Look Beyond the World You See

  • Too Busy for Dinner?

    Too Busy for Dinner?

    Photo by Marcus Winkler

    A Great Dinner Party

    There is a story in the Bible in the book of Luke that tells of a man who threw a great dinner party. This man was very generous and invited many people but when the day came for the party and everything was prepared, that is when the excuses started coming in.

    How many times have you thrown a party only to have people back out at the last minute? Well, this time the excuses were probably different than the ones you received. One guy said that he bought five yoke of oxen and asked to be excused so that he could test them. Another guy bought some land and wanted to go see it so he asked to be excused.

    One by one each person invited chose not to come to this man’s dinner party. As you can expect, the man was hurt and angry, so he told his employees to go out and tell every person good and bad about his dinner party, which they did and eventually filled the man’s house with guests.

    My Choice and Yours

    The story is an analogy, so what’s the point of the story? Each of us has been invited to dine with Jesus Christ when this life is over. That invitation has come to us in the form of simply believing that Jesus Christ came to the earth 2000 years ago and lived as a man, willingly offering up His life to pay the price for sin that we could never pay.

    My choice and yours is whether we believe Him or not. No one is going to force you to believe, but like those who asked to be excused from this man’s invitation to dinner, if you choose not to believe then your name will be removed from the guest list just as the others who were invited and chose not to come.

    When the final day comes, it will be natural for those who rejected Jesus Christ in this life to want to enter His house, because in hindsight they will see the truth of all that they have been told.  They will come to Him and ask to enter, but will not be allowed in.  If you threw a dinner party, would you let total strangers in to your house?  I don’t think so.

    The Book of Revelation says, “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Revelation 3:5 The Book of Life is the guest list for the Supper of the Lamb. It stands to reason that if a person’s name will not be blotted out from the list then there must be some whose names will be blotted out.

    I Pray You Choose to Believe

    Let’s drive this down a little deeper. Surely you can see that we aren’t just talking about some casual dinner party. We are discussing the final leg in our epic journey of life. It is that part of life that we will not see until this life is over. Only then will the next life become visible. There are testimonies of the next life that we can see if we are paying attention. Things like miracles are a witness that God exists and there is more to our lives than what we see.

    I don’t want to make this more complicated that it really is. The choice is simple. Do we believe in Jesus Christ or not? Do we believe that He came 2000 years ago, born in a stable in Bethlehem to a virgin named Mary, who lived a perfect life and was crucified on a cross to pay the price for sin that separates us from God and Heaven?

    Will your name be on the guest list? I pray you choose to believe.

    The Dinner Party Bible Story

    “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, 17 and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ 18 But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ 20 Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ 23 Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ” Luke 14:16-24

  • A Story Worth Telling

    A Story Worth Telling

    Photo by StockSnap

    Laurel’s Story

    Hope and Promise

    She was 16 when they married.  He was 22.  Laurel’s parents supported their marriage but it was difficult for them not having their daughter at home.  Looking back on her life, Laurel would say that getting married was one of her better decisions.

    Married life started out with the hope and promise of building a life and family together.  They wasted no time.  Not only did Laurel get married at 16 but she also got pregnant.

    Laurel’s husband, Richard, was often gone either working or in the Naval reserves.  With her family just a few miles away and her husband’s family a few blocks away, Laurel had a solid support system.  She remembers 1959 as a time when there were always friends and family around her.  Laurel’s sisters and brother were among her best friends.

    The Drinking Started

    Laurel grew up in Downey, California where she met Richard.  When Laurel was 19 her father was killed while driving in the San Bernardino mountains.  It is easy to take mountain roads for granted and it is just as easy to forget how little visitors understand those mountain roads.  No one knows who went over the center yellow line but it was no contest between the truck and the little Triumph sports car that Laurel’s dad was in.  

    Laurel’s father was in the cabinet business along with his three other brothers.  The four of them had built three cabins in Crestline, Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear.  Laurel’s dad was on the way to a meeting with his brothers at their Lake Arrowhead cabin when the accident occurred.

    Laurel was too young to enter bars, but this is when the drinking started.

    After her father’s death, Laurel’s mom moved to the San Bernardino mountains where her husband had died.  She opened a sewing shop next to the Dime store in Blue Jay, CA.  Laurel, age 20, followed with Richard and their 3 babies.

    10 years into their marriage, Laurel and Richard were alcoholics.  Not only were they drinking heavily, they were also driving those same winding mountain roads that killed Laurel’s dad many years before.  Laurel said it was a miracle no one was hurt or killed.

    The drinking for Laurel and Richard had become a serious problem.  They just didn’t know it. When they were evicted for not paying their rent, they should have realized the depth of their problem.  But they didn’t.

    For more than a week they lived in their car by the lake.  It sounds like fun unless you have three kids and no place to live.  While the children remember it as a fun time at the lake, Laurel and Richard knew better.  Richard was able to get enough money for a hotel room off the hill.  He drove up the mountain every day to work and eventually they saved enough money to rent another home.

    Laurel and Richard had child number 4 but they continued drinking.  All four of Laurel and Richard’s children grew up making the same poor choices their parents did.

    It wasn’t until they became guardians of their granddaughter that they quit drinking.

    A Life Changing Event

    After 30 years of marriage, a life changing event was about to transform their lives.

    On their way home from a car show in Nevada, Laurel and Richard were arguing.  Laurel says it was an argument about nothing but she did not want to be with Richard and asked to be dropped off at Harvest church.  Laurel knew her kids would bring her home.  Richard was glad to get rid of her for a while.  Although she had never been to this church, the service intrigued Laurel.  It was not as stiff and formal as the church she remembered.

    When the Harvest crusade came, Laurel went with her kids.  The theme of the crusade was called Summer Harvest.  The first night of the crusade, Laurel came home happy.  That made Richard think Laurel was cheating on him, so he decided to go the next night.

    At the service the next night, Richard learned that Laurel wasn’t looking for another man.  Instead, he gave his life to Jesus Christ along with one of their daughters and her husband.

    Laurel resisted accepting this faith.  It took reading the bible and going to bible studies to understand that she could be born again; born of the Spirit, and have a personal relationship with the only Living God of the Universe.

    Once she accepted this knowledge, Laurel began to change.  As Laurel and Richard changed, so did their children.  Within a couple of months, each of their children gave their life to Christ.

    5 More Years

    45 years into their marriage, Laurel’s husband, Richard was diagnosed with stage 4 Multiple Myeloma.  He was 67 years old.  Laurel had to quit working to take care of him.  The doctors said he only had 6 months to live.  God gave him 5 more years.  Laurel said those years were filled with bible studies every day and lots of time together.  Richard was the only man in her life and she loved him deeply.

    Life for Laurel and Richard encompassed 50 years.  They wanted to build a life and family together and that is what they did.  Though there were many poor and outright bad decisions, Laurel sees the hand of the God she now loves watching over her even when she didn’t know Him.  She sees that it was a living and loving God who protected them while they drove drunk on mountain roads.  It was that same God who provided for them when they didn’t have a place to stay.  And it was that same God who transformed their lives and the lives of their children.  It is still that same God who is transforming lives through the work of each of the children that the Lord gave to Laurel and her husband.

    Thirty years have passed since their transformation and more than 60 years since her marriage to Richard.  3 out of their 4 children serve in ministry.  Their oldest son is an associate pastor and has battled esophageal cancer.  Their two daughters each serve in ministry.  One of their daughters struggled with tumors and underwent surgery to remove them including one on her spine.  Because of the Covid Pandemic, her family could not be with her during surgery and recovery.  Their fourth child, a son, followed his dad’s footsteps into cabinetry and construction.  Each of them has a unique story.

    An Epic Journey

    Do you want to know Laurel’s regrets?  We all have them.  She regrets more than 20 years of drinking.  She wishes she had been born again earlier in life.  Laurel also wishes that she had been a better mom.  Loving others more is another change she would make if she could.  Most of all, Laurel regrets not spending more time laughing with her husband, more time hugging and laying with him instead of worrying about cleaning, cooking, and fussing over dumb stuff.

    Laurel’s is a story worth telling because it is a story of an epic journey through life to eternity.  It is a story we all share.  The details may be different, but the struggle is the same.  It is the struggle of life lived out in good choices, bad choices, and the unknowns we all face.  Through it all is Jesus Christ witnessing of the life and wholeness He has to offer.

    This is Laurel’s story but your story is just as important.  You too are on an epic journey.  Jesus Christ is lighting the way for you.  Can you see Him?

  • Under These Circumstances

    Anne’s Story

    Anne was born in 1866.  Her parents were Irish immigrants and settled near Boston.  When Anne was only 8 years old, her mother died.  Anne’s father felt that he couldn’t care for his children, so he sent his daughter and her younger brother to live at a poorhouse.  Three months after arriving, Anne’s brother died from the unsanitary conditions.

    A Place of Total Loss

    Living with hundreds of other people forced Anne to focus on simply existing.  There was no learning or personal growth and no plans for a future.  Add to this that Anne had an eye disease which caused substantial vision loss meant Anne’s life could have been hopeless, but when she learned of schools for the blind, Anne asked to go to one and was granted permission.

    When Anne started school, she couldn’t read or write.  Her classmates were from wealthy families and didn’t struggle like Anne, but she worked hard and within two years caught up with her fellow students.

    Some people face adversity and thrive.  Others encounter that same hardship and struggle with defeat.  Anne came from a place of total loss.  She lost her mother, brother, home and a father who chose not to care for his children.  Working through the adversity was the only hope Anne had.

    Determination, Patience and Creativity

    Anne ultimately became valedictorian for her graduating class.  Not bad for a girl who struggled during some of her most important years.  We cannot minimize just how difficult those years were for Anne, but it was those years that were preparing Anne for her life’s work.  Because of the challenges she faced and eventually overcame she became a one-of-a-kind person.

    You see, Anne became the teacher for an uncontrollable, young blind girl named, Helen Keller.  It was Anne Sullivan’s determination, patience and creativity that helped her guide Helen into life.  And I will go so far as to say that there is no one else who could have done what Anne did.  It was the circumstances of Anne’s life that molded her into the person that Helen needed.

    Created to Make a Difference

    We go about our lives with our eye’s laser-focused on ourselves and our daily routines and I fear we miss the true meaning of life.  Life is not about filling ourselves and building so much ease and comfort that we are not challenged.  We were meant to face difficulties because those struggles grow us, refine us, and make us useful in helping others.

    You were created to make a difference.  Although you may look like the people around you, there is no one like you.  You are unique just because of who you are and where you are.  There are moments of great need that only you can meet, although there is a good chance you will never know when you meet those needs.

    The person that you are is the one that God has spent time creating and shaping.  He didn’t make you so that you could look and act like someone else.  God created you to meet other people’s needs in His timing.  And I will let you in on a little secret.  Those needs of God that are so important to Him, are you and your needs.  Just as He made you to meet the needs of others, He created others to help meet your needs.

    The Circumstances of Your Life

    You see, you and I are eternal beings.  And of all creations by God and Man, the only things that will last forever are you and I and the rest of our fellow eternal travelers.

    This one point is the reason it is so important for you to understand that Jesus Christ loves you and wants you to believe in Him.  It is believing that Jesus Christ came to the earth 2000 years ago as a baby in a manger, who died on a cross to save Mankind that will give you an eternal life filled with light, love, joy, peace, mercy, understanding and forgiveness.

    Believe in Jesus Christ and never forget that it is the circumstances of your life that fuels the story of your life.  And it is the story of your life that others will read and share when you are gone.

    References

    The story of Anne Sullivan is from HistoryDaily.org.  https://historydaily.org/anne-sullivan-facts-stories-trivia

    Additional Resources

    https://www.perkins.org/anne-sullivan/

  • Her Friends Just Call Her Feather

    Photo by Robert Balog

    Alexis’ Story

    She was born in Troy, Ohio, in a farm town near Dayton.  Her father and namesake left when she was 6 months old.

    Alexis was named after her father, Alexander, who drove tanks over mines for a living.  When she was older, her mother marched Alexis up to a strange woman and said, “This is the woman your father left me for.”  Alexis would never know her father and would only remember him as a womanizer.

    As a result of her father leaving, Alexis lived with her mother and grandmother. With no means of support, her mother was forced to work in an era when most mothers stayed at home.  As it is, Alexis was raised by her grandmother while her mother left for the day to work.  Could this be the reason that mother never understood daughter?

    When asked about her earliest memory, Alexis said that it was a day her mother had come home for lunch.  When her mother was leaving to go back to work, she was looking for her office keys and couldn’t find them.  That’s because Alexis had hidden the keys in her little wooden with ceramic bowl, potty.  She did not want her mother to go back to work.

    A Recovering Catholic

    Sunday mornings after mass, it was her responsibility to walk two blocks and pick up the Sunday paper.  She was probably 11 or 12 years old.  This chore took Alexis by the church where black people worshipped.  It always touched her as she passed their church because she could hear them praising Jesus Christ and worshipping Him so sincerely.  They sounded happy and joyful.  And she couldn’t help but compare that to her own solemn church.

    If you ask her now, Alexis would say that she is a recovering Catholic.  As a child, she went to Mass with her mother and grandmother every week, but by the 4th grade she had figured out that she could do one more sin before confession and it would be covered.  It didn’t take long to figure out that she did not want to follow the Catholic faith.

    When Alexis saw a picture of Jesus Christ with several children around Him, in her spirit, Alexis felt she was there with those other kids standing around Jesus.  Ever since, she has loved Jesus with all of her heart, soul, mind and strength.

    Her Friends Just Call Her Feather

    As Alexis got older, she dated a black man.  This caused her mother to put her in a mental institution.  These institutions were called “hospitals,” but they specialized in treating psychiatric patients.  If you didn’t fit in to what society understood, then you were sent to one of these “hospitals”.  Videos from the 1950’s promoting these “hospitals”, make them look more like a prison than a hospital.  Is it any wonder that she escaped?

    Alexis became a ward of the state and was sent to a girl’s industrial school.  Her path eventually brought her together with a group of souls where she found peace and acceptance.  History refers to groups like the one Alexis joined as hippies.  Even now, as she nears the final years of life, Alexis considers herself a hippie.

    As part of the group, Alexis found herself surrounded by birds and thoughts of birds.  It was a point in her life where she was focused on birds.  Perhaps it was because birds have a freedom that she longed for.  Since Alexis identified with birds, she decided to change her name to “Free Feather,” but her friends just call her Feather.

    Her Life is a Miracle

    As a young woman living on her own in Cleveland, Feather lived in an apartment on the ground level of the building.  One night a man snuck in to her apartment through the bathroom window.  He stabbed her seven times, then stabbed her again in the neck and began choking her.

    Subdued and motionless, Feather felt something wet and warm on her.  Looking up, she saw her attacker ejaculating on her.  She got up and tried to run but could not get away from him.

    When he chased her, Feather swung back and hit him with a force not her own.  She hit him so hard that he flew backwards across the room.  Taking the opportunity to escape, Feather dove through a plate glass window and landed on the ground in front of a mother and her young son as they were walking by.

    Bloodied and almost lifeless, Feather lay where she landed and heard the little boy said, “Look Mommie, she can’t breathe.”

    Feather was transported to the hospital where she underwent a surgery that lasted hours.  The doctor said that she should not have made it off the operating table.  Clearly, Jesus Christ had other plans.

    Her Deepest Wound

    Having suffered so much by the hands of an unknown assailant, it wasn’t the knife of her aggressor that caused her life’s deepest wound.  Looking back over the years, Feather says her deepest wound was feeling abandoned by her mother.  There is no knife on earth that can wound a heart or soul more deeply than the words or actions of one so close to us.  My friends, life was not meant to be this way.

    Through it all, Feather has learned to be true to herself and never let anyone discourage her from being who she is.  She shares this advice with anyone who would listen.

    In time, life blossomed for Feather.  Her simple loves are reading, writing, cooking and Chinese food.  Feather says that she deeply loves people, but when it comes to her children, Feather confesses that she loves them more than anything in this world.  Feather, an only child, had 6 children of her own, although tragedy took one many years ago.

    I think Feather loves her children so deeply because she knows firsthand how precious a treasure, children really are and how important it is to pour out on them every ounce of love she can.  And she doesn’t hold back that love.

    Love is Jesus Christ

    Of course, nothing compares to her love for Jesus.  Feather adamantly says that Jesus Christ is love and love is Jesus Christ.  In fact, Feather believes that love is the greatest force on the planet and I would agree with her.  She would tell you that life is framed by the two greatest commandments.  They are:

    • “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and
    • “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

    It is a beautiful thing to see a life grow from adversity to a being of love.  She is one who is driven by a force so great yet so gentle as the purest form of love that Jesus Christ pours out on His children.

    Out of the wounds of her life, God has created a unique and beautiful soul that shines in the darkness for all to see.  If you meet her, you will not soon forget her.  And this light that has been forged by the only living God, will shine brightly forever and ever.

  • It Was Always You

    It Was Always You

    Raylynn’s Story

    She was born on January 7th, 2020, but her story starts many years before.  At 7 weeks premature, she weighed only 3 ½ pounds.  A month in the NICU would decide her fate; where she would live and who she would call mom and dad.  This little lady was a miracle and didn’t even know it.

    Each human life is an amazing miracle and deserves every letter of accolade and recognition, but this is not the miracle of her life that I am talking about.  She was a miracle because she was a gift to two people who realized they did not have the means to raise and care for her the way she deserved.  Her parents decided to give her up for adoption.  Her adoption and how it came together is the miracle.

    You might say that love would keep this new family together and that they could make it through life somehow.  Often, I would agree, but there are times when the chips of life are stacked against you in such a way that you know in your heart the best chance for that precious life is to give her up for adoption.

    Make no mistake.  Any decision to give your child up for adoption is an assault to the natural order of your heart.  It is a heart-wrenching decision that carries a crushing weight of pain that can’t be minimized.  Creation of a human being inside you is a God thing.  It is a taste of His power that He has given to women.  No mere mortal man will ever know what it is like to be so intimately joined to another being.  My heart goes out to anyone who has had to surrender their precious baby for any reason.

    Her Heart’s Desire

    On January 6th, Kelly, a mother of two, was praying and listening to worship music.  Her oldest would be 18 in a month and her youngest 14, two months later.  Much was on her heart this day as she contemplated the past year.

    As a young girl, Kelly wanted a big family and imagined having several children.  When marriage came, two children seemed to be the magic number for this young couple.  As the years passed, Kelly’s desire for more children grew.  Not because she didn’t love her two children, but because she did love them.  Kelly has a well-spring of love for children in her that would drown most of us.  Each of her children would grow up knowing that their mother loved them completely and unconditionally.  Both children were secure in their relationship with their mom.

    As Kelly’s desire for another child grew, so did the frequency of discussion for another child with her husband.  Growing up as a single child, her husband, Jonathan, was content with their two children and did not want to start over.  When Kelly approached the topic, it usually ended in tears and hard feelings.  As their kids aged though, Jonathan began to want another child as well.  Having had a vasectomy after their second child posed a problem for having a third child together.  When their son, Caleb, was 14 and their daughter, Kylee, was 10, Kelly and Jonathan sought medical help and reversed his vasectomy.

    It became apparent the following year, that the reversal had not worked.

    That Secret Place Inside Each of Us

    I have found that there is a timing for certain seasons of our lives.  Our heart and mind often need time to grow and meet together in that secret place inside each of us.  Sometimes we need a little nudge to bridge the gap.  A little nudge is just what Kelly received.

    In August 2018, Caleb, who played the drums for their church band, came home one day after he had been spending time with the church band leader and his wife, who had a new baby.  He told his mother that he had been able to hold their new baby.  Caleb then asked his mother if she had ever considered adopting a child.

    Once, many years before, the idea of adopting a child had been suggested.  Kelly dismissed the idea.  Her dream and the desire of her heart was to have another child with her husband.

    When Caleb posed this question to his mother, he had no way of knowing that at church that morning, the Lord had spoken to his mother.  Kelly heard clearly, “You need to be open to adoption.”  These were words of thought that came from no will or intention of her own.  In her heart, she was surprised and thought, “What?  No!”  Her first instinct was that she didn’t want to adopt.  Her second thought was, did I really just hear that?  She heard the words again and thoughtfully considered them.

    Kelly said nothing to her son about her experience that morning.  Nor did she say anything about it for the next two weeks.  Her husband had been away and they had not had a chance to talk much while he was gone.  When he returned, they had an opportunity to catch up.  In their conversation, Jonathan told Kelly that he had been working with someone who was adopting two little girls with his wife.  He suggested that maybe they could adopt a child.  To his surprise, Kelly burst into tears.

    Thinking he had said something wrong, Jonathan asked if she was ok.  Kelly told Jonathan how the Lord had spoken to her at church.  She also shared the question Caleb had asked her about adopting a child, and now he was asking the same thing.  The topic of adoption had never been seriously discussed and now within two weeks there were three people telling Kelly to consider adoption.

    Hope

    Old desires were replaced with hope and a new desire to adopt a child that needed them.  Six months later, Kelly and Jonathan had finished all their paperwork and home visits, and were finally certified to adopt a child.  With one catch.  They could not approach any pregnant woman to say they would be willing to adopt her unborn child.  Instead, they would have to spread the word through family, friends, church, social media and any other resources available to let the world at large know their intentions.

    Kelly and Jonathan made booklets of their family which contained photos and family bios.  This was an expensive undertaking but allowed them to share who they were and why they wanted to adopt a child.  These were distributed to organizations like Idaho Youth Ranch and others who worked with pregnant mothers.  They felt confident that God would bring a child into their home to become part of their family.  With an unexpected gift of a crib and changing table, it looked like the Lord was confirming their decision to adopt.

    As they waited for a call to adopt a child, what seemed so sure in the beginning began to fade.  Kelly began to wonder if the Lord had really spoken to her.  Several months passed and no child came.  Kelly struggled with discouragement.  If adoption was from the Lord, wouldn’t a door have opened by now?  She had wanted another child for so long and now that she was getting older, she was beginning to wonder if she could physically hold up to the rigors of raising a child.  How long do you hold on to a dream you have had since childhood?

    Eventually, the discouragement passed and acceptance began to settle in Kelly’s heart.  Ironically, what had been a dream that Kelly carried alone, now became important to Jonathan.  He had increasingly been burdened with the desire to help children who needed it.  By Christmas, 2019, Jonathan was overwhelmed with yearning to help a child in need.  If adoption was not possible, perhaps fostering children was.  After sharing his feelings with Kelly, the two decided to look into being foster parents.

    Between Christmas and New Year’s, Kelly began praying about who could use the crib and changing table they had been given.  The crib and changing table had been wrapped up neatly for almost a year, waiting for the day a baby came home.  Since it looked like that was not happening, Kelly realized those things should be given to someone who could use them.

    Do Something

    On January 6th 2020, as Kelly was worshiping, she was considering the transformation of her dream from having a baby, to adopting a baby and now the idea of fostering older children.  She had surrendered her heart’s desire for another baby and was at peace, but still had the crib and changing table to give away.  In her prayer, she asked the Lord for direction and what she should do about fostering a child.

    Bare moments later, the Matthew West song “Do Something” came on.  If you have never heard the song, the central character is complaining to God about all of the wrongs that he sees; “people living in poverty, children sold into slavery and wondering when there will be an end to all this pain.”  He asks God, “Why don’t You do something?”

    God’s response is, “I did.  I created you.”

    The timing of the song was perfect and brought Kelly to tears and with it, the knowledge that she was on the right path.  That evening, Kelly spoke with her dad and told him the ship had sailed on the idea of adoption.  She said she was ready to move on and that they were looking into fostering children. She and Jonathan had an appointment on January 8th, 2020, to take the next step in becoming foster parents.

    A Confusing Blow

    The evening of January 7th, Kelly received a text telling her there was a baby girl in need of a home and asking if she and Jonathan were still interested in adopting a child.  The emotional rollercoaster began immediately.

    At first, Kelly was unsure.  She had already decided the idea of adoption was behind her.  Now she had to consider it again.  Kelly and Jonathan’s first steps into the life of this baby girl were cautious.  As they learned more, they grew closer to this tiny life.

    From the start, everything seemed to be moving forward, but problems arose because this tiny being was now a ward of the State with a shelter order in place.  Since Kelly and Jonathan were certified for private adoption only, they would not be able to adopt her.  The only other avenue to adopt was to be certified foster parents, which they were not.  To become foster parents would take 6-8 weeks, but by that time, this little baby would be sent to an existing foster home.  Just when they had accepted the idea of a new addition to their home, they were told the adoption would not be possible.  It was a confusing blow.

    Three grueling weeks passed.  Each day was an emotional ride.  One day was up when they were being told the adoption would happen.  The next day was down when they were told it could not happen.  Every day they were talking with either the hospital staff, social workers or attorneys.  In all this time, Kelly was not allowed to see this little girl because of the shelter order placed by the State. 

    Kelly and Jonathan were finally told there was no way to adopt outside of the state system.  This had never happened in the state system before and there were no protocols to follow to allow this adoption to take place.  Kelly and Jonathan were told that a foster family was ready to receive this new life.

    Kelly had grown to love this baby girl even though she had not been allowed to see or hold her.  Her fears were that she would go to a foster family only to be lost in the system.  It was incomprehensible that they were so close only to be told no.  It was unfortunate, but the State’s primary concern was for the welfare and safety of the child and they would have to follow the State’s rules.

    To Hold That Dream

    Kelly and Jonathan spoke with their attorney, who in turn spoke with the state attorney general who stepped in to help.  The attorney general had already heard about this family who wanted to adopt a premature baby.  Working with the courts and both sets of parents, the attorney general accomplished something that had never been done.

    The attorney general facilitated an emergency court meeting to drop the shelter order that made this infant child a ward of the state.  This allowed Kelly and Jonathan to become legal guardians.  On January 30th, 2020, Kelly’s dream came true and she was allowed to hold that dream in the form of a premature and fragile little girl.

    By January 31st, Kelly’s bags were packed and she spent the next two days in the NICU with her new daughter, learning her care program and discovering who this little person was.  Although the shelter order would not be officially lifted until court on Monday, hospital social workers communicated with state social workers to allow Kelly the time she needed to prepare her for the baby’s discharge by the coming Monday.   It wasn’t until the evening of February 2nd, that Jonathan was able to meet her.

    On the evening of Monday, February 3rd, after the emergency court meeting and two more court hearings in one very long day, Kelly and Jonathan brought their new baby girl home.

    The Signature of Jesus Christ

    When it became clear that Kelly and Jonathan would become the new parents, the baby’s name started being discussed.  The birth-mother had named her, Raven.  Kelly wanted to be sensitive to Raven’s mother and her choice of a name, but was hoping for something that reflected the gift that this little girl truly was.

    Jonathan came up with the name Raylynn Kelly in place of Raven.  He thought Raylynn sounded like, Raven.  Also, Lynn was the middle name of both mothers.  The two women were a Kelly Lynn and a Lynn Kelly.  Each spelled their middle name the same.  Kelly liked the name Hope for a middle name because she saw so much hope.  There was hope for Raven’s parents to manage their struggles, hope for Raven to be given a life that her parents desired for her and hope for Kelly and Jonathan to love another child.

    The two mothers discussed Raven’s name.  The birth-mother liked the new name, Raylynn Hope.  When the birth- father learned of Raylynn’s new name, he said that Raylynn was his oldest daughter and his sister’s middle name.  The coincidence was amazing, but Kelly realized that it was more than coincidence.  It was the signature of Jesus Christ revealing that He was in complete control of each life represented.

    Miracle Divine

    One last event sealed the gift of this miracle.

    The attorney fees were climbing for Kelly and Jonathan.  They would handle the expense but it was a burden that would make life more difficult.  Over two years before, Kelly’s blood-father passed away leaving money to his two daughters and widowed wife.  The estate should have been settled over a year and a half earlier, but problems prevented it from being resolved.  As Kelly and Jonathan brought home their new daughter, Kelly’s late-father’s estate settled and provided them all of the money to pay off their attorney fees.

    The timing of the adoption, care for all parties involved and all expenses were taken care of completely.  If you look at the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, you will find the life of Jesus Christ and in every circumstance, Jesus took care of everyone and covered all of the expenses.  Some examples are; feeding the 5000 (Luke 9:10-18 NIV), feeding the 4000 (Mark 8:1-9 NASB) and Peter and the two-drachma tax (Matthew 17:24-27 NASB).

    As Kelly’s heart turned towards the heart of this tiny life, love welled up and threatened to overcome her.  In her own words, Kelly could not imagine loving so much.

    Several months passed before the adoption was complete.  On the day of the last court hearing, Kelly and Jonathan’s attorney told them that if Raylynn had been delivered at her due date, Kelly and Jonathan would never have been able to adopt her.  The courts had been closed due to COVID-19.  Raylynn would have gone into the foster care system. It was truly a miracle divine.

    Some Dreams are Worth Waiting For

    From the beginning of a heart’s desire to its fulfillment could be many years.  We see through a mirror dimly, but God sees clearly around every corner and crevice of time.  Kelly’s journey taught her that God sees every heart and He hears every prayer.  She has learned that some dreams are worth waiting for.  Now, when she looks at her daughter and remembers her heart’s desire, she can say, it was always you.

    How Many Coincidences Does It Take?

    Have you ever had a miracle in your life?  Would you describe it as an event or circumstance that was so extraordinary it was almost impossible to believe?  There are times that we seem to be led to a dead-end of our reasoning only to discover there was an answer or solution hiding in the darkness of our understanding.  It was an answer so preposterous that nothing would allow us to believe it could actually happen.  When the impossible does happen, what do you do?  Who gets the credit?  Do you write it off as coincidence or do you look for the source of the miracle?  A miracle is divine in origin and should be proof of the existence of God.  If you doubt that, then how many coincidences does it take before it is a miracle?

  • There Will Be a Day

    There will be a day when the righteous shine forth, when all that we have learned will not be held back.

    There will be a day when we shine like the sun in the kingdom of our Father and never have to hide our faith again.

    There will be a day when we can rest from our labors, when the hidden treasure will be redeemed.

    There will be a day when the voice we have heard in the quiet place will speak with us face to face,

    But it is not today.

    Today we must remember the Word, book, chapter, and verse.

    Today we must remember the truths we have learned through sleepless nights and diligent seeking.

    Today we must remember our past and the mighty deeds of God which changed the course of our lives.

    Today we must remember the lost and understand their need.

    For it was not so long ago that we stood in their shoes.

    It was not so long ago that we clung to their beliefs.

    It was not so long ago that we could not fathom faith and the eyes of our heart were dim with blindness.

    It was not so long ago that we did not understand, that peace, love, and life were found in One place.

    There will be a day when the blinded heart will say, too late!

    There will be a day when regrets gnaw the heart and the pain can’t be soothed.

    There will be a day when darkness can never be lifted again.

    There will be a day when the lost cannot be found and will be gone forever.

    So, while it is still called today, be patient with others.

    While it is still called today, be understanding of others.

    While it is still called today, be forgiving of others.

    While it is still called today, love others, showing them what you have learned,

    Through a life set as example for all to see.

    Through a life that shines as a lamp upon a hill.

    Through a life dedicated to the One who saved us.

    Through a life forged in the Refiner’s fire.

    There will be a day when the righteous shine forth, when all that we have learned will not be held back.

    There will be a day when we shine like the sun in the kingdom of our Father and we never have to hide our faith again.

    There will be a day when we can rest from our labors, when the hidden treasure will be redeemed.

    There will be a day when the voice we have heard in the quiet place will speak with us face to face,

    But let’s not go alone.

  • A Home for Love

    Jessica’s Story

    Jessica’s parents never wanted kids, but when they discovered their relationship would be blessed with a child, these two parents diligently prepared for their baby’s arrival.  The room was ready and filled with toys and clothes.

    It was during prenatal visits to the doctor, the mother and father discovered their daughter had Down Syndrome. This young couple knew in their heart they were not prepared to care for a special-needs child, so they chose to surrender their daughter for adoption.

    A Child with Special Needs

    Suzie and Mike, parents of three children, had decided they wanted another child.  This time though, they decided to adopt a child.  Their third child was a daughter born with Down Syndrome so they decided to adopt another child with special needs.

    It took time, but Suzie and Mike completed the paperwork and home study to be able to adopt their next child.  When they were finally ready, Suzie began calling adoption agencies to introduce herself and find the child that God wanted for them.  She made call after call only to find out there were no children to adopt.

    For weeks, Suzie called different agencies but each time she was told the same thing.  There was not a child to adopt.  She even called adoption agencies in several different states but was unable to locate a child to welcome into their family.

    Suzie finally surrendered.  It was clear this path was getting her nowhere.  In prayer, Suzie shared her frustration with the Lord.  He encouraged her that there was a child for them.

    The months passed.  Suzie’s birthday arrived.  As a gift to their mom, Suzie was told to stay in her room while Mike and the kids cleaned the house.  They let her know that she could come out when they were done.

    Your Child Has Been Born

    Suzie complied and spent a comfortable morning in her room.  About 10:30am, Suzie heard the Lord speak to her.  “Your child has been born.”  Those words filled her with hope.

    Two weeks later, Suzie was contacted by an adoption agency.  On her paperwork, Suzie had said that she did not want to speak with the birth-mother.  The adoption agency said that they had a child that needed a home, but the birth-mother wanted to know about the adopting family.

    Suzie did not want to connect with the birth-mother but the adoption agency said that she was very specific.  The birth-mother wanted to know that her daughter would go to a home that had a special needs child already.  She wanted to make sure her daughter was going to a home that would love her and care for her, so Suzie relented and spoke with the birth-mother.

    The conversation went well.  Suzie felt this child would be right for their family.  As the call came to an end, Suzie asked the birth-mother one last question.  “What is your daughter’s birthday?”  The answer to this question would tell Suzie if the Lord was involved.

    The birth-mother said that November 12th, was her baby’s birthday.  That finalized it.  Suzie’s birthday, the day she spent in her room, the day the Lord spoke to her and said that her baby had been born, was November 12th.

    Go Where the Lord is

    When you pray, it is often very hard to know if the Lord is involved.  Our wants often deceive our hearts and convince us the Lord is in control when really, we are the ones controlling our lives.  The cure for that is to go where the Lord is.

    Do you feel the Lord is often absent from your life?  Let me comfort and assure you that Jesus Christ is always with you.  24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 366 days a year, Jesus watches over you, loves you and cares for you.  It is not that the Lord is absent from your life.  If your needs are met and you have comfort, He may not need to be that active in your life.

    If I may be so bold as to say that Jesus Christ is most active where there is the most need.  Jesus once shared a parable about 100 sheep.  In this parable, the shepherd was missing one of the sheep.  He left the 99 sheep to search for the one that was lost.  That meant the 99 sheep had everything they could need.  The shepherd didn’t abandon his sheep.  He knew the 99 would be safe until his return.  But he wasn’t active in their life because they didn’t need anything.  It was the one lost that needed his care.  It was the one lost where he was most active.

    “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:4-7 NKJV

    God is Working Miracles Big and Small

    If you want to see the Lord active in your life, then you will need to go where He is most active.  God is working miracles big and small in the lives of those who have the most need.

    Is your life comfortable?  I spent decades building my comfortable life, but at the end all I felt was empty.  It was not until I learned that I was created for significance and needed to leave my comfort zone that God started really moving in my life.

    Significance requires sacrifice.  Getting out of your comfort zone and meeting the Lord is not easy but it is fulfilling.  And the closer you are to need, the more you will be filled with the strength and resources you need.  Give it a try.  There are opportunities everywhere.  All you need to do is find one and participate.

    Suzie prayed for a child who had great needs.  Do you know what she got?  A child with great needs.  The real blessing though is not meeting the needs of her daughter.  It is the love that her daughter gives that is the true blessing.  Now an adult, Jessica loves like a child.  It is possibly the purest form of God’s love here on earth.  And it found its way into the hearts and lives of Suzie, Mike and their family.

  • What a Mother Leaves Behind

    What a Mother Leaves Behind

    Donna’s Story

    She died, if only for a few moments.  When Donna woke up, the nurse was poking the bottom of her foot with a needle and anxiously saying, “Donna, come back to us!”

    Donna was in the hospital for a complicated surgery.  It was the umpteenth trip and infection was becoming a serious problem.

    Before coming back to the awareness of her body that day, Donna was physically unconscious due to the anesthesia but her subconscious mind was still experiencing and she found herself crouched in a long dark hallway.  Someone above called her name, but she was too tired to respond.  At the very end of the hall, was a light, but she had no strength to walk the distance to it.

    Moments later, the darkness melted away into golden daylight.  Vibrant colors filled her eyes and peace engulfed her.  She heard two women talking as they were walking by.  Donna looked at them and they in turn, stopped and looked at her.  Their brief glances exchanged, Donna returned to her physical body and consciousness.

    We Almost Lost Her that Day

    I was a teenager when my mother suffered complications due to her hysterectomy.  It was years later that I learned we almost lost her that day.

    As of this writing, I am blessed to say that my mother is still on this side of the veil.  She is 84 going on 85 and though the years have taken a toll on her body, her spirit is still strong and undiminished.  This is as good a time as any to reflect on what my mother has taught me.

    I won’t bore you with the details of learning to eat everything on my plate or washing the dishes after dinner, or doing my homework and mowing the lawn every Saturday.  Every soul has stories about the mechanics of growing up.  But it is the ability to look beyond my physical world that my mother has given me that I want to share.

    All my life, my mother, Donna, has taught me to see the evidences of the world we don’t see.  The unseen world is the realm that will be visible when this mortal life is over.  You see, we are all eternal beings on a journey.  We are connected to this world by our physical body but when that connection is done, then we will see the next life.  This is what happened to my mother in the hospital during her surgery.

    There are evidences of the next life that can be seen but it takes time to learn them because too often they are written off as a coincidence or just plain ignored because we don’t understand their meaning.

    I will share another of my mother’s examples.

    Donna Always Had Pen and Paper

    She was 15 and very sick.  The pneumonia wasn’t life-threatening but did keep her in bed while she recovered.

    Donna missed being at school. She wrote for the high school newspaper and enjoyed the time with her friends.  No matter how sick she felt though, Donna always had pen and paper by her bed.  Thoughts are perishable and she never missed an opportunity to save them.  Ask any writer and they will tell you that they don’t always know where the words come from, but when they do, if they are special, then a writer does not want to lose them.

    That pen and paper worked on this night.  It was the worst of her illness when she woke up in the middle of the night with words going through her head.  The words that came to Donna on this night were very special.  Even if she could not understand their meaning, Donna wasted no time in writing them down.

    Speak to Me

    This is what she wrote down.

    “Speak to me, not with conventional words, but with thine eyes convey the thought.  Suffer not thy lips to utter forgotten speech, thy heart and mind and soul are far easier to believe, for words are a gift too often carelessly used, so, sprinkle them wisely o’er Life’s traversed road ‘til through its many turns and heights, we find ourselves at the very end where there is nothing, save Time and Space – A great, black void where hangs the soul, where words shall fail and Peace shall prove its worth.”

    That was 1953.  As a teenager, Donna didn’t have the understanding it took to fathom their meaning.  Now, at the other end of life, she understands those words better but still ponders their depths.

    Clearly, the words she wrote down that night were not of this world.  They are from and pertain to the world we don’t see.  Maybe you haven’t considered that world.  You are not alone.  Most people are so focused on just getting through the day that they don’t consider what will happen when this life is over.

    There are more evidences of the world we don’t see.  The question is whether we will believe these testimonies when they happen.

    Alone in Darkness

    An experience in my own life is reflected in the words my mother wrote.  I work in retail and often have more than 2000 people a day come through our doors, so I have met a lot of people.

    One of my customers shared the story that he died and came back to life.  When he died, it was dark and there was nothingness.  I didn’t share my experiences and never asked to hear his story.  What he told me was not prompted by anything on my part.  My customer said that the hospital recorded the event.

    The disturbing part of his story though, was that for him, death was a dark place.  There was no light at the end of a tunnel, no green grass, blue sky, or colors of any kind.  There were also no people.  He was alone in darkness.

    In my conversation with this man, no word was shared about a faith in God or Jesus Christ.  That idea seemed to be the furthest thing from his mind.  That is his choice.  To each his own as they say.  I think though, that if there is life beyond this physical life, that we should consider it with all our heart.

    No One Like Her

    When I put together words written 70 years ago with a man’s testimony in the present time, then I must conclude there is deep truth in words given to a sick teenager.  I am grateful that my mother has taught me to see evidences of the unseen world.  It has made my own journey of faith in Jesus Christ a deeper one.

    Mothers are a special gift from God.  I have friends who have lost their mother and friends whose mothers are still here.  Either way, take a moment today to reflect on your mother and the good things she has taught you.  There is without a doubt, no one like her in your life.

  • The Christmas Story

    The Christmas Story

    When you read the original Christmas story, that is, the birth of Jesus Christ, you will often find it edited into an abbreviated version of what the bible shares.  Being Christmas Eve, I felt it necessary to include all the events as told in the book of Luke 1:5-2:20.  While this story is about the birth of Christ, it reveals the mighty power of God working in several lives to bring about this single, most important event for mankind to date.

    John’s Birth Announced

    There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.  But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

    So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.  And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.  Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.  And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

    But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.  And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.  For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.  And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.  He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

    And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

    And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.  But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

    And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.  But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.

    So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.  Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

    Christ’s Birth Announced

    Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.   And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

    But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.  Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

    Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

    And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.  Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.  For with God nothing will be impossible.”

    Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

    Mary Visits Elizabeth

    Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.  And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.  Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

    The Song of Mary

    And Mary said:

    “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.  For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.  For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.  And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.  He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.  He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.  He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.  He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.”

    And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

    Birth of John the Baptist

    Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son.  When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

    So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias.  His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.”

    Circumcision of John the Baptist

    But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”  So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.

    And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled.  Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.  Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea.  And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.

    Zacharias’ Prophecy

    Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:  “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham:  to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.”

    “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”  So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

    Christ Born of Mary

    And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

    Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.  So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

    Glory in the Highest

    Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

    And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

    “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

    So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”  And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.  Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. Luke 1:5 – 2:20 NKJV

    His Second Coming

    For 2000 years we have looked back and celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ.  His story must include His death and resurrection to be complete, because it is by His life, death, and resurrection that we have salvation and our path to Heaven has been restored.  With His salvation complete, while we continue remembering His birth and life, let us look forward to His second coming, which, as the Word of God says, “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:27

  • The 12-Fold Wisdom of Jacob Marley

    The 12-Fold Wisdom of Jacob Marley

    “Business!  Mankind was my business.  The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were all my business.  The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”

    Jacob Marley “A Christmas Carol,” Charles Dickens

    If you’ve never read “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, I highly suggest you move it to the top of your list for reading.  It is a quick read and you will be better for it.

    A Glimpse at His Own Failed Journey

    The story reveals the miserly, Ebenezer Scrooge; a man so caught up in his own life that he quit caring for other souls.  Scrooge, relentlessly rejects his fellow man and the needs of others.  It takes an intercession by three spirits to show Ebenezer the true importance of life.

    Ebenezer’s chance to escape a grim fate through the three spirits, is shared with him by his 7-year-deceased partner, Jacob Marley.  Jacob meets Ebenezer on Christmas Eve to tell him about the visits of the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future.

    In their dialogue, Jacob Marley challenges Ebenezer to believe and gives him a glimpse at his own failed journey through life as well as the pain and regret he carries.  It is Jacob’s hope that Ebenezer can escape the path that he now suffers.

    Man of the Worldly Mind

    Jacob’s discourse has several points for each of us to consider.  When Charles Dickens, wrote “A Christmas Carol,” it was his desire that he could write a story to make people think but still be light-hearted in its effort.  After all, the discussion of death, dying and hell are heavy topics.  I will try to maintain Dickens light-hearted approach, but Marley’s message is valid and painful, so please forgive me beforehand if things get serious.

    • “Man of the worldly mind, do you believe in me or not?”

    Life is a matter of faith.  Faith is believing there is a world we cannot yet see and a God who came in the form of Jesus Christ to save us and give us a path to eternal life in heaven when this life is over.  If we pay attention, there are testimonies of the unseen world and the truth of a living God who loves us and wants us to spend eternity with Him.  How much do we have to see before we believe?

    Beyond This Mortal Life

    • “It is required of every man, that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellowmen, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death.  It is doomed to wander through the world and witness what it cannot share, but might have shared on earth, and turned to happiness!”

    While I have not yet walked the path beyond this mortal life, I don’t think we will walk on this earth forever after we are gone.  I do believe there is a heaven and hell as described in the Bible, but Jacob’s point here is to care for our fellow man while we still have a chance.  There is scripture to confirm this.

    Isaiah 58:6-11 says:

    “Is this not the fast that I have chosen:  to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?  Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.  Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’  “If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday.  The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”

    I Wear the Chain I Forged in Life

    • “I wear the chain I forged in life.  I made it link by link and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it.”

    Free will is a tremendous gift from God but it comes with great responsibility.  Do we casually walk through this life and ignore the life to come?  Life exists beyond this mortal life.  Each of us must carefully consider the life to come.  When this life is over then our choices are confirmed and the benefits or consequences solidified.

    • “Or would you know the weight and length of the strong coil you bear yourself?”

    Do you know the weight of your own sin?  Sin is ultimately what separates us from God.  Jesus Christ came into the world to pay the price for our sin.  God made it so simple.  All we must do is believe that Jesus Christ is God and that He came into the world to save us and we will be saved.

    It’s Mortal Life too Short

    • “No rest, no peace.  Incessant torture of remorse.”

    I won’t hide the fact that Jacob Marley is a pretty dark character.  After all, he lives in hell.  How many preachers have used the threat of hell to coerce people to believe in heaven?  The idea of the next life may be so scary and its implications so profound that we neglect to consider Marley’s regrets.  Jacob is telling us that outside of heaven, there is no music, creating or creativity, no intimate relationships or any good thing.  Outside of heaven, there will be no rest and no peace.  Only the regret of wrong choices.

    • “Not to know that any Christian spirit working kindly in its little sphere, whatever it may be, will find its mortal life too short for its vast means of usefulness.”

    You are capable of doing so much good.  There are not enough years to accomplish the good things you can do.  God has prepared works beforehand for you to walk in.  He wants you to do good things and He wants your efforts to last forever.

    “I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain.” John 15:16

    Don’t Let Time Get Away From You

    • “Not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one life’s opportunity misused.”

    Each day that goes by is a day that can be used for good.  If we neglect today and the opportunities it offers to do good to another, what regrets may we carry from our choice?  Don’t let time get away from you.

    • “Mankind was my business.  The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were all my business.  The dealings of my trader were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”

    Society needs this more than ever today.  We have forgotten that we are all on the same side, the same journey.  People are increasingly critical and hostile toward their fellow man.  We need to relearn patience, kindness, mercy and helping others.

    In Greater Need Than Ourselves

    • “At this time of the year, I suffer most.”

    Once again, we see Marley’s regrets.  He goes on to say, “Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode!  Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me!”  I don’t know about you, but I am guilty of this behavior.  Let us remember there are others in greater need than ourselves.

    A Glimpse of the Suffering World

    • “How it is that I appear before you in a shape that you can see, I may not tell.  I have sat invisible beside you many and many a day.”

    How often has Jesus Christ or an angel been with us and we did not know it?

    • “I am here tonight to warn you, that you have a chance and hope of escaping my fate.”

    It is the same chance we all have; to make a choice for Jesus Christ.  As long as it is still called “today”.

    • Marley beckoned Scrooge to approach, which he did.  He became aware of confused noises in the air; incoherent sounds of lamentation…

    With Marley’s final gesture, Scrooge was allowed a glimpse of the suffering world.  Ebenezer was allowed to witness the fatal regrets of souls who had gone before him.

    May it not take so much for us to consider the heavenly world.

    Resources

    A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens