The Fifth and final day of our Kentucky Mission Trip

Our missions journey has concluded, and we've all been enriched by our involvement with the Crossroad Baptist community in Whitley City, Kentucky. Pastor Grant, along with his wife Gina and Stephanie, embody remarkable dedication to the community, leading teams in effective and spiritually grounded ministry. It's a privilege to serve people in the midst of their struggles; indeed, when we serve the Lord wholeheartedly, we inevitably encounter the messiness of those we seek to minister to. I'm particularly thankful not just for the provision of meals to those struggling with cooking or the distribution of healthy produce to families in need, but also for the opportunity to witness and participate in building relationships and sharing the gospel at the Lord’s Café. The teaching there is focused, methodically delving into each verse of the Bible. There's deliberate space for questions and discussion, fostering meaningful engagement. Reflecting the attitude of 2 Timothy 2:1-2, the men actively involve themselves in the mission, ensuring that even the simplest tasks include and empower others to contribute according to their abilities. The patient mentoring of the women, reminiscent of Titus 2:3, is truly humbling. I've seen firsthand their loving care for those struggling to find hope amidst chaos. Personally, I've learned valuable lessons, such as how to plant squash on a trellis and the importance of being present in the moment, wisely stewarding resources for the long term. I've also recognized the need to improve my listening skills, rather than relying solely on my own thoughts. Moreover, I've witnessed the power of affirmation in ministry—it's not merely correction but also the verbal acknowledgment of growth and positive change in individuals' thinking and behavior. This wisdom is demonstrated in interpersonal relationships, where listening, understanding, and guiding based on God’s Word are paramount. Ultimately, the teaching provided is practical wisdom, helping people navigate their challenges and discover the transformative truth of God’s Word, which has the power to bring order not only to their external chaos but also to the deeper turmoil within their hearts.

Day four of Kentucky Missions Trip

Today marks the culmination of our journey. We're devoting our day to preparing meals for the community and distributing the provisions generously provided for families facing dire need of nutritious food. The stories we've encountered are profound. There are shattered homes due to regrettable decisions, leaving families with fathers incarcerated. A grandmother's fervent prayers ascend for her granddaughter, battling addiction once more, risking her health and even limb due to repeated needle use. The reality of amputees, single mothers seeking not just sustenance but emotional solace and affirmation of their worth in the eyes of Christ, becomes more clear as they share their heartbreaking stories. Through it all, God remains steadfast. He supplies the resources necessary to address nutritional deficiencies, nurtures the bonds within our community and church family, orchestrates the provision of temporary shelter, and offers the greatest gift: the restoration of grace for every transgression. All we're called to do is turn away from that which harms us, redirecting our trust to the one who unconditionally loves us and is dedicated to our well-being. He desires a relationship with us, beckoning us to faithfully trust in His perfect care. By placing our faith in His Son's sacrifice for our sins, we're assured of an eternity with a faithful God in Heaven. Through this journey, I've emerged with a revived sense of belonging to a family united by one common bond: our devotion to a faithful Savior. I'm profoundly thankful for the opportunity to forge connections with strangers who share our vision of aiding the needy, comforting the downtrodden, and supporting the weak in spirit. My existing friendships have deepened as we've bolstered each other through moments of exhaustion, finding solace in uplifting words and reaffirming our purpose. Our collective dedication to serving our Creator stems not from a desire for recognition, but from a heartfelt commitment to ensuring that no one misses out on the eternal family awaiting us in Heaven, guided by our unwavering God.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 Finally, brothers,[a] pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored,[b] as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.[c] 4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Day Three in Kentucky

Today, we're diving into garden work, promising the kind of day that leaves you sweaty and eagerly anticipating a refreshing shower. Our devotional focus spans two parts. Picture this: amidst one of their journeys, Jesus and his disciples find themselves on the Sea of Galilee, nestled within a valley surrounded by imposing mountains. Storms there brew suddenly, catching one off guard. When a tempest arose, it stirred great turmoil among the disciples. But fear not, for Jesus effortlessly quelled the chaos with just a word, showcasing his mastery over nature. He didn't task his disciples with taming the storm or maintaining the vessel amid the tempest; instead, he took charge, allowing the mission to proceed smoothly. Later, Jesus imparts wisdom, urging us not to rely solely on our own strength. God never intended for us to labor independently, striving to meet every need. Rather, our role is to remain receptive and responsive to God's guidance and callings. In doing so, we open ourselves to divine strength and wisdom, simply by dedicating ourselves to listening attentively.

Mark 6:47-51 47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed. Matthew 25:35-40 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

Day Two Kentucky Mission Trip

We rise and greet the day, filled with purpose. Today, our focus is on preparing nutritious lunch meals to support those in the community. Alongside this, we dedicate time to fixing plumbing and electrical issues in the kitchen and planting early crops, essential for sustaining those we serve. Before diving into our tasks, we gather for a moment of devotion and prayer, reflecting on the abundance we enjoy and questioning our desires for more. In this introspection, we ponder whether our pursuit of wants overshadows gratitude for what we already have. Does God, in His wisdom, provide solely for our needs to remind us of our privilege and prevent greed from consuming us? We are reminded that while God faithfully meets our needs, He does not promise to fulfill all our desires. Like a loving parent, He provides what is truly beneficial for us. Even when our desires are not granted, we trust in His divine provision and foresight, knowing He supplies precisely what we require in each moment. In this journey, we recognize our role as ambassadors of God's love, placed here and now to serve others. Through our faithfulness, even in challenging times, we become channels of His provision for those who seek assistance. God entrusts us with discomfort and growth opportunities to shape us into reflections of Jesus, strengthening our faith and courage along the way.

Phillipians 4:10-19 10I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 14Yet it was kind of you to sharef my trouble. 15And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.g 18I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Day One in Kentucky

We rose early and gathered with a strong sense of purpose. Today wouldn't be a typical outing or vacation; it was about dedicating ourselves to serving those who are struggling. The despair of feeling trapped in a hopeless existence weighs heavily on many, and our aim is to offer a glimmer of hope. The lengthy journey pales in comparison to the opportunity to witness transformation through reaching beyond our comfort zones. Yet, we also recognize the importance of serving those we encounter. Our actions—rooted in love, grace, and mercy—will exemplify the true compassion that can rescue those drowning in darkness. Today, we're only getting acquainted with the community we'll serve tomorrow. Anticipation builds for the forthcoming experience at The Lord's Cafe—it promises to be remarkable indeed!

Romans 12:3-8 ESV 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Shalom

The peace we bring into our everyday relationships is evidence of what Jesus is doing in our lives – healing us, moving us to be changed to be more like him. We are to live peaceably in a world of hate and division within religious theology and political philosophy.  This seems like an impossible feat.  But that is when the impossible is made possible because of Jesus in us.  There is no greater testimony than when we carry out God’s peace.  Our peace is not dependent on what others do but on how we live our lives.  Trading drama for peace can make all the difference in the relationships around us. We are all hurting and feel justified in our actions.  At the end of the day holding on to bitterness and anger don’t help us move forward but keeps us tangled in knots of defeat.  Paul was teaching the peace gospel during the same challenging times we are experiencing today.  His teaching was causing disruptions in all the same ways Christianity is at odds with religious, political, and financial systems today.  As he was asking people to leave idol worship, he was also asking people to leave their commercial support of the idol worship economy. This would undoubtedly cause hatred toward those who left their trade. Paul was asking Jewish, Christian, and Roman people to live peaceably in every situation in all of their life influences.  Salt is vital in the human body.  In order to survive, our bodies have to have this essential ingredient as part of their extracellular fluid.  This ingredient allows them to transport oxygen and nutrients within the body and helps to maintain the fluid volume and acid-base balance in our bodies.  Our Christ like lives can like salt make a difference in the lives around us by allowing peace to flow from our lives into those within our sphere of influence. Jesus told us we are the salt of the earth. This means we are to serve as a healing agent to this hurting, sick, and dying world. We are called to be peacemakers and help heal broken relationships. Matthew 5:13 ESV Jesus told us we are the salt of the earth. This means we are to serve as a healing agent to this hurting, sick, and dying world. We are called to be peacemakers and help heal broken relationships. John 14:27 ESV 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Romans 12:18 ESV 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Isaiah 9:6 ESV 6 For to us a child is born,     to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon[a] his shoulder,     and his name shall be called[b] Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,     Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

What will it take for us to come to peace instead of war?

 Between the events of 9/11 and 10/7 I have had great ignition of anger for those who would cause harm to the innocent in the name of a god and a human ideology.  It confounds me the evil and atrocities which can be carried out on the very young and old who hold no threat to these cowards of evil.  I have come to realize some evils must be eradicated before their disease can worm its way into the fabric of the societies they wish to destroy.  Make no mistake, they desire to destroy and kill!

What got me thinking is when a dear friend I respect reminded me we needed to pray for their salvation.  OK, I have been praying for God to work against the desires of evil men and to cause them to lay down their weapons and come to peace.  I have even thought bigger than that; asking for God to work only what He can achieve by making the resolve of this conflict between Hamas and the desire to wipe out the Israel nation in only way He can and to make it big so the IDF and any political party cannot take privilege to bringing about the peace in the region.  I am totally convinced God already knows what is going to happen because he is the Ancient of Days; after all,  He is ever-present, as he was and is always to the end aware of what will happen and is all-knowing to have the power to bring about exactly what is best and just for every individual currently, will be and has been living on this planet.  Let’s be real, if our Creator did not have these qualities what would be the security and faith in believing in a God who was anything less?  This stands to reason then those who desire to hate, destroy and kill are truly destined to be removed to a hell as a consequence for their actions.  After all isn’t that what the Word of God says?

Which brings me back to the initial question.  Yes, I do pray for those who are desiring to kill those who stand for freedoms to worship, live without fear, and work to support their families.  How far do we take this inaction on our part and follow God’s action in dealing with the evil in this world?  Again, I have to go back to my foundation and refer to the Bible in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.  If we look in history evil was delt with through destruction, captivity, and in some cases restoration on both the part of those who stood against Israel and Israel herself.  However, this always came about as a result of a choice of action against other peoples or against the Creator himself.  I use the term peoples because WE ARE OF THE SAME RACE only different nationalities based on where we live.  We can ALL find our lineage from the first human ADAM and there is no mistaking it!  Even in the New Testiment we still find consequences for actions.  We are still free to choose for or against but make no mistake there still is a consequence. 

So, the conflict of who is right and who is wrong still remains.  Who is the bully here?  The problem is who you are talking to and who is living in the arms of fear.  I think we try to make it political so we can have a seen enemy and leave the blame to humans.  The truth is deeper than political.  Then, some come to blame on religion and in the name of a god for an excuse to commit great atrocities against factions and groups of peoples we disagree with.  Again, we miss the deeper driving motivation for caring out these evils against humanity.  It really comes down to our world view; theology of our thinking; the values we base our motivations and actions on.  There are only two choices when it comes to this foundation.  Are we basing our foundations on what man thinks and how the world is understood according to man’s wisdom or are we basing our foundations on what our Creator instructs and how He has set up the foundations for this world?  How could it be that simple?  Think of it this way, foundations which are based on man’s interpretation of how the world works is explained according to man’s understanding and how he has set up the governing standard or plumbline.  The only problem is this standard is ever changing if you rely on man’s thinking.  Depending on the current mood of society will dictate what is deemed acceptable.  Then it is deemed acceptable according to what the desires of the society (man) at that current time.  History of the last 100 years has only to show you this standard is everchanging.  You can also go back to the religions which have started from human interpretations and the making of their own so-called books of foundations; all of which are based on human thought who have given their own theology based on a work to earn based salvation.  All these leaders have been buried six feet in the ground.  I give examples of Hinduism, Shinto, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Jehovah Witness, Later Day Saints.   NOT ONE of them has been able to say they have beaten death.  So, what was once deemed not acceptable is now acceptable; what was acceptable is now not acceptable depending on my current mood, thinking, and understanding. 

If you look at what the standard or plumbline according to the Creator, I doubt you find a change there.  This is because God does not change.  Again, He is the Ancient of Days, He is consistent through out history and can be trusted to be consistent in the future because He has proven himself trustworthy because of His history.  The clear foundation of the original manuscripts of the Bible does not change over thousands of years; within the Bible are decrees it must not be added or deleted from; and the standing alone on its own without contradiction from the first page to the last is the foundation which can only be trusted.    My trip to Israel has made this clear to me.  Take a shovel in one hand and a Bible in the other and they will prove each other EVERY TIME.  There is no mistaking it!

2022 Jerusalem evening

So, I go again back to my question of dealing with this evil.  If we are to truly love and pray for our enemies, how can we justify the war and killing.  Again, I am going back to my experiences of having Muslim friends in my history; our trip to Egypt; and my own searching to understand why they have their understanding and why they have come to be this mindset.  This again comes back to where your foundations are.  Are you trusting in a man created thought process and foundation or are you trusting in the Creator given foundation?  If you trust in a man’s, you will be deceived in twisting the truth to meet your desires and greed.  You will come to expect other humans are only created to meet your human needs and to make your pleasures a reality.  You will twist the explanation of killing and stealing to meet your need for power and approval.  The value of life will be consequential to achieving your end goal.  This is what we are seeing in the evil within Hamas, Isis, Hasibullah, al-Qaida, and the Muslim Brotherhood.  These ideologies are using in the name of god to promote their drive to conquer and destroy any thought outside of their own.  How to win over these peoples?  Yes, praying can be done and I think God is working within these countries ruled by these ideologies.  However, I do not think God also allows us to sit with our hands under our legs and disregard the actions from these groups.  We are called to defend against evil and to stop the destruction of the poor, weak, and young.  This is the reason we need to defend the woman and children within these countries.  However, evil has chosen to use the same as their shields and sympathy for giving excuse to their actions.  Don’t be deceived by what is happening in the current days.  We must not forget the plight of these people last year and years ago.  The same ruling ideologies are gleaning off of the poor and killing their own people to meet their own greed for pleasure, power, and greed.  It is just now; they are crying wolf as they are being found out and called to account for their actions. 

This should drive us to pray for those who are being succumbed to the actions of these men in power and the consequences of the acts of 10/7/23.  I do pray for the innocent and those found in the middle.  However, we must not be deceived into thinking to allowing rats to continue to thrive in the dark and not live with the infestation of the consequences when the infestation becomes septic and spills over into the surrounding peoples and into the light.  For this reason, we must act, and we must get rid of the rats to avoid the septic conditions of the people who are living with the rats and those whom the rats want to destroy.  This is the only reality for the killing I can resolve with.  As sad as I am, I know MY GOD is just and he will only judge those with his trustworthy love and mercy.  Kill’em all and let God sort’em out is the only solace I have when God will know His own. 

So yes, we should pray for all those who are having to live in all the wars on this little planet of ours.  We pray for God to thwart the evil desires of men and to bring a close to the wars in such a way there will only be one explanation to the end, IT WAS A GOD THING!

2023 Remembrance Table Israel

Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem

October 2022 Bethlehem Square, Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Israel, taken by Bruce Cunningham during our Educational Opportunities Holy Land Tour

 This is going to be a Christmas like no other.  The town of Bethlehem is now dark and a surreal quiet fall on her streets as the announcement of very little Christmas celebrations will take place.  This has never been contemplated before in many minds.  But has it? 

October 2022 Bethlehem Square, Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Israel, taken by Bruce Cunningham during our Educational Opportunities Holy Land Tour

The Roman Hadrian ventured to destroy all of Christianity by converting the site into Greek god temples.  Numerous Muslim invasions have destroyed and attempted to wash the city of its history of saintliness.   During the 1948 Arab Israeli war, Bethlehem became a refugee city for Christians. During the days of the Intifadas the city went under the control of the PLO and was limited in her Christian activities.  It is only in the last 15 years has pilgrims have been able to visit this historically Holy city once again.  Of course, this is a very simple history, however, it comes to remind us of the celebration of Christmas is not dependent on circumstances or world events. 

October 2022 Shepherds Field, Bethlehem, Israel, taken by Bruce Cunningham during our Educational Opportunities Holy Land Tour

The celebration of Our Holy Savior is only dependent on our own attitudes and reflections of the gift God gave us of His Son Jesus.  It was on the perfect timing, specific place, and promised covenant did God relegate authority to a Baby who would live among His people and give His life in substitution for our evil and sinful lives.  It was during the evil Roman Empire did Jesus come to be born.  It was during the evil reigns and wars in the name of “god” did the Muslims, Crusaders and various other groups attempt to liberate this Holy City.    

October 2022 Bethlehem Square, Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Israel, taken by Bruce Cunningham during our Educational Opportunities Holy Land Tour

My point?  I urge, no I besiege us, to not forget whom this season was first remembered for.  It was the gift of a God Child; the faithful struggle of human parents; and the love of our Father who made this night special for all generations.  The night may be dark, the streets may be silent, but our Savior still lives, and we can still celebrate the gift of this Child. 

October 2022 Bethlehem Square, Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Israel, taken by Heath Dawson during our Educational Opportunities Holy Land Tour

Let us show our worship and love in response to this gift by praying for God to once again show His power and mighty hand over our world.  For our Father to show himself once again in the middle of chaos by bringing peace to his Holy Land.  We pray for all the peoples of the world to turn to the Heavens and remember the Creator who is still in control.  A Father, who is patient and loving, is waiting for His children to turn their faces back once again to Him.  

October 2022 Bethlehem Square, Church of St. Catherine, St. George killing the dragon satan Bethlehem, Israel, taken by Bruce Cunningham during our Educational Opportunities Holy Land Tour

A Year Full of Firsts

Eating Alone

 

We are looking for a new beginning and hope for a better year coming in 2024.  But this year will hold a year of firsts along with the sadness of the first year without my Dad. 

Christmas is over and Dad was not there.  I am glad He is in heaven now for he no longer is lost when his memory fails.  Dad no longer has the pain or the disappointment he can’t finish what he was doing.  This realization doesn’t help the fact we still miss Him and wish we could have the “old Dad” back for just another year. 

I don’t think I will be alone; I know there are many others who are starting a year with firsts.  This will be the first without a father, mother, husband, wife, sister, brother, son, or daughter or that special person we loved because of who they were.   It may too, be a year of loss of employment or the end of a relationship. The grief will all be the same.  We will flow through the emotions at different paces, and some will stay in one phase or another, but we will all experience that stuck feeling.  Will this ever be over?  I don’t’ like the new normal; I still want the old normal back.   That is the strange thing about life; just when we get used to a familiar everyday routine, we are thrust into a change of a different normal.  The new everyday routine, well, we won’t like the new normal as we age into the so-called golden years. I say humbug to the golden years for I don’t see anything golden to them. Getting old has many challenges I’d rather not experience.  

I cherish we still have the opportunity to hold onto those we love and glean wisdom for just one more day.  We have the opportunity to talk just one more time before they can no longer speak.  The one more time to snap a selfie or family photo before they are no longer here.  But here is not their end for sure.  I am grateful for the assurance we have been given to know this is not the end of all, nor was this the goal.  The next life in Heaven was the goal all along and we just lost sight of that for a while. 

My older generations in our family gave the gift of knowing the bigger picture.  This is not a short story nor a one-shot movie.  Rather, our lives are a series of chapters, and this chapter has ended and the next one has begun.  I like to think we have an opportunity to be a star in our own movie series.  Thank goodness for the next chronicle as we can change the direction of our path we are taking.

We can think of it this way, this place in time is only part of the big screen.  Like any good story, there is a villain, and that villain is death.  Like all enemies, death was created as a result of the evil of sin, our old rival.  We are not strong enough to fight this enemy by ourselves.  But, out of the darkness a light has shown through.  We have a Savior which has defeated death.  Christ died so we would no longer have to experience death.  Christ rose again so death would be conquered.  Now Christ points us to the promise of resurrection once and forever. 

We will no longer have to mourn for our loved ones.  One day life will no longer give way to death.  We have confidence we are saved by a Creator who is the ‘Ancient of Days’ as He is not content with allowing things to stay as they are.  He loved us so much to not just sit by, but he did something about the sin in the world He had created.  He had a plan from the start.  So, if He had a plan from the start why on earth would He allow sin to enter His creation?  It is only through the darkness can light shine its brightest.  Only through tragedy can people be moved to fight for what is right.  Only through pain will people stop and turn from evil and towards what is for their good.  Death is our enemy; death is the tragedy which we will all experience; death is the inflictor of pain; grieving and mourning we must all deal with. Death is the result of sin; this was not God’s desire for a perfect creation. However, it is what is needed to bring the climax of the story to its glory.

I am not saying God calls us to stifle our grief or to act stoically without releasing our emotions.  To be honest, I HATE the old religious cliches and theological triteness people try to use to reduce the moment of uneasiness when dealing with a grieving person.  A situation I find difficult is during an open casket event. I won’t look at a person laying in a casket.  I always want my memories to be when we laughed and cried together while they were alive.  (So please give me grace anytime you expect me to attend a calling hour, I won’t be) Sometimes it is just being there silently and sitting with the grieving is all that is needed.  Many times, the grieving doesn’t even know what they need help with.  If you see something needs done, do it next time.  Just showing up to help is all that is needed to get the griever to take that first step in getting back to a life of normalcy again.

Death will often bring about the rush of many emotions.  Sometimes one at a time or other times all of them at once.  As the shock of death settles in, we may begin to doubt this goodness and mercy God talks about.  The feeling of being loved by God is just not present when we can’t see past this wave of grief we are experiencing.  The tendency for life to descend into a self-absorption of self-pity as it colors our ability to see clearly the positive in our lives.  Anger can distort our vision of our new reality.  Why would God allow our lives to descend into this pit of despair.  Why would God allow death to enter into our existence as we watch others move on with their lives in what appears to be happy bliss.  At this point envy has set in and so the fog of despair.  Don’t get caught here. 

God never intended you to do life alone.  He never intended you to go through the experience of death and its loss alone either.  Actually, God did promise to provide what you need to face this experience of a year of new firsts.  After all, we are called to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2) There is meaning and purpose still ahead.  This is a time habits and the rhythm of daily routines can carry us through.  You may not feel like reading the Bible so listen to it instead.  You may not feel like singing right now so take a walk and let nature sing to you.  Give yourself permission to have moments of weeping.  God made these times to allow our bodies to be washed of the grief.  When someone calls allow yourself to express your needs if only to have someone sit beside you in silence.  As you receive comfort from others you are able to understand and give comfort to those who will inevitably be walking this same path in the future.  This is how God enters into your darkness and then equips you to do the same for others.  (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

It is a reality of life we will all be experiencing the year of firsts at one time or another.  The one wonderful thing about this story is God has let us in on the ending.  We know how death’s suffering and grief is finally won over.  We are confidently assured every last tear will be dried and we will never have to morn or experience death again.  We will have a place and life in heaven in the last chapter of this eternal story.

That habit you should start a new year off with

 It is another new year. Time to review the past year and think about how I want to live my life this upcoming year.  I don’t like to make new year's resolutions as I rarely keep them.  Rather, I like to look back at what last year contained and how this next year can provide opportunities of growth.  I decided with my new knees in tow, to finally attend a group meeting of one of my mentors.  She has been one of those people who have kept me moving forward during the covid isolation and striving to live a life worthy of being a member of the Royal Family of a King.  I was not disappointed and brought away actions I had learned many years ago in a different light.  I love how she put herself out there and am very grateful for her love of Christ and willingness to step out in courage, I know you don’t mind me sharing your thoughts and dreams Cassie! 

As I look through all the bills and receipts for this past year for tax time, (yes, I am doing my taxes already) I am not just looking at what we have spent our money on this year.  I am really looking at what we have invested our money and time into.  These items we purchased, were they really beneficial for our own growth, were they worth the investment or did they drain our money, time, and emotional resources? 

Then, I started a new chapter in my life journal.  (Maybe you might want to start a whole new journal book.  I hate to waste pages and my book was only half full.  Another goal I am repeating for this year) I am writing down all that I have dreams for this year.  The habits I like to develop more fully.  Those things which are hard to do but you know you should do them.  I also included those successes and wins.  One of the scariest things was becoming a Host for Educational Opportunities.  It weighs heavily on me I am responsible for the safety, financial security, and enjoyment of learning about the Holy Land.  It has also been a disappointment we may not be able to take my first trip.  However, because I have trusted God to lead me, I have grown so much from just taking that first step.  I have come to realize I am human, and I have put way too much pressure on myself.  This was a weight never intended for me to carry.  Simple, I have to put that weight down.  Yes, (I am a perfectionist), it is not easy to not expect high performance from myself.  But it is necessary for me to rely on God and the people who are put into my life to achieve the great things God has planned.  My purpose is only to do what God has me to achieve.  The others are to do their parts.  So, I am only holding on to the weight I am intended to carry for a season.  Maybe this trip was planned for next year in God’s wisdom and I was only to get the first steps started.

Now I am ready to get serious about what I was called to do.  I have to put aside all the frivolous things which will have very little meaning for the next year.  Focus my vision on the things necessary to get to where I want to go.  Developing habits to feed my mind and staying close to what God wants me to be learning.  Taking care of the body I am in while living on this earth.  I have to take off all those layers of protection I use to hide behind to keep myself safe.  I am getting uncomfortable and taking those leaps of faith of doing things which may cause me to be ridiculed for or may appear to be a failure.  It is in the failures we sometimes grow the most in.  It is in the times of being in the fog we have true friends and family show up to help us take the next steps. These are gifts of opportunities to walk together instead of alone.

Therefore, as I complete my journey of becoming ACBC certified, I am doing the final look over my exam answers before I hand them in.  I am both excited and feeling a little exhausted as this has really been a stretching opportunity.  I have been asked what will I be doing and what makes Biblical counseling different from other counseling?  To help answer some of these questions I am going to be sharing some of my exam questions as they will help explain what my focus will be. 

Finally, for this new year I will be praying for guidance as I complete my ACBC certification; setting the final arrangements for our Holy Land pilgrimage; and new opportunities to stretch into learning skills and using gifts I have been given.  What will you be praying for?

Beyond the Tangible: A Richness that endures into eternity.

As we enter the Year of the Dragon, a common greeting resonates: "xīn nián kuài lè, dà jí dà lì" – wishing everyone a Happy New Year and prosperity. This phrase sparked thoughts on the concept of 'richness' and its true meaning.
In Chinese culture, the New Year often emphasizes wealth, prompting me to question about the type of richness we aspire to. Is it the American dream of material success – money, homes, and cars? Or are we seeking a richer, intangible fulfillment? Could our focus extend beyond material wealth to include wisdom, intelligence, and good health? Is it possible that our aspirations should involve the legacy we leave behind and the impact we have on others and the world?
Delving deeper, the question arises: What kind of wealth will endure beyond our time on this earth? What do we genuinely want to accumulate in our lives?

As we are entering the second month of this new year, the call is not just for financial prosperity but also for enriching our lives in ways that extend beyond the grave. Whether it involves cultivating wisdom, nurturing meaningful relationships, or leaving a positive legacy, may this new year bring us a wealth that truly matters.

My aspiration for this year revolves around deepening my understanding of my purpose. It's evident in observing the myriad of ways people invest their focus, time, and resources into various pursuits we are inherently designed to worship. What we choose to worship becomes the essence of our lives.

I am committed to avoiding the squandering of my life on pursuits that are transient and fade into the memories of the past. Instead, I desire to channel my time and focus into endeavors that extend beyond my own existence and withstand the test of time. My wish extends to those around me, urging them to recognize the significance of acknowledging an eternal judgment and being prepared for the presence of the Creator, the Ancient of Days.

Reflecting on my worship of the God I trust, I draw attention to the undeniable existence of a creator beyond human comprehension, evident in the world we inhabit. While scientists seek the knowledge of the beginning of time without definitive explanation, the Bible consistently provides answers to the origins of this knowledge. The notion of God being present equally in the past, present, and future, across every location within creation, heaven, and hell, emphasizes the omnipresence and omniscience of God. This awareness offers both comfort and a sobering realization that nothing we do can escape His knowledge, and we can not hide our actions.

I acknowledge the challenge of grappling with the idea of a God beyond our control and understanding. However, my preference is to worship and have faith in a God known for being trustworthy, never failing, fulfilling His promises, and possessing the power and knowledge to bring about the best for us. I find solace in the concept of a perfect judge – an Ancient of Days who comprehends the entirety of the story and ensures decisions based on fairness, devoid of favoritism and incorruptibility.

For the upcoming year, my hope for you is to be rich in knowledge of the God I trust – a God deserving of your love, trustworthy enough to be intricately involved in every moment of your life, holding your life in His hands. A God who, out of boundless love, understands the impossibility of self-improvement to the extent required to overcome the ugliness of sin and evil. A God willing to redeem His child through the sacrifice of a part of Himself – as a Son who paid our sin penalty, a Spirit dwelling within our spirit, and a Father persistently seeking His child until they are brought home.

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there, your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Psalms 139:7-15=ESV

 

Waiting for the amazing

 Waiting for the amazing....

Just as I had done many years earlier, I underwent my mammogram with a sense of routine. The familiar anticipation of the pink, letter-sized envelope arriving in the mail a week later was part of the ritual. However, this year proved to be different. The envelope, which usually appeared promptly, was conspicuously delayed. It wasn't until after a phone call prompting a follow-up mammogram that I finally received the awaited letter. Its contents confirmed the necessity for further investigation, leading to a biopsy.

During the consultation with the doctor, it became clear that this was not ordinary calcification. The changes observed were specific to my right breast, causing concern. Until this year, all my mammograms since 1998 had been clear. The image on the screen revealed five white blotches accompanied by a vein-like white string, indicating something new.

Contrary to the expected shock, I found myself devoid of that emotion, as the impact of cancer had long left me when those words were first uttered. The visceral understanding of the afflictions caused by cancer was not foreign to our family, but now it became a personal reality. I grappled with the awareness that the envisioned 15 additional years might not materialize. The postponed plans—anniversary trips, whale watching cruises, visits to loved ones abroad, and mission trips—loomed as regrets. In essence, I mourned the time that seemed to be slipping away. It wasn't about me; it was about what I had deferred.

The narrative of our lives, I realized, should truly reflect who directs our path—the one and only Ancient of Days. Jeremiah 29:11 reminded me, "For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares Yahweh, ‘plans for peace and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope." It didn't promise an absence of difficulties, pain, or challenges but emphasized a hopeful future.

As I pondered what the future might hold, I acknowledged the inevitability of mourning unfinished past endeavors. However, I cautioned against the perilous trap of getting stuck—drowning in misery, bitterness, and resentment over unfulfilled dreams. The swamp of nostalgia, mourning lost youth, and being paralyzed by what used to be posed its own dangers. I resolved not to succumb to these pitfalls, aspiring to be remembered for anticipating the miraculous future God had planned.

Similar to Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego facing the fiery furnace, I desired to embrace the third option—what God would do as we stepped into the fire. Within the flames, we experience release from hindrances, demonstrate the power of God, and redirect attention to the true champion of our story. The narrative centers on a God intimately involved with His creation, concerned with the details of each person in His image. A God willing to allow the consequences of our choices until we turn back to Him, patiently waiting to restore us to His loving care. This God navigates the mystery of free choice, foreseeing the future of every decision, ultimately turning them for our good, even in the midst of turmoil. For it is within the flames that we find strength, courage, and the capacity to face the future with resilience.

Sunday is here....

 

Garden Tomb 2022

I've undergone the biopsy, and now I find myself in the anxious waiting period for the results. It's a time when your mind can't help but run through all the possible scenarios, leading you down countless rabbit holes of what-ifs. As I lay awake, unable to sleep—a departure from my usual nature—I confess openly: I tend to be a bit of a control freak. It's one of my many shortcomings, a sin, if you will. I refuse to be caught off guard by unexpected twists of fate; I strive to be prepared for anything. Over the years, I've learned that keeping my thoughts in check and staying occupied is one way to manage this anxiety. So, I turn to Mr. Google and Miss YouTube, seeking to understand fully the potential diagnoses, treatment options, and outcomes that may lie ahead.

But amidst the flurry of information-seeking, I find myself drawn to a more fundamental practice: prayer. Sometimes, I'm at a loss for words, though my health naturally weighs heavy on my mind. There's only so much one can discuss with God on that front. So, I broaden my focus, praying for all the people in my life who need support: those in need of protection, those who are lost or struggling, those facing health challenges, the unemployed, the discouraged, the oppressed. Theologically, I understand that God is in control of everything. Yet, in my heart, I struggle to relinquish a semblance of that control, a desire which borders on sinful.

I recognize that sin runs deeper than mere external actions; it resides in the innermost recesses of our hearts, shaping our motivations, desires, and ultimately, our actions. Our hearts reflect who we are, and what's within them inevitably spills out into our words and deeds. Therefore, it's crucial to guard our hearts diligently, for they are the wellspring of life.

Without Christ, our hearts turn inward, consumed by self-worship and driven by selfish desires. But in the essence of Christmas lies the hope of Easter—a hope that transforms our lives and offers us a new birth into the fullness of who we were created to be. We were fashioned to worship and commune with a Creator who knows us intimately, who has already planned our futures before we even took our first steps.

In moments of uncertainty, like being told we may have cancer, we can find solace in the arms of a loving Father and the support of a caring community. We can trust that God has already taken care of every detail; our task is simply to turn to Him in faith, relying on His grace and mercy. In doing so, we find freedom from the internal battles that rage within us.

For now, I've received good news, but regardless of the outcome, I'm comforted by the knowledge that my future is secure in the hands of a faithful Father. My focus shifts from myself to Him, trusting in His provision and guidance. For this is the reason for Easter. It is a reminder Jesus came to restore our relationship with our Father and Creator.

As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. Proverbs 27:19

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23.