Devotions
Weddings are wonderful events. Two people fall in love and come together to be united in holy matrimony. The new couple step out as one unit, ready for whatever the future might bring. We plan carefully for these weddings, paying excruciating attention to every detail, and yet as we all know, there is always that unplanned moment that becomes a permanent part of everyone’s wedding story.
In Hebrews, chapter 11 we find faith legends who lived out their faith with strength and courage, no matter what the obstacles may have been. These heroes of the faith saw victories whereas others saw defeat. They saw opportunities where others saw failure. These heroes of the Christian faith not only lived their lives by faith,
It’s a New Year, and I have an important question for you? “Do you know what will happen over the next 12 months?” I must confess that I don’t know what will happen, and it does not really matter that I don’t, because I know the one who does. He is the Almighty, the One that promised to give his people, Israel, a “hope and a future”, and now extends the same promise to those who believe in Him.
Recently, I came across this statement: “If an egg is broken by an outside force, life ends. If an egg is broken by an inside force, then life begins. Great things happen from the inside.” Isn’t this the truth about our lives? If you apply too much external force on anything, it is bound to break, but a force that comes from within births new life….
The word of God did not come to any of the seven powerful men mentioned in Luke 3. It did not come to Tiberius Caesar, it did not come to Pontius Pilate, it did not come to Herod, or Philip the tetrarchs of Galilee and Iturea. It did not come to Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene. The word of God did not even come to Annas, the only high priest who was privileged to enter into the presence of God in the Holy of Holies. The “word of God came to John son of Zachariah.”
One of the greatest gifts God has given us is family. These are the people who share our lived experience. They are the people who ‘get us’, often resemble us, and in most cases, care deeply for us. These close relatives share memories with us and get our inside jokes. They laugh and celebrate with us when we excel, and weep with us when we are in trouble or pain.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I have been thinking a lot about it lately. I find myself thanking God for everything around me, big or small; the ability to breathe, walk, hear, and see. I thank him for the trees, the roads we drive on, clean water, clean air, my job, my purpose in life…you name it. I thank God for the squirrels, rabbits, birds, and every living creature that helps to balance our eco-systems.
Have you ever won a door prize or any other kind of prize? If so, do you remember how giddy you felt when you realized you had matched all the numbers? Do you remember the excitement in your steps as you stepped forth to claim your reward? How about the big smile you wore on your face, as everyone in the room turned to congratulate you on your win. It is a great feeling to be a winner!
I heard a story about a pastor from Colorado Springs who lives at the foot of Pike’s Peak with his family. Now Pike’s Peak stands majestically along the front range of the Rocky Mountains. The Peak is nearly always visible but there are days when the clouds hang low, and the majestic peak is hidden. One day, the pastor’s young son ventured outside and could not see The Peak. He turned to his father and said,
Our lives are filled with divine moments, which are sometimes referred to as miracles. Unfortunately, we often miss these moments in our hurry to get through the daily tasks that demand our attention. The divine moments happen when we cross paths with a person or situation, that upon reflection, only God could have orchestrated. For instance, a few months ago, I woke up to pray. As I was praying, I clearly “saw” someone that I interact with frequently.
During the 45 minutes, a middle-aged man walked by and noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule. A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk. A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly, he was late for work. The only one who paid attention was a 3-year-old boy. Even though his mother tagged him along, he kept looking back at the violinist, awed by what he saw and heard.
Recently, I was listening to a comedian who said in one of his sets, that a few years ago, ”Elmo” (a beloved character in children’s television) had asked a simple question on a social media platform. The question was: “How are you all doing?” Poor “Elmo” was unprepared for the onslaught of responses from across the country, responses that ran the gamut of every human emotion: rage, disgust, horror, confusion, sadness, disillusionment, revenge, you name it, it was there. Elmo received 180 million responses.
Have you ever been afraid to ask someone a question because you did not know if it was the right question to ask, or maybe you second guessed yourself because you felt as though you were the only one who did not understand what was being said? In a bid to encourage students to ask questions, one of my elementary school teachers liked to say, “There are no stupid questions. The only stupid questions are those we do not ask.”
In 2004, my friends and I went to a local cinema to watch Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of the Christ. We arrived at the cinema in high spirits chatting away without a care in the world, but by the time the movie ended, I could barely stand up from my seat. While others began to make their way out of the theater, I continued to sit in a numb and traumatized silence, shocked by the raw and violent scenes I had just witnessed. I was surrounded by a crowd, and yet felt completely alone as I reflected on what Jesus endured to show his love for humanity.
Kenneth Samples, a philosopher and theologian, once stated, “While God’s universe is majestic and eloquently designed to provide humankind with a fine habitat on Earth, it can also be a powerfully dangerous place at times.” Any adult living in the world today knows how true these words are. We humans are caught between the natural beauty and majesty of this created earth, and the looming threat of uncertainty that hangs over our daily lives. In these times of anxiety, strife, challenge and suffering we may be tempted to ask, “Where is God?”
Did you watch the gymnastics competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics? I am an admirer of Simone Biles, the great American gymnast. I admire her work ethic and her passion for her sport. Simone addressed every obstacle and challenge imaginable, including sexual abuse and her mental health, on her way to excellence. She has earned the acronym G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) for a reason.
