Author: Maria Barroso

“From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

Matthew 16:21 (RSV)

Jesus fully warned His disciples about what was about to happen to Him, in advance. They heard Him talk about suffering and dying, but also rising again on the third day. It doesn’t get much clearer than that, but it’s obvious that they didn’t comprehend what He was telling them.

The disciples still didn’t get it, based on their skeptical response to Mary’s news that Jesus had risen, on that Sunday morning. Thomas claimed he will believe it, when he feels it with his own hands. On the road to Emmaus, the disciples never recognized as He walked alongside them. The tone of His voice became familiar, when He broke the bread, prayed and ate with them. That was their moment of revelation.

Faith shouldn’t rely on the senses, and yet we are all sensual beings. The bible defines faith as the assurance of things not seen, but when it came to the resurrection of Jesus, most of the disciples needed to see, hear, touch and feel it, to believe it. 

Even after Jesus told them ahead of time that he would rise on the third day, the disciples probably forgot everything, because they were so traumatized by seeing the intensity of all that Jesus suffered.

If they had remembered what Jesus said about rising, they would have camped out at His tomb on the third day. Instead, the reaction of His disciples was just as the prophet foretold, “Strike the shepherd, that the sheep may be scattered.” (Zechariah 13:7)

Like the disciples, we have all lived through a Friday in our lives where our hopes were shattered and we were overwhelmed with grief and disappointment. It leaves us feeling like all our dreams were sealed away in a tomb somewhere, but we need to rely on His truth, not our feelings.

Friday is not the end of the story. We have a living hope within us, of resurrection, eternal life and the day we meet Jesus, be made whole and see our lost loved ones again. God was loving us through all of those difficult Fridays of our lives. Friday is good because Sunday is coming. Even today, Jesus stands before us saying, “Trust Me, I have good plans for you, follow Me and I will take care of you.” 

Lord, our living hope is in you, our resurrected, merciful Savior. Remind us that whatever Friday looks like in our lives, our hope is in the love and victory that comes from your cross and resurrection on Sunday. Amen

“In the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, just as a man carries his son.”

Deuteronomy 1:31 (NASB)

Once in a while we hear a story of how God seemed to carry a person through a trying time in their life. When I hear a testimony of a person’s spiritual and miraculous experience, I just have to share it. The Lord knows we hear enough bad news each day, so here is a miracle to meditate on.

A young man named Mark, along with his parents, told this story in a documentary about events that cannot be explained in any other way except being a miracle. When Mark was 12 years old, he went hiking in the woods near his home in rural Missouri, and was bitten by a venomous snake. The snake’s fangs bit through his pants piercing the skin of his ankle area. 

Both his legs started to become numb and his eyesight was getting blurry. Mark was all alone, about 150 yards from his home, and since he could no longer walk, he tried to crawl home, but grew increasingly weaker. 

Before becoming unresponsive, Mark remembered being picked up by a man wearing a white robe with a red belt. While being carried in his arms he remembers that the man told him he was going to be alright. Then Mark lost consciousness. 

No one witnessed what happened after he lost consciousness, but somehow Mark was found by his mother on the kitchen floor of their home. His parents immediately rushed him to the hospital, as the bite wound on his ankle swelled.

He could not have crawled home by himself since he was paralyzed from the snake venom and passed out. How could an unresponsive boy get from the woods straight to his home? The only explanation is that the man in the white robe was his guardian angel, and carried him home. 

By the time he got to the hospital, his breathing was very shallow, but he was treated with antivenin, and recovered two days later. When he awoke, he told his parents about the mysterious white robed man who assured him that he would be alright, and carried him home. No one else but a twelve year boy saw the angel that day, but there is no other explanation for how Mark got home just in time to get to the hospital, where his life was saved.

God knew that it was not Mark’s time to die, and today he is a father, raising a son of his own. As a man would carry his own son, the angel of the Lord carried him home in time to get medical help which saved his life. 

We need reminders of the goodness of God, and because of His paternal love for all of us, He appoints angels to keep watch over us, and our children.

Lord, thank you for the miraculous messengers and helpers you have ordered to take care of us, even though we may never see them. You are a good Father, who cares for us, and will carry us if necessary. Amen

“And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed.”

Mark 1:35 (RSV)

When I was four, I once got lost in the woods, while on a family vacation in Michigan. Fortunately, a very kind couple found me and took me inside their cabin where I safely waited, until my parents came to get me. Being lost in the woods is a lonely experience, but to go to a lonely place on purpose, for solitude to pray, is a totally different thing, and can be a time of rich spiritual renewal.

Jesus routinely went off alone to 

“the lonely place” every day to pray, and get away from the crowds. He found a grotto, which is a cave or covered recess, on a mountain, which offered Him privacy and solitude. Scholars believe that the attached photo of this Eremos grotto, on the north side of the Sea of Galilee, is the actual place where Jesus went to pray each day. (Eremos in Greek, literally means lonely, deserted place)

Jesus taught that we should enter our inner room or prayer closet to spend private time with God. It sounds like Jesus hoped we would find our own grotto to retreat to. He said, “But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” (Matthew 6:6)

The Eremos grotto is probably where Jesus prepared His famous sermon on the Mount. He was probably there when He developed the teaching that peacemakers are the true children of God, the pure in heart are the ones who will see God, and only the meek will inherit the earth. Inside that grotto, Jesus spoke in secret to his Father and put His thoughts into words to preach and teach us. The mountain where that grotto is located, is more commonly known as the Mount of Beatitudes.

Lonliness might be a result of losing friends or loved ones, but solitude is a choice. It’s a choice to routinely go to our secret place, our own metaphoric grotto, where we spend time each day with God. It’s a time to  invite Him into our day, and to guide our thoughts and words, and all the events of our day.

There are also times when it’s necessary to find the grotto within us, whenever we feel the need to call upon Jesus. It might be while sitting on an airplane, or on the way to a medical procedure, or at a family holiday gathering with relatives we don’t see very often. Since Jesus promised to send His Spirit to live within us, we can step into our spiritual grotto at any time and bring our prayer needs to Him. 

When I was lost in the woods, someone brought me into their cabin, and cared for me until my parents came and brought me home. We are all in temporary cabins in this life, waiting for Jesus to return and take us to our real home. 

We occasionally meet lost people wandering through our woods, and God is asking us to bring them into our cabin, to comfort and assure them that their Father is coming soon. No one is meant to fend for themselves, since Jesus commands us to love our neighbor as ourself. It’s another way of saying we actually are our brother’s keeper. Before we can care for any lost brothers or sisters, we first need to find our grotto and retreat in daily solitude with the Lord.

Lord, help us to stay faithful to the private time spent in our grotto with you each day, and give us the compassion to comfort and care for those who are lost or wandering around us. Amen

The actual grotto of Eremos

“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”

Matthew 25:40 (RSV)

We all know people who we would consider the greatest among us. Jesus doesn’t need to tell us to do good for those who have been great towards us, like wonderful friends, family members, or those who have helped us when we were down, but He did tell us to do good for the least among us. 

The “least” among us is commonly thought to be people like starving children in third world nations, or anyone living in poverty, as well as the lonely, forgotten souls in Nursing facilities or hospitals. I’m learning that the “least among us”, encompasses even more than all the people described above.

Last week I was visiting a group of residents in the Nursing Home, which was a very pleasant visit. One resident’s aunt was in from out of town, who joined us and we had a great conversation together. Lydia, the resident with Alzheimer’s who walks around, cradling her baby doll, sat next to me, just happy to be with all of us, even though she doesn’t understand a word of English. 

While I was taking in the delightful moment of that visit, a resident walked by who is known to be very contentious and regularly instigates arguments. Someone told me that before she was admitted to the Nursing home, she was on the local news for disturbing the peace at a Chicago public beach, shouting racial slurs at strangers. She now lives on the psychiatric floor of the Nursing Facility. When she enters the room, a strange silence comes over everyone, knowing the current relaxed ambience could easily erupt into a conflict.

I’m calling her Windy, to protect her privacy. That day, Windy walked into the room and sat right at our table. We continued our conversation with each other as if nothing changed, but people were clearly looking cautious. She said nothing to anyone and sat for a few minutes, eating the snacks I brought. Then she thanked me, got up and left. We all breathed a sigh of relief and continued to have a nice visit. 

It made me think about how easy and natural it is, to do good for people who are kind and friendly, but Jesus didn’t ask us to do what comes natural or easy. In fact, He has a history of asking us to do the most “unnatural” things. 

He told us to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, go the extra mile, turn the other cheek, and if someone asks for our shirt, to give away our coat as well. 

Not one of those things come natural to us, which was apparent by everyone’s reaction in the moment Windy came and sat at our table. Not only does Jesus ask us to do what is “not natural”, He asks us to do it for the “least” of all persons among us. The least among us is not limited to those who are simple minded, innocent, poor and lovable. It might also include the least lovable among us. 

While focusing on those who are sick, naked, hungry or in prison, we will inevitably find people who are also angry, argumentative and morally impaired. Some people were damaged early in their life and we don’t know their story or what made them who they are today, but Jesus knows, and He rewards those who will show them kindness.

He said, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.”

(Luke 6:32-33)

It seems that Jesus is always asking us to do what is unnatural, instead of what comes natural to us. The next day, Windy came and sat at our table again. We were discussing various Easter and Passover customs, so I invited her into the conversation by asking about her own childhood faith background. 

She said that her parents had no faith but as an adult, she briefly visited an Episcopal church. It was at the least, an opening to include her in the conversation. Then she said something critical about Passover, but I quickly diffused the comment by changing the subject, before an eruption occurred. Everything  remained peaceful, she thanked me for the treats and walked away. 

We can be sure that if Jesus brings difficult people into our lives, it’s for the purpose of raising the bar of our own spiritual growth. The Nursing facility can be a school for learning hard lessons, but we were all meant to keep moving forward wherever Jesus leads us. The lessons the Holy Spirit is teaching us, are meant to transform us, not the people around us. 

The church is encouraged to be overcomers, who resist any way of thinking that goes against the teaching of Jesus Christ. We’re all on a life journey of transformation by the Holy Spirit, shining His love to the least among us, doing our best to keep moving forward all the way to the finish line. 

Lord, help us to be open to doing what does not come natural, so that we may be your disciples, shining your light and reflecting your love to a world that desperately needs it. Amen

“And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?”

And the crowds replied, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Matthew 21:10-11 (NAB)

It is said that only Matthew’s gospel uses the word “shaken,” to describe Jerusalem on that day. Matthew used that same word to describe the earthquake at the moment Jesus died. If the level of hope and praise could move the magnitude on the Richter scale, Jesus would have caused an earthquake in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. 

There was so much excitement when He entered the city that crowds of people took off their cloaks and laid them on the ground, while waving palm branches in the air. Children were singing praises of Hosanna to Him, which made the chief priests even more indignant, but Jesus responded to them by quoting the Psalmist, “Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies.” 

(Matthew 21:16, Psalm 8:2)

The city of Jerusalem shook like an earthquake that day. It shook from the magnitude of hope in who Jesus was, and it also shook from the outrage of those who disbelieved. The entire city was talking about one man, Jesus. Some came to proclaim Him king and others came to learn more about Him. Some learned about Him, but never transferred that knowledge from their head to their heart. He warned about the seeds of faith, that fall on the hard, rocky ground which never grow into a lasting faith. 

His entry into Jerusalem was a landmark day in history, because it marked a clear split between those who were with Him and those who were against Him. It revealed what type of soil was within human hearts that day. Before His arrest, He made it clear, saying, 

“No one takes My life from me, but I lay it down on my own.” (John 10:18)

He knew He would lay His life down, but He couldn’t have known the magnitude of suffering that He would actually endure in those days.

Scripture says that “for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, while scorning its shame.”

(Hebrews 12:2) 

He had some divine foresight, knowing that lives would one day be shook up and changed for the good,  through faith in Him. He probably envisioned the tears of repentance of each person who would ever kneel before Him and confess Him as Lord. In hope, He imagined the multitude of ransomed souls who would meet Him in heaven on the last and final day of the Lord. 

The Iraqi Christians, who have suffered unimaginably for their faith, have a saying: “Hope is a plant that grows even on tombstones.” It was this kind of hope that helped Jesus endure the beatings, mockery, scourging, and crucifixion of Holy Week in Jerusalem.

As we enter Jerusalem with Jesus next week, we follow His footsteps and envision ourselves walking beside Him, from the loud Hosannas to the lonely darkness of the garden, to the painful silence leading up to the cross. We reminisce, step by step, how He laid Himself down for us. It’s the magnitude of God’s love and kindness which once shook the earth and still leads people to repentance. In gratitude and praise, we will celebrate His death and resurrection, which brought us the gift of eternal life. 

Lord, take us with you on a journey inside Jerusalem next week, and help us to have greater appreciation for how you did it all in hope and love for each of our souls. Amen

“You, God, are my God….

I have seen you in the sanctuary

and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.”

Psalm 63:1, 2-3 (NIV)

Life brings many good things, good times, rewards, relationships and love from lots of different people, all in a single lifetime. As good as life can be, David wrote that God’s love is better than life itself. David knew that there is an intimacy with God that far exceeds all the best things this life can offer. 

The words recited at Jewish wedding ceremonies since antiquity, are, 

“Dodi li, ve ani lo,” which means,

“My beloved is mine and I am theirs.”

David referred to God as “my God”, whether it was in the blessings or the storms of his life. It was a covenant of love.

God isn’t just our pastor’s God, our mother’s or father’s God, or the God of the scriptures. Neither is He found only inside houses of worship. C.S.Lewis once said, “The world is crowded with God, because He walks everywhere, incognito.” Knowing the story of Moses at the burning bush, God’s presence extends to however He chooses to manifest Himself, whether incognito through a voice in a flaming fiery bush or openly, through Jesus as His son walking among us.

We call Him our God, like David did, because He loves us more than anyone else on earth ever would or could, and we love Him back by trusting in His steadfast love. Even in the times when we hurt the most, we can still expect nothing less than the goodness of a loving God, because we are His and He is ours.

When I was around nine years old, my mother worked full time, and took a city bus to and from work each day. I had a neighborhood friend, named Mary Margaret, who was a few years younger than me. While we were playing outside, she would stop as soon as she saw my mother getting off the city bus, a half a block away. Then Mary Margaret ran toward my mother, with open arms, and received a big hug from her, even before I could. 

The first time I saw her do this, I was  perplexed and wondered why she was so excited to see “my” mother. She had her own mother and father, so why did she greet my mother so enthusiastically each day. I may never fully understand why, but I did know that my mother was the kind of person, that one little girl couldn’t wait to hug every day. 

I became adjusted each day to Mary Margaret’s zeal to be first to run into my mother’s arms, because I was secure in knowing that my mother loved me. She was still my mother, and I was her daughter. I actually began to feel proud, knowing she was so special to someone else. 

That’s how I interpret an intimate relationship with a loving God. It is personal enough, to give us a sense of security, knowing that nothing and no one could ever change how He loves us. I was secure in being loved by “my mother”, just as I came to be secure in being loved by “my God.” That’s the kind of love that is better than life. 

When we see someone else receive a blessing, instead of feeling left out, we’re proud of God’s goodness being shown to them, as if to say, “That’s my God.”

Jesus set aside time to pray every day, but since He was divine, and one with His Father, He could do any miracle and make anything happen, if He wanted to. So what was there for Him to pray about every day? 

Jesus prayed every day simply out of mutual love for His Father. He wasn’t driven by obligation or duty, but by love, and love desires never ending dialogue, especially when hugs are not feasible. Jesus prayed every day, for dialogue with His Father, who He loved more than His own life. We have all been created for perpetual dialogue and spiritual hugs with “our” Heavenly Father.

Lord, thank you for your steadfast love which secures us in ways no one and nothing else could. We praise and adore you because your love is truly better than life. Amen

“About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened,

there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose.”

Acts 16:25-26 (NAB)

The events in the story of this 16th chapter of Acts, all began with a slave girl, possessed by a spirit of divination. An occult spirit gave her fortune telling abilities, which greatly profited her master, since it would be comparable to having access to the predicted outcome of every sports bet and winning lottery numbers. 

One day, Paul was interrupted from his preaching by this young lady, so he turned to her, and commanded the spirit of divination to come out of her. She immediately lost her fortune telling abilities, which infuriated all the men who made their money off of her for years. 

While accused of disturbing the peace, they really only disturbed someone’s profit. The crowd convinced the police to have them arrested, beaten, and thrown into prison. Bruised and bleeding, with their feet in the shackles of a Roman prison cell, Paul and Silas couldn’t do anything else, so they decided to sing songs of praise to God, which they did throughout the night. 

While they were singing, a severe earthquake struck the prison, breaking their shackles, and setting Paul and Silas free. The jailer who was guarding them, woke up to the rumbling of an earthquake, and seeing the prison doors opened, he drew his sword to kill himself. 

Paul shouted to the jailer not to harm himself, as they both stayed by his side. The jailer fell to his knees and asked how he can be saved and they invited him to believe in Jesus. Paul and Silas prayed with him, and then the jailer brought the two men back to his home, where he tended to their wounds and fed them a meal. The jailer and his whole family believed in Jesus, and they celebrated their new found faith, through the night.

During that same night, the Roman police authorities learned that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, and by law, were entitled to a fair trial, which they did not receive. Realizing two citizens were illegally beaten and thrown into prison, the Roman authorities tried to conceal the error, by dropping all charges as quickly as possible. 

Paul, being an educated man, was aware of his rights, and not at all indifferent to the injustice that was done to them. He responded, “They beat us publicly, and threw us in prison, but now, they are going to release us secretly? By no means. Let them come and lead us out.” (Acts 16:37)

So the next day Paul and Silas received public acknowledgement from the authorities that they were wrongfully imprisoned. The whole community learned that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, and were appeased for being illegally beaten without a trial.

After being released, Paul and Silas went straight to the home of Lydia, a wealthy businesswoman and dealer of rare purple dyed cloth, who was their friend and a devout Christian. Lydia dedicated herself to helping the church, and she welcomed Paul and Silas to stay in her home, for as long as they needed. 

Throughout all these events, the first enemy that Paul encountered was the spirit within the fortune teller, who interrupted Paul’s preaching that day. Our enemies are not always the people we see, but the spirit who works through people. By casting out a spirit of divination, Paul and Silas became an obstacle to the greed of men, who used that slave for their financial profit. Greed led from one injustice to another, as in the illegal beating and imprisonment of Paul and Silas.

Through Paul’s example, we learn that there’s a time to submit to authorities and a time to speak up for our rights under the law. We also learn that there is power in having a mindset of praise, a response that breaks through the shackles of worry and anxiety, bringing comfort and blessing in the end. 

The slave girl was set free from all the powers that once controlled her, the gospel was preached to a large crowd, and a jailer and his family rejoiced in salvation found through their new faith in Jesus. 

Lydia’s home represents the church as God intended it to be, a safe haven of comfort and restoration for those who are mistreated or experience injustice. 

Lord, help us to keep a mindset of praise, facing adversity with strength and courage, and may our hearts always be open to the wounded or mistreated among us. Amen 

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

Ephesians 4:3 (NIV)

God is more team oriented, than we may realize, which is revealed throughout His creation. He created teams before He created human beings. He made heavenly beings and creatures who work in teams. He made the solar system with planets that travel as a team, in rotation around the sun. There are teams of stars that stay within the cycle of their constellation, as God designed it. He made teams of fish, flocks of birds, packs of wolves, herds of mammals, and even insects that work within colonies. God’s entire creation works as a team of some kind, so what is He trying to tell us ?

The first human team begins in a marriage, and expands to family. There are teams of friendship, teams of churches, civil communities, and every single nation is a team, as is the whole earth. God intended for human teams to live in unity, but even when people fail to cooperate and mess up the plan, God patiently readjusts the plan. He is like a great coach who totally believes in his team, and will keep coaching, training and encouraging them, until leading them to success.

A team of three angels were sent to Abraham, to announce that he would Father a son, in his old age, and start an entirely new nation. Abraham’s grandson Jacob, had twelve sons, and God planned for all twelve to be a team of twelve tribes. God’s plans are always good, but He also gave everyone free will. Division and jealousy among the twelve brothers, led them to sell their younger brother Joseph, to slave traders, breaking up the team that God put together.

Scripture gives examples of how God continues working with His people, even when His original plans get messed up. Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers, ended up promoted to second in command of Egypt, forgiving his brothers and becoming a team with them again. It proves that God can turn any mess into a miracle.

Jesus came into the world, born into a team called the tribe of Judah. He later formed His own team of chosen disciples, who were not considered the most likely men to succeed. Just like the twelve sons of Jacob, the twelve apostles were imperfect men with prejudices, faults, and failures, but God never gives up on anyone. The Holy Spirit changes hearts, and by faith transformed them into men of courage, who spread the gospel as a team throughout the earth.

Plans fail because people fail to cooperate, but when anyone calls upon the Lord, He hears, saves and provides a new path for them. Because He loves us, He always regathers us, and by His grace, He establishes us with many chances, re-strengthening our faith each time. 

We are all part of a large team today,  a world wide team of believers, made up of imperfect men and women, from every nation, race and culture. There are differences in doctrine, but our common belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior, is the bond of unity of the church team throughout the world. Looking at our human faith history, it seems apparent that God always has a plan, a purpose and a team to carry it out. 

The bond of unity is essential, whether it is in the team of marriage, family, the church or our nation. Since the beginning of time, spiritual forces of darkness have tried to divide and deceive the human teams God created. Paul taught that we cannot fight spiritual battles with physical weapons, which means we need to put on spiritual armor. That armor includes a helmet of salvation, a shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit.  (Ephesians 6:11-12)

The helmet of salvation protects our mind with truth, and keeps us alert to who and what saves us. A shield of faith protects our hearts, to keep it from being weighed down, with fear, worry and doubt. 

While one hand holds the shield, the other hand holds the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, His truth in scripture. Jesus responded to every temptation in the desert by reciting scripture. God gave us scripture, not only as a sword to divide lies from truth, but as a spiritual scalpel that therapeutically purges our psyche, and brings healing deep within our spirit. (Hebrews 4:12)

We are a redeemed people, and we have armor to wear, so let’s put it on and walk in the unity of the Spirit. God is waiting for us to let Him make a miracle out of every mess. In spite of the difficulties that exist within the teams of this world, Jesus can restore, redeem, re-unify and be the Lord of every life and every team. 

Lord, thank you for the grace of new chances, forgiving, healing and restoring teams to peace and unity. Help us to make our own effort to keep the bond of unity within our teams. Amen

“He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him.”

Psalm 103:10-11 (NIV)

Not treating us as our sin deserves is a definition of mercy. God’s promises of forgiveness and healing have no conditions attached to it. He heals freely, according to the faith of a mustard seed, without conditions. How many times did Jesus tell someone?, “Go, your faith has healed you.” 

There is only one single reason for  the goodness God shows to all of mankind-Love and mercy. When we think about it, His love and mercy is what moved a two ton stone from the tomb which Jesus arose out of. His love and mercy empties hospital beds, prison cells, and mental institutions. Jesus cast out demons, because He loved the real person within, seeing with eyes of mercy. He healed those who suffered long term illnesses, 12 years of hemorrhaging, and 38 years of paralysis, which were the two examples given in scripture.

If we are honest with ourselves, some people display behaviors that make them difficult to love. We’ve all known people who turn others into their enemies and then wonder why they are unloved. In reality, God loves those difficult people, even when we see them as unlovable.

After visiting the Nursing Facility and experiencing various personalities and types of mental illness among the residents, I sometimes find myself anxious to leave all the craziness behind. Each day brings a new drama among many unsound minds who live there. 

There are some residents who will suddenly lash out verbally at others, with nothing to provoke it. A fight is started and then staff has to come and break it up. There is a constant instability of temperaments, mental states and emotions. No one is predictable, which is in itself, exhausting. 

One older lady is a cleptomaniac. Last week she saw a resident sitting at a table, holding cash in her hand, and she snatched the money out of her hand and ran away down the hallway. Other residents shouted and chased her down, staff got involved and the money was returned. The lady who stole the money is at least eighty years old! It’s still unbelievable that a woman that old could run that fast.

I may never get used to observing these emotional storms, and I wonder how anyone could share the truth of a healing and forgiving God, in a language that these residents can understand. 

Even though my son hardly speaks anymore, I believe he still knows who I am and my presence is still needed there for that reason, as well as for the few nice people who are lonely, but coherent enough to have conversations with. 

While thinking about all that goes on there, I realized, if the devil can make an eighty year old steal money and run like she’s in a marathon, maybe the Holy Spirit can change hearts and make them run towards the love and mercy of God. It reminds me of a lesson I learned last week.

One day, a new resident was sitting in her wheelchair, at a table where I sat. She was talking on the phone with a relative and crying. She told her relative that everyone at the table she was sitting with, was harassing her. Neither I nor anyone else said anything to her, yet she was under the impression that “everyone” was harassing her. We glanced at each other, perplexed, and when she ended her phone call, I tried to think of something to say. 

Before saying anything, I was trying to understand her mental status, since I didn’t know her at all. Then Shantel walked by, who is the most amazing nurse assistant at that facility. She glanced at the red eyed, tearful resident, and immediately asked, “Do you need a hug?”

The woman quickly nodded yes and Shantel hugged her. 

I could see that whatever her issues were, Shantel’s hug definitely helped. I guess I was too busy trying to figure her strange behavior out, but a hug can bring more healing than analyzing does. Whether a person is in touch with reality or not, every human being needs to know they’re loved. Shantel’s hug brought healing to her, and revealed truth to me.

The world would be a better place if we all showed mercy to others, and chose words that can heal rather than hurt. Scripture says that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. That’s one promise that desperately needs to be taken more seriously throughout the NH. (2 Timothy 1:7) 

In one gospel story, the demoniac ran back and forth among the tombs in that area of the holy land 2,000 years ago. Everyone avoided that person as out of his mind and crazy.

Then came the young rabbi from Nazareth. He looked at him and saw the man within. In a gentle but authoritative voice, He commanded the demons to leave, and they left him. It’s easy to first see the demons in people, but Jesus saw people first, separate from their demons. He spoke and the man’s turmoil was conquered by God’s love. Jesus’ words were like one big healing hug. That’s the Jesus I’d like to come with me to the Nursing Home.

Lord, help us to show mercy towards the most difficult personalities we encounter. Give us a heart of love to see the person who is within, separate from their behavior. Amen

“If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.”

Psalm 91:9-10 (NIV)

No one and nothing can give us the sense of safety or security that the Lord Himself can give. If we could only see the invisible world of protection that we are privileged to have surrounding us.  Angels are working on our behalf, to protect us from what we can and cannot see, minute by minute, and day after day. The Holy Spirit also guides us in very inconspicuous ways, leading us with gentle promptings within.

Of all the security systems, burglar alarms, devices, weapons and tools of protection, the safest place to be is in a state of grace, totally trusting the Lord, whose Spirit guides us, knowing God is our refuge and our fortress. He guards our coming and our going. (Psalm 121:8)

When I was involved in a church youth group many years ago, a young man in the group shared a true story. He offered one of the young ladies a ride home after a church youth group. He dropped her off at her apartment building in Chicago, watching as she walked safely into the front hallway of her apartment building. 

As he drove away, before getting to the end of the block, he felt a very strange and strong compulsion to go back and check on her. He went back and as he walked towards her front hallway, a man, who had her pinned against the wall, quickly fled out the door, after seeing him approach.

Some would say that her friend listened to his gut or an intuition, telling him to go back. Maybe it was the Holy Spirit, who prompted him to go check on her, but one thing is certain. If we listen, the Spirit puts those gut feelings and intuitive urges within all of us. God was looking out for that young lady, and guarded her in her coming and her going. He does the same for all of us, even when we are unaware.

In my late teens, I once donated a pint of blood at a blood drive in downtown Chicago. Afterward, I climbed a flight of stairs to catch a public elevated train back home. By the time I made it to the top of the platform, I was fully conscious, but totally lost my vision. I could hear the train coming, but was too proud to ask for help. I followed the sound of the train, and listened to the doors open, feeling my way inside and quickly sat down. My vision soon returned, and I was fine. In thinking back, I should have asked for help or waited before boarding the train. Somehow I was guided safely through the doors of the train, by using my sense of hearing, since I couldn’t see for a few minutes. Even when we take foolish chances, our guardian angel still protects us. 

A missionary, living in Brazil, once shared a true story. He was asked to speak at a school in a high crime neighborhood of Sao Paulo. When he finished his talk and began driving home, eight motorcycles with two men riding on each, began following his car. A Brazilian native, riding in the car with him, told him they were a gang of thieves who were going to steal his car, which was a common crime happening in the area. 

As the motorcycles got closer, surrounding his car, the missionary kept driving, while praying out loud, saying, “Lord, you are my refuge, please protect us…” He kept talking to God and praying, while the cyclists rode alongside him, giving him threatening looks. He kept praying, and then the cyclists suddenly slowed down, turned around and they all left. Something stopped them from committing the crime, though no one else was around, except maybe a team of angels.

Scripture is full of invitations to trust in the miraculous refuge and protection of God. Nothing is impossible when His people pray. Whether we are lying down to sleep or moving through a hectic, busy day, we are always surrounded by angelic helpers and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

God is the all powerful King of the universe, and Jesus told us to ask for the impossible, since with God all things are possible.

(Matthew 19:26)

Lord, thank you that the safest place to dwell is in You alone, where nothing shall be impossible. Help us live in confidence, trusting you as our ultimate source of security. Amen