Monthly Archives: November 2019

My inner clock was all messed up this week. With working an extra day on Tuesday and not working on Thursday, I totally lost track of what day of the week it was. I kept thinking yesterday was Thursday, instead of Friday. It was very confusing!

A similar thing can happen to us when it comes to our relationship with God. We lose track of what time it is. We think we’ve got plenty of time to make things right, to give Him first place in our lives. We go about our normal routines, secure in the certainty “everything has remained the same since the world was first created.” (2 Peter 3:4 NLT).

What we don’t realize is “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.” (Romans 13:12). It is later than we think. “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” (Hebrews 10:37). We cannot wait any longer. “Indeed, the ‘right time’ is now. Today is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Yesterday, all I needed to do to get my mind straight about what day it was was to look at the calendar. In the same way, all we need to do is look at events happening all around us to realize time is short, for, as Bob Dylan sang, long ago, “the times they are a-changin’.”

Political unrest, a changing climate, conflicts near and far, all warn us Jesus’ coming is “near, right at the door.” (Mark 13:29). “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6).

Many years ago the group Chicago asked the question, “Does anybody really know what time it is?” For a Christian in this day and age the answer should be a resounding, “Yes!” Through His prophets God has shown you clearly what lies ahead, so you won’t “let that day catch you unaware.” (Luke 21:34)

Today, if you will diligently study His Word, praying for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, God will open your mind so you can truly understand “the signs of the times” Then you can face the future unafraid, because you will “really know what time it is” – It’s time to wake up!

God bless and have a wonderful Sabbath!

I met a beautiful little lady this week. Her parents had brought her in because of difficulty breathing, a recurring problem. Born prematurely, her lungs hadn’t had time to develop fully, so even the slightest infection could bring on shortness of breath.

What struck me about this little girl, as she sat on the exam table, struggling for air, was her smile. She was just beaming! She just seemed so happy to be alive! Even when I was causing her discomfort, as I felt her belly and looked in her ears, she struggled to smile.

Thankfully, a nebulizer treatment did the trick and we were able to let her go home. The funny thing is, her smile stayed with me the rest of the day! When things got stressful, the memory of her beaming face put things back in perspective. If she could keep smiling, even while struggling for air, then surely I could handle a little pressure now and then.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Paul tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

“All circumstances”? How is that even possible? Why would God tell us to do this? The answer is two-fold:

First of all, it’s good for us. Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found a positive attitude can lead to better health. They suspect positivity may reduce inflammatory damage caused by disease. Apparently Solomon knew what he was talking about when he said, “A cheerful heart is good medicine…” Proverbs 17:22 NLT)

Secondly, having a cheerful spirit, in spite of our circumstances, helps others. Proverbs 15:30 says, “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.” Just like this little girl brightened my day, your thankful attitude, even in tough situations, may be just the pick-me-up someone else needs.

Life can be rough sometimes, especially around the holidays. It can be hard to find much to be thankful for. However, if we choose to have a positive attitude, to “give thanks in all circumstances” it can change our whole perspective and the perspective of everyone around us.

So today, if you’ve got the “holiday blues”, remember my little friend. Then take a deep breath and smile. Now, doesn’t that feel good?

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

This last Monday my brother-in-law Danny and I poured the concrete landing for the front steps at our house. I carefully textured the surface and rounded the edges, making sure it was just the way I wanted it. Finally satisfied with my efforts, I put away my tools and went inside, planning to finish the steps the next day.

Unfortunately, when I got up the next morning, I discovered deer had walked all over the cement! My beautiful concrete pad was a mess. I was so upset!

Thankfully, with a little elbow grease and a thin finishing layer of cement, Danny and I were able to repair the damage. This time we made sure to put barriers all around the pad to keep the pesky deer away!

Often in life things can be going along just fine, with everything just the way we want it, then something comes along and messes up our carefully laid plans. It could be sickness, divorce, the loss of a job, the death of a loved one, our own foolish mistakes. Whatever it is, we are left staring in dismay at the shattered remnants of what had been a beautiful life.

Thankfully we have a Heavenly Father who makes “everything beautiful in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). No matter how bad the setback or how deep your disappointment, “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).

This morning, if you’ve woken to find someone or something has stomped all over your dreams, don’t be discouraged. Instead, hand things over to the One who made you, the Master Craftsman, Jesus Christ. He says, “…do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10).

Like my concrete landing covered in deer prints, your life may seem to be a lost cause, but remember “with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26). There is no damage God cannot undo, no setback He cannot turn around. Give God the broken pieces of your life today. Let Him have control. Then stand back and watch, for He will make everything beautiful in His time – even you!

Earlier this week I found myself standing by the bedside of a dear friend’s husband as she and her children said their final goodbyes. Recently diagnosed with a serious illness, his condition had rapidly deteriorated and he was not expected to make it through the night.

As I stood there, watching this good woman comfort her children, I was blown away by her faith and courage. Facing this terrible tragedy, she was still able to praise God for his goodness and encourage her kids with the hope of the resurrection.

I, on the other hand, felt totally inadequate. I’d been asked to come be with them in their hour of need and I didn’t have a clue what to do. What do you say at a moment like that? What can you do? My feeble words of comfort seemed so pointless in the face of such loss and I ended up just shutting my mouth and standing off to the side to give them space to grieve.

In retrospect that was probably the best thing I could do. There are times when words cannot help and anything you try to do will only make matters worse. In those moments, the most important thing is to just be there for them. No words, no actions, just you, loving them the best you can.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to “comfort each other…”. Sometimes the best way to do this is just show up. Just having someone there, knowing someone cares, is all a person may need to get them through whatever trial they’re facing. Just being there, holding them up, giving them a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, a gentle hug, can make all the difference in the world.

As Jesus faced His own hour of trial, the one thing he longed for was someone to be there for him. In Gethsemane, he said to Peter, James, and John, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Matthew 26:38. Unfortunately, they couldn’t stay awake, leaving Jesus to face that long dark night alone.

I pray we never make the same mistake. All around us are people facing their own dark nights of trial. They don’t need our well-meaning words or our clumsy attempts to help. What they need is for us to just show up, to hold their hand, to give them a hug, to show we care. In other words, they just need us to be there, to stay with them and keep watch, holding them through their long, dark night.

This Sabbath someone needs what only you can give – yourself. Will you show up? Will you be there for them today?