Kissed by the Spirit

“After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”

Acts 1:3 (NIV)

Jesus fasted and was tempted in the desert for 40 days, but on day 41, the devil departed from Him. He appeared to many people after His resurrection, over a period of forty days, and then He ascended back into Heaven.  The early church was formed on that 41st day, when Jesus left this world, entrusting His church to spread the good news about Him. 

Forty is a pretty special number throughout scripture. It represents a time of testing or suffering. I have always been fascinated by God’s choice and use of numbers, and after 40, comes the number 41, representing hope realized. 

The number 40 is repeated throughout the old and new Testaments. In the days of Noah, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights, but on day 41, the rain stopped and a rainbow appeared. Moses left the Egyptian palace in fear, living as a shepherd in the land of Midian for 40 years, but in the 41st year, he was called to lead the Israelites out of slavery. Moses spent 40 days on top of Mount Sinai overshadowed with fire, smoke and lightning, but on day 41, he came down from the mountain bringing with him the ten Commandments.

Goliath taunted Israel for 40 days, but on day 41 he was slain by David. Jonah preached a message of repentance to the people of Nineveh for 40 days, and on day 41, the entire city believed and was saved. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, but in year 41, they finally entered their Promised Land.

There are so many other bible stories involving the number 40, there isn’t room to write about it. 

The number 40 may represent a time of testing and trials, but it also has a deeper meaning that sends a message of hope to us through all these examples, saying, 

“Don’t give up, 41 is coming!”

It’s a number that reminds us to never stop believing, never give up hope, and to keep our eyes on Jesus, instead of our dilemma, because He always has a word of encouragement for us in the midst of our fiery trials and storms. 

The giants will fall, the rainstorm will stop, the devil will flee, the lost will be found, and God will lead us out of our desert and into the promised land. However bleak the world appears at times, we know that 41 is coming. Our living hope is Jesus, and just as He left this world on the 40th day after His resurrection, He is coming back again in the same way.

Lord, because you live, we live also. Renew our hope so that whatever we go through, we may know that you meant for us to be over comers, through your peace, love and joy. Amen

“Jesus said to him, “Everything is possible to one who has faith.” 

Then the boy’s father cried out, 

“I do believe, help my unbelief!”

Mark 9:23-24 (NAB)

Faith is knowing that everything is in God’s hands, even when things seem to be getting worse. As our faith weakens, it’s okay to come honestly to Jesus and say, 

“Lord, help me in my unbelief.” 

Those were the words of the father of a demon possessed boy. He barely had faith to believe that his son could be delivered, but He came to the right person. Every miracle begins by coming to the right person, who is Jesus. 

When the father of that boy heard Jesus say, “anything is possible to the one who believes”, he figured that excluded him. He had very little hope, but a lot of honesty, when he said to Jesus, “Help me in my unbelief.” 

It’s easy to get the impression that Jesus only responds to people of great faith. He praised the Centurion who said “Only say the word, Lord.” He was impressed by the woman who said “If I can just touch the fringe of His garment.” 

He highlighted the example of the gentile woman who humbly persisted in faith, saying, “Even a dog can receive the crumbs that fall from the table”. 

There’s no doubt that the Lord responds to great faith, but He also responds to great honesty. Jesus was touched by that desperate father’s honest plea, “Help me in my unbelief, Lord.” Jesus is looking for an intimate relationship with us, and intimacy requires honesty. Scripture shows us that God loves a heart open to Him in truthfulness.

Jesus wanted to help those who were struggling to believe that He had truly risen on that third day. He made an effort to convince His disciples that His body was risen, and He wasn’t merely a ghost or a spirit. He asked for something to eat and ate food in front of them. He showed them His scars and His wounded side. 

He went as far as to offer all of the disciples, not just Thomas, to touch Him and feel His scars, saying, 

“It is I, myself. Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 

(Luke 24:39)  

God is patient with everyone who is struggling to believe for something. He was patient with the father in this story, He was patient with His disciples, and He is equally patient with us today. He doesn’t expect us to fake it and pretend we believe, or to walk away in unbelief. We learn from the father in this story that there is a third option, to ask Jesus to help us in our unbelief. 

I don’t always have confident faith and assurance when I pray for my son, Jon. I frequently need to ask for help in my own unbelief. Then I try to visualize Jesus’ nail scarred hands extended towards me, telling me to touch Him and see. He never scoffs at us in our doubts. What a comfort it is to have a Savior, who accepts and loves us as we are. 

As we recall God’s unconditional, relentless love for humanity, and all the various levels of faith among His believers, we can almost hear Him saying to us today, 

“Touch Me and see how much I love you.”

Lord, whatever level our faith is at, help us to remain intimate and honest with you, as you help us in times of unbelief. As we touch you by faith, draw us closer and deeper in devotion to you. Amen

“But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

Psalm 86:15 (NIV)

Mostly every prophet in the Old Testament speaks of a gracious and slow to anger God, who does not forsake us, even when His people behave in arrogance and unbelief. Nehemiah describes His people as stiff-necked and rebellious, and yet God is forgiving, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love, who never deserted them.(Nehemiah 9:17) 

David described a loving God who forgives the arrogant and shows abundant mercy to the morally fallen or faithless. David simply wrote about what he himself experienced, after falling into sin, and later repenting and receiving God’s abundant mercy. 

Zechariah foretold of a fountain of mercy that would come to all people through the house of David and cleanse them from sin. Jesus, a descendant of David, is that fountain of mercy, forever. 

Isaiah said that although our sins are red as scarlet, they shall be white as snow. (Isaiah 1:18)

What kind of a God so patiently pursues people, to cleanse and restore them, despite their flaws and faithless moments?

The answer is: a God who is worthy for us to entrust every part of ourself to Him. 

I recently heard a true story about someone who experienced this kind of mercy and forgiveness. I am a super fan of the Chosen movie series, and recently heard a TV interview with the actor, Nick Shakour, who plays the role of Zebedee, the father of James and John, in the Chosen movie series. 

Nick was chosen for the role before he was a believer. He grew up in Lebanon, the grandson of a Greek Orthodox priest, but over the years of tragedy and loss that he and his family witnessed in that war torn country, he grew bitter and angry, eventually losing his faith in God. 

The day Nick accepted the role as Zebedee, for the faith based movie series, he told God, “I am going to do this, but I really don’t believe you exist.” We might expect that God would reject or turn away from someone who spoke that way to Him, but God is faithful even when we are faithless.  (2 Timothy 2:13)

God isn’t thin skinned or easily driven away by the arrogance and unbelief of people. He knows everyone’s personal story and has relentless love and patience beyond our comprehension, and He never stops pursuing them. 

There were two construction crew workers on the movie set of the Chosen, who were Christians and felt strongly led by the Holy Spirit to approach Nick one day and invite him to a big prayer meeting event. Nick was reluctant, but he went, just to please his coworker friends, yet he expected to react with cynicism.

At that prayer conference, people who Nick never knew or saw before, came up to him and laid hands on him to pray. He felt a compelling and powerful presence of the Holy Spirit working deep within him. He started to feel an urge to release the anger that had controlled him for so long. He gave up his anger by surrendering his life to Christ at that prayer event.

In that moment, Nick had a personal encounter with Jesus, realizing how much God, his Father, has always loved him, and he was totally changed from that day onward. Nick now has a hunger to spend as much time with Jesus as possible. He shares his story on various Christian TV shows. His life has changed so dramatically that he holds back tears whenever he shares his story. 

Nick is just one example of millions of people who have come to know a God of relentless mercy, patience, love and forgiveness. We serve a God who is forever faithful, even if we are faithless. 

Lord, thank you for being such a merciful, loving and ever faithful God. Give us more of your love and patience and change the hearts of our friends and relatives who are not believers, so that they may also know your mercy. Amen 

“When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

Judges 6:12 (NIV)

I often ask God to give me a sign that He is with me, that all will be okay, when I have to undertake a difficult task, a new responsibility, or have a new medical procedure to go through. Asking for a sign doesn’t indicate lack of faith. 

God doesn’t have an ego that gets bruised if we ask for a sign. A sign may even increase our faith. So I looked at what scripture teaches on the subject. 

The book of Judges was during a time period when the Israelite tribes were severely impoverished by the Midianites. They were destroying their crops, season after season, reducing them to utter poverty, until the Israelites cried out to God for help. God heard their cry and sent an angel to call the man He chose to lead Israel to victory over their oppressors. 

The angel appeared to a young man named Gideon, and greeted him, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” At that moment, Gideon was in the middle of threshing wheat for his family. He never considered himself mighty, much less a warrior, and was alarmed to be addressed as such. Gideon  considered himself to be a nobody. He was from the poorest of families, being the least promising one in his family, and was from the half tribe of Manasseh, the least among the tribes of Israel. 

Yet, the Lord said to Gideon, “Go with the strength you have, and save Israel from the power of Midian. Is it not I who send you?”

(Judges 6:14) 

Since Gideon was still insecure, he asked God to give him a sign, that He would be with him to accomplish the task. To make a long story short, God gave Gideon a sign, which involved instantly wetting a fleece that was dry, and then instantly drying it when it was wet. 

Gideon felt confident with the sign God sent through the fleeces. He gathered a few hundred brave men and defeated the massive Midianite army of thousands. I decided that if God was willing to send a sign to Gideon, in His great compassion, He may also give us a sign if we ask for it. So I asked.

Prior to a scheduled epidural steroid injection in my spine for  sciatic pain, I asked friends to pray for a successful injection, and I also prayed for God to give wisdom and skill to the neuroradiologist who gives the injection. 

On the day of the injection, I thought of other times that God gave me signs. Recalling the story of Gideon, I believed that He could and would give me a sign. Before I left the house I said, “Lord, I ask for a sign that you are with me in this procedure, but even without a sign, I trust you anyway.”  

While sitting in the waiting room of the department, watching patients being called into a room one by one, by different X-ray techs, I wondered if I would see anyone I know, since I’ve been retired for two years, and from a totally different department. 

Finally, my name was called by an  X-ray tech who was assigned to prepare me for the procedure. I looked up and it was Mohammad, someone I had worked with in the operating room for over 20 years. We were pleasantly surprised to see each other and met with a hug. 

Of all the people who did X-rays in the operating room, there was not a person of more exceptional moral character, decency and kindness, than Mohammad. He is such a good man, that I used to be moved by maternal instinct, to pray that God would send him a wife. 

In realizing how God’s perfect timing lined me up on the exact day, at the precise time, with him, who was sent to prepare me for my injection, I knew in my heart, this was the sign from God that He is with me. 

Any other X- ray tech would have been capable, but it would not have been a sign from God. The Lord sent Mohammad, who I not only knew and worked with for many years, but someone whose character I always admired. That was my sign. 

God is with us whether we get a sign or not, but when He sends us a sign, it’s a gift. His signs usually involve people, timing and places that all come together at a special moment, if we are aware of it. My  pain is already decreased and I am having better nights of sleep without pain. 

As we pray and trust, like Gideon, we go in the strength we have, and God is always with us. He will walk with us through any task, and since He is a good Father, He always hears us and gives His children the sign we need, when we ask for it. 

Lord, help us to see ourselves as you see us. Give us a sign so we  be mighty warriors through our prayer, faith, acts of kindness and in reflecting your love to others.

Amen 

“How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?

If I forget you, O Jerusalem,

let my right hand wither!”

Psalm 137:4-5 (NAB)

Jerusalem is known as the city of David. There is an ancient fortress that overlooks Jerusalem, called the Tower of David. It’s a famous ancient tower that stands tall across the landscape of the city. It’s like a reminder of God, who is a hope and a refuge to all who trust Him. 

David’s tower in Jerusalem has always been a symbol of strength and refuge for the Jewish people. David wrote multiple poems and  songs about Jerusalem. He inspired the Jewish people for 3,000 years, to long for and focus on that holy city. Along with the famous tower, it always was, is now and will always be, a symbol of hope in God. 

The Israelites were known for their  vibrant songs and melodies, filled with contagious joy, inspiring everyone to rise up and start dancing. Their songs, originally written by David in the Psalms, were also enjoyed by people of the surrounding nations. This is why, when the Israelites were taken captive to Babylon, their captors said, “Sing us the joyful songs of Zion!” but they sadly responded, “How can we sing in a foreign land?” 

While being held captive in Babylon, they became depressed and lost their desire to sing the joyful songs they were known for. Instead of singing, they wept all day long, being so far away from their beloved Jerusalem. 

Babylon and Jerusalem can represent more than geographical places. They could be metaphors for two states of mind. Babylon represents a mind that is held captive by something, dwelling in a foreign land, and not what God intended. Someone might be held captive by worry, anxiety, depression or the inability to forgive someone. There is no desire for singing, because they feel misplaced. Once we see Babylon and Jerusalem as spiritual states of mind, we can leave the foreign land of Babylon and head back to Jerusalem where we belong.

The scripture says that we must never forget Jerusalem, because it represents the mindset of being a child of God, knowing our Heavenly Father loves us. 

A Jerusalem state of mind liberates us from all kinds of captivity. It is beyond geography, but rather a place where we can re-center our identity and hope in God, and be set free by Jesus. 

In Jerusalem, we let the words of Jesus bring us new hope. He spoke about the freedom that He offers us in John 8:32, 36.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Jerusalem is a state of mind, embracing the promises of Jesus, to be free indeed. His promises are for anyone who craves freedom, who is spiritually hungry and willing to believe His words. Jesus knew that everyone was worth dying for, and He still overwhelms us with His love. By believing the words of the One who loves us most, we are set free.

To leave Babylon and live in a Jerusalem state of mind, is to see the grace and love continually flowing down the hill of Calvary, from where the cross once stood. Through the empty tomb, His same resurrection power reaches us wherever we are. Those areas of our mind, soul or spirit that are held captive, are touched by His blood, and His Spirit raises us into a new mindset of joy and peace.

In a Jerusalem state of mind, we focus on the spiritual tower of David. That tower stands tall in every view of the Jerusalem landscape. For me, it represents Jesus, who is our strong refuge and fortress. We are His people, set free by the power of His blood and resurrection. We no longer have to live in the captivity of Babylon. We have been set free and Jesus made it all possible. 

Paul reaffirms this by saying, 

“In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” The love of God in Jesus Christ, has actually made us conquerors. (Romans 8:37)

Lord, thank you for seeing such great worth in each of us. Remind us to seek a Jerusalem state of mind, freeing us from all captivity, and renew us by your everlasting love and grace. Amen

Tower of David

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

Gratitude is acknowledging the goodness of God in all situations.  It’s very challenging to maintain an attitude of gratitude when difficult things happen. Brain science studies have found that gratitude affects our brain chemicals, and studies show that feeling gratitude activates key regions of our brain, which process feelings of being rewarded. Everyone wants to feel a sense of reward, and gratitude is the key. 

The Bible agrees with science on this, because there are hundreds of scriptures in the Old and New Testament, that teach us to be thankful in all circumstances and to enter His courts with praise, which is the will of God for us. 

There is a difference in thinking grateful thoughts and speaking those thoughts. Entering His courts with praise, implies using words to show our gratitude to God. It also means speaking to ourselves and to others about the goodness of God. Gratitude is meant to be expressed, and it’s a language that changes all of us for the better. Both science and scripture reveals the same truth, which leads to the conclusion that practicing gratitude is the key to peace of mind and contentment.

Practicing gratitude is even more beneficial than winning the lottery. When I lived in Waukegan, Illinois,  in the late 1980’s, I knew a man who actually won $1 million dollars by playing the lottery. I was so happy for him, but his response was surprisingly somber, and he flatly answered, “It’s not enough.” 

Wow, his negative response really shocked me. Wealth does not change someone’s brain chemistry, but gratitude does. 

Paul tells us to give thanks in all circumstances, in both good times and bad. This scripture is relevant in my life recently since in the past few months, I’ve developed sciatic pain from spinal stenosis.  I never had a spine problem until this year. I finished eight weeks of physical therapy, and felt better, but a few months later, my pain worsened. At about the same time, I developed foggy vision in my left eye which was diagnosed as corneal edema. I’ve been healthy my whole life, but lately, I’m walking in pain and seeing through a fog. I now notice other people who appear to be walking in pain. It’s definitely made me more empathetic towards others. 

I found that it takes an intentional effort to speak words of gratitude. I am reshaping my thinking and taking control of my words, as I choose gratitude, in order to develop a brain chemistry for a sense of contentment. Our victory will be won by our faith, but to live by faith, we need to practice the language of gratitude. 

I found it helps to take my eyes off of my problems and focus on the good things God is doing. I do this by listening to other people’s stories of healing, grace and mercy. It soon reminds me of the grace and mercy I experienced at different stages in my own life. By listening to other people’s stories of miraculous protection, healing or blessing, it brings my own good memories to the surface, and hope rises within like a healing balm.

Jesus healed people 2,000 years ago, and He still does today. There are many testimonies of answered prayers, healing and deliverance on Christian media sources, in radio, internet, TV programs and publications. Jesus told us to ask, seek and knock, so we never give up. We need to live with the healthy balance of gratitude, hope and faith, yet keep that Jesus perspective, by saying, “Thy will be done.” 

After a week of eyedrops and practicing the language of gratitude, the corneal swelling is gone, and my eye is getting better. I need to keep practicing the language of gratitude and take whatever the next step is to tackle my spine problem. 

My foggy vision seemed like a metaphor, that we are all walking by faith and seeing through a fog, since we don’t have answers to why some things happen in our lives. A day is coming when we will see everything clearly. We will see every good thing that God was doing all along, behind the scenes, for our eternal benefit.

We can trust in His love, and pray like Peter in Acts 4:30, “Stretch forth your hand to heal, with signs and wonders, done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

With words of thankfulness, we show God that we trust Him. We trust in what He is doing, that we cannot see. We trust that He promised to never leave us, and we trust that He has new mercies and blessings for us tomorrow. 

This is the language of gratitude, which God wants us to speak in all circumstances, which will transform the chemistry of our brain, and produce the peace that is beyond human understanding, sealed by our faith.

Lord, we praise you and ask that you help us to be thankful in all situations, to practice the language of gratitude through our words, which not only pleases you, but gives us peace through our faith. Amen

“In my distress I called to the Lord;

I cried to my God for help.

From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.”

Psalm 18:6 (NIV)

There are times when God sends a human being, who responds to our cries of frustration at the most needed time. That person may think they are just doing their job, or offering the least they can do to help, but it means the world to the person they are helping. That would be the definition of an earth angel, which is a term I first heard from a resident at the Nursing home. 

I encountered my own earth angel this week, when I recently applied for a new Cook County property tax relief fund, which is offered to residents whose property taxes increased 50% or more. It gives a resident the chance to receive $1,000 toward their property tax bill. After applying for the tax relief fund, I was invited to the second phase of the application process.

Everything was going smoothly as I answered the questions and submitted the documents, but then I received a response that the proof of residency submitted was older than 30 days. I quickly sent a more recent utility bill, but received the same robotic type response as if they never received the updated one. The only phone number given to ask questions, was one that only permits a voicemail with no option to speak to an actual human being. 

After leaving two voicemails with no answer, I muttered under my breath to the Lord that this whole process seemed hopeless, with no way to speak to a living person.  

I was in a mindset to give up and after dozing off on the couch at 4 pm in the afternoon, I was awoken  by a phone call from Cook County. 

A very kind, polite lady told me that I submitted the utility bill under the wrong section, so it could not be used as proof of residency. She explained that I needed to submit it to the right section to prove my residency.  

She was patient and kind enough to stay on the phone with me as I resubmitted the utility bill to the correct part of the application. She waited and confirmed that all was good and her gentle voice was so reassuring. It was like speaking to an angel instead of a  cold, disinterested government employee. I thanked God for hearing me and sending me an earth angel. 

Sometimes we face problems that get so frustrating, we feel ready to give up, but God sees our distress and our words come straight to His ears, as today’s Psalm describes. 

He sends compassionate human beings to meet our need. They think they are simply doing their job, but for the one who is helped, it means everything. 

I heard a true story this week of two young men who left their troubled countries in the Mideast, to seek asylum here. A teenager from Egypt who is a Coptic Christian came here seeking freedom of religion. He speaks only Arabic and after locating a Coptic Arabic church in a nearby suburb, he longed to go to church, but he had no driver’s license or car. 

The other young man was from Jordan, and he also spoke only Arabic, but he had a car and a driver’s license. He offered to take him to church. It may not sound like an unusual story, but the interesting thing is that the man from Jordan, who drove him to church, was a Moslem. 

It’s a story of showing a simple act of kindness to someone who is not within a group that one would most relate to. 

It’s heartwarming to see kindness shown by a person from one faith, to help a person of an opposite faith, by driving them to their house of worship. I would call that man an earth angel. 

God hears our cries, and He sends individuals to help another individual experience His lovingkindness. The grace of God sees people for who they are, not based on their title, label or their group identity.  Earth angels imitate that grace, not living in an “us verses them” mentality, but only seeking to show the love and kindness of God as they know it. Earth angels treat each person with human dignity.

Lord, inspire everyone to spread peace in the world  by imitating your grace, treating individuals with dignity, instead of thinking in labels or groups. Help us to be the earth angels you send to others. Amen

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”

Matthew 6:19-21 (NAB)

I retired two years ago, but I can never forget one special day a few months prior to my retirement. God brought three people into my path on the same day, as if to present them to me as three gifts.

They were all people who worked at the same hospital all the years that I did. One was a surgeon, except, instead of being with him in the usual surgical environment, we had the rare opportunity to talk when he wasn’t operating. We reminisced about people who we both worked with over the years, as well as funny situations that made us laugh. He asked me what I planned to do as I neared retirement and it was a brief yet rare moment to talk, in the busy atmosphere of a hospital. 

Right after that, I met up with a doctor from my department of Neuroscience, who I saw daily. 

He told me he just came from an upper management meeting to discuss future hiring in our department. The question arose whether to replace my position after I retire, and he told them, “Maria is not replaceable.” I laughed and thanked him for his kind words. 

The two conversations will always remain in my memory since they were such special people and I was blessed to have worked with them. 

As that work day ended, while I was walking out the door of the hospital, I recognized a man who has worked there as long as I had, but in a different department, who I rarely saw over the years. The interesting thing is that he and I shared a very unique connection.

He married his bride the same weekend as my wedding, which was my second marriage to Stephen in 2002. We both  coincidentally booked the same honeymoon cruise and were surprised to see each other aboard the cruise ship. Since then, we returned to the same workplace for all those years, working in different departments, and I hardly saw him much during  all those years. That day we were walking out of the hospital at the same time and greeted each other on the way to the parking garage. He told me that he and his wife of 21 years have five children. It was another rare interaction that brought back happy memories of my marriage, honeymoon cruise, and also Stephen’s passing from ALS. 

After we said goodbye and went to our cars, I thought about those three men, the conversations with each of them, and how they were like three gifts sent by God, that day. 

The chance to chat outside of surgery with a surgeon I always liked and respected, was one gift. The kind words of the best neurologist in my department was another gift. The man who I never saw much, but happened to be exiting the hospital that day, was like a metaphorical gift, representing all the memories stored up over the years at a workplace that I was soon to exit in retirement. 

We bring nothing with us when we leave this world except the love we give and receive from others. We are meant to store up lasting treasures, instead of perishable ones. The legacies that are most valued by God are not those carved on tombstones, but in the hearts of people we touch during our lives. I am thankful for the many people from inside and outside of my workplace whose legacies remain in my heart. 

Lord, thank you for the people you have brought into our lives who are a legacy to treasure. Make us a blessing to others which will last forever. Amen

“At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.” 

Luke 1:39-40 (NIV)

Faith in God is described as a valuable pearl in the gospels, and those we befriend who share our faith, are as valuable as the pearl of faith itself. We benefit in so many ways by having wise friends of faith, who know us, but also know the Lord. They not only share our faith, but also our joys and sorrows.

Mary shared a lifelong and special friendship with her older cousin, Elizabeth. They weren’t the kind of cousins who grew up as childhood playmates because of their age difference, but they shared a bond as women of faith, who loved and trusted God.

After her initial shock of a divine conception, Mary was so thrilled, she couldn’t wait to tell Elizabeth. She submitted to God’s plan, and was overflowing with joy, which is evident by her most lengthy response of praise in scripture, expressed in the first chapter of Luke. 

Imagine how Mary felt, having a visit from an angel, greeting her with “Hello favored one!” and then telling her that a conception has just taken place by the Holy Spirit within her womb. She was to be the mother of the long awaited, hoped for Messiah. Then Gabriel told her that Elizabeth had also conceived a child, though she was beyond child bearing age.

After receiving all this glorious news, Mary joyfully and quickly got ready to take a trip to visit Elizabeth. It would have been difficult to share news of a virgin conception with just anyone in those days, but Mary knew that if anyone would believe her, it was Elizabeth. 

So Mary traveled by donkey, 90 miles, to the hill country of a town called Ein Karem, where Elizabeth lived. We all know the story of how  Mary stepped into the house, and the baby in Elizabeth’s womb jumped for joy. These two women had a friendship that transcended all generational and geographical distances.

When Mary and Elizabeth finally reunited, they exchanged stories, and learned that the same angel, Gabriel, was sent to announce the birth of their miracle baby boys. What an amazing family with these two special women in it, who both became a part of God’s salvation plan. 

I can imagine the discussions that were made in heaven, to arrange for that day when Gabriel was sent to appear, first to Elizabeth’s husband Zacharias, announcing the birth of John the Baptist and next, to Mary to tell her about Jesus. Mary and Elizabeth were now connected by more than being relatives and best friends. They and their wombs were part of the divine salvation plan of Almighty God. 

Mary had to be selective in choosing who to share her exciting news with. It was well worth the ninety mile trip to meet with the one person she knew would believe in her and rejoice with her. Sometimes we need to be selective in who we confide in, especially regarding matters of faith. 

We may have friends of faith like this, some who live nearby and some who live far away,  but thanks to cell phones, cars, and airlines, we have easier ways to keep in touch with them. To have a community of friends who we can be truthful and vulnerable with, is like having a cherished, priceless pearl. They make us feel safe, which is why Jesus told us not to throw our pearls to swine, to be trampled under foot. 

(Matthew 7:6) 

If you have a likeminded friend or relative who understands you, believes in you and shares the perspective of your Christian faith, it’s a gift from God. I am thankful for the friends in my life. I’ve been blessed with new friends, as well as those I have known for years. 

I’ve made friends in churches and through my workplace over the years. Some live nearby and some live out of state, but I’m glad I don’t have to travel ninety miles to share any news with them, thanks to cell phones and other manners of communication.

This is a tribute to every valued pearl of friendship, whether new or from years past, and I thank God for all of you and pray for His blessing upon all your friendships today. 

Lord, thank you for enriching our lives with friends who share our faith. Unify and strengthen us through your Spirit and bless every pearl of friendship in our lives today. Amen

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.”

Proverbs 19:21(RSV)

I made an appointment in November, to have my mechanic order and install four new tires for my car. We scheduled the date, I put it in my phone calendar and the plan was made. I like planning ahead, and being a planner can be an asset, but at times it can become a liability. We, who are planners, are easily thrown off balance when things don’t flow as we expected. 

Mark is one of four residents at the Nursing Home who I regularly visit each week when I go to see my son. He recently had cataract surgery, which failed, leaving debris floating throughout his eye. He is a kind man with a strong faith in God, but when his cataract surgery failed, he was visibly worried and anxious. He has a history of depression and he told me that he was slipping back into it. I tried to encourage him that it will all be okay, and prayed with him a few times. 

The doctor scheduled him for a corrective one hour procedure called a vitrectomy. Mark told me that his procedure was going to be done at the hospital where I used to work, so I planned to visit him in the pre-operative area, before he goes to surgery that day, which he was happy to hear.

When he finally received the date for his surgery it was on the exact day of my tire appointment. I asked the Lord, if He wanted me to be able to visit Mark before his surgery, to work everything out according to His perfect timing. 

I was to drop off my car at 8:30 am and Mark’s surgery was scheduled for 12 noon. It sounded like it could all work out. My only doubt was that my mechanic, who is honest and highly skilled, tends to work very slowly. I hoped he would be done by 11:30 so that  I could get to the hospital in time to visit Mark. I prayed every day leading up to that day, for God’s perfect timing.

Every obstacle contrary to my plans seemed to happen that day. The mechanic didn’t finish until 11:48, and as I was driving to the hospital, the road was completely blocked due to construction. I took the detour route and still arrived at the hospital by 12:00 noon. I was wondering if he would still be there or would already be taken to surgery. 

I rushed to the pre-operative area, praying for God’s timing. When I arrived, he wasn’t there, because he was in the area of ambulatory surgery, further down the hall, where eye procedures are done. I rushed down the hall to that pre-surgery area, thinking that nothing at all is going according to my plans. 

At this point, I whispered under my breath, “Lord, if this is all part of your perfect timing, I’m gonna have a very good story to tell.”

At 12:20 I finally arrived at the correct pre-op area and they told me that Mark was still there. It turned out that his surgery was delayed until 1 pm, due to a previous case in that operating room. I should have known that surgeries never go on time unless it’s the first case of the day. Better yet, I should have known that God’s timing was at work all along. Mark and I had time to talk and he seemed calmer. 

Even with all the bumps along the way, everything went according to God’s perfect timing. It turned out that the nurse who came to take him to surgery was someone I once worked with and we greeted each other with a big hug. Mark knew he was in good hands and was taken to surgery in perfect peace. 

Just as the word of God says, many are the plans in our minds, but the purpose of the Lord always prevails. It’s always best to seek God’s purpose first. When we think our plans are being derailed, we need to remind ourselves that God’s timing is always perfect.

Lord, thank you for listening to our plans, but help us to remember that your timing and purpose always prevails, because You know best. Amen