so that He could go on to call us His friends. 

Of all the gifts Jesus gave us, the most overlooked one is how much He desires our friendship.

His disciples were blessed to have lived with their Messiah for three years. They witnessed firsthand, how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, walked on the water of the Sea of Galilee, healed ten lepers at once, and fed five thousand people with only five loaves and two fish. 

What an honor it was to have lived in that day and to have seen all that Jesus did with their own eyes.

We didn’t live in those days and we missed out in witnessing His glorious miracles in person, but the one gift that we can still experience today is His friendship. Paul told the Roman Christians that the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29)

That word “irrevocable” is a long Greek word “ametamelita”, which means never repented of, and unchanging. In other words, His gift of friendship is given to us without regret, and it never changes.

When Jesus called us His friends, He made it clear that it wasn’t always that way. His friendship is a new gift, something that came only through Him. Jesus changed forever, the potential to be more than servants of God, but to also be His friends. It’s an honor to be called a friend of any highly respected person, but we should be thrilled that the Son of God is calling us His friends. 

In the 1980’s I became involved with the international Embassy of Christians and Jews. I sent a few signed petitions to the Soviet Union on behalf of the Jewish people who were being refused their freedom to emigrate. The petitions requested freedom for all those living in internal exile as oppressed citizens. Some people were even sent to Siberia for becoming activists in seeking freedom for their people.

One lady, living in the Soviet Union, who was a well known Jewish activist, was referred to as the “mother” of all Soviet Jews. Ida Nudel was the inspiration to many other prisoners, by organizing activities which brought world attention to their plight. 

One day, I decided to write her a letter, telling her that I was praying for all of their release. I didn’t know her and she didn’t know me, but it was like sending out a message to some far away place, by faith.

I sent the letter requesting a signed postal receipt. To my surprise, I received that receipt, and in the signature box, instead of a signed name, were the words, 

“Thank you, my dear friend.” 

Although we never met, it was so touching to receive such a response and proof that my letter was received. 

In the late 80’s, President Gorbachev finally opened the Soviet borders and all those Jewish prisoners were free to emigrate to Israel. 

Jesus calls us friends, not servants. Friends share different parts of their day with each other. Friends share and support each other in their joys and sorrows. We need to invite Jesus into every problem, as well as into every frustration throughout each day. If He is with us in the frustrating moments, we will be more aware of Him being with us in the good things that happen throughout our day. We send our prayers up to heaven, without seeing Him, but we trust and believe He hears us, by faith. 

Jesus has sent each one of us a return postal receipt from Heaven. In the signature box, He is calling us “My dear friends”, and we can read His heavenly postal receipt any time, by reading His words in John 15:15 as a reminder.

He wants us to know that our friendship with Him is an irrevocable gift. It is not taken away from us the moment we lose heart, or fluctuate in faith or even lapse in obedience. His friendship is without regret or remorse, and He never changes, standing by us during the best and the worst times in our lives. Friends may not change our circumstances, but they love us, standing patiently with us, and Jesus is a friend like none other.

Lord, you died to give us eternal life which begins with your eternal and intimate friendship, which we enjoy here and now. Reveal to each reader that your friendship is irrevocable and the greatest one we will ever know. Amen

“Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”

2 Kings 5:2-3 (NAB)

A young girl was taken captive by a band of raiders and removed from her homeland. Her family and her way of life, was just a memory, as she became a servant to the wife of Namaan, a high ranking, Syrian military leader. Her life was changed forever, but the faith of her family and her heritage remained deep within her. The Bible doesn’t tell us the girl’s name, but what she did, is never forgotten. 

She was raised in the faith of the one true God, and was taught of all the miracles He did for her people, the Israelites. Like any other hostage, she missed her family, her freedom and her homeland, but even in the calamity of war, she found a purpose in her current state of being as a captive. 

Instead of being depressed over her captivity in a strange land, she found compassion in her heart for the new people God sent into her life. She felt compelled to share her faith with her mistress, talking about the wonders God did for her people, and often spoke of the great prophet in her land, named Elisha. 

Her mistress listened to her and one day, when Naaman contracted the dreaded disease of leprosy, she told her husband about the miracle working God of the Israelites, and their prophet, Elisha. Since there was no cure for his contagious disease, Naaman, listened to the servant girl’s words. He immediately asked his king to contact the king of Israel and arrange for him to have a meeting with a prophet named Elisha. 

He arrived at the home of Elisha with a pretentious entourage of servants, horses and chariots. Elisha calmly walked up to Naaman, and gave him the most unusual instructions. He told him to go plunge seven times in the Jordan river. 

A man of power, pride, and prestige, like Naaman, doesn’t take well to the advice of “Go jump in the river seven times.” He probably thought it was a joke, or an act of vengeance or some payback for conquering their people. 

Naaman was about to walk away angry and give up, but there was a Hebrew male servant with him, who humbly urged Naaman to do exactly what Elisha told him. The people of Israel knew the power of their God and how mightily He works through His prophets. Even in their own captivity, these servants did not hold back from speaking up about the greatness of their God. 

The servants were the true heroes of this story. They were hostages, living in the adversity of being taken from their families, living far from their homeland. It started with the young girl as a messenger and then the servant who persuaded Naaman to have faith and go to the Jordan river. 

At first, Naaman resisted the strange instructions of Elisha. He expected the prophet to simply say the word or  lay hands on him and heal him. Naaman was humbled by doing what the prophet told him and after the seventh time of immersing himself in the river, he experienced a miracle, as God healed him of leprosy, and he became a believer.

Everything about our life may not be 100% of what we want it to be, but God has a purpose for us to fulfill, right where we are today. We may be perplexed by the unexpected things that happen, but even in the midst of our calamity, God is fulfilling His divine purpose in each person’s life.

We may be the one bringing God’s message, or we may be the one receiving His message through another, but God is still in charge, and He still works His miracles in surprising ways, but it all starts right where we are, instead of where we wish to be. Sharing a simple message of hope and faith, can lead to someone’s miracle of healing, deliverance and salvation.

Lord, help us to embrace our faith in whatever place we are at, even if the conditions are not ideal. Give us compassion for all those you send into our lives, and a desire to share our hope and faith in you. Amen

“Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Luke 9:23 (NAB)

We were all called to be Spirit filled disciples and we are filled with the same Spirit that filled Jesus at the Jordan River, on the day of His baptism. Jesus told us to follow Him, and He added that in order to follow Him and carry our cross, we must deny ourselves.

I don’t think I’m the only one who has felt some discomfort in reading those words telling us to “deny ourselves.” 

I used to interpret it to mean that a big sacrifice is going to be asked of me, which is uncomfortable to think about, so it’s a verse that I used to avoid. 

I realize now that there is a deeper way to see the meaning in Jesus’ words to “deny ourselves.”

It’s all within the Lord’s Prayer, which Jesus taught us. It’s in the words, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” Jesus just wants us to seek His Father’s will before our own. Denying ourselves means asking for God’s will to be done, instead of asking for ours to be done. Jesus did it and He has a beautiful purpose for us, even during our most difficult trials.

Whatever it is, we can trust that God has the best plan for us. There is no better place to be than in the center of God’s will, and there is no worse place to be than in the center of our own will.

Remember the Sinatra hit song, “I did it my way”? I heard a priest tell a true story that a parishioner requested that the Sinatra song be played at his father’s funeral since he loved that song. The priest politely declined their request. Not intending to offend Sinatra fans, but “I did it my way” is not the mantra of Christians, because our intent is to do things God’s way. 

Discipleship means sustaining our trust and faith in Jesus even when things don’t make sense. In John chapter 6, when Jesus talked about eating His body and drinking His blood, He literally lost numerous disciples that day. Jesus saw multitudes walking away from Him, and then He turned to His closest twelve and asked, “ Are you also going to leave Me?” Peter answered, “How can we leave ? you have the words of eternal life.”

Peter didn’t fully understand all that Jesus was talking about, but He was a committed disciple, and the will and words of Jesus came first. We all need Peter’s spiritual stamina to trust in Jesus, even when we don’t fully understand what is happening.

During Covid, I asked God to show me what gifts I had and how I could serve Him in the strange new atmosphere of church closings , job furloughs, and a year after becoming a widow. It’s an interesting prayer, and a challenging one, when we ask God, “What can I do for you, Lord? 

Asking that question, led to writing meditations, and it was my way of saying “Thy will be done.” Whatever situation we are in, God is good and will reveal His purpose for us. 

There’s a true story of a Japanese Buddhist soldier, who became a traitor to his army, but was captured and thrown into the same prison camp with American soldiers during WWII.

The Japanese routinely tortured that Japanese prisoner of war more than the others, because he was despised for being a traitor to his own people.

One American soldier who was imprisoned with him, felt compassion for him and would care for his wounds and share his food with him, each time he was thrown back into the prison cell, after being beaten and tortured. 

One day, he was beaten so bad, the American soldier thought, “I’ve shared everything with this poor man except Jesus”, so he knelt over the man and said to him, “You might not make it through the night, but if you surrender your life to Jesus, you will live forever.” 

The Japanese soldier looked at him and said, “If Jesus is anything like you, then I can’t wait to meet Him.”

That is what discipleship was meant to be. That Christian soldier made the best out of being in a horrible place, and in the end, he found his purpose, and by his actions and words, a soul was saved for eternity.

I heard someone say, “A religious person loves to tell other people what he has done for God, but a disciple loves to tell other people what God has done for him.” 

Wherever we are in our lives, whether by actions or words, by grace, we can reflect the goodness of God to someone else.

Jesus, make us better disciples by seeking your will before our own. Shine your light in us, as we follow you, and be glorified through all that we say and do. Amen

“The Lord saw this, and was aggrieved that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one,

was appalled that there was none to intervene; Then his own arm brought about the victory, and his justice sustained him.”

Isaiah 59:15-16 (NAB)

If this scripture doesn’t remind us of Jesus, I don’t know what will. All of mankind needed an intervention and thankfully, God sent His own son, by his own arm. 

We know these truths and yet we all have moments of feeling completely alone, as if no one knows what we are going through. A situation may seem hopeless, and we may be at our lowest point emotionally, but God sees everything we are feeling, and that’s when He reaches out with His own arm to intervene in our situation. 

Whether it’s a relationship problem, a serious medical condition, or a dire financial need, the psalmist tells us that when we cry to the Lord, He hears us from His holy mountain. God not only hears our cries, but He feels deeply for His people who are suffering, as today’s scripture tells us. Sometimes things appear hopeless, and our hope is hanging by a thread, but at the least expected moment, God steps in and intervenes for us.

When Jacob thought he might not have a future, and his twin brother was hunting him down to kill Him, he dreamed of a ladder to heaven, where God said to him “I am with you and will protect you wherever you go, and bring you back to this land. I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you.” After that, Jacob miraculously made peace with his brother and the crisis was averted. 

Another example is Hagar, the maidservant who Sarah mistreated and then cruelly threw out of her house, along with her young son, Ishmael. Having no where to go, Hagar roamed through the wilderness with Ishmael. Her water supply quickly ran out, and she lost all hope, expecting that she and her son would die of thirst right where they laid. Then an angel appeared to Hagar and directed her to a well of water and they both drank. The angel revealed God’s plans for Ishmael, saying “Get up, lift up the boy and hold him by the hand; for I will make of him a great nation.” When Hagar was at her lowest point, God intervened and blessed her with the promise of hope and a future for both her and her son. 

Many months ago, a friend told me a true story about a young man she knew, who was given a tainted drug at a music concert, resulting in a long hospitalization, and he eventually ended up on life support. 

Although doctors indicated that he would never recover, His parents could not bring themselves to stop the life support that was keeping him alive. The young man finally woke up out of his coma, miraculously intact, with no mental or physical deficits at all. There is no explanation for this miracle except that God intervened. When no one else could do anymore, God reached out with His own arm and brought a miraculous victory. 

God restores a future against all odds and gives people a second chance for life, even after all others have given up hope. He steps in when we are at our lowest, and by His own arm, He raises us up. 

I believe God wants us to believe that He is the Lord of all intervention, so that we will keep our hope in Him. Although I sometimes find it easier to believe for someone else’s miracle than for my own, His word tells us that weeping may last for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Somehow, we can always find enough hope within us, for the morning. 

Yesterday I received a call that my son Jon, pulled his tracheostomy tube out of his own neck. That sounds serious but he is breathing room air just fine and his oxygen saturation levels are good, so they plugged up the hole in his neck and he is breathing without the need for a tube. That is one more step toward his healing and the possibility that he will be able to speak easier.

God is in tune with every one of our most desperate situations and just as He had a plan for Jacob, Hagar, and that young man in the coma, He has a plan for each one of us and our loved ones.

God hears our cries and He isn’t finished with us yet. He is still writing our stories and His thoughts are far above ours. We can trust that He will intervene for us with His strong arm, when no one else can.

Lord, we take the mustard seed of hope within us and place it in you, and we believe you will intervene in a miraculous way in every desperate situation we are facing  today. Amen