Patriotism

To the Estate of . . .

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????????????????????????????????????????I made a phone call last week, and yesterday, I received a letter that was a response to that conversation. When I opened the envelope, I found a check for $72.72 payable to the Estate of E. Saferite. It was a refund for the unused portion of Mom’s Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance.

The Free Dictionary defines the word “estate” as, “The whole of one’s possessions, especially all the property and debts left by one at death.” In Mom’s case, this is and is not accurate.

If you think of the definition jut in the context of finances, it is a pretty good definition. If, however, you think of it in terms of the “whole of one’s possessions” it is sadly lacking.

The definition does not take into consider Mom’s possessions in Christ. Notice how Peter describes these: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you, who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (I Peter 1:3-5).”

Our possessions are an inheritance that is:
• Imperishable
• Undefiled (It can’t be soiled or stained”
• Unfading (It won’t wear out and its resources can’t be exhausted))
• Reserved in heaven for every believer

This inheritance is the result of God’s “great mercy” through which “He gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Do you see the importance of the resurrection? The “new birth” or salvation is associated with the mercy of God and the “living hope” we have in Jesus.

What was the time period between the death of Jesus and His resurrection? Most people answer it was three days. Isn’t a day 24 hours? Doesn’t 3 X 24 = 72?

Remember that check I received in the mail? It was for $72.72. Mom’s estate or “the whole of her possessions” are much more than 72 bucks—it’s everything that Jesus has to offer!

Bumps and Bruises

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imagesLife for some people seems to be rather easy. Others, however, feel as though life is an existence that is full of bumps and bruises.

How about you? Can you identify with some of these feelings or questions?

• Have you had an encounter with someone who is as mean as a junk yard dog and you’re hoping someone has your back?
• Is fear the dominant emotion in your life and the one that controls you?
• Do you feel like you are in over your head and about to drown?
• Are there some detrimental currents that are overwhelming you and dragging you off course?
• Have the circumstances of your life burnt you one too many times and you want to quit?
• Do you feel unloved, unwanted, and unneeded?

If you can identify with any of the questions above, you might find some comfort in the verses below:

Now, this is what the Lord says, the one who created you . . .“Don’t be afraid, for I will protect you. I call you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I am with you; when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your deliverer (Isaiah 43:1-3).

Instead of looking at life through the lens of your bumps and bruises, I encourage you to understand it through the context of the verses above.

A Promise Kept

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I-PromiseYesterday I kept a commitment I made to my mother in 2009. Mom and I were sitting on her deck enjoying our coffee, and the discussion turned to end-of-life issues. As we talked, Mom said that when the time came, she wanted me to speak at her funeral.

I kept that promise yesterday, and I used Proverbs 3:1-2 as my text: “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.”

I summarized Mom’s “teaching” in 10 lessons:

• #1: Justice should be swift and there is benefit to impending doom. Mom believed in executing judgment and then let me squirm with the words: “And when your dad gets home you’re telling him what you’ve done.
• #2: The cure for sowing wild oats is to pull weeds. There were fewer weeds in our lawn than any other place in town. The price of misdeeds was to uproot unwanted weeds.
• #3: The remedy for poor speech is a bar of soap. My mouth was washed out with soap so many times, I could tell you what brand it was just by the taste.
• #4: Be thrifty. Solomon said that we should, “Consider the ways of the ant and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” With 8 kids, Mom couldn’t afford to be frivolous, so she would study the weekly ads and then stock the food pantry with whatever was on sale.
• #5: Splurge once in a while. Birthdays were special because Mom indulged you by cooking whatever you wanted to eat.
• #6: Be timely. Ecclesiastes 8:6 tell us that, “A wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment, because for every matter there is a time and judgment, though the misery of man increases greatly.” There were times each one of the kids in the family experienced an increase in their misery index because they arrived home one minute after curfew.
• #7: Clean your plate. I never understood why I was supposed to clean my plate, but I wasn’t permitted to lick my ice cream bowl.
• #8: Eat a little bit each time and you’ll learn to like it. Some of Mom’s kids never learned to choke-down slimy green vegetables.
• #9: Life isn’t fair. Mom had more than her share of trials and sorrows, but she believed that when hard times come your way you should trust God, huddle with your family, lean on your friends, and pull yourself up by your boot straps and keep on keeping on.
• #10: Love. In I Corinthians 13 we’re told that, “Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Regardless of what I did, Mom’s love for me never wavered.

My siblings and I were blessed with a wonderful mother, and we thank God for her love and the lessons she shared with us.

See You Later

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SONY DSCAt 1:20 AM Friday morning, my mother passed away. Instead of saying “goodbye,” I choose to say “see you later.” From my conversations with Mom, I believe the moment she took her last breath, she immediately went to Heaven.

On Wednesday of last week she had a horrible day, so I sat beside her and spoke to her about what and who she had waiting for her in Heaven. Two of my sisters joined me as we sang “Jesus Loves Me.”

Over the last week I continued to reassure Mom that it was ok to die; that she did not have to continue to fight for her kids; and that, we would all be fine, and I said: “Mom you can go on the Heaven.”

Love you Mom, and I’ll see you later.

…….I may not post here for a few days as I tend to the situation at hand….

Vintage 1969

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moonprintThe picture to the left was taken 45 years ago. It is the remnant of one of the first foot prints to be left on the surface of the moon.

On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr. touched down on the surface of the moon as part of the Apollo 11 mission. At 10:39:33 PM EDT, Armstrong opened the hatch of the lunar module and climbed down the ladder to the moon’s surface. He then made his historic statement: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

moonbootArmstrong and Aldrin were wearing boots made from a special silicon rubber developed by GE. To commemorate this event, GE decided to make 100 pairs of a moon boot sneaker called The Missions, and they will sell for $196.90 a pair.

Even though the Bible doesn’t say anything about walking on the moon, it does say quite a bit about walking for the Master:

• We are called to follow the example of Jesus and walk in love (Ephesians 5:2).
• We are to follow in the footsteps of the faith of Abraham (Romans 4:12).
• We are to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
• We are to walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8).
• We are to walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10).
• Paul issued a warning to those who walked in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but were busybodies (I Thessalonians 3:11).

You don’t have to buy a pair of fancy boots to go on a mission for God, but you should take the time to acknowledge Him and allow Him to direct your paths: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).”

Ever Been Gobsmacked?

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wowI want to do two things with this blog today. First, I want to share Lamentations 3:22-26 with you—it’s a favorite of mine: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”

Second, I want to express my long-overdue gratitude to the Navigators. While I was in the Air Force and was stationed in Colorado Springs, I came to know Christ. Shortly after that, I was befriended by a “nav,” and was invited out to the Navigators headquarters in Glen Eyrie in 1972.

I was gobsmacked to learn how much Scripture my friend had memorized. There were several shoe boxes full of hundreds of cards with Scripture printed on them, and he had committed them to memory.

By the way, there was a third thing I wanted to do today—I wanted to use “gobsmacked” in a sentence. Gobsmacked means “astounded.”

I was more than just astounded by the spiritual discipline of the people I met at the Navigators—I was also challenged to begin memorizing Scripture, and I’m thankful for this because it changed my life (Psalm 119:9-11).

One of the first verses I committed to memory was the passage from Lamentations, and there is some gobsmacking and astounding truth in these words from the prophet Jeremiah:

• God’s love is steadfast and it never ceases
• His mercies are endless, they never go stale, and they are renewed every morning
• God’s faithfulness is great
• Because God’s resources are enough to meet my needs I can hope in Him
• When you wait on God and seek Him, you will experience His goodness and His salvation

If you will claim the truth of this Scripture, you might just have a gobsmacking day today.

Feed-Sack Faith

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7802561-horse-and-carriage-in-florence-italy-resting-horse-having-feed-from-a-hessian-sackSince I come from a family of eight children, I know the importance of being on-time when it is meal time, and when possible, being at the head of the line. In fact, eating is one of the few things I do well, so I do as much of it as I can.

This may be why I like what Solomon said in Proverbs 15:15: “a merry heart has a continual feast.” I’ve never been too concerned about eating a large meal; I would rather put the feed-sack on and “graze” all day long.

You don’t have to be a cardiologist to know that the health of your heart is a key factor in the health of your entire body; and Solomon knew that the attitude of your heart determines your perspective on life.

There is a direct connection in Scripture that links a healthy heart to the outcomes of your life. The key here is not the circumstances of life, but the Christ who died to give you life.

Notice the principles in the following verses:

• Psalm 13:5-6: Because I have trusted in Your mercy my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.
• Psalm 27:14: Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!
• Proverbs 4:23: Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.
• Proverbs 14:30: A tranquil heart is life to the body, but jealousy is rottenness to the bones.
• Proverbs 16:23: The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
• Proverbs 23:26: My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways

Are you living a life that is characterized by a robust faith, or is your spiritual health busted? In Proverbs 17:22, Solomon said: “A merry heart does good, like medicine.” If your life is all famine and no feast, you may need to get into God’s medicine cabinet and take a healthy dose of His Word.

Destestable or Acceptable?

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echoIf someone surprised you with a tape recording of everything you have said this week, what would you discover? This question came to my mind after I read Psalm 19:14: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.”

After listening to the recording, what would you discover about the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart? Would God find your words to be detestable or acceptable?

There are several places in the Bible that remind us of the importance of minding our tongue:

• Psalm 144:8 Warns of a person “Whose mouth speaks lying words, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.”
• Proverbs 6:2 reminds us that, “You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth.
• Proverbs 16:24 says that, “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

If you could stand at the edge of a valley and hear the echo of every word you have spoken in your life, what would you hear? Would you hear the reverberating sound of pleasant and wholesome words, or would you hear the hollow sound of rude and crude language?

I encourage you to take the next day or two and focus on Psalm 19:14, and make it your prayer to God: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.”

Resistance Measures

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6C8299885-1307017-magicphoto-hmed-0220p-filesTo say that my skills as an electrician are poor would be a gross understatement of my ability—I have almost none.

I remember an incident in a house in Texas that needed some wiring in the attic. After I had applied my talent to the problem, I flipped a switch and there was a momentary flash of fire. After that experience, I decided it was cheaper to call an electrician.

Even though I don’t know much about electricity, I do know a little about the function of a resistor. It’s used in a circuit to control the flow of current to other components. As an example, if too much current flows through an LED it’s destroyed. A resistor regulates the current, so the LED can shine without getting fried.

As I was reading the book of James, I thought of the importance of resistors. James said: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you (4:8).” James knew that by resisting the devil, you can control the flow of a negative current to the various components of your body.

Think about it: To be the salt of the earth and the light (LED) of the world, you have to be a resistor for Jesus. James gives several instructions in the building and maintaining of a powerful resistor (4:7-10):

• Submit to God
• Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
• Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
• Cleanse your hands, and purify your hearts
• Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

I hope these last ten words will help you remember everything written above: James insists that you resist, so your light will persist.

The Breath of Life

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hotWhen hot air balloons, a conversation can go from bad to ugly. When a balloon is filled with hot air, it can go from loose and baggy to beautiful.

There is something captivating about hot air balloons. Once during a trip to New Mexico, I was fortunate to have a room that faced the mountains, and the land between the hotel and the mountains served as a launching pad for hot air balloons. As each balloon slowly filled with air, it would begin to gently rise upward and would eventually float up into the sky and out of sight. This event reaches a grand scale each year during the month of October when Albuquerque has its annual festival.

Whenever I see a balloon launch, I’m reminded of the words of Solomon: “the dust of mortals goes back to the ground as it was before, and the breath of life goes back to God who gave it (Eccl. 12:7).” The “breath of life” is a reference to the spirit that dwells within you.

The words of Jesus help to explain this: “Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life (John 5:24).”

Just as the hot air gives life to the balloon, the regenerated spirit gives eternal life. When life ends, Jesus makes an eternal difference. You can pass from “death to life.”

What is it that you think of when you see a hot air balloon in flight? Watch this time lapse video of the Albuquerque festival, and share your thoughts.