Good Grief

Is there a good way to grieve? We all grieve in different ways. I remember when my mom died. She was in Texas and I lived in California. I made arrangements to fly to her memorial, but that would not happen for a couple days. I prayed and I stayed busy in the days before I could get to Mama. It was the one of the hottest summers I experienced in Sacramento. I think it was 116 degrees. I found peace knowing my mom was with God, and she wasn’t suffering anymore. When my sister Montie and I were little girls, she read Bible stories to us before bedtime. She took us to church and Sunday school, and she prayed for us all those years of our growing up and into our adult lives. These memories comforted my family and me, but God’s love and His presence comforted us in ways I can’t explain. My heart aches for people who don’t have good memories or the love of God in their lives. They often get stuck in their grief and find it hard to move on.

Holy Comfort

Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). When Mama died, her church family celebrated her life with Montie and me, and when I returned home to my church family they loved on me. I remember the comfort my fourth grade Sunday school class was to me the first Sunday I returned from Mama’s service. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). I experienced that first hand. Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-15). What glorious hope I have, knowing when Jesus returns, He will bring Mama with Him.

Prayer

Thank you, Father God, for the hope we have in you – that Jesus overcame sin, death and Satan, and that He will come again to unite all believers who are in HIm. In Jesus’ great name, Amen.

The Problem

Sometimes our problems are overwhelming to us. We have pain that won’t go away, relationships that hurt, a life threatening diagnosis. What do we do? Default to depression, anxiety, despair or apathy? One of the biggest problems of all times is infertility. Abram’s (Abraham) wife Sarai (Sarah) was barren, so after waiting many years, she took matters into her own hands and said to her husband, “The Lord has kept me from having children so, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her” (Genesis 16:2). Things didn’t work out as Sarah expected. She became jealous of her servant Hagar, and the family division has found its way down through history. When things have not turned out the way I desired, I, too, have chosen my way instead of waiting for the Lord, which brought me more pain and suffering.

Another Way

Hannah was married to Elkanah. He had another wife, Peninnah, who had children. Elkanah loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed her womb. Peninnah provoked Hannah till she wept and would not eat, even though Elkanah gave her a double portion of meat from his sacrifice at the temple in Shiloh. He said, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8). One time after dinner, Hannah went to the Lord’s house and prayed. She wept bitterly and made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head” (1 Samual 1:11). The priest Eli thought she was drunk with wine, but she said she was pouring out her soul to the Lord. She convinced the priest and he said, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him” (1 Samuel 1:18). God answered Hannah’s prayer and she bore a son and named him Samuel. After she weaned him, she took him to live in the temple with Eli. He grew in stature and spirit and became a prophet in Israel.

Prayer

Father God, Faithful and True, help us to rely on you alone, rather than take matters into our own hands. Teach us your ways and help us to trust you more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Narrow Way

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

Why would God make His way harder? It’s not His intent. He wants to give us abundant life. It is we ourselves that make the way harder, because we are reluctant to believe and surrender all we have to Him. One of the hardest verses in the Bible to accept is: “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Not only are non-believers offended by the statement that Jesus is the only way to the Father, but 70% of people who claim to be Christians are too. I was shocked to learn the percentage was that high!

One Way

If Jesus is not the only way to be saved, then why did He have to die on the cross? Jesus even prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39). God the Father is Holy and He cannot look on sin. Sin hinders our relationship with Him. The Father loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that those who believe would not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Yes, sin leads to destruction and death, but we have forgiveness and a relationship with a Holy God because Jesus died for sin once for all. In the Old Testament, forgiveness came through the blood of animal sacrifice, but in the new Testament Jesus’ blood on the cross saved us from lives of sin and separation from God.

Prayer

Compassionate and faithful Father, teach us how to respond to your amazing love. Help us love others as you love us. Be a light to our path as we follow you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Breathe on me Breath of God

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The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. ² He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. ³ He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”

⁴ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! ⁵ This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath^[a] enter you, and you will come to life. ⁶ I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. ⁸ I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

⁹ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

My Vision of Darkness

When I read Ezekiel 37 this week, I had a vision of a dark valley. The dry bones in Ezekiel’s vision were Israelites who felt lifeless in Babylonian exile. God breathed life into them and they returned to the Promised Land, a message of redemption and restoration. My vision was about the people in America who experience self-doubt, loneliness, despair, anxiety and helplessness. There is redemption and restoration for us too.

Prayer

Holy and Faithful Father, breathe the breath of life, your abundant life into America. Open our eyes to see your amazing love and care for us. I pray for revival and justice. I pray for a fair election. O Lord, stop the corruption and crimes against humanity. Bring meaning and purpose back into the lives of your people. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Right Place, Right Time

The Eastern Gate, Jerusalem, also called the Mercy Gate or the Gate Beautiful

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer, 3:00 in the afternoon. A man, crippled from birth was put at the gate called Beautiful every day to beg. When he saw Peter and John, he asked them for money. Peter said, “Look at us!” and the man looked, expecting to get something. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. He went walking and jumping and praising God (Acts 3:1-8).

Peter’s Opportunity

While the man held on to Peter and John, the people were astonished and ran to Solomon’s Colonnade. Peter saw the opportunity to witness and said, “Why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over to be killed, and you disowned Him before Pilate, though he had decided to let Him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised Him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has completely healed him, as you can all see” (Acts 3:12-16). Peter explained the gospel from Moses until that time, but this did not go well with the Pharisees and Sadducees. They had Peter and John arrested to prevent them from speaking further. However, they could not stop the crowd’s response. The people saw the miracle and repented of how they had lived. More than 5,000 men believed in Jesus, because Peter willingly spoke the truth that day.

The Future Miracle of the Eastern Gate

Jesus will come to earth again, and when He does, He will come to the Mount of Olives on the east side of Jerusalem and enter the temple by the East Gate. In AD 1540-41 the gate was sealed by Suleiman the Magnificent, a sultan of the Ottoman Empire, to prevent our Lord from re-entering Jerusalem this way. Praise God, not even this will prevent our Lord from returning to fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah 14:4.

Prayer

Thank you, Father God, for your incredible plan for humanity. Thank you that your second coming is not slow but merciful – waiting for the last sinner who will, to repent. Lord, we pray that would include all those we care about. Make us beacons of your light and love that we will use opportunities to speak the truth when we find ourselves, like Peter, to be in the right place at the right time. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God is not Mocked

Ruins of Herod’s Palace at Caesarea

Herod left Judea to go to his beachfront property at Caesarea. He had been quarreling with people from Tyre and Sidon, but now they joined with him. Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. “The people shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not a man” (Acts 12:22). This was common among the Caesars and the Herods to receive such honor, because they were self proclaimed deities.

Herod’s Consequences

This event happened when the word of God flourished and spread in this part of the world, and because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died (Acts 12:23). There are accounts on YouTube today of people who suffer consequences form mocking God. He was not mocked in Herod’s time and He won’t be mocked in our time.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Help us to serve you and our fellowman with humility and give you the glory that is due you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

My Chains are Gone

Herod arrested some who belonged to the church and intended to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword, but he put Peter in prison. Peter slept that night bound in chains and between two soldiers (Acts 12:1-6). Do you wonder how he could sleep?

The Church Prayed

“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him” (Acts 12:5). Did they pray for Peter’s release or for protection or for peace? An angel came to him, and a light shone in the cell. He woke up Peter and said, “Quick, get up!,” and the chains fell off. The angel told him to get dressed and follow him. Peter followed him as if in a vision. He didn’t realize this was really happening. They passed the guards and the gate opened that led into the city. The angel left, and Peter went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where the church was praying.

Peter knocked at the outer entrance and a servant girl Rhoda came. She is the only one named besides Peter in this event recorded in the Bible. She was so excited when she saw Peter that she left him there and told the others, “Peter is at the door!!” But they did not believe her. Was it because she was a woman? Didn’t they pray for Peter? Peter kept knocking and they came to the door. When they saw him they were astonished. Peter described to them how the Lord rescued him from prison.

Who Prayed for Me?

This story reminded me of a time when I was imprisoned by my sin, as if in chains. When the chains fell from Peter’s wrists, I remembered how Jesus rescued me, and I received His love. I remembered that my mom never stopped praying for me. My chains of loneliness and despair are gone! God gave me a life of love and purpose. I am forever His and He is mine.

Prayer

Thank you, Father God, for Jesus, for His loving sacrifice that brought forgiveness and eternal life with You. In His great name, Amen.

Do This First

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Have you lost your job or source of income? Did you worry about what you would eat or wear or how you would pay your bills? I have been there. God knew we would have tough times and He said, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). Does that make you wonder what “all these things” are? In the previous verses, Jesus made it clear to His followers that they did not have to rely on themselves in hard times. He said, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25).

What Does it Mean to Seek God’s Kingdom?

Our God is King of the Universe, and He has an abundance in His kingdom far beyond our imagination. He doesn’t want us to worry about what we need, so He says, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). He wants us to know Him and have a desire to live for Him. How do we get started? By reading His word and spending time in prayer (having an honest conversation with God about the things that concern us). The Bible is filled with stories of people like us – people who have stress and strife, problems and roadblocks, questions and doubts. By reading these passages, we learn how God intervened in these people’s lives. He is ready and willing to be a part of our lives too. However, if we do not prioritize our lives according to God’s kingdom, we are left to deal with life’s problems on our own. If you are in that place, I hope you will consider seeking God for help or comfort or counsel. He is a loving, caring God.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us to draw near to you instead of trying to control our lives on our own. Empower us with your word and right ways of thinking. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Stop Doubting

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It is hard to know what or who to believe today. Things we read or see or hear can be convincing, but what if they are not true. How do you determine truth?

Like us, Thomas, one of the disciples doubted, and because he did, he was known as Doubting Thomas. He was not with his friends when they were together after the crucifixion. The door was locked because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus came and stood among them and said,”Peace be with you!” (John 20:19). He showed them His hands and side, and the disciples were overjoyed to be with Him. Later they told Thomas, but he would not believe unless he, too, saw the nail scars and put his hand in Jesus’ side.

Jesus Appeared to Thomas

The disciples were together again with the doors locked, and Jesus came to them. This time Thomas was present. Jesus said, “Peace be with you! And He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.'” Thomas said, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:19-29).

Trust Jesus Today

“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31).

Thomas lived during the time the Bible was written. I am glad it is not being written today, because I might be called Doubting Sue. However, I am fortunate, as are you, that we have the Bible. Yet, we still have questions. We still doubt. Questions and doubt are stepping stones to believing, because they lead us to dig a little deeper. If you have questions or doubts, and you do not know where to look or who to talk to, I suggest you find a Bible teaching church. Get involved in Bible study. You will be in the company of others who have questions too, others who are learning to believe.

Prayer

O Lord, show us the way everlasting. Help us to find peace and hope and meaning in life. Help us to discover purpose and fulfillment in you. In your great name, we pray. Amen.

Unity in the Midst of Diversity

When Jesus came on the scene in human history, He preached about the spirit of the law as opposed to the letter of the law. The Jews were really good at following the letter of the law. Their obedience to a bunch of rules made them proud and arrogant to people who were not like them – the Gentiles (anyone who was not a Jew). Their differences were in the food they ate, the way they dressed, and the way they worshiped; the way they applied academics and the arts, and their morality was different. God gave the Jews special access to Himself more than four thousand years ago, when He called Abraham to leave his homeland of the Chaldeans (Babylon) to go to the Promised Land.

Jesus’ Message

Jesus’ most important message of how to live for God is found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, and 7). It did not mean following rules, which clashed with the traditions of the Jews. He said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17), and again, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment” (Matthew 5:21-22). Jesus taught the heart of the law. In other words, murder is premeditated killing, and that premeditation begins in our hearts. With God’s help we can avoid murder by choosing not to dwell on our anger or thoughts of killing someone. Jesus also said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28). By focusing on the Spirit of the Law, what it really means, we can live with hearts tuned into God and become more like Jesus.

Paul’s Prayer

Paul took the gospel message to the Gentiles and said, “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6). Paul preached unity in the diversity of Jews and Gentiles, and He prayed, “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Sprit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:14-19).

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for your incomprehensible love. Help us to overlook our differences and show compassion to people not like ourselves. In Jesus’ name, Amen.