Traveling Towards Home

We received a sad phone call last night. Our dear friend Winston went home to be with his God. It is sad for his family, who loved and cherished him, and his friends. But what a victory! He was faithful in his Christian walk and he knew where he was going. We have great comfort in that knowledge. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Psalm 116:14 I can only imagine his homecoming. When our eldest son returned from Iraq his first time, we were there to meet his bus as they came home. What joy to see his feet touch American soil! What comfort too be able to hug and hold him, touch his face, hold his hand. If a human parent feels this way, how much more our God, as He sees His faithful child step across the threshold of heaven. So, although we grieve our loss for a time, we are comforted with these words from I Thessalonians 4:13 and 14. "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest yo...

“I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright.” Lev. 26:12-13 This passage brought to mind a book I read years ago in which the writer urged us to live in constant communion with God. This writer helped me see my relationship with God in a new light. It is not to be relegated to set times, but practiced in a daily walk; one that needs my absolute attention moment by moment. It is a joyful, thankful journey alongside Him. It was a turning point in my already strong commitment to live a life dedicated to my God and Savior. If we have obeyed His word, God frees us, not from the land of Egypt, but from slavery to sin. Live in joy...

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25 In reading and meditating on James 1 this morning, it occurred to me how we must look to God. So often we go around, with missing or underdeveloped body parts. You know, like ears without hands and feet in the proper place, or way too small or much too big? You may be asking what I'm talking about? Well, stay with me here while I take the analogy one step further. Have you ever been to a carnival and stepped into the Fun House? The mirrors are all warped every which way and your image is out of proportion? Tall and lean becomes short and spread? Or your normally comfortably round tummy is carved into a tiny waist so small a grape would have trouble making it through? Maybe that is how we look to God as we are traveling this road to our forever home. Like carnival caricatures of the real person we a...

So many times we complain about tension and stress in our lives. If we could just have some peace, we could accomplish something. But consider the violin. It is tension and stress which make such beautiful music from this instrument. Without the proper tension, the strings are not able to 'sing' as they do under the skilled hands of the musician. The same is true in our lives. If we realize that God is the concertmaster and if He is in control, the tension and stress is part of the plan. He knows what we are capable of under His control. He holds us safely in His hands, tightening the strings to the proper tension so that when He sets the bow to string, we 'sing' under his skilled playing. God knows we need rest as well, and we can trust Him to provide this at the right time. A beautiful musical composition is not only made of melody, but of the rests in between the notes. Those help make the melody what it is. And it is only when the Master tightens up the strin...

For the beauty of each hour Of the day and of the night, Hill and vale, and tree and flower, Sun and moon and stars of light, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise. (2nd verse of F.S. Pierpoint's lyrics) When we sing this lovely song, we are reminded of the soft grass of summer, swirling gently to the rhythm of the warm breezes. We appreciate our Father's beautiful gift. But what would our appreciation be, if this scene had not been preceded by the bitter, cold of February; the shrieking hurricane and blinding snow which covers the landscape in impassable drifts? Our Christian life is much the same. We love the gentle moments of love and happy cooperation when minds and hands work as one. But would we long for heaven if that is how it always is? Would our hunger for the reward of rest and peace be so sure if we never found our efforts met with resistance and even hatred? Often the bitter winds of persecution attack our quiet life and drift the ...

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8 NASB None of us wants to be in debt, yet it is part of life. We have home loans, cars, monthly bills and even student debt. We know we must show responsibility and pay our debts. This scripture speaks of a spiritual debt. God is warning us to ‘watch our spending’ as it were. We are to ‘spend’ our lives wisely. When we put on Christ in baptism, we gave up our own will for His will, which is shown in the example of those who have gone before us. Philippians 3:17 advises, “ Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. ” What is this pattern? 1 John 4:19 “We love, because He first loved us.” This is the example: He gave his very life that we might have life, eternal. I will leave you with these questions to consider. Can we follow this love? Are we able to give ourselves sacrifi...

Have you ever been offered a free trip? Phrases like, "No cost to you," and, "All expenses paid," lure us in for a closer look. Many times we get caught up in the hype. We jump on board without a second thought! Most of the time it is not what it seems. A first-rate trip turns into a nightmare. We should remember, however, that a guilt trip is one we are not obligated to take, even when we love the one who is offering it. It's not a matter of accepting or rejecting out of hand. I'm also not suggesting denial as a blanket defense. Many times these offers are made for reasons known only to the other person's heart. Only God can see them. My recommendation is that we not blindly accept the guilt without serious self-examination beforehand. Now I realize that sometimes we can put our blinders on and go about our lives with some serious guilt on our souls without ever accepting it. I'm not talking about that. There is a cure and we all must acc...