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“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Acts 13:2 (RSV)

The Holy Spirit is always on mission, setting us apart to do God’s work, and He is doing some interesting things these days among young believers, born between 1997-2012, known as Generation Z. Religious and secular publications have written articles about an unusual shift towards spirituality among this age group, which includes all Christian denominations. 

There’s an entire generation of young people, of all denominations, Catholic and Protestant, who are embracing a new call to follow Jesus in various ministries and paths of discipleship, which is great news for the future of this world. 

I was listening to the personal testimonies of a few young men who are seminarian students in this age group, telling their stories of how they were called to the priesthood. It started with a stirring in their hearts, a personal wake up call by Jesus, a love for God and a desire to serve Him. One young man felt his calling at an Easter vigil service, when he heard Christ asking him within his heart:

“How would you like to be another Christ for Me in this world?” That was his turning point, leading to his decision. 

I was touched by that phrase, “be another Christ for Me in this world.”Most of us will never be called to full time ministry, but we are still called to be Christ to others, in whatever place we are at, in this world. God knows that the world needs more of Jesus. We all befriend and rub shoulders with unbelievers every day. They may not go to church, and never read a Bible, but they are all reading us. They’re watching your life and mine. They watch what we do, what we say and we might be the only Christ they will ever see.  

The Holy Spirit transforms lives and then He sets us apart, calling us to serve Him in one way or another. On one occasion, the Spirit chose Paul and Barnabas to be sent to Cyprus on a specific mission, as today’s scripture verse describes. They both faced opposition and endured many hardships, but many came to believe through them. 

No one would use a product that hasn’t first been tested. Faith that has not been tested cannot be fully trusted for use. The book of Acts tells us that every believer in the early church was tested in some way.  Paul was once beaten and after recovering, he said, “It is through many hardships that we enter the kingdom of God.”  (Acts 14:22)

Our faith will also be tested through fiery trials, but Paul reminds us that the fire of testing leads us to the kingdom of God. Fire is not only a metaphor of tests and trials, it’s the source of the warmth of God’s presence. His fire lights our way through some of our darkest moments. The Holy Spirit appeared as fire over the heads of the disciples on Pentecost, and today, His fire dwells within us. 

As we each find our own mission to reflect Jesus to others, we may face opposition, but His fire also lights up our spirit with passion and love. A sense of purpose is the healthiest mindset for an overall sense of well being in every human being. We all need to find our purpose, because we have been set apart to shine His light to those around us.

Lord, thank you for setting us apart, especially the many young people who are turning toward you. We trust and hope for a brighter future, as you help all of us to be reflections of Christ to this world. Amen

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

2 Corinthians 7:10(NIV)

An old gospel song, titled, “It is well with my soul,” has a line in it that goes like this:

“My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!”

Those song lyrics may not seem profound to everyone, but to anyone who has experienced the grace of God’s forgiveness, those words resonate with showers of grace. 

The cross is the common ground between Christians of all different backgrounds, because forgiveness in Christ has no denomination.

Even though they’ve been forgiven, many people struggle with regrets. Regret can become embedded in the human psyche, leading to all kinds of unhealthy thinking. That’s what Paul refers to as the worldly sorrow that brings death. We may retain regrets over words spoken, wrong choices we’ve made or having lived a wrong lifestyle. I’ve met people who are living with the painful regret of something they once neglected to do, when they had the chance to do it. Regret weighs so heavily on our human hearts, and although God forgives us of anything we ask, some people still need to forgive themselves. 

The beauty of God’s forgiveness is that He removes it completely from the official record, leaving no regret. He doesn’t forgive as broken people do, by burying the hatchet, and then digging it back up again. When God forgives us, He removes any and all transgressions as far as the east is from the west, so that we have no business ever bringing it up again.

With God, forgiven means forgotten. 

(Psalm 103:12)

I have learned that there’s something way more important to God than what we have done or not done in our past, and that is “who we are becoming.”

The purpose of every hardship, test, trial or sorrow is to shape us into the person God is making us into. He builds our character and increases our endurance through every failure or trial, and regardless of what we’ve been through or have been forgiven of in the past, we shouldn’t be holding on to regrets.

When I think about all the wrong choices and mistakes I’ve made, or the tragedies I have experienced over the years, I realize that I am a different person today than I was fifty years ago, and it’s all because of the grace of God. Jesus never left my side, and as time passes, I realize it more today. I am more rooted in my faith and by His grace, have more endurance. The Lord is still teaching me new things, but I know His grace is more than enough to sustain me through whatever comes.

Jesus said that Heaven celebrates each time someone repents. 

(Luke 15:7)  If there’s that much joy over one person’s forgiveness, who are we to interfere with Heaven’s celebrations? God has forgiven us, so that we can rejoice with Heaven, forgive ourselves, and start singing, 

“🎵 It is well with my soul.”

Scripture tells us that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. Hope is what keeps us looking ahead, not backward at our past, because God still has good plans and many blessings yet to come, for our future.

Lord, we leave all of our regrets and past transgressions where they belong, nailed to your cross. Thank you for your endless love and the many blessings that are yet to come. Amen

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Matthew 5:6 (RSV)

Everything Jesus said about hunger refers to spiritual hunger, not the food that physically sustains us. 

He said “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger…” He also said “man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word out of the mouth of God”…He told us that those who “hunger and thirst for His righteousness, will be satisfied.” Mary, His mother, also spoke about spiritual hunger, saying in Luke 1:53, “He (God) has filled the hungry with good things.” 

I wonder if God is looking across the whole earth, searching the hearts of all individuals, to find those who are ripe and ready, with a deep hunger for Him, so that He can fill them with all His good things. 

In a meditation titled “The currency of time”, I wrote about my newest friend at the Nursing Facility. He is a 72 year old man with a history of severe depression, but was admitted to the Nursing facility for heart failure. I called him Matt in my meditation on 8/27, to protect his privacy. 

Matt has no wife or children, only brothers who live far away and one niece who lives nearby and visits him weekly. In listening to his life story, it seems he has been trying for a long time to find peace. He is at a stage in his life now, of directing all of his spiritual hunger toward Jesus. His heart is very open to the Lord and he let me pray for him one day last week. 

I bring him printed copies of my meditations, and read them to him, because he has cataracts which obstruct his vision and he is unable to read. He devours every word of what I read to him with such hunger, that it feels like I am actually feeding a starving person, every time I read a meditation to him. I never saw a heart so hungry as Matt’s and I pray that God will continue to strengthen and secure him in his faith. 

Jesus said that those who hunger and thirst for His righteousness will be filled. Based on Jesus’ promise, we can expect that people like Matt will be filled and find satisfaction in Christ, both in this present life and for all eternity. 

They already decreased his medication for depression, which I take as a sign of his recovery. I pray for the healing of his heart failure, for a successful cataract surgery one day, and that his soul will always find the peace and satisfaction that comes through Jesus Christ. May we all stay as hungry as he is, and find all of our satisfaction in Christ.

Lord, we pray for all the hungry hearts, who will find true peace through you. Help us to stay hungry and shine your light that leads others to that endless fountain of your love and mercy. Amen

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

Some problems seem unsolvable, until someone comes along who has been through the same thing, and tells us it will get better. Whether it’s a kind word or a kind action, it certainly lifts our spirit. Every random act of kindness makes the world a better place, and words of encouragement have a positive impact, leaving a mark on someone’s life. 

This week my friend from Israel called to vent his frustration while his condominium building is still under construction. Most residents have moved out during the remodeling project, but my friend, Larry, cannot move out. He is 72, and has been handicapped for most of his life, with a weak arm and leg. He chose to tough it out during the inconvenient construction period, but it’s definitely beginning to stress him out. 

During our phone call, Larry also told me about a water filter technician, named Tomer, who came to his house to switch out his water filter system for a more updated one.  Tomer observed the chaos that  Larry is living in, and how he is barely able to venture outside or go to synagogue, which he used to do every Friday evening for Sabbath. 

After Tomer finished switching out the water filter equipment, he returned shortly afterward, with a large container of prepared meals for Larry to celebrate the sabbath with. It was enough food for two days. Since Larry is so isolated and shut in, that was an incredible blessing to receive from a total stranger. Tomer’s kindness to Larry, was totally unexpected and left a mark on him. 

In Israel, it’s called a “mitzvah,” meaning a good deed. I told Larry that maybe God is trying to tell him something through Tomer, that “Things are going to get better.”

Kind people like Tomer give us hope that there is still good in the world. I  believe it is God who inspires people to do random acts of kindness for total strangers. They leave their mark on others, by saying or doing something that encourages and lifts their spirit.

Stephen Colbert, in a recent YouTube interview, shared how he was influenced by some random acts of kindness, in his personal journey of faith. There was a pivotal moment in his life when he was struggling with his faith in God, after graduating from college. He was unsure of anything he ever once believed, though raised in a Catholic family, as one of 11 children. His father and two brothers were tragically killed in an airline crash when he was only ten, but his mother never departed from her faith and was always a strong Christian example to her family.

One day, he was given a Bible by the Bereans on the streets of Chicago. He was working in the city, at his first job after graduating, but considered himself an agnostic. He randomly opened that bible the Bereans gave him, to a page where Jesus talked about not being “anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself”. Somehow, those words spoke deep within his heart about his own anxieties and Stephen began to find his way back to faith in Christ. Not long afterward, he lost that bible. 

One day, he was riding public transportation to his job, and a young woman sat next to him on the bus, and began reading her bible. Stephen couldn’t hold back and said to her, “I once had a bible just like that, but I lost it.” The woman smiled and said, “Here, take mine.” She gave him her bible, without a second thought. He never even asked her name, but to this day, over 40 years later, Stephen Colbert still has that woman’s bible, filled with all her hand written notes in the margins. Today, he fully embraces his Christian faith with no hesitations. 

I found that story so touching, which shows how a total stranger can randomly leave their mark of encouragement on someone else. Every mark of encouragement we leave, reaps a heavenly reward. In the midst of all the chaos in the world, we are still called to build people up, one person at a time. If the angels rejoice in heaven over one soul who finds their way back to God, then any mark we leave, is of immeasurable value. 

We may unknowingly say or do things that leave our mark on someone else’s life. If we try to see a person through God’s lens, instead of through a political lens, or labeling them into groups of us against them, good things begin to happen. Jesus saw people as individuals, not Jews, gentiles, Samaritans, pious believers or sinners. He wanted to encourage and build up the faith of anyone who faltered.  We leave a mark by letting someone know that whatever trouble or doubts we have, it will get better when we put our faith in God.  

Lord, help us to do and say whatever may lift the spirits of others we meet, so that we can leave a mark for your glory, upon someone who needs it today. Amen

“Wherever you go I will go,

wherever you lodge I will lodge.

Your people shall be my people

and your God, my God.

Where you die I will die.”

Ruth 1:16-17 (NAB)

The words in this verse were spoken by Ruth to her mother in law, Naomi, but it’s also a popular scripture verse used at wedding ceremonies. They are words of love and loyalty, revealing Ruth’s commitment and devotion to Naomi, after they all suffered a family tragedy. 

In Hebrew culture a name can define a person’s character. The name Naomi, means sweet or pleasant. Naomi’s life was sweet and pleasant until the day her husband died suddenly, leaving her with her two sons. After her two sons grew to adulthood and married, they both died suddenly as well. The scriptures never reveal how her husband and sons died, only that Naomi was left with no one, except her two widowed daughters in law, without any grandchildren. 

In her grief, Naomi thought that the Lord was punishing her, and she even told someone to call her Mara, which means bitter, instead of Naomi, meaning sweet. She said farewell to her daughters in law, Ruth and Orpah, assuming they would want to return to their home towns, to remarry and begin new lives.

Naomi prepared to relocate to Bethlehem, where she had relatives who would care for her, since that was the headquarters for her tribe of Judah. There were no government aid programs in ancient Israel to support aging widows who were without family, so the custom was for the nearest blood relative to take her in and care for her. 

As Naomi departed, Orpah kissed her goodbye and left, but Ruth just clung to her. Naomi tried to send her away, but Ruth was determined to stay with her, vowing to go wherever she goes. Sometimes in the most broken moments of life, God sends someone special to be at our side during our grief. It’s as if God is loving us through them, and to say that He is still with us. Ruth was that person for Naomi. 

Ruth stayed at Naomi’s side, all the way to Bethlehem, and she went to work in a large harvest field, along with other young women in the town. Ruth was a Moabite and an outsider among the Hebrew population, but she quickly won the respect of others, especially one of Naomi’s blood relatives, named Boaz. 

According to custom, a young widow was often matched with an available male relative, referred to as the “kinsman redeemer.” Boaz was  impressed with Ruth, because of her loyalty to Naomi, and if we let our imagination enhance the story, he probably fell in love with her. Ruth was surprised to learn that Boaz was not only a blood relative from Naomi’s tribe, but the owner of the large wheat field that she worked in. Boaz, the kinsman redeemer ended up marrying Ruth, which was like a shower of blessing and healing for both women.

Boaz and Ruth were married, becoming Naomi’s newest family. They had a baby boy named Obed, making Naomi a proud grandmother. Obed grew up and became the grandfather of King David, and was also part of the ancestry of Jesus. Naomi found a new era of sweetness through her new family life, with Ruth, Boaz and baby Obed. 

Sometimes the greatest lessons of hope come after the most tragic losses. The story of Naomi and Ruth is a story that many can relate to, in any type of loss. God teaches us that He is the only one who can restore our hope and joy, and turn the bitter into sweet.

Jesus is like our kinsman redeemer who owns the field we toil and live in every day of our lives. He clings to us and we cling to Him, as He stays with us through both the bitter and the sweet times. He wants to bring a new era into our lives, of blessing, security, love, family and church community. 

Lord, we pray that you will turn all  the bitter into sweet. By faith, we cling to you, as you lead us into a new era of many blessings. Amen

“When they heard the sound of the Lord God walking about in the garden at the breezy time of the day, the man and his wife hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

The Lord God then called to the man and asked him: Where are you?

He answered, “I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid.”

Genesis 3:8-10 (NAB)

When we go all the way back to Genesis, we learn that God was very  interactive and personal with Adam and Eve. He walked with them in the garden, and talked with them like a friend or a father. They were blessed to have the Lord of the universe so tangible and real in their daily lives. They heard God walking in the garden, on the day they ate the forbidden fruit, but their sense of shame made them run away and hide from Him. 

Since God is a Spirit, invisible to us, the person walking in the garden, is considered to be a Christophany, according to Christian scholars of the bible. This would mean it was a pre-incarnate visit by Jesus. There were a few other pre-incarnate appearances of Jesus in the Old Testament. One was when He appeared to Joshua. Another was when a mysterious fourth man appeared in the fiery furnace, along with the three Hebrew boys. 

Though Adam and Eve were hiding in  shame, God still pursued them. He doesn’t wait for us to come out of hiding, but rather finds a way to go wherever we are hiding and call us back into relationship with Him. God knew exactly where they were, and yet He asked “Where are you?” 

I believe that God still asks that same question within every human soul today. Whatever our problems, pains, doubts or failures are, God is asking, “Where are you?” He calls us to return to Him when we are overwhelmed with depression, discouragement or the distractions of busy living, all of which can cause us to wander away from God. If we start to lose our direction or our hope, Jesus walks over to the place where we are, and invites us to cling to Him for renewed strength. 

After my late husband died, I was spiritually depleted during my year as a caregiver, leading up to his passing. I had not been to church for many months, and I was in a strange place spiritually, not quite sure who I was in God’s eyes. I recall feeling physically, emotionally and spiritually exhausted. 

One day, while listening to a CD of Christian music, I felt a nudging of the Holy Spirit, within me. It was as if a presence with a non-audible voice was calling me, with four simple words, “I want you back.” I knew it was Jesus, because He has a way of always calling us back to Him. He once said, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He sees when our weariness and burdens cause us to lose direction. 

Jesus is the person who called Adam and Eve in the garden, by asking “Where are you?  He is still calling all souls to come to Him instead of staying in a hiding place. God sent His son, not only to redeem and save the world, but to restore the intimacy in our relationship with Him. 

If I learned anything through those difficult months, it’s that God desires to establish the same intimacy He once had in the very beginning, in the garden.

Scripture refers to Jesus as the second Adam. The first Adam taught us to hide from God in fear or shame, but the second Adam, Jesus, draws us back to God, just as we are, and then transforms us into His sons and daughters by dwelling in us. 

Jesus called Himself the bread from heaven that gives life to the world. He said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” (John 6:35)

We are spiritually malnourished people until Jesus lives in us and we live in Him. His Spirit is still calling every soul on earth, asking the same question that began in Genesis, “Where are you? I want you back.”

Lord, we believe that you are calling us and we bring all our sorrows and disappointments to you, instead of hiding them. We ask you to heal and restore us, that we may continue in an intimate friendship with you. Amen

“If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

Revelation 3:20 (ESV)

Music is a form of therapy for the soul, that extends beyond words,  inspiring a more cheerful and peaceful heart. It’s the oldest gift, since from ancient times, every culture on earth used music as a bridge of expression to unite heaven and earth. Scripture tells us that there is music in heaven, and God gave musical talent to people who have since blessed generations with their music. Here are some statements made by famous musicians, of what music meant to them:

Johann Sebastian Bach-“I play the notes as they are written but it is God who makes the music.”

Paul McCartney- “Music is the only common thread that has maintained its power throughout the ages.”

Bob Marley-“One good thing about music, when it hits, you feel no pain.”

Bono-“Music can change the world because it can change people.”

Billy Joel-“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity.”

All those quotes are true, regardless of what kind of music it is. I love all kinds of music. One day last week, I heard an old Irish hymn being sung by a choir on a Christian TV show. I’ve heard the song before but didn’t know the name of the hymn. While listening to it, I quickly placed my phone by the TV and asked Siri “What song is this?” Siri kept saying, “Hmm, I don’t recognize this song.” 

I got so frustrated that Siri’s search abilities are so limited in the genre of  Christian songs and hymns. I needed the title of that song in order to download it, so I prayed, “Holy Spirit and angels, you know the title of this song, so please help me find it.”

Then I searched on my phone for “Old Irish hymns.” A page popped up with the heading, “30 favorite Celtic hymns” all listed by title. I only knew the first line of the song, so I scrolled down the long list and the 13th song on the list, matched a line in the song. I clicked on it to listen and it was the exact song I was searching for. Thanks to the Holy Spirit and the musical expertise of angels, I found it, and then downloaded the song. 

I relaxed while listening to the song, whose title is “I heard the voice of Jesus say.”  As I read the history of the song, I was surprised to learn that it was not Irish, but was written by a Scottish pastor in 1846, whose name was Horatius Bonar. He wrote about 600 hymns in his lifetime. 

I also learned that “Celtic” is a title that applies to both Scottish and Irish. I’ve always found something very spiritual about Celtic music, with the unique sounds of their rare instruments, but more than anything, I love the lyrics in this particular song. 

All music has a therapeutic power of inner healing and deepening spiritual connections. Jesus told us if we hear His voice and open the door, He will come in and dine with us. When lyrics and melody come together like a marriage, something spiritual happens, and we can hear the voice of Jesus through any genre of music. It’s God’s oldest gift to mankind, and I thank Him for it. 

As we take time this week to find rest from a world of stress, we should remember we’ve been given the gift of music. Peace in the world begins with one individual heart at a time. The voice of Jesus, subtly heard in a melody or lyrics of a song, brings us His peace. He is politely knocking on the door of every human heart, waiting patiently for the door to open, and let Him in.

Lord, help us to embrace the gift of music, in hearing your voice that brings us rest and peace, and we pray for the conversion of all souls to hear what you say and open their doors to you. Amen

(The old Celtic hymn)

I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say (Tune: Kingsfold – 3vv) [with lyrics for congregations] – YouTube

“A cheerful heart is a good medicine,

but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.”

Proverbs 17:22 (RSV)

Here is a science we can all love: 

Ten minutes of hearty belly laughter equals 30 minutes of rowing a boat. 

I don’t know about anyone else, but I’d rather laugh than row. To be clear, no one is recommending we replace an exercise workout with laughter, but it will fire up our abs and get our endorphins flowing. It’s pretty much common sense, that if our mood is good, we can do everything better.

Laughter improves our mental health by reducing the production of the stress hormone, Cortisol. Deep belly laughter is also like a mini abdominal workout. Hearty laughter triggers the release of endorphins, which are the body’s feel good hormones, which reduces pain perception and boosts the immune system, all of which contributes to an overall sense of wellness. Human babies will laugh long before they can ever speak. That’s something to think about.

In a particular research study, one patient who lives with chronic pain, found that 10 minutes of genuine hearty laughter allowed him two hours of pain free sleep, where he previously was in continual pain. Laughter is now scientifically linked to better pain tolerance. 

A polite chuckle at a lame joke will not suffice, because this research refers to deep belly laughs that leave you gasping for air and wiping tears from your eyes. When we laugh, our bodies go through a complex combination of muscle contractions and respiratory changes, which afterward, acts as a medicine for the mind, body and spirit.

We are currently living in a stressful, confusing and very divided society. We are constantly bombarded with news of violence and tragedy. Too much bad news leads to a downcast spirit, as described in today’s scripture. While we remain proactive by praying, we also need to know when to walk away from too much negativity and find a way to lighten up our spirits. Both scripture and science tells us that whatever makes us laugh is like medicine and whatever brings us joy, can also bring healing

The other day I was walking my dog and my neighbor was walking hers. We stopped to chat, and I asked how her husband was doing after his medical procedure, and she asked me how my son was doing. She was going through a tough period as a caregiver. As I listened to her, I could relate and sympathize as she vented some of her frustrations.

While we were talking about everything, her Border Collie started circling me until his leash had me completely corralled. He wound his leash around my legs like a Barber shop pole, so that I couldn’t move. I’ve heard that it’s the nature of Border Collies to corral people and other animals. As we tried to unwind his leash from around my legs, the whole scene suddenly looked like a slapstick comedy, and we both burst into laughter. 

Afterward, I realized that we both experienced a medicinal moment. My neighbor and I both live with some type of stress, as do most people. Her dog provided a brief moment of hearty laughter for us, which was like a dose of medicine, causing our endorphins to flow. 

Animals don’t overthink good news or bad news, they just live moment by moment for life’s simple joys. If animals can teach us anything, it’s to lighten up and just laugh. Instead of permitting the bad news in the world to dry up our bones, and leave us downcast, we can pursue a cheerful heart that does our body, mind and spirit good, like a medicine.

Lord, help us to maintain cheerful hearts, while we keep offering our prayers to heaven. Help us discover the medicine of laughter by focusing on the simple joys in life. Amen

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:14 (RSV)

Every journey in Christ begins with sincere prayers and a heart that is ever changing according to God’s upward calling. Our response to the upward call of God is a life long one. When we think about it, God has kept each one of us under His wing of protection in order to bring us this far, at this precise time for whatever His divine purpose is in our lives. 

There is so much that we have no control over in this world, but we can always control our attitude. 

St. Augustine said “If you aspire to great things, begin with the little things.” If the intent of our heart is to seek God’s will, and our attitude is to pursuit His upward call, then that attitude is the little thing that we can begin with. 

When I was 20 years old, I visited a church and there was a woman there, a widow in her sixties, named Leona. She was a long time parishioner, who greeted and spoke to every visitor, long before official “Greeters” were assigned to do so. She radiated with warmth and an unforgettable presence, as if she just came down from the same mountain that Moses did, when his face was so radiant that others were afraid to look at him. 

Leona had that same “other world”kind of glow, and when she looked into my eyes, I knew she was looking into my soul. She radiated the presence of God in a way that left me impressed by both her holiness, and God’s love. She was blessed with many spiritual gifts, and she used them freely to impart words of wisdom to people, in whatever way she felt led. I will never forget how her face literally glowed.

Leona spoke to me one day, with a simple message about God wanting to take more precedence in my life. It was both frightening and awesome, but afterward I had no doubt that the Spirit of God was speaking to me, while revealing His love through her. She inspired me to pursue a deeper kind of faith, instead of settling for good enough. Leona went on to be with the Lord in 2001, at the age of 88, but the memory of her radiant love and wisdom still remains with me. 

There is an upward call of God to all believers, to give ourselves to God in pursuit of whatever heavenly goal lies ahead for us. It’s easy to see so much turmoil and chaos in the world, but we must remember to keep raising our eyes upward to God, to listen to His words. 

God’s upward call is to people of all nations, saying;

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

(2 Chronicles 7:14)

We are called by His name and our land definitely needs healing of its wicked ways, so we embrace God’s words, seek humility, and pray for healing. Meanwhile, we continue to find inner peace by taking refuge in Him, as we press on toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Lord, thank you for keeping us safe in these present times, so that we may fulfill our purpose and calling. Help us to keep looking upward, to seek humility and pray for the healing of our nation. Amen

Leona’s son is a well known Christian artist today. One of Ron Dicianni’s many paintings is shown below.

“But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.”

Luke 10:33-34 (NIV)

I remember as a child, watching a TV show, with my grandmother, which was her favorite show. It was kind of a hybrid between a game show and a reality show that aired until 1964, and was called “Queen for a day.” If any readers are old enough, they might remember it. 

Each contestant was asked to describe their pitiful situation of hardship, whether financial, emotional or a health problem. Some had a need for medical equipment for themselves or their chronically ill child. Others might have needed a hearing aid, a new washing machine, or a refrigerator.

Strange as it seemed to me, my grandmother loved watching as each woman described her dilemma with intense emotion. After each of the contestants told their sad stories, a live audience voted with applause. The woman who received the most applause was crowned Queen for a day. Besides a crown, she received many prizes based on her story and particular needs. It was a reality show long before reality shows ever existed. 

If I could rewrite that show today, I would have the contestants be good Samaritans who helped someone overcome their misfortune, and get back on their feet again. It wouldn’t be about prizes and gifts, but rather recognizing stories of kindness and voting for the best example, by crowning someone Queen or King for a day. I’m sure Jesus would have voted for the Good Samaritan in His own gospel story.

Whether Jesus knew that good Samaritan in real life, or told a fictional story to make a point, it’s clear that He thought very highly of what the Samaritan did. Not only did he bandage the man’s wounds but he carried him to a nearby inn and paid for his stay, to rest and recuperate. 

We all know real life stories of good people like that Samaritan, who go the extra mile to help someone. I know good Samaritans who help people every week, giving their time and resources to help those who are struggling with a dilemma of some kind. 

I remember a true story about a homeless man, named Bugsy, who I once wrote about in a meditation last year. He lived in a brick bus shelter on a street corner in Chicago for many years. I spoke with him a few times and once bought him a few pairs of sweat pants. I don’t live in that area and only pass by once in a while. I was happy to learn that many people got to know him and helped him out in different ways.

Bugsy was different from other homeless people, because he never held a sign, or stood in the street begging. In fact, he never asked anyone for anything. He had a limp and a cane, but cheerfully lived in his bus shelter home. I once asked him if he’d be better off in a homeless shelter and he smiled saying, 

“This is my home.” Many people befriended Bugsy and regularly stopped by, to give him money, because of his pleasant demeanor. 

One day, last winter, I drove by and the bus shelter was completely empty, with no sign of Bugsy or his belongings. I was concerned and wanted to find out what happened, so I decided to google, “Where is the homeless man who lives in the bus shelter on Cumberland and Forest Preserve drive?” A link popped up which led me to a neighborhood Facebook site. 

Many people in the neighborhood were posting comments, asking the same question that I asked. One person who knew what happened , finally answered. They said that a good Samaritan brought him to a motel and paid for him to stay there during the arctic cold days of winter. Bugsy must have been very ill, because when they later inquired about him, the police confirmed that Bugsy died in that motel room.

It made me very sad to think of Bugsy dying alone, without getting the medical care he needed, but I was also thankful that there are good Samaritans today, still doing what Jesus so admired. 

God bless Bugsy, and that modern day good Samaritan, whether it was a man or a woman, he or she will receive a crown in heaven one day. 

Lord, open our eyes and our hearts to see how we can do our part to help others, as good Samaritans today. Amen