Category: Encouragement

Healing or Alms?

Posted on by scott

3 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. – Acts 3:1-10

The Lame Sitting on the Church’s Doorstep

On their way to the temple for the morning prayers, the Apostles Peter and John encounter a lame man who is carried daily to the temple gate so he can ask alms of the worshippers coming and going to the temple. I don’t know how many years the lame man begged for alms outside the temple gate referred to as the Beautiful Gate, but we do know this, like the woman at the well (John 4), his deepest need was not assuaged by the water from the world’s well. Apparently, he received just enough alms to subsist from day to day, however, like the Samaritan woman, and so many people today, I think it is fair to say that he was existing more than he was living.

How many people walked past this lame man on a daily basis? How many of those that did paid attention to him? Perhaps over the course of time many became indifferent to, or even cynical of the lame man because his presence became such a consistent part of their daily lives? Beggars can make us feel uncomfortable and awkward. Why else do we try not to make eye contact with them? After all, who wants to do an act of generosity on their way to worship? Yet, just as sure as the sun was going to rise in the morning, the lame man was going to be asking alms at the Beautiful Gate. And just as sure as he was going to be sitting there, a busy world was going to be doing what the world does best; offering nothing more than platitudes and alms. But thankfully for this lame man, the Church, as represented by Peter and John, is not the world.

Power Unleashed

Peter and John were not men of great learning. In fact, later on in the Book of Acts they are referred to as uneducated and common men. Some translations say they were illiterate and ignorant. But they did not need a formal education to come to the aid of the lame man. Instead, they possessed what the lame man and the impotent world around them needed, Life and Truth. Like the rest of the Apostles (Paul excluded), Peter and John had the great privilege of sharing life with Jesus for three years. Yet, as beneficial as the time spent with Christ was, it was “just” the groundwork.

When Jesus was arrested, the Apostles scattered. When he was crucified, only John was at the cross. When His body was laid to rest, they hid like stowaways. Even after Christ rose from the dead, the Apostles remained timid and seemingly unfocused. Despite being told they would become “fisher’s of men” they went back to their boats. Then, as the Resurrected Jesus walked with Peter and John on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He had to test the commitment of His “Rock”. “Do you love Me more…

How quickly things would change. Shortly after this encounter on the shore, Jesus ascended into Heaven and on the day of Pentecost He unleashed a power that would forever change the world. Technically, this “power” was a “person”; the Holy Spirit. He came in a violent wind from Heaven and filled the Apostles, forever transforming them and using them to grow His Church and advance God’s Kingdom.

Rise Up and Walk

I often wonder if many Christians, and the Church at large, haven’t lost their (it’s) focus. When liberal theology embraced what it deemed to be enlightenment, it discarded inerrancy and infallibility. As a result, for many the Bible has been discarded as a basis of ultimate authority and Jesus has been relegated to the ranks of a moral teacher. Further, those that later began to promote the social gospel, misplaced their primary emphasis from the eternal souls of men to the shifting needs of a temporal society. Where have these “advances” gotten us?

You can now walk into a so called evangelical church and get entertainment, political viewpoints, moral & philosophical teachings, psychological treatment (i.e. positive thinking), etc. In other words, too often the Church that should be offering the world the Gospel, is doing a better job of imitating the world and handing out alms. But the problem isn’t new.

Here is an account cited by F.F. Bruce:

According to Cornelius a Lapide, Thomas Aquinas once called on Pope Innocent II when the latter was counting out a large sum of money. “You see, Thomas,” said the Pope, “the church can no longer say, ‘Silver and gold have I none.’” “True, holy father,” was the reply; “neither can she now say, ‘Rise and walk.’”

In the Name of Jesus

Peter and John healed the lame man in the name of Jesus, which is another way of saying in the power of Jesus. Do we recognize that the same power is still available to the Church and only to the Church today? It is. I’m not talking about a healing ministry to the physically lame, but a soul saving ministry to the spiritually lame. You have to agree that this lame beggar is a vivid illustration of lost humanity. Lost souls born in sin. Sin which paralyzes and make spiritual cripples of them. This is a paralysis which neither the individual can overcome, nor can the world cure it. The world can offer alms, but that at best is only temporary physical relief. What the lame need is soul help.

Consider this quote from Martyn LLoyd-Jones:

“The Church in an expert on the soul. It is not a cultural center or a psychological clinic or a social agency. No; her calling, her commission, is to deal with the souls of men and women. This is what causes their paralysis. Their trouble is not in the mind, nor in the heart, nor anywhere else primarily, but in the soul-that is, in the essence of their being, the center of their life.”

Once again, the Church is not the world. Christianity alone has the cure to redeem souls and make them right with God. A cure that can raise the spiritually lame to their feet so their souls can walk and dance and praise God. The cure of course is the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

Born in Bethlehem the Son of Man. Died on Calvary the Son of God. Rose from the dead the Savior of Souls.

“I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 

Shared Trials

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“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” – Romans 12:15 

The Fall

Sticking with the puzzle theme (tis the season). If there is anything in the puzzle realm more frustrating than missing pieces (see the last post), it is seeing a 3000 piece puzzle on the floor. Scattered. Think of 52 pickup on steroids.

Tired of working on a puzzle on my living room floor (think aging knees and back), I decided to carry our massive puzzle, perhaps one third finished, into the kitchen to work on the table. Since we were building the puzzle on a quarter inch piece of plywood, moving it is fairly easy. Usually.

So, I picked up the plywood by the outside edges and slowly made my way around the couch and then into the kitchen. Once in the kitchen, I simply had to lift the board over the captain’s chair at the head of the table and set it down on its new workstation. Unfortunately, as I was raising the board to clear the chair, the middle sagged and clipped the back of the chair. Yes, I saw the puzzle pieces flying through the air in slow motion before they came cascading down.

What did I have to show for hours of puzzle “work”? I believe the above picture says it pretty well. Not only was the puzzle far from resembling the picture on the box cover, it didn’t even look like the puzzle of five minutes prior!!

With a puzzle omelet on the kitchen floor, we found ourselves at a crossroad of sorts. Or perhaps better yet, a moment of truth. Now what? Seeing her investment of time scattered across the kitchen floor, my wife decided it was time to put the puzzle back in the box and move on to a different (read less complicated) puzzle. Being the person responsible for the puzzle scattered across the kitchen floor, I wasn’t ready to acquiesce. Fortunately, I am six days her elder, and hence could play the senior card. Which means we compromised!!

The puzzle is now being resumed in my man cave in the basement. And would you believe, one of the border pieces is now missing?!

Shattered Portrait

Seeing those puzzle pieces strewn across the floor reminded me of a prayer “my” pastor prayed years ago in a deacon’s meeting. As a deacon board, we had been discussing the sad situation of a young family in our church that was devastated by the marital infidelity of one of the parents. There was no insulating ourselves from the tragedy. When one member of the body hurts, we all hurt (1 Cor. 12:26).

Responding to the pain of others isn’t always (if ever) easy. Words can seem so shallow, or even condescending, if we haven’t had the same experience. Let’s be honest, sometimes there just aren’t any words (at the moment)!! Besides, what if our desire to reach out isn’t reciprocated with a desire to be reached? At least not now! Perhaps we will be misunderstood. How do we let those hurting know we care without overwhelming them? They need our love, but they also want their privacy.

(Off of the soap box and back to the deacon’s meeting) Sorry.

When we are faced with a moment of truth, it is always wise to pray, so we did. In the midst of our confusion and heightened emotion levels, our pastor summed up the situation so well in his prayer. He prayed for healing for this family whose family portrait was now fractured. Like the puzzle on the floor, it no longer looked like it did previously. The beautiful picture of this family was now seen through shattered glass. Unfortunately, broken glass does more than mar the image; it scars. Often for life.

Fallen Pieces

Moments of truth. We have all had them. Times in our life when the pieces are scattered. Picking them up may seem inundating if not impossible. Some of them may never be accounted for. At least not in this lifetime.

Testing times. Times in our lives when the glass is shattered. They may vary in severity. They may vary in duration. But their coming is a certainty.

Inventory time. I am not sure if life’s trials so much test what we have as expose what we lack. While you ponder that, let me ask you one question: How is your autonomy?

While we may have little or no control over the tests that come our way, we are told how we should respond as a body. Even though I dropped the puzzle, my wife and son who were building it with me, were on their hands and knees picking it up with me.

Isn’t that a beautiful picture of the Christian life?

Living Love

When God created Adam and Eve, He made them His image bearers. When they fell, sin marred that image. If I may use the expression, God’s family portrait was shattered. Since humanity is incapable of restoring the picture, God sent His Son in the form of a man to do so.

As a teacher Christ told us that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul and mind. And the second greatest is to love our neighbors as ourselves. And then shortly before His death on the cross He gave His disciples a new commandment, to love one another as He had loved them.

When He performed His first miracle, Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding. Certainly, He rejoiced with those who rejoiced. But at the grave of Lazarus, we have a more poignant picture of our Suffering Servant. Jesus wept. God in flesh and blood shedding tears. The Head of the body, sharing our pain.

Last month, we attended the funeral of a stillborn infant, and celebrated our son’s birthday in a matter of hours. That day could serve as a microcosm of our lives. Certainly, there is no lack of opportunity for rejoicing and weeping with others. The real issue, is how do we respond when the opportunities arise?

Martyn Lloyd Jones once said, “There is no more thorough test of our profession of the Christian faith than just this ability to feel with other Christians.”

More importantly, Jesus said:

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:35

May we heed the words of our Savior who will forever wear the scars from restoring the family.

Picture Perfect

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“2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”. – James 1:2-4

Lacking

Perhaps like many of you, our family likes to pull out puzzles during the Holiday seasons. Cozied up with the Christmas tree in the corner and a fire blazing in the hearth, the living room floor is transformed into Puzzle Central. One time worn puzzle after another makes their way onto the puzzle board and is labored over. Once finished they are taken apart (usually), and put back into the box for next season.

The most recent puzzle to make it’s way through the procession was the Thomas Kinkade portrait pictured above. Currently this is a 999 piece puzzle. Obviously we did not buy it as such. What began as a 1000 piece puzzle is now “lacking”. (Go ahead and look, I will wait for you to find the hole in the puzzle). Sadly, most of the puzzles we have worked on thus far this season have been “lacking”. I often wonder if the sock black hole doesn’t also swallow up unsuspecting puzzle pieces, but my unmatched socks aren’t talking.

Regardless of where the missing pieces end up, it is not so enjoyable to look at a puzzle that you have invested so much time into and have a “hole” (or multiple) staring back at you. So much for the building anticipation of being able to put in the final piece. As I looked at our “lacking” puzzle, I couldn’t help but think of how perhaps it is just a reflection of me/us. Despite the “work” God has invested, on this side of eternity we are all “lacking”.

Testing

Missing socks and puzzle pieces may be annoying, but in the grand scheme of things they are minor distractions. Certainly not worthy of being compared with suffering. When addressing his fellow Believers, James (as quoted above) encouraged them to “count it all joy” when facing life circumstances that test their faith. Why? Because afflictions due to our faith produce endurance (steadfastness). I am afraid that in an age that appears to be dominated by “quitters”, this is a foreign concept.

As Believers, this world is not our home. In fact, our belief system is diametrically opposed to the world. Accordingly, the world is becoming more and more antagonistic towards people of faith. In case you haven’t noticed, the opposition is becoming more and more vocal against, and less tolerant of, the Christian “worldview” and those of us that adhere to it.

What do we do in the midst of such opposition? According to James, we continue in the faith despite the cost. And as we do so we build up perseverance. This is never easy. Nor is it enjoyable at the time. But it is necessary if we wish to be “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Enduring

In the beginning of verse 4, James tells us to let steadfastness have it’s full effect. What does this mean? It doesn’t mean we are to respond like fish out of water biding our time. Instead, as one writer said, the word translated steadfastness (Hupomone) is to be thought of not as a “passive tolerance”, but rather as an “active perseverance”. The thought is that we are to “remain consistent through opposition”, and ” continue despite the difficulty”. After all, as John MacArthur has said, “The only way out of a trial is through it.”

What does this look like? The writer of Hebrews uses the same Greek word to describe how believers are to run the race of faith.

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:1-2

This is a race of intentionality, not resignation! We don’t run the race with a victim mentality or martyr complex, but rather as runners so focused on the finish line that we are willing to endure any pain to reach our goal.

Perfecting

When James talks about perfection and completion, he is referring to development and wholeness (completeness), not moral perfection. The thought is one of moving towards spiritual maturity. It is becoming more like Christ, the “founder and perfecter of our faith.” If we want to become more like Him, we must endure our sufferings much like He endured the cross!

When suffering comes, we must turn to the Father for strength and hope. We need a “supernatural” response to suffering, not a worldly or fleshly one. While our flesh is inclined to lash out at those who persecute us and make us suffer, our Heavenly Father desires us to pray for them. Likewise, whereas the enemy of our souls would like us to walk away from God to avoid suffering, it is the Father’s will that we draw closer to him and strengthen our faith.

As James goes on to teach us, we must also turn to God in prayer. Specifically, praying for wisdom. As alluded to above, we need divine wisdom in order to endure suffering for our faith. As God grants us the wisdom we petition Him for, we will continue down the path of our spiritual maturity. After all, it is not the suffering that matures us, but our response to it. And for this we need wisdom from God.

Finishing

The evening that we “finished” the above puzzle, it was missing four pieces. After a little searching, three of the four were found, resulting in the 999 piece puzzle. With each newly found piece put in it’s proper place, the puzzle was moving closer to completeness. How encouraging it is to see the pieces all coming together making for a more “perfect” picture.

The process reminds me of a few more scripture passages:

10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. – 1 Peter 5:10

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope – Romans 5:3-4

2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. – 1 John 3:2-3

As stated earlier, looking at the “lacking” puzzle gave me a glimpse of myself (some days more pieces seem to be missing than others), but scriptures give me hope. Although while in the flesh we are a work in progress, the day is coming when we will be perfect in every sense of the word. As John encourages us, when Christ appears we will experience what theologians refer to as eschatological perfection. Not only will we be perfect in every sense of the word, but we will be so for all of eternity!

That is more than just a pretty picture. It is an absolute Truth!!

Former and New Things

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21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” – Revelation 21:1-5 (Emphasis mine).

Former Things

Death. Mourning. Crying. Pain. The apostle John, recording what he heard spoken by a loud voice “from the throne”, refers to these in the past tense. Specifically, as former things. Presumably, the apostle John, and by extension we his audience, need to have these thing relegated to their proper place and status. They were never God’s intention for the “first” earth, and they won’t be admitted in the new.

In this text, John likens the new Jerusalem to a bride adorned for her husband. This is one wedding for which the old rhyme “something old-something new” doesn’t hold true. For this bride at least, the old must go. Death, mourning, crying and pain are not proper attire, but rather worn out garments. Not exactly becoming for a beautiful bride. Especially if the groom is Divine!

Present Things

Do you find it ironic that these things which John refers to as “former things” have a way of dominating the present? Death, mourning, crying and pain form a rather potent quartet! I cannot think of any way to avoid them. Can you? They are like a pack of vicious hounds that never lose our scent trail. We can try to run and hide from them but they always seem to be on our heels or lurking around the next corner. Can’t you see them foaming at the mouth awaiting the next opportunity to get us in their jaws.

In a world dominated by sin how do we respond to it’s consequences? Aren’t death, mourning, crying and pain inevitable? It seems as if one of them always has their teeth into our flesh. I know that for our family, as well as many of our dearest friends, the last year or so has been extremely difficult as a string of tragic deaths of has bit us. Hence, this “first earth” has become a different home painted with a melancholy hue.

Admittedly, when we allow the “former things” to dominate us, colors lose their vibrancy and music it’s beauty. Rather than living life to it’s fullest, it feels more like we have been merely existing in a monochrome world filled with static. In such a state our joys become tempered and our hopes bated. Undoubtedly this is no place for a child of the King to dwell. Definitely, not for an extended period of time. Accordingly, when we are biding our time in such an existence, we need to hear a loud voice from Heaven’s throne putting the “former things” in a proper perspective.

A Biblical View

As long as we reside on this “first earth”, suffering is inevitable. Granted, our specific trials may be different, but we all experience similar consequences. Death. Mourning. Crying. Pain. Knowing that we all be susceptible to allowing these things to dominate us (and depress us), I want to share some encouragement from Timothy Keller.

As I was recently reading through Keller’s book, The Reason for God, he had this to say.

“I think we need something more than knowing God is with us in our difficulties. We also need hope that our suffering is ‘not in vain.'”

“The Biblical view of things is resurrection-not a future that is just a consolation for the life we never had but a restoration of the life you always wanted. this means that every horrible thing that ever happened will not only be undone and repaired but will in some way make the eventual glory and joy even greater.” (emphasis his).

You know what I take out of this? As amazing as the cross of Christ is, I need to become more of an empty tomb focused Christian.

Nightmare Lesson

As an illustration, Timothy Keller then proceeds to share a horrible nightmare he had a few years ago. In his dream, everyone in his family had died. As he relates his story, he shares that in addition to the relief he felt when he awoke, his delight in each of the members of his family was “tremendously enriched”. As he looked at each of his family members he realized how grateful he was for each of them and how much he loved them. Here is how he summed it up…

“My joy had been greatly magnified by the nightmare. My delight upon awaking took the terror up into itself, as it were, so that in the end my love for them was only greater for having lost them and found them again. This same dynamic is at work when you lose some possession you take for granted. When you find it again (having thought it was gone forever) you cherish and appreciate it in a far deeper way.”

Since “the Biblical view of things is resurrection”, focusing on the empty grave should help us to remember that life’s tragedies and sufferings don’t have the final word. May God grant us the ability to see the redeeming value in all of life’s circumstances, especially the trials.

Coming Untrue?

In Matthew chapter nineteen (v.28), Jesus uses a Greek word (palingenesis) rich in meaning and symbolism. Keller comments – “This is a radically new concept. Jesus insisted that his return will be with such power that the very material world and universe will be purged of all decay and brokenness. All will be healed and all might-have-beens will be.”

Keller then goes on to quote one of our all time favorite theologians, Sam Gamgee from Tolkiens’ trilogy The Lord of the Rings, upon discovering that his friend Gandalf whom he thought dead was in fact alive and well.

“He cries, ‘I thought you were dead! But then I thought I was dead myself! Is everything sad going to come untrue?’ The answer of Christianity to that question is – yes. Everything sad is going to come untrue and it will somehow be greater for having once been broken and lost.”

Can you hear the message of the empty tomb? The hope it instills in us is not bated!!

Backwards Work

No disrespect to Sam Gamgee, but C.S. Lewis is perhaps quoted a little more often. Especially when it comes to theological matters. Here is what he had to say on this topic.

“They say of some temporal suffering, ‘No future bliss can make up for it,’ not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory.”

To which Timothy Keller adds – “This is the ultimate defeat of evil and suffering. It will not only be ended but so radically vanquished that what has happened will only serve to make our future life and joy infinitely greater.”

All I can say to that is Amen.

Cares and Consolations

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19 When the cares of my heart are many,
    your consolations cheer my soul. – Psalm 94:19

Cares

Can you relate to King David? Do you ever feel like your many cares are weighing down your heart? I’m sure we’ve all been there. In fact, I’m confident some of us are “there” today. As we go about our daily activities, our cares have a tendency to distract us at best or overwhelm us at worst. In so doing, they deny us many of life’s joys. And unfortunately, as they keep us tossing and turning in our beds at night they also rob us of our rest and peace of mind. We can close our eyes but that doesn’t stop our cares from haunting us.

Too often, the multitude of thoughts within us are like a crowd jostling for position. And what an unruly and unmanageable crowd it can be. This distraction bumps into that regret which wrestles with that question. Why me? If only! What’s next? Today has so many concerns, what will tomorrow bring? Not even a man like King David is immune from such forebodings.

As King David could attest, as long as we live in a fallen world, we will have to wrestle with cares. And in the context of Psalm 94, David is struggling with inequity. From his vantage point, things just didn’t look fair. The proud and wicked “fools” were oppressing the poor. According to David, they were “slaying widows and foreigners and murdering the fatherless”. To make matters worse, as the perpetrators poured out arrogant words they mocked God as inattentive and uncaring. But despite his heavy heart and distracted mind, David knew better.

My Heart

I’m confident that if you took a quick inventory of your heart, you would find a multitude of cares residing there. Just think; who could have ever imagined just a few short years ago how much our lives would be impacted by a pandemic and corresponding regulations? In addition, there has been so much political turmoil and divisive partisanship making cynics of even the most stout hearted among us. And even if you manage to insulate yourself from the cares “out there”, others will find a way into your daily life.

Like many of you, my heart is still heavy today because of the string of recent deaths that have upset so many hopes and dreams. And sadly, life has a cruel way of bringing us constant reminders of what we have lost. How can we feel our way through such a labyrinth in the dark? Just when we think we are close to finding our way out, another “care” blocks the way, and we begin to grope in the dark once again. Or so it feels.

Are you trying to feel your way through the dark labyrinth today? What cares are weighing down your heart and blocking your way? How is your physical or mental health, or the health of those you love? Any cares? How about your relationships? Are there any you need to work on or mend? Perhaps it is your finances that keep you tossing and turning at night. If none of these is a concern how about work or school? Any cares at church or with your spiritual status? As long as our blood is coursing through our veins, there seems to be no limit to the sources of our cares. The question becomes, what do we do when the cares of our hearts are many?

Escape

How many of us are inundated with so many cares that we look for means of escape? It’s Monday morning and we are already looking forward to the weekend! Unhappy, and too often unfulfilled with what we have, we dream about something “better”. Often succumbing to the grass is greener syndrome. But winter approaches and turns the grass brown, reminding us that fantasy won’t chase away our cares.

If we can’t find relief in one form of escapism, we try others. For some it is drugs or alcohol. Many turn to opiates to dull their senses and/or drinks to drown their troubles. But these only add to their woes. Foreign substances not your style? How about illicit relationships? Sadly, pornography and extramarital affairs have become all too common, yet they also only add to our woes. That painful crash after a temporary “high” reminds us that addictions are also ineffective in curing our cares.

We don’t have time to exhaust the numerous means of escape, but at the end of the day how many of our cares are “relatives” of David’s cares of inequity? Why do the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper? More specifically, why did he get a raise and not me? Why is my marriage falling apart? Why did I get that diagnosis? Why did I have to bury a child?

Life isn’t fair!! Hence looking for answers in an “unfair” world isn’t going to help.

Consolations

So where do we turn when our hearts are full of cares? Listen to what David says just a few verses later in Psalm 94.

22 But the Lord has become my fortress,
    and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. – Psalm 94:22

Despite what the wicked of David’s time (and all time) said, God is not inattentive and uncaring (Psalm 94:7).

For every care the world weighs on your heart, God has an infinite number of consolations to cheer your soul. Death have you depressed? He is the Resurrection and the Life. Relationships strained? His love is eternal and perfect. Financial concerns? Nothing can touch your treasures in Heaven. Feelings of abandonment? He will never leave you or forsake. He will not go back on His Covenant promises.

God has loved you from eternity past. He knit you together in your mother’s womb. He sent His Son to die for your sins. Christ defeated the grave and death and you are clothed with His righteousness. As His child, your salvation is secure. Your Savior has risen to the right hand of the Father and you are seated with Him.

Look to your Fortress and Refuge. Meditate on what He has done for you. Because of the blood of Christ, you have been united with Him in His death and life. You are not only dead to sin, you are also indwelt with the Holy Spirit. Further, some day Christ is coming back in all of His glory. When He does He will not make all things fair, but in His grace He will make them right!!

Cheer

The world gives us cares and chaos. Storms that trouble our hearts. God gives us a Rock in whom we can take refuge. He gives us consolations that bring us joy, cheering our souls. Imagine that. While we struggle with escaping our cares, God wants us to bring them to Him (1 Peter 5:7). Oh, the circumstance may remain the same, but God’s consolations crowd out our cares.

In the midst of our cares; our multitude of thoughts, Jesus meets us and quiets the crowd. He brings order to our distractions, regrets and questions, by offering peace, forgiveness and rest. By bringing Heaven to our hearts, Jesus doesn’t just alleviate our cares, but in addition, He brings to us what the world never could. Joy.

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
    you have loosed my sackcloth
    and clothed me with gladness,
12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! – Psalm 30:11-12

Who doesn’t want to exchange mourning for dancing and sackcloth for gladness? Sorrow and grief must yield to joy.

Souls

Earlier I asked you to look into your hearts and take an inventory of the cares that are weighing you down. Now I want to challenge you to reflect on Biblical truths and see what the consolations of God won’t do for your soul. I’m convinced the darkness cast by our cares must give way the the glorious light of Truth.

Overwhelmed by cares? Run to the Rock and see if His Divine consolations aren’t efficacious in turning your cares into cheer. Your heart might be weighed down with cares, but perhaps soon it will be leaping with joy as you contemplate the sacrificial love of your Savior.

God of the Living

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37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” – Luke 20:38

Authority

Jesus certainly “made a splash” when He came on the scene as a Rabbi. Both His content and His manner made a great impression on the throngs that heard Him. To His audiences, His authority was unique. To the dismay of the the religious leaders of the day (i.e. scribes, pharisees, sadducees, etc.), the teaching of Jesus was contrasted very favorably with theirs.

 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. – Mark 1:22

But it wasn’t just the content and manner with which Jesus spoke, but the power as well that separated Him from His “peers”.

27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” – Mark 1:27

When Jesus spoke, even the demons had to obey Him. But where did this authority come from? The established order would stoop to great lows to find out.

Cunning

As Luke records in the twentieth chapter of his gospel, when they could no longer take the suspense, the chief priests and the scribes along with the elders approached Jesus and demanded that He tell them where He got His authority. Who gave it to Him? Seeing their motive, Jesus chose to answer their question with one of His own. One which they refused to answer for fear of the crowd. Hence Jesus refused to answer them as well. But the “game” wasn’t over.

Later, the chief priests and scribes would send spies out to see if they couldn’t catch Him in saying something condemning. After failing to trap Jesus with a question about taxes and loyalty to Caesar, the chief priests were reduced to spectator status as the Sadducees would now try their hand.

Since they did not believe in the resurrection, the Sadducees attempted to trip up Jesus with a ridiculous hypothetical question about seven brothers who over time shared a common wife. After the first died childless, the second married her and died childless, and so on. In the resurrection, which of the seven brothers would she be married to? In their cunning, they presented Jesus a great opportunity to teach on the afterlife.

The Living

The Sadducees placed unique emphasis exclusively on the writings of Moses. Hence Jesus quotes their “authority” in stating that the Lord is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. In stating thus, Moses was not making a profound statement about God per se, but rather a profound statement about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. At least that is what Jesus focuses on. If these men are not alive, how is the Lord their God?

38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” – Luke 2o:38

Don’t miss the point. Those that have attained the resurrection of the dead are not concerned with earthly things (like marriage) as good as they may be. Further, like the angels, they are now out of the reach of death. Despite your lack of belief, Sadducees, the patriarchs have defeated the grave. Don’t be sidetracked, the patriarchs are alive and God is their God.

Funerals

7 These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life, 175 years. 8 Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. 9 Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, 10 the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife. – Genesis 25:7-10

28 Now the days of Isaac were 180 years. 29 And Isaac breathed his last, and he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. – Genesis 35:28-29

29 Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah— 32 the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people. – Genesis 49:29-33

As these passages plainly show, the deaths of the patriarchs were undeniable facts. If you wanted proof, you could go to the cave in the field at Machpelah and see their remains. But their remains only tell part of the story. If we look at death from only one side of the grave we are practical Sadducees. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all died at a good old age, and each of them was mourned over and buried by his children. What more could a person ask for?

Coming Up

5 Who is that coming up from the wilderness,
    leaning on her beloved? – Song of Solomon 8:5

Timothy Keller jokes that when he first read Song of Solomon it made him blush and ask whether Jesus knew that little book was in the Bible. Since marriage is ordained by God, and the Church is the Bride of Christ, I am sure that we are all thankful that it is in the Holy Scriptures showing us Christ’s love for His bride. And after all of the death’s we have celebrated recently, this verse in particular has taken on a “new” meaning for me.

Tomorrow, we are going to lay to rest the remains of Baby Josie Rae. The cemetery and the grave will be real enough. The casket made by her beloved grandfather will be real enough as well. There will be tears and deep grief just as there was at the funerals of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph. But I don’t want to miss what the Sadducees missed. I don’t want to miss the other side of the grave. The side we get a glimpse of in Song of Solomon.

While we are laying to rest the earthly tent of little Josie, Heaven’s audience will be asking, “Who is that coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?” With a smile on His face, Jesus will introduce Josie to her eternal family. As Josie returns the smile, we will have to wonder if there was ever a more beautiful bride. As depictive as it may be, the Song of Solomon can only give us a glimpse of the bliss Josie is experiencing. The reason there is no marriage in Heaven Sadducees, is because as part of the Church, we, the Living, are Christ’s bride.

Leaning

As Josie is promoted from the wilderness to glory, she is leaning on Jesus’ arm in ecstasy. How could she not? But she is not the only one leaning on the Beloved. As we go through life’s trials and tribulations, we too must lean on the arm of Jesus to support us like nobody or nothing else can. At times, He is our only refuge. And thankfully so.

As the Sadducees well knew, death and funerals are real. And tomorrow morning we will experience once again the sorrow they bring into our earthly existence. To add insult to injury, there will be no celebration in an “old age” or “full of life” testimony as all too soon we bury another stillborn baby.

Unlike the funerals of the patriarchs, tomorrow it will be parents and grandparents saying goodbye to a descendent, not children and grandchildren saying goodbye to an ancestor. As her little body is laid to rest and covered, Josie will take with her so many dreams and plans that will also be laid to rest and covered. When she is, the enemy will resort to his cunning to plant seeds of doubt in the fresh dirt of her grave. When he does, we will have to remember who it is we are leaning on, because the enemy doesn’t want us to lean on Him.

Beloved

Isaiah chapter 53 tells us that the Savior had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him. But after making these statements about the appearance of Christ, Isaiah goes on to tell us about His real beauty. Specifically, he tells us what Christ sacrificed on our behalf as the suffering Servant. I guess I can’t say it any better than Isaiah did so here it is.

4 Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
    smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
    and with his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
    we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
    yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
    and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
    so he opened not his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
    and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
    stricken for the transgression of my people?
9 And they made his grave with the wicked
    and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
    and there was no deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
    he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
    he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
    make many to be accounted righteous,
    and he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
    and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
    and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
    and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Because love compelled Him to stretch out His arms on the cruel cross, our Beloved has authority over Satan, death and the grave. Accordingly, today, Josie has the privilege of leaning on His arm in Heaven, and we have the privilege of leaning on Him here in the wilderness. Some day we too will be promoted like Josie, and can you imagine the faces of our loved ones when they see us and exclaim, “Who is that coming up from the wilderness, leaning on the Beloved?”

38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” – Luke 20:38

God grant us the faith to see reality from the other side of the grave, even while we are mourning in the wilderness.

Crowns

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Note: This writing was started on June 6th, originally under the title Grandchildren. The following day, Silas Fore’s (grandson of some of our dearest friends) tragic death took place before I was able to publish it. Wanting to be sensitive to the families loss, I postponed publishing. Sadly, another of my best friends has lost a grandchild. Accordingly, I have revised part of this writing. In the midst of what feels like unending grief, I hope what follows will be a blessing and encouragement.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their fathers. – Proverbs 17:6

Daniel Clark Byrum

Morning Light

This morning just before 2:00 a.m. I was awakened by a bright light. This light wasn’t due to a Sunday morning visitation of an angel, nor was it an extra terrestrial visitor, but rather my youngest daughter (Rachel) letting myself and her mother know that it was time. She didn’t have to explain in any further detail what time she was referring to. Our eldest daughter Courtney was a couple of weeks past her due date for her fifth child.

It was time!

My wife got ready as quickly as you can when still half asleep, and along with Rachel, headed for Courtney’s house to become part of the delivery “team” for the home birth. While they provided moral support for Courtney, I tried to fall back to sleep (after offering up some “safe delivery” prayers), all the while anticipating that special phone call.

Just before 5:00 a.m. the phone call came. Rachel informed me Courtney had given birth to another grandson. Now it was time for me to wake up my son Caleb and then make our quick journey to see God’s latest blessing for our family. A grandparent can’t have too many “crowns”!!

Who’s Crying Now?

When I walked into the front door of my daughter’s house, I knew it was going to be emotionally charged. But I didn’t know how quickly I was going to be hit. For as soon as I stepped into the house, I was greeted by the cry of my newborn grandson coming from upstairs. The contrast to our grandson Isaiah’s stillbirth two months earlier could not have been any greater. I was never so happy to hear a baby cry. In fact, I was completely overcome with emotion and there was nothing I could do to hide it.

Along with Caleb, I immediately ascended the steps and entered the overcrowded (and overheated) bedroom to behold grandchild number six (whose name was still unknown to me). After a few moments of unbearable anticipation, my grandson was handed to me… and I melted. The tears were unstoppable. I felt like I was living out Jeremiah 31:15 which refers to Rachel weeping for her children. I was crying not only because of the joy of the life in my arms, but also because of the void in my heart. The loss of baby Isaiah two months prior was still so raw.

In fact, the loss of Isaiah made the life of our new grandson both more “painful” and more joyful at the same time. For everyone in the room, we were reminded of the special blessing that was cut short, as well as just how special life is and how important it is to never take it for granted. I pray my family never will.

A Good Name

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches..” – Proverbs 22:1a

When it was time to announce our new grandson’s name, there was another wave of emotions. In honor of his deceased cousin, Isaiah Clark, and Isaiah’s father, Daniel, the good name that was chosen is Daniel Clark Byrum. Needless to say, we were all humbled by the gesture. Especially “big” Daniel.

While nobody is expecting baby Daniel to “replace” his cousin Isaiah, it is hard not to look at him and ask “what if?”. The plans and dreams our family had for Daniel and his “twin” cousin were hard to lay to rest. Painfully so.

While those plans and dreams will never come to fruition, it is comforting to know that there is a sense in which Daniel will carry on Isaiah’s legacy (to a degree) by sharing part of his name. As a grandfather, I am thankful for the good name that was chosen, and as a father, I am thankful for the love and respect that prompted it. To me this is more precious than great riches.

Crowns

As any “aged” person could testify, it is hard to put into words the great blessing that grandchildren are. As Timothy Keller says; “Grandchildren open a room in your heart that could not be unlocked by anyone else.” Although our energy has diminished since raising our own children, hopefully we have grown in wisdom and appreciation for what our grandchildren represent. Psalm 127 reminds us that our children are a blessing from God. How much more so our grandchildren.

We are all familiar with the trials of Job, but we should not miss how his “story” ends. Yes, God doubled his possessions (livestock) and gave him more children, but there is more.

16 And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, four generations. 17 And Job died, an old man, and full of days. – Job 42:16-17

Job was blessed not simply with wealth and length of life, but with the blessing of being able to see and invest in four generations of his offspring. Is it any wonder God’s Word says his life was “full” of days?

Closed Rooms

If our grandchildren can open a room to our hearts that nobody else can, what does that imply about the painful loss of our grandchildren? Unfortunately, too many of my dear friends are experiencing the answer to that question at this moment. I have written extensively about that pain the last couple of months since the death of Baby Isaiah, so I don’t want to belabor the point. However, I do want to be sensitive to what my dear friends are going through and encourage you to lift them up in prayer.

The Fore, Kresge, Kissling, and Travis families are experiencing the reality of broken hearts. Hearts that now have rooms “permanently” closed (from an earthly perspective). The loss of Silas and Josie will forever change who they are. The special rooms that only these grandchildren could open will now be closed until they are reunited with them in Heaven.

Until that day comes, may the Lord find us faithful in showering them with our love and prayers. We can never replace their loss, but we can remind them that in reality, their grandchildren are not lost, but rather promoted. And they will be awaiting their beloved families with open arms. After all, God did not double Job’s ten children that were killed with twenty (like He doubled his livestock), but rather blessed Job with ten more children. Although Job’s eyes couldn’t perceive it, because of their eternal nature, his “original” children were more alive than his second set. May we never forget to look at life with an eternal perspective.

Holding Crowns

I highly doubt that I will live to be 140 years old like Job. Likewise, I don’t imagine I will have the privilege of seeing four generations of my offspring. But I am thankful for the blessings God has granted me in the form of my children and grandchildren. Even before the life changing tragedies of the last few months, I have believed that this side of Heaven, there were few things that could compare with holding a newborn child. As mentioned above, now the joy is even sweeter.

In a round about way, I guess what I am trying to communicate is that I don’t want us to miss the blessing of what we have because of the pain of what we have lost, albeit temporarily. As Job reminds us, we brought nothing into this world and will take nothing out when we die. It is God who gives us breath in the first place. It is God who numbers our days. And it is God who blesses us with children and grandchildren.

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” – Job 1:21

The question is, what are we going to do with what He has blessed us with? When the writer of Proverbs says that our grandchildren are a crown, he is not appealing to our fleshly pride, but instead is referring to the blessing of seeing our grandchildren carrying on our Christian legacy. He is referring to godly children following the way of wisdom instead of the way of folly.

Casting Crowns

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
    who was and is and is to come!”

9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they existed and were created.” – Revelation 4:8-11

As we have seen, children and grandchildren are a blessing from God. But ultimately, they are not ours, but His. Ours is the privilege of stewardship for a season, whether it be long or short. While we can’t control the length of the season, we can “redeem” the time that we have. May we make the best our time pointing them to Christ and passing along our Christian faith.

Some day, we will join the twenty four elders at the foot of Heaven’t throne. There, I believe we will follow their example and we too will cast our crowns at our Savior’s feet in adoration and worship. Every reward we receive for faithful service will be given back to our Lord out of gratitude for what He has done for us.

At the same time we will be reunited with our deceased grandchildren in the presence of our Savior who wore a crown of thorns for us. He will wipe away our tears and He will make our joy complete. And thankfully, the one who has given us a new heart will make them “whole” again. Most importantly, along with our children and grandchildren, we will sing with the elders to the One who has blessed us beyond comprehension;

11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they existed and were created.”

Congratulations

Soon Julia will deliver her third child. And when she does we will mourn with the families because she is stillborn. But that temporary mourning will give way to rejoicing. In fact, we will forever rejoice with them in the eternal life that is Josie Rae Kissling. Created by God in His image and now safely in His presence!!

In advance, I want to say congratulations to Jake and Julia for the blessing that God has given them in Baby Josie, and congratulations to the the grandparents who have been blessed with another crown. Some day, perhaps soon, we will realize just how blessed we truly are.

The Brokenhearted

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17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit. – Psalm 34:17-18

Brokenhearted

As Moses approached the burning bush, God stopped him from getting too near. Moses could only get so close to the presence of God or he may have been consumed by His holiness as represented by the fire. To the contrary, Moses was commanded to stop in his tracks and remove his sandals as the ground he was treading was deemed holy ground (Ex 3:5). Intimidated by the presence of God, Moses could only hide his face as God spoke to him from the burning bush.

As Joshua and the Israelites were approaching Jericho, Joshua encountered a man with a drawn sword in his path. Confused by his presence, Joshua enquired if the man was a friend or foe, to which this mysterious man replied neither. Instead, he identified himself as commander of the Lord’s army. In reverence, Joshua could only fall facedown on the ground and humble himself before this man. What message did the commander of the Lord’s army have for Joshua? Joshua was to take off his sandals for he was on holy ground.

A couple of nights ago, I was standing on “holy” ground. No, I wasn’t in the presence of a burning bush on Mount Horeb. Nor was I on the outskirts of Jericho in the presence of the commander of the Lord’s army. Instead, I was in the midst of the brokenhearted. A small gathering of God’s children who have shared a common experience; the death of a child or grandchild.

Closeness

To clarify, we did not gather Friday evening to lick our wounds. Nor did we gather for what some might call group therapy. Our objective was simple; to worship our Savior in song and testimony and to intercede for our friends Jake and Julia in the midst of their trial. In other words, we did what David encourages us to do (by example) in the first three verses of Psalm 34.

1 I will extol the Lord at all times;
    his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me;
    let us exalt his name together. – Psalm 34:1-3

To do so in the midst of such extreme grief is difficult. How do you sing when death has kicked you in the stomach and taken away your breath? How do you praise the lord with your lips when your heart is full of grief, anger, and fear? It wasn’t easy, but we did it. And all I can say is that I am not sure there is such sweet fellowship on this side of Heaven as there is among the brokenhearted. There is nothing like standing on Holy ground in humility. And there is nothing like death to humble us. Thankfully, God often rewards such humility with His “closeness”.

Humility

The prophet Micah asks us what the Lord requires of us. If we didn’t know the text, I wonder how many of us would be able to answer the question “correctly”. Notice what Micah suggests, before he gives the “correct” answer.

6 “With what shall I come before the Lord,
    and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
    with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
    and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
    and to walk humbly with your God? – Micah 6:6-8

We want to impress God with our sacrifices. God wants us! Keep your calves and your rams and even your firstborn. What do these mean to God if he doesn’t have you? He wants us to walk humbly with Him on a daily basis. If we are walking humbly with God we will love kindness and do justice, but it all begins with humility.

Crying Out

Why is humility so rare? Why do we avoid being transparent? Are we afraid to be vulnerable? Why are we all so good at play acting? None of us has it all together, so why do we pretend we do? God wants us to walk humbly with Him, but we want to be independent and autonomous. We want to do what we want, when we want, how we want!! And when we get it wrong we still have the audacity to blame others.

God knows our struggle with pride, hence this famous passage.

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. – Philippians 2:1-8

A big step in the right direction in our walk of humility with God is to count others as more significant than ourselves and to look to the interest of others. That is what the brokenhearted did Friday night. We met to worship our Heavenly Father not only in song, but as we cried out to Him on behalf of Jake and Julia. The dear parents of Baby Josie whose death we have been grieving.

Crushed Spirits

Friday night was definitely a special night. The emotions were so raw. The prayers were so desperate. Transparency permeated everything that was said and done the entire evening. It was emotionally draining, but it was so beautiful. If only we could worship like that more regularly!!

Yet hearts are still broken, and spirits are still crushed.

Julia is still carrying Josie in her womb. Bittersweet days lie ahead. There are still a lot of unknowns to be answered. The tears come and go and the emotions still swing like a pendulum. In the midst of the uncertainties, the families still need all the love, encouragement, and prayer support they can get.

Despite the broken hearts, crushed spirits, and uncertainties, I am thankful for what we do know:

When the righteous cry out the Lord hears them and delivers them from their troubles.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in Spirit.

Hope

Though He was in the form of God, Jesus emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant. Taking on flesh and blood, He further humbled Himself by dying on the cross in our place. Because of His death and resurrection, we can get “close” to God as we are now clothed with Christ’s righteousness. If nothing else, the death of Christ on our behalf should be enough to keep us humble. As we contemplate it and appropriate it, we are “standing” on holy ground.

Death may have a way of breaking our hearts and crushing our spirits, but the death of Christ puts them into perspective. In fact, it is only because of the death of Christ that we can have hope in the midst of such grief and brokenness. When death, or any other trial or tragedy, takes away your breath, I challenge you to lift your eyes to Heaven and exalt His name.

When you do so, come to Him with empty hands and lay down your mask. Admit your total unworthiness and futile weakness. Like the widow who donated her two mites, admit He owns everything you have and you are only a steward. And like the tax collector of Jesus’ parable, admit your unworthiness to stand in His presence without His grace.

It has been a difficult week. The present has certainly dug up the past. But I hope I never forget the beauty of last Friday night, because I am convinced it was a foretaste of the future.

May life’s trials remind us of the importance of walking humbly every day with our Heavenly Father. No time like the present to prepare for the future.

Thanks for the reminder Baby Josie.

New Things

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18 “Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing! – Isaiah 43:18-19a

Letters

Sometimes it is not so easy to forget the former things. In fact, it often seems downright impossible not to dwell on the past. Can we really push past memories into a vault and seal them in? Our pasts are filled with so many highs and lows that not only trigger emotional responses, but at a deeper level they greatly shape our character. How can they not?

A few weeks ago, our family experienced one of those dramatic life experiences that has dominated our thoughts and emotions. The loss of a loved one certainly has a way of dominating every aspect of your life for a season. Accordingly, the loss of baby Isaiah is something that we will think about and dwell on for a long time to come. In fact, we will never forget him.

For many of us, our memories will include the letters that Isaiah’s parents Daniel and Rebekah wrote to their beloved son. Letters that were shared at his graveside service. As I have contemplated these letters, I have wondered how a letter from Isaiah might read. Perhaps it might read something like this.

Mommy and Daddy,

Thank you for your love. Every moment of my awareness I felt it. From inside the womb I heard it spoken. The excitement in your voices when you first learned I was here was unmistakable. Every child wants to be wanted. Every child needs to be loved. Even before you could “feel” me, I could feel your love. I am sure it was contagious. Selfless love always is.

Thank you mommy for carrying me. You and daddy know that I am a gift from God. Wonderfully knit by Him in your womb, and ordained before the foundation of the world. I never was a mass of tissue. Nor could I ever be confused for anything as selfish as merely a “choice”. I will forever be your firstborn. Uniquely fashioned with the DNA of mommy and daddy. But more importantly, I was created in the image of My Heavenly Father.

Mommy, I know you miss feeling my kicks. Daddy, I know you miss feeling them as well, although they were less of an “inconvenience” to you. Even though it only lasted thirty-six weeks, what a special bonding time we had. You took me a lot of places, and “fed” me a lot of good foods. More importantly, you shared your excitement for me with so many family members and friends. There was no mistaking the thrill of expectation as I heard your conversations. Thank you for the experiences we shared together.

Thank you daddy for praying for me. As my protector, there is nothing more important you could have done for me than to pray for me. The fervency of your prayers was just another reminder of the depth of your love for me. I am proud to call you daddy.

Thank you also for providing for me. I know how hard each of you works to make sure the house is a home. Your preparations did not go unnoticed. I especially love the nursery. It is laid out so nice. The room is so “warm” and inviting with so much attention to detail. It is a beautiful reflection of my awesome parents. I have a lot of fond memories of the time mommy and I spent in there.

Mommy, you not only carried me well, but you delivered me well. You said that God had given you a task to complete. Thank you for obeying Him. I know how difficult it was to go through the long hours of pain, knowing that your effort would not be rewarded by my cry. But because of your love for me and the family, and most importantly your love for your Father, you endured the trial. In doing so you blessed me with the privilege of meeting a number of people I would not have otherwise been introduced to.

Once again, love ruled the day. Thank you.

Mommy and daddy, although things did not go the way you hoped, dreamed, or even planned, you showed everyone your true character. You loved on me and showed me off in a way every child dreams of. Your embraces and kisses spoke volumes of the loving people that you are. I can’t put into words how good it felt to be held by each of you.

Unfortunately, the time came when you had to let me go. So it always is with those we love. A last embrace is always so difficult. We always wish for one more moment. But our time together on this earth was never meant to last forever.

When you let me go, you also said goodbye to so many hopes and dreams. Just like me, I know they are hard to let go of. All too often, our hopes and dreams exceed reality.

I will never sleep in the new nursery. Nor will I will ever hold the stuffed giraffe. Daddy will never play me the children’s records he bought, nor will I ever hear you read the books you stocked my “library” with. I will never swing in the backyard or play with my cousins. There are so many “new” things you wanted to share with me and forgetting them seems impossible.

But heed the advice of my namesake:

18 “Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing! – Isaiah 43:18-19a

Mommy and daddy, just as death has been swallowed up in victory, the pain of our past is put into perspective by the promises of our Father. Promises not just for the future, but for the present. Promises sealed with a cruel cross and an empty tomb.

Keeping our eyes on God enables us to see things from an eternal perspective, which is what we always need to do. Especially when we are weighed down by the memories of past pains and trials, and saddened by buried dreams. Just as every earthly joy will be tempered with a memory of me, I hope that every earthly sorrow will be buoyed by eternal hope.

Here in heaven, everything is new, and always will be. There are no moths, nor is there any rust. Likewise, there is no threat of thieves to steal (Matthew 6:19). The streets of gold will never lose their luster and the foundation of precious stones will never accumulate dust. I will never shed a tear of sorrow, or be in want of food or water. Far from it.

The first sight my eyes beheld was the face of Jesus, and His scarred hands were the first to hold me. I am experiencing perfect love in a perfect home. A place prepared especially for me. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to experience it.

Perhaps some day my siblings will use the nursery. In time the stuffed animals will become old and soiled. The swing set will eventually wear out. Likewise, the records and the books will succumb to age and wear. Such is the fate of the things of earth. They can only last so long because of the presence of sin. Not so in Heaven.

I can’t wait until you join me here. When you do I am going to return the favor you bestowed upon me. I am going to love on you and show you off just as every child dreams of. Only here, we will never be separated again. In Heaven, reality exceeds our best hopes and dreams.

Until then, just remember that I love you with a love beyond your comprehension. A love untainted by sin. A love more like the love of Jesus that you introduced me to as best as you could with the time we had.

With eternal love,

Isaiah

P.S. Jesus wanted me to share these reminders with you.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. – 1 Corinthians 13:13

2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. – Colossians 3:2

5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” – Revelation 21:5

Grief’s Hope

Posted on by scott

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Uninformed

Yesterday, we laid to rest the remains of little Isaiah. Our grandson who was stillborn on April 3rd. Precious little Isaiah is now buried at the foot of our daughter Brooke’s grave. If he takes after his father he will need to have his aunt looking over him!

As I try to process the events of the past week, the passage quoted above from 1 Thessalonians keeps coming to mind. It appears that the Believers in the early church were uninformed/misinformed about the truth regarding their loved ones who had died in the faith. If they were not alive when Christ returned, would they be left behind? Would they be at some sort of a disadvantage to those who were living when Christ returned for His Bride? Or perhaps, they were concerned that those who are asleep would miss out on seeing Christ in His glory when He returns.

Whatever their specific concern was, Paul would set them straight. If we pay close attention to Paul’s words, we see a good reminder for all of us. The best way to cure our sorrow is to remove our ignorance.

Brothers, those I love in the faith, we were never promised protection from physical death. In fact, we can expect it. And death brings with it grief. Deep grief. BUT, our grief is coupled with hope. That grave is just a temporary resting place for our loved ones to “sleep” until Christ comes back for them.

Facing East

27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. – Matthew 24:27

The graves of Brooke and Isaiah, like most in the United States are facing the east. Because of our Christian heritage, most cemeteries traditionally were laid out so that the deceased would be buried facing the east in anticipation of the return of Christ. When Christ comes in His glory for all the world to see, we don’t want our deceased to miss out on it!

It appears, at least from our burial tradition, that Paul’s teaching did not go unheeded. Who would think that something as simple as the direction we face our gravesites would remind us of our great hope? Jesus lived a perfect life. He died a brutal death. Then He conquered death and rose from the grave, and ascended back to Heaven. But He is coming back!!

When lightning strikes we are awed by the flash of light it creates, but it can’t compare to the glory of Christ. When He returns in His unveiled glory, we will not only be overwhelmed by His radiance, but we will join Him in it! If you are a child of God, it doesn’t matter if you are still alive at His coming or have fallen asleep, we will be caught up with Him and will always be with Him!!

Glory

18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” – Exodus 33:15

It was time for Moses and the children of Israel to leave Sinai, but Moses was weary. Accordingly, he pleads with God. “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me” (Ex 33:12). And God comforts Moses with the fact that it is His presence that will go with him and give him rest. Moses, as daunting as the task may appear, you are not alone.

But Moses wanted more than God’s promise of His presence. He wanted God to reveal Himself in all of His majesty. Moses wanted to behold God in the “manifest beauty of His holiness”. Moses wanted God to reveal to him all of His “manifold perfections”. “Please show me your glory”.

19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” – Exodus 33:19-20

Moses, for the time being you will have to be content with my presence. You cannot handle my unveiled glory. I am too holy for your eyes to behold.

Dim Sight

12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. – 1 Corinthians 13:12

Historically, Corinth was the producer of some of the finest bronze mirrors in antiquity. But no matter how good the quality of a mirror may be, there is a big difference between seeing an object indirectly versus seeing it directly. Especially if that object is the face of Christ.

As Christians, we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit. Similar to Moses, we know what it means to have the presence and the peace of God with us. In the Bible, we have the inspired Word of God. Or as Paul writes in fourth verse of Second Corinthians chapter four, “the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God”. 

With the illumination of the Holy Spirit, we can see the glory of Christ, who is the exact representation of God, revealed in various ways in Scriptures. As Charles Spurgeon once preached, we can see the glory of Christ in His love, incarnation, perfect life, atoning sacrifice, resurrection and enthronement. And eventually, His second coming. Which is where we began with Paul.

With the Lord

The grief we have experienced since we received word of Isaiah’s passing has been intense. In all honesty, I must confess it is the most intense grief I have ever experienced. But I have reflected upon the Truth of God’s Word to “cure” my sorrow. As I have contemplated passages such as First Thessalonians Chapter four, First Corinthians Chapter fifteen, Chapters eleven and fourteen of the Gospel of John as well as the Twenty-Third Psalm, my grief has succumbed to hope.

Although Brooke and Isaiah have been laid to rest facing the east, they are not anticipating the return of Christ. Far from it. We have merely laid to rest their earthly tents for a season. The truth is, their souls are already basking in the glory of Christ. Instead of beholding Him as in a mirror, they are seeing Him face to face. They are beholding Him in all of His holiness and perfect majesty. What Moses and every saint in Church history has longed for, Brooke and Isaiah are experiencing. And will be for all of eternity.

John Chapter seventeen records the prayer of Jesus in which He says that His followers will share in His glory (v. 22). What must that look like unaffected by the sin of this world? Some day we will know when we set down the mirror and see Him face to face like Brooke and Isaiah.

Until then, keep the faith, and keep the hope. When grief makes your heart heavy, lift your eyes and look to the east. Some day we are going to “meet the Lord” and “will always be with Him”. Thank God our grief is accompanied with hope. A living Hope.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. – 1 Peter 1:3,8