“O LORD, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things…” Isaiah 25:1, NKJV.

In the month of April, when “life” begins waking up all around us, praising the Creator comes as natural as breathing in oxygen. Seeing God’s beauty in the colors of springtime reminds us that if He cares so much about the flowers and trees, how much more does He care for you and me? In the Book of Genesis during the creation process, after all other life existed, God did the most amazing thing—He created humankind in His image. How awesome was that moment in time, as God chose to reveal His likeness in humans solely for “His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13)?

We read that not long after creating the man, Adam, and the woman, Eve, God gave them the most beautiful garden of all time in which to live, the “Garden of Eden” (Genesis 3). But Adam and Eve, exercising the gift from God of freewill succumbed to temptation, and according to God’s forewarned judgment were expelled from the garden to face the natural consequences that would follow.

Fast-forward to the year, 2024. Friend, you, and I inherited the same gift of freewill as our ancestor’s, Adam, and Eve, and we also carry their DNA making us vulnerable to temptation. Despite our oftentimes errant choices, God is patient with us. Since my flowers this spring are already breathtaking, only in my wildest imagination can I produce an image of what the Garden of Eden must have looked like before humans sinned.

Another garden comes to mind, where Jesus, the Son of God chose to turn over His life to Roman soldiers to be crucified for the sins of the world, the result of our freewill choices. On this side of Resurrection Sunday, the gift of salvation from Jesus keeps on giving to all who would receive it. As April turns into May and the earth continues to explode with color, and when you experience the beauty, remember how much you are loved and be thankful. God is worthy of our praise!

For deeper understanding, read John 17 to see what Jesus prayed right before His arrest; He had you in mind.

“So, you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.”
Luke 21:31, NKJV

Imagine being isolated on a deserted island with no watch to tell time, no smartphone (heaven forbid!), and nothing but nature to guide you. The sun, moon, stars, and tides of the ocean would, in fact, lend much information to help you navigate the situation. Okay, you may come off “the island” now. You may also have your watch and smartphone back. (Whew!)

In the introductory Scripture verse written by Luke, Jesus was talking to His disciples about “The signs of the times and the end of the age.” No man-made twenty-first century smart device can predict what God alone knows, but Jesus said, long before technology was even a word, that there will be visible and tangible signs—signs of which all people should take note. “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…” changes in the weather patterns, “great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences: and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven” (Luke 21:10-11).

The month of April is the beginning of spring; how do we know this? Signs, like the budding of trees and flowers, new life sprouting up all around us. Even on the proverbial deserted island without any technology, one would recognize “changes” taking place, compliments of God. So, Jesus warned His followers then, and He warns us today, not to be caught off guard, rather, know the “signs” of His imminent return. Friend, I pray with intention, that you will open your Bible and read God’s manifest regarding His categorical plans for planet Earth, because they deeply concern you and me. Whether Jesus comes back today or not for another thousand years, you and I must be ready. Be motivated, not by fear and anxiety, but with awe and expectation in seeing Jesus, face to face.

Come Lord Jesus, come!

For deeper understanding, read Luke 21.

Friend, if you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, today, invite Him into your heart. Jesus will not force His way into your life; you must “open [that] door” to let Him in. God loves you beyond your wildest imagination, but you will never know just how much until you make the decision to give Him access. God is waiting, and He is faithful!

Last Friday, the day Christians acknowledged as “Good Friday,” Jesus was remembered for having been beaten, tortured, crucified on a cross, died and then buried. Resurrection Sunday was yesterday. Christians all around the world for twenty-four hours celebrated the empty tomb, the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In the Bible, after the women encountered the risen Jesus on Sunday morning, they ran to tell the disciples that their dearest friend, Jesus, was not dead but alive; they must have been breathless from running and excited to share the amazing, good news. Banging hard on the upper room door and after identifying themselves, the door was opened only long enough for the women to enter before being slammed shut again. Inside, the men, including Peter who had all betrayed and denied knowing Jesus on Friday were hiding out in fear of being discovered by the officials as followers of Jesus. These once mighty men were now trying to put the pieces together of what happened just a few days ago. Nothing made sense. But when the women told the men about having seen and talked to Jesus, “their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.” But Peter, curious, ran to the tomb and found the burial cloths “lying by themselves” (Luke 24:12).

Where were you on Resurrection Sunday? Maybe, like the disciples, you are not sure if the story of the living Christ is simply an “idle tale.” And even if the story is true, you might think it cannot be true for you for whatever reason. Friend do not let doubt stand in your way. Be like Peter and be curious enough to check out the story for yourself. He loved you enough to endure the cross in your place, and He is alive to prove victory over any reason that might hold you back from accepting His gift.

Today is Monday. The festivities have all ended but the promise is everlasting. Take the first step to eternal life. Do not walk. Run to Jesus! He stands with outstretched nail-scarred hands and feet to receive you.

And Peter walked away from the empty tomb, “marveling to himself at what had happened” (24:12).

For deeper understanding, read Luke 24.

“And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.” Luke 24:11, NKJV

“…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7, NKJV

Much hullabaloo is made around the word “peace.” We hear cries for world peace, individual peace, family peace, peace in the Middle East, and the list is endless. Every person, even those who suffer from forms of mental illness (perhaps they especially) long for peace though one may have a difficult time expressing their need; such expressions are seen in our drug-ridden communities across the globe. Recently, I heard a wise person say, “Peace is not an entitlement.” I must admit my ears perked up. Maybe like me, you have considered peace, like oxygen, as something that exists until being disturbed by some outside agent. To share some personal insight, my desire is not to trivialize the human need for peace, rather I hope that by seeing it differently you may find strength in overcoming the absence of peace in your life.

Firstly, you and I must understand that the Author of peace is Almighty God, the Creator of all things. If we do not have peace with God, we will not have peace in any part of our existence; the perfect example of this is world peace. Where on planet earth has any nation enjoyed permanent peace? The answer is nowhere. Every tribe and nation must fight for peace, which may sound like a contradiction, yet proof is seen throughout history books. Ronald Reagan famously coined the phrase, “Peace through strength.” We seek peace in our communities where we live, work, and have our homes. Family life is bombarded by outside forces that bully their way in to cause chaos, a sure enemy to peace. Finally, the individual person craves peace, which brings us full circle back to our relationship with God. If we do not know God, we will not know and understand His peace.

Since the beginning of time, Satan, the enemy of every human being has been hard at work trying to make us think that love, joy, and peace are innate to the human experience. If we believe this deception, when it is absent we are in danger of looking for it in the wrong places. From the Book of John 14:27, Jesus said, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (NLT). Jesus said it Himself, “…peace of mind and heart…are a gift,” not an entitlement, and the gift is from Him, Jesus.

If you want “…the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,” look to Jesus Christ.

For deeper understanding, read John 14, and receive peace.

“Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” John 18:37, NKJV

Growing older, like most challenges in life has its ups and downs and pros and cons. Like I say at the end of my email correspondence, “If we live long enough, the wisdom of winter experienced through aging is priceless when compared to the springtime of youth.” However, physically speaking, a decline in some areas can be an annoyance at best. For example, my hearing, well, let us just say it is not what it used to be! When trying to hear in a crowded noisy room, I have learned the art of reading lips, or just smiling when that fails.

For those of us who follow Jesus Christ and read the Bible in search of His will, we do not need a hearing aid to “hear” Him “speak.” Sometimes, when I seek direction while facing a difficult situation or decision, God quickens me to recall instructions He has given through Scripture I have read or studied at some point in time. Oftentimes, He gives me encouragement from another follower of Jesus. Then, perhaps even more profoundly, He gives me insight that might lend a word of encouragement to someone else.

As Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate on trial for claiming to be “King of the Jews,” Jesus said, “‘For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’ Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’” (John 18:37-38). Instead of focusing on “hearing” Jesus’ voice, the God of Creation standing right in front of Him, Pilate questioned the idea that anyone can take ownership of the truth. Indeed, Jesus who said, “…I am the truth” was the answer to the question Pilate asked.

In this season of reflection on who Jesus was and still is in the world in your life and mine, are you listening as He speaks? You do not need a hearing aid. He cuts through the noise of this crazy world if you are willing to receive Him. Know this truth; Jesus loves you!

For deeper study, read John 18:19-38.

We have all heard the saying, “you cannot be in two places at one time.” While no one would argue the reality that physically, no one can be in two places at the same time, I believe this physics fact has a caveat we rarely consider, and I will attempt to prove it. Have you ever been driving your car, deep in thought, when you arrived at your destination and suddenly realized you have no conscious recollection of the scenery in between where you started the journey and ended? Or perhaps you have had a conversation with someone when the only thing you hear is, “So, what do you think?” You have no idea what the topic is because your mind was somewhere else, which can be very embarrassing. Well, I must confess to having experienced both scenarios and know that one can be in two places at one time, one physical and the other, mental.

When things are hard, life has a way of triggering the human desire to “find our happy place.” Circumstances can make us uncomfortable, or we wish we were any place different than where we are; it is then we do have a choice. Another more current phrase is “we cannot always choose our circumstances, but we can choose how we react to them.” As a disciple of Jesus Christ, resilience, and joy in the face of turmoil and strife are gifts from God.

Many times, throughout the New Testament, followers of Jesus were persecuted and imprisoned for their faith, yet time after time while their bodies suffered, they sang and praised God. Our world in the year 2024 promises to be tumultuous as we in the United States prepare for national elections and the war in the Middle East continues. While God wants us to be knowledgeable and prepared, He does not want us to be fearful. Pray for our leaders, trust in God, and be joyful no matter your circumstances. Be resilient and remember, joy comes from the Lord.

For deeper study, read Matthew 24:6-13.

“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day…while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16 & 18, NKJV.

“For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.” Hebrews 12:14, NLT.

Melancholy is an emotion I have experienced all my life. When I began elementary school seventy years ago, I cried every single morning about leaving home and heading to school. While you might think this malady lasted only a few days until I adjusted to the new routine, you would be mistaken; I cried every day until reaching third grade! Psychiatrists would no doubt have a “hay day” trying to break down this emotional mountain, but alas, we are a long way from the mountains base, so let us just plow on.

Many people throughout history have suffered from melancholy, which is a form of depression often observed as feelings of sadness for no apparent reason. For example, as I write these words I am temporarily away from my home in Virginia. The surroundings are beautiful where I am, and the destination purpose is in fact for vacation. So, why am I homesick? Well, in Virginia are my family, my dog, Reesey, and cat, Foxy, all of whom bring me joy and comfort in the place where we do life together daily.

Since becoming a follower of Jesus Christ, while the melancholy has not gone away, I have a different way of looking at it through an eternal perspective. The scripture verse from Hebrews describes “our permanent home…yet to come” for all who believe and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Although, we who are alive have never seen this “home,” the more one reads about it in the Bible, and the closer one grows in relationship to Jesus, then the deeper one’s longing becomes to get there in God’s perfect timing.

Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3, NKJV).

For deeper thought, read John 14.

“I’ll forgive, but I’ll never forget!” This is a statement probably with which all of us are familiar, either by hearing or possibly declaring ourselves. No one wants to be thought of as unforgiving, but we think it only reasonable, and perhaps even logical, to never forget a grievance done against us.

Forgiveness is a beautiful word; it has undertones of generosity and righteousness of character; it feels good from the vantage point of both an undeserved offender and the offended giver, that is until the offense is remembered at some future date. I am embarrassed to confess that forgiving others when I have been deeply wounded is a struggle in my growth as a follower of Jesus Christ. Recently, in a conversation with a dear friend, he and I discussed the topic of forgiveness, during which the breaking down of the word gave clarity I had never considered. Think about this – a “sin,” or an offense is some action perpetrated upon another person; the action might cause physical scars but certainly, emotional, or mental scars. Can we willfully makethe scars go away? If you are a suffering victim, the process of healing wounds is more about your relationship with the Healer than with your offender.

To “never forget” is an exercise of resurrecting memories, both good and bad. To “never forget” means looking behind where we have been, rather than ahead to where we are going. We cannot change where we have been. By taking a little literary license, I would like to offer another way of looking at the word, forgiveness. A simple change to the prefix, fore, presents another option for dealing with offenses. Instead of looking back and remembering, we can take our hurts and scars and fore–give them over to Jesus, whose life on the cross and blood forgave us. After Jesus arose from the grave, He still bore the scars of the crucifixion. Today, with His nail-scarred hands, He wants you and me to hand over our scars to Him – this action is called, forgiveness.

For deeper thought, read John 20.