Encouraging Words for Today

Children can be a challenge sometimes. Our granddaughter has days when she’s just got an “attitude.” She doesn’t want to take a nap or pick up her toys and tells us, “No!” When she does this Nana will say to her, “Don’t give me that attitude, young lady!”

Most of the time, however, she’s laughing, eager to please, sharing her toys with her cousin. On those days, when she leaves to go home, we say to each other, “She had a good attitude today.”

Zig Ziglar says, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” If we have a negative, self-seeking attitude we’re not going to get far in life. But if we are positive, caring about others, and putting their needs first, we can make a real difference in the world for good.

The Bible tells us, “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” (Philippians 2:5 NLT). What was Jesus’ attitude? He “gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.” (vs. 7).

In the eyes of the universe you can’t get much lower than a human being. Afterall, we are the one planet that rebelled against God and our behavior has been pretty disgusting since. Yet, Jesus loved us so much He became one of us, so that we might be saved.

When you truly accept Jesus as your Savior and give Him full control in your life, He changes your whole attitude towards others. Where once you were selfish, arrogant, quick to get angry, critical, you now are kind, compassionate, and “humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves”, not looking “out only for your own interests, but [taking] an interest in others too.” (vs 3). In other words you “have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

I’m not saying you will be like this all the time. Just like our granddaughter’s attitude can change from day-to-day, if we take our eyes off Jesus, we can easily slip back into our old sour attitude. But, as we spend more and more time with Jesus we will become more and more like Him, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (vs. 13).

James 4:10 tells us to “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.” Or as Zig Ziglar said, “Your attitude…will determine your altitude.” Ask God to give you the mind of Christ today and “humble yourselves before the Lord.” If you do, He will someday lift you up to heights you’ve never dreamed of, to a seat with Him on His throne (Revelation 4:2). And you can’t get any higher than that! But it all starts with attitude.

Saturday evening our church had its Fall Harvest Festival. There was music and singing, popcorn and cotton candy, and all different flavors of soup and bread served under a tent in the church’s backyard. We had ponies for the kids to ride and goats for them to pet. One lady dressed as a bee and her husband wore a beekeeper’s costume and chased her with a bee smoker. There were prizes for the best costumes and games for young and old.

The weather was a little bit crisp, so they built a big bonfire. The flames were nice and hot and I kept changing positions, so I would toast evenly. The fire started out really well, with flames reaching toward the sky, but they hadn’t set aside wood for later, so it soon burned down to a bed of coals. No matter how they fanned the flames, they couldn’t keep it going without more fuel.

The same thing can happen to us as Christians. We start our walk with Christ filled with enthusiasm, ready to set the world on fire, but soon the everyday cares of life beat us down till our faith is only kept alive by dying embers. Without a steady supply of fuel, the fire in our souls is in danger of going out.

Paul recognized this danger, which is why he advised Timothy to “remain faithful to the things you have been taught.” (2 Timothy 3:14 NLT). From childhood Timothy had been taught the holy Scriptures and Paul encouraged him to remember those lessons and keep building on them by continued study. He reminded Timothy “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.:” (vs. 16).

Paul knew if Timothy didn’t keep the fire fueled, by regular study of God’s Word, he could never “fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave [him].” (2 Timothy 1:6). Paul knew Timothy needed to keep studying, keep learning, keep feeding the fire if he was to be an effective worker for God.

The same is true for you and I. We need to daily study God’s Word, daily feeding the fire if we are to burn brightly for Jesus. We can’t fan into flames the spiritual gifts God has given us, if there’s no fuel for the fire.

Don’t let the fire of your faith go out today. Open God’s Word right now and feed the fire!

We attended the College Place Spanish SDA Church again yesterday and really enjoyed it (especially the potluck afterwards!). Just a wonderful group of people, friendly and giving. The one problem for me was everything was in Spanish! Can you imagine?

Rishana and Mom assured me the sermon was excellent, but I’ll have to take their word for it, because the only thing I really understood was the one sentence the pastor said in English (and I already forgot that).

You might wonder why I went, if I couldn’t understand what’s being said. There are two reasons. First, it’s where Ana and Rishana wanted to be and wherever they want to be, is where I want to be too. Secondly, I’ll never get to know Spanish if I don’t let myself hear it and what better place to hear it than in church? The more I’m exposed to it, the more I’ll understand. At least that’s the plan.

Sometimes when I’m trying to understand God’s Word and His plan for my life, I feel like He’s speaking to me in Spanish (Maybe He is, because Ana claims it is the language of Heaven). I only understand a word here and there and sometimes walk away more confused than when I started to study.

But I’m not going to quit studying my Bible just because it sometimes is hard to understand. Why? For the same two reasons I’m going to keep going to the Spanish Church. First and foremost, I want to be wherever God is and there’s no better place to find Him than in His Word. Secondly, the more time I spend reading my Bible and listening to His voice, the more I am going to understand.

Learning a new language is hard. Heaven’s language is no exception, but don’t give up. Let your prayer be, “Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart.” (Psalm 119:34). If you ask Him to God will “tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3). He will “fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives…” (Colossians 1:9).

So, don’t give up. Keep studying and praying and soon you’ll be speaking the language of heaven like a native! Imagine the amazing things you’re going to learn then!

When we bought our home it came with a koi pond. Now that may sound romantic to some, but it is actually an eyesore. It is filled with algae, the fish weren’t anything special, and there’s this huge rock covered mound beside it, where the artificial waterfall spills into the pond. Quite frankly, it’s ugly! We decided it would be too much work to be worth the effort, so we gave away the fish and now we’re tearing down the mound and filling in the pond.

The last couple of days Andrew and I have been loading the rocks from the mound into our pickup and hauling them to a friend’s house. He’s building a retaining wall with them. Some of the boulders are pretty big and heavy. My back’s feeling it, but we’re making good progress..

When I first looked at that pile of boulders, it seemed a little overwhelming, but we’re just taking them one-by-one and the pile’s getting steadily smaller. I’m so glad for Andrew’s help. It would have been a lot harder on my own.

Life’s a lot like that mound of boulders. Some of our problems seem too big for us to handle (and they are!). We’ll never be able to move them ourselves, but we don’t need to, because God is more than willing to help. He promises, “call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor me.” (Psalm 50:15 NIV).

No matter how heavy your problems or how insurmountable the difficulties you are facing, “all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27). The Bible says “God moves mountains without anyone knowing it and turns them over when he is angry.” (Job 9:5 NCV).

If God can move mountains, those boulders blocking your path should be no problem for Him. Don’t try to move them on your own. You’ll just hurt your back. Instead, “call on [Him] in the day of trouble.” He promises if we call on Him, He will answer. (Psalm 91:15). Don’t wait a moment longer. Ask Him for His help today.

We’ve always had chickens. Ana says they remind her of her home in Puerto Rico. She loves those birds. I like them too, but I also think they’re dumb! You build them a nice coop and they sleep outside. You try to gather them in at night and they run away. You’re just trying to keep them safe, but they squawk like they were being murdered.

We’re a lot like chickens sometimes. God tells us to do this or don’t do that, because He loves us and wants the best for us, but we act like He’s persecuting us. He’s looking out for us, but we act like He’s trying to take away our freedom.

This must be incredibly frustrating to God. He loves us so much and longs to bless us with a long life here and an eternity with Him in Heaven. It must make Him shake His head how we choose so easily to give all that up to chase after the temporary things of earth.

You can hear God’s bewilderment in Jesus’ words, as he stood looking over Jerusalem shortly before his crucifixion. With longing in his voice, Jesus cried out, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” (Luke 13:34 NIV).

God wants so much more for us than the silly things we settle for. He still longs to gather you and I in “as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.” He wants to keep us safe, to protect and guide us.

Don’t be a chicken! Don’t run away when He calls. Let’s not exchange an eternity with Jesus for a few moments of guilty pleasure and “freedom” here. It’s just not worth it. Soon Jesus will gather His flock safely home. Choose right now to be ready when He calls.

My favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11, which says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” I just love the thought that God already has plans for my life, for a future beyond anything I could hope or dream.

I’m not as crazy about the verses which come before, however. They were written to the Israelites, who were in captivity in Babylon. They were miserable and just wanted to go home. But God essentially told them, “You might as well get used to this, because you’re going to be here awhile.” He instructed them to settle down, build houses, plant gardens, marry, have kids and “seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:7 NIV).

We all have found ourselves in unpleasant situations like the Israelites. It could be a job or a relationship or something else, but the last thing we want is to be told to stay put. Sometimes, however, that’s exactly what God does.

There are two important lessons we need to recognize from this passage. The first is God was the one who put the Israelites where they were. He said, “I have carried you into exile.” Sometimes God puts us in unpleasant situations, because He needs us to learn something. At other times it’s so someone can learn something from us. Either way, we have to accept this is right where God wants us to be.

The second thing is sometimes the peace and prosperity God wants to give us is connected to how we serve others. If they prosper, then we will prosper too. That’s why God told the Israelites to not just seek the peace and prosperity of Babylon, but also to “Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

We’ve been put on this earth to bless others and show them God’s love. That includes our bosses, our spouses, and even that guy who just cut you off in traffic. If you seek to live peacefully with others and help them grow and prosper, you’ll find you are blessed in return. And don’t forget to pray for them, because “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results”, both for the person being prayed for and the person doing the praying.

So, the next time God tells you to stay when you’d rather go, remember the Israelites. Who knows you may be right where God wants you to be. If that’s true, then you’re already in the best place on earth.

I’ve always had a restless heart, always looking for the next best thing, never quite satisfied with the status quo. My restlessness has led me across the country 3 times and given me wonderful experiences like seeing the Grand Canyon, snorkeling in Hawaii, and exploring Mammoth Cave.

However, this same restlessness has also had unfortunate consequences. For example, my constant search for that perfect job has resulted in our moving several times, including across the country, which was hard on my family and made things difficult financially at times.

I am not alone in this. Restlessness seems to have always been a part of the human spirit, going all the way back to the Garden of Eden. Satan appealed to this restlessness when he tempted Eve to take the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, assuring her “when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4 NIV). Unfortunately, he was right and humanity has been dealing with the terrible consequences of that decision ever since.

Esau was condemned to “be a restless wanderer on the earth.” (Genesis 4:12). Abraham, Issac and Jacob wandered from place to place and the children of Israel’s restless spirits led them to wander in the desert for 40 years. Job, that mighty man of God, dealt with an unsettled spirit, declaring, “My heart is troubled and restless.” (Job 30:27).

The root cause of our restlessness is our broken relationship with our Heavenly Father. Saint Augustine wrote, “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.” We are God’s children and it is only in relationship with Him we can find rest and peace and a place to call home.

This is why Jesus came to this earth, to heal the rift sin tore in our relationship with God. His death paid the price, setting us free from slavery to sin, and opening the way for us to finally find the rest we seek. He promises, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).

We will never find a cure for our restless hearts in the pursuit of the things of this world. Jesus is what we’re looking for. He says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29).

If you, like me, have a restless heart, come to Jesus. Stop your restless wandering, chasing after things which will never satisfy. Give your heart to Jesus and finally find the rest and peace you’ve been longing for.

The Journey

I’m on a trip with Jesus
A journey to the promised land.
There’ve been detours along the way
When I forgot to hold His hand.

Each time that this has happened
He’s sought me when I’m lost
Searching for me everywhere
No matter what the cost.

When He’s finally found me
He’s gently led me back
To that rough and narrow way
And got me back on track.

Though I’m still prone to wander
I’m learning day by day
To holder tighter to His hand
As we walk along the Way.

The closer that I stay to Him
The less likely I am to stray
And wander from the path of life
To seek a different way.

So as we journey onward
I’ll cling tighter to His hand.
By His grace I won’t let go
Until we reach that Promised Land.

My friend you are invited
To join us on this quest
To walk with Jesus along the Way
Your life with Him invest.

No matter where you wander
Or how far away you roam
Jesus will always seek you out
To safely guide you home.

Why wander any longer?
Let Him show you a better way.
Reach up and put your hand in His.
Decide never more to stray.

Together we will travel
Towards our Heavenly Home
Inviting others to join us,
And never more to roam

And when this journey’s over
We’ll still hold tightly to the hand
Of He who gave His life for us
As we enter that Promised Land.

We’ll walk with Him together
Through Heaven’s Golden Gates
Overcome with praise and wonder
At the glory that awaits.

Then, through eternal ages
Home ever more to be,
We’ll sing the praises of the One
Who came to set us free.

Pastor Roger Hernandez is the speaker for a series of meetings on “Hope” which are going on this week at Eastgate Seventh-day Adventist Church. Each evening there’s also a different guest singer. Saturday evening it was Jonny Diaz, who sang a couple of my favorites, “Just Breathe” and “More Beautiful You.” However, it was a song I’d never heard before which really made me think. It’s called “Scars.” (Here’s the link if you want to listen)

The song talks about a young girl keeping her sleeves pulled down to cover her self-inflicted scars and a man with a mark on his hand where his ring used to be. His scars are inside, but are just as agonizing. Finally it tells of a King with scars on his hands and feet and it says because of those scars we don’t have to hide our own.

It’s a beautiful song and an important reminder of what Jesus did for us. He left His throne in heaven to come to this earth to bleed and die for you and me. He “was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5 NIV).

Today, no matter how deep your scars, there is healing for the asking in the name of Jesus. You don’t have to hide your scars. He sees each one and loves you anyway. His nail-scarred hand is reaching out to you right now. Put your hand in His and He will cover your scars with His own. Give Him your life today and let Him begin to heal your soul.

When I graduated from high school I had great plans for my future. I was going to be a doctor, like my Dad, with a successful family practice, daily “stamping out disease,” as he described it. Little did I know what the future held.

My first semester was a rude awakening. I’d graduated at the top of my class in academy, but college was a whole different ball game. I struggled in my classes, getting decent, but not pre-med level grades. I felt like a failure!

I decided the school might be the problem, so I transferred from Southern Adventist University to Atlantic Union College, then to Andrews University. Same result – failure!

I took a year off and decided bioengineering was my calling, so I transferred to Walla Walla University. One quarter of calculus ended my engineering dreams. Failure!

While at Walla Walla I got engaged to a wonderful girl from back home who was attending Loma Linda University, so I transferred there, with teaching as my goal. Three weeks after arriving we broke up. Another failure!

Back home for a year, then back to Andrews. At Christmas break I met Ana and everything changed. With love, came direction and purpose. Two years after we married I graduated from the Kettering PA program, with a job all lined up and a baby on the way.

Since then I’ve been blessed with a wonderful marriage, great kids, a successful career, and an amazing life. Sure, there’ve been setbacks and failures, but I’m no longer defined in my mind by them. I have a God who loves me and who I know is directing my steps.

Why am I telling you all this? Because we all, at one time or another, fail at something. What we must realize is, failure doesn’t need to define us or determine our future. Just because you fail at something, doesn’t mean you are a failure. As Pastor Roger Hernandez says, “Failure is an event, not an identity.”

Even if you, like me, have failed over-and-over in the past, God is in the business of turning failure into victory. He is the God “who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:4, 5 NIV).

No matter how bad you’ve blown it before, remember this – you are not a failure. You’re a child of God. You have a bright future ahead. The Bible promises, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Just keep holding God’s hand and, no matter how you’ve failed before, He will lead you into a brighter tomorrow.