The bus was leaving Normandy France where our family had spent the last couple of hours visiting the physical site where “D Day” took place during WWII, when I noticed a memorial stone at the entrance of the hallowed ground. Almost 4500 soldiers died in one day, June 6, 1944; because of their sacrifice, France and her people were liberated from the hands of Nazi Germany who were ultimately responsible for the deaths of six million Jews. One cannot visit Normandy and leave untouched by the tremendous loss of human life.
Just a few yards from the stone memorial stood a life-size depiction of Christ hanging on a cross. As if my emotions were not already heightened, tears began to collect in my eyes and roll down my cheeks. One corner of the entrance represented the physical liberation of people, and one corner represented the spiritual, eternal liberation of God’s entire creation. Nazis had built prisons made of cement and barbed wire, and Satan holds people prisoner through the power of sin and death. Soldiers fought and died to destroy death camps, and Jesus Christ died to destroy once and eternally death itself. Then, remembering the thousands of crosses marking the graves of the brave men who gave their lives for freedom, I could not help but feel the relief in knowing, that Jesus walked out of His grave to bring liberation to all who want it.
A wall at Normandy lists the names of soldiers whose bodies were never found; however, with DNA technology, over time men are being identified from remains found in the surrounding area where the battle took place and are laid to rest in known gravesites. Psalm 139:7 asks the question, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” Not a single soul is unknown to God! Psalm 139 also states that you and I are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (14). How amazing is this truth?
God, continue to remind me of Your eternal love. Help me never to forget the price You paid so that I might be freed from sin and death. Thank You! Amen. For further and deeper understanding, read Psalm 139:1-24.
For further and deeper understanding, read Psalm 139:1-24.
No compassionate person enjoys the responsibility of disciplining others for any reason. When I was a little girl, if I misbehaved, my father right before the punishment would say something like, “This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.” Perception is everything! I always thought, how is this going to hurt you more than me? Then, as a parent myself, I finally understood what my father, who loved me more than his own life, felt. Discipline is necessary for all of humankind because we, you, and I have a propensity to sin. Earthly parents must discipline their children if they are to be responsible human beings in a world where, “No man is an island entire of itself…” (John Donne).
Every generation since the beginning of time, has endured a rebellious segment of its population. Growing up in the 1960s, I remember well the stand we took as young people against “the establishment.” As stated earlier in this writing, “perception is everything!” In our teens and twenties, we thought we understood it all, only to find out in our fifties and sixties just how much we had yet to learn, and the learning never stops.
When King David wrote the words in Psalm 38, he was feeling the pain of separation from God because of his sin. Sin awareness should not only make the sinner sad, but it should also make him or her do something about it; this is exactly what David did, he cried out to God for help. When you and I sense sin in our lives, do we erect a billboard along the road of our culture demanding acceptance of our sin nature, or do we humble ourselves like David, saying to God, “I am feeble and severely broken…”?
“The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18, NKJV).
As my teenage grandchildren mature into young adulthood, I have wanted to find a way to stay engaged in a meaningful way. A few years ago, our family began a tradition of taking vacations to new places. Now, eight of us every year try to visit someplace we have never been. We have been on safari in Africa, climbed the mountains in Italy, twice we have chartered the inside passage of Alaska, and this year, we will visit France. These experiences have bonded us in a special way, that time can never steal. One day, when I am no longer with them on this earth, my grandchildren will have memories on which to reflect for the rest of their lives and share with their children.
In the months leading up to our scheduled trip, the excitement and anticipation of going somewhere they have never been, my grandchildren want to talk about what they might experience once we get to our destination. They try to imagine what it will be like. The more they talk about it, the more excited they get. Their enthusiasm warms my heart in knowing that I can provide for them something new and exciting.
As I am well into my seventh decade of life on earth, I find myself growing more and more eager to see and experience heaven. This is not to be confused in any way as a “death wish!” I love my family and friends and every minute God has given me here to enjoy His beautiful creation, including the wonderful trips to new places with the people I love. But my heavenly Father desires that I look to the time that is inevitable for all of us, with anticipation, so when I leave all that is familiar to join Him in the “place He is preparing for me,” it is with joy and not dread.
Like my grandchildren, when I read God’s Word about where I am going that I have never been before, as the time draws nearer, I am getting excited to see the “streets of gold” and especially, to look into the actual face of my Lord and Savior, Jesus. What an absolutely awesome “day” that will be!
For further study, read John 14 and Revelation 21.
Friends of my family have come to visit for a couple of weeks; accompanying them is their eight-month-old baby daughter. Although it could no doubt go without saying, this precious little being is an absolute delight. She coo’s and smiles all the time. In conversation with her mama, we discussed how everything in the world is a new discovery in her baby’s eyes. For example, she is easily entertained just looking into the face of another human being. Give her a kitchen spatula and she will play for half a day wielding it around and around before finally inserting it into her mouth for a taste. Like other eight-month-olds, this little one is learning all day everyday things that are new.
After spending a couple of days with our friend’s baby, it occurred to me that her perception of the world around her is very different from mine. Of course, I have lived many decades longer than this baby girl has been alive, so naturally, her “extraordinary” is only ordinary to me. I have looked into many human faces, and I have wielded a spatula more than a few times in my kitchen while cooking meal after meal. In fact, I have probably become somewhat critical if not cynical about the world in which I live.
Sometimes I must remind myself, that God created all things. How easy it is to forsake what is true. “In Christ…we are new…all things have become new.” The sunrise, sunset, flowers, trees, indeed all things, including you and me are new, if only we will choose to experience life through a fresh lens, much like my new little baby friend. Oh, the wonder of the creation; even more so, the absolute wonder of Creator God, who makes all things new.
Lord, forgive me for becoming jaded about the things that have become familiar. You have given so much beauty. Help me to look expectantly and eagerly with fresh eyes at everything and everyone, knowing that You are the Giver!
My eyes were closed in prayer when my wrist began to vibrate underneath my watch. These intrusions happen throughout the day and always demand my attention. Opening my eyes and looking down at the watch, I read these words, “Pause and reflect to have a more mindful day.” This is not the first time seeing the message, so I did pause and become curiously mindful of the meaning behind the phrase. Although the message to “Pause and reflect” pops up periodically on my 21st Century Dick Tracy type watch, the intention of the message is as old as humankind. Surely, Isaiah had the same thought in mind when he penned chapter 26.
Today, technology with its built-in algorithm can remind us to do as the Psalmist instructed in Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Emphasis mine). Pause and be mindful. I have often wondered, without God, what is the substance of mindfulness? Some days, I am strong with courage and the will to survive in a world that seems to have lost its way. However, apart from knowing Jesus as the True Constant, never changing, everlasting Source of peace, what do you and I have as a reliable anchor?
From now on, whenever I see the words “mindfulness” or “meditation,” I will thank God for His Son, Jesus, who never fails to deliver what is impossible to muster up on my own… peace. No friend, no family member, and no worldly philosophy is trustworthy and faithful like Jesus. He is my Rock and Sustainer and deserves my trust. I pray you will trust Jesus, too.
Sometimes it is a simple truth that works like a soothing salve on a wounded heart. The Bible verse in Psalm 31 is that “soothing salve” for me.
Perhaps like you, friend, when I peruse my daily “inbox” of emails, the current events news catches my eye and demands my attention. Like driving past a wreck on the highway, my human curiosity cannot help but be drawn to the carnage forbidding me to look away. Finding encouraging news articles to read has become harder and harder.
So, how do we face the “Breaking News” as the ding alerts rattle our phones? Is our world really polarized beyond any hope of finding common ground from which to start a conversation? Families with generational diversity find themselves unable to discuss current issues without yelling or the opposite, shutting down any conversation when complete agreement with one side of an argument or the other cannot be met.
Is there a remedy? While I cannot promise an easy solution that will solve every issue demanding attention and that divides humanity, spending time with the LORD in quiet helps me to see chaos from a different perspective. For those of us who need eyeglasses to see the world clearly, sitting down with God and reading His Word is like putting on our spiritual “glasses;” everything happening around us when seen through God’s lens of truth becomes clearer.
Human conflicts are not new; they just come packaged in soundbites that reflect the modern culture. Satan has been hard at work since the beginning of creation to wreak as much havoc as possible before his time runs out. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesian 6:12, NKJV).
However, put on your “spiritual glasses!” Jesus tells us, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, emphasis mine, NKJV).
The problem is Satan. The remedy is Jesus!
Our family was dining at a very nice resort restaurant to celebrate a special occasion. As we looked over the menu for the Saturday brunch, the server pointed us to the wine list. We were in a part of the country where vineyards are plentiful, so those who had interest perused the selection. One in our party called everyone’s attention to a bottle of wine that was selling for $14,000. No, I did not make a mistake in the number of zeros.
“Huh?” I said. “Seriously?”
“Yep!” was the reply. “$14,000.”
“Wow. That must be some bottle of wine.” We all agreed.
After a good laugh, we also agreed that such a select wine would be wasted on us, since not one of us has a discerning taste for grapes. A Sommelier, on the other hand, is a person who specializes in different wines and who most likely could taste the difference between a multi-thousand-dollar bottle of wine and a bottle selling for $30.00.
How sad for the person with such finite taste buds, I thought to myself; they probably can never fully enjoy wine of lesser quality.
Then, the Scripture from Psalm 34:8 came to my mind. When you and I experience the love of God, through Jesus Christ, just like the wine expert, absolutely nothing else the world has to offer will or can satisfy our hunger and thirst for what is spiritually “good.” Unlike the expensive bottle of wine, however, what Jesus offers is free to anyone who asks.
Friend, as one who has “tasted” of the goodness of the LORD for the last forty years, nothing and no one compares. I invite you to do the “taste test” of Jesus; He is faithful and He will never disappoint you.
For deeper study, read John 2:1-12.
“Bee Happy! Psalm 37:4” so reads the garden flag waving in my front yard adorned with colorful embroidered flowers and whimsical flying bees. In the community where I live, yard flags are a common addition. Our yards are small and look very much alike, so between flags and flower plantings we have an opportunity to express our different personalities. Walking through the neighborhood, I enjoy seeing the embellishments people have chosen to share with passersby.
The sentiment, “Bee Happy” is cute, colorful, and quirky which is why I like it, but I am a little troubled that it references the Bible verse in Psalm 37 without further explanation. Bible scripture can be read in a variety of translations and paraphrases. Psalm 37:4 in the Easy English Bible does read “Be happy…” however, taken out of context often leads to a misunderstanding of the intended message. You see, according to the passage, the reason to be happy are the words that follow, “that the LORD is your friend.”
Ironically, looking from the perspective of context, Psalm 37 is about how we should consider ourselves when dealing with “evildoers.” Hm…I wonder how that message might look on a garden flag in the front yard?
Well, the fact is, you and I do have so much for which to be happy. regardless of our circumstances, which may or may not include “evildoers.” Understanding and believing that “the Lord is our friend” should fill us with joy and happiness. Probably each one of us has a story that includes at least one person who does not like us. For certain, we all have an adversary, Satan, who hates God and, therefore, hates those who love God and believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. Satan wants to steal our happiness, joy, and peace.
But for Jesus…as the flag states, “Bee Happy!”
