In 1855 Joseph M. Scriven, an Irish poet, was living in Canada and his dear mother was living in Ireland.  To comfort her at a time of special sorrow, Scriven penned the words to a famous hymn that you have probably sang many times, “What a Friend we Have in Jesus.”  

It’s a wonderful thing to have a good friend; to have someone in your life that Anne of Green Gables would refer to as a “bosom friend.” For the past 23 years, I have had one such a friend.  She is like a blood sister to me.  We share a similar sense of humor, and everything is funnier when she is around.  Our telephone conversations are peppered with fits of uncontrollable giggles over jokes that only we understand. 

Every day, millions of people donate their possessions to second-hand stores for re-sale.  For some, these giveaways are just trash.  And yet, every once in a while, we hear one of those amazing stories on the news where a lucky person purchases an item for a few dollars, only to discover that the second-hand item is worth a couple million dollars?  The seemingly ordinary object, whether jewelry or a piece of art turns out to be a piece of treasure.

The Personnel Journal reported this incredible statistic: since the beginning of recorded history, the entire world has been at peace less than eight percent of the time! In its study, the periodical discovered that of 3530 years of recorded history, only 286 years saw peace. Moreover, in excess of 8000 peace treaties were made--and broken (Moody Bible Institute, Today in The Word, June 1988, p.33).

From the moment Adam and Eve sinned, peace became a rare commodity.  For this reason, humanity craves peace.  

If you are over 50 years old, you will remember an old hymn that goes like this:

(When he calls me, I will answer x3); I’ll be somewhere working for my Lord; 

I'll be somewhere, (working, working somewhere X2);  Working for my Lord……x2

 As a young girl in elementary (Kenya-primary) school, I sang this song with gusto, mostly off-key I’m sure, but nevertheless I lent my enthusiastic voice to the deafening chorus of sopranos and tenor’s around me, with barely a thought for what this song really meant.  Maybe you can remember singing the same song, declaring confidently for all to hear, “When he calls me, I will answer.” If you are anything like me, this is easier to say, than do.

Jesus will never call you to a place that he hasn’t been to himself.  When he calls his loved ones to a responsibility, task or mission, it’s because he’s been there.  No matter how rough the waters, no matter how strong the winds, Jesus promises, “I will be with you (Isaiah 41:10a).”  Before Jesus calls Peter to the extraordinary act of walking on water; to the extraordinary act of doing that which, no other human person had ever done, Jesus can be found walking on that lake, during the fourth watch of the night, alone, and certain only of one thing, God’s divine Presence.

Words have power.  Words can heal, and words can destroy.  How many times have you seen someone’s face light up because of the encouraging words you spoke to them?  And how many times have wished you could take back harsh words spoken in the heat of the moment?  Perhaps you will remember the little song from childhood whose chorus has these words, “…if you can’t say something nice, don’t talk at all is my advice.”  The composer of the song certainly understood the power of words.

Occasionally, Christians go through the “wilderness experience.”   It happens even to spiritual giants like the late renowned evangelist, Billy Graham, the late Mother Teresa, Joyce Meyer and many others that you know.  If you listen to their stories and their life testimonies you will discover the theme of loneliness.  At one point or another in their ministries, they too felt like they were alone in the wilderness.  The wilderness experience seems to be part and parcel of what we refer to as, “God’s call” on someone’s life.

A few days ago, I woke up to find numerous herbs and all kinds of vegetables blooming in my box gardens.  I was excited to see tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and tomatillos at different stages of growth.  The excitement was not dampened when I noticed weeds growing underneath the vegetables.  I chose to focus on the juicy tomato plants, the green peppers and the tomatillo plants that I was growing for the first time.  I was elated at what I experienced as God’s bountiful provision; the weeds, were no biggie.  They were gone by noon.  I dealt with them quickly and efficiently.

Every builder understands that the foundation of any building is the most important part of the building.  It must be able to support the structure that will be built upon it.  The foundation must be strong enough to support however many floors are constructed upon it, and at the same time, must withstand any floods or winds that may buffet the building.  There are few things stronger than rock, which is why in the parable of the wise and foolish builders, Jesus says wise is the builder who builds his house upon rock, and foolish is the builder who builds upon sand.

Biblical faith is a firm conviction or firm persuasion in God and in his holy word.  Elsewhere someone has defined it as, “…the act whereby a person lays hold of God's resources, becomes obedient to what He has prescribed and putting aside all self-interest and self-reliance (emphasis mine), trusts Him completely. It is an unqualified surrender of the whole of one's being in dependence upon Him. It is wholly trusting and relying upon Him for all things.

Father’s Day is a special day for many families.  It gives us the opportunity to celebrate those individuals who have been fathers to us.  Some families will get together for a special meal, others will give their fathers a gift, still others will take the time to visit a father they haven’t seen in a while and the rest will take time to remember those fathers who have gone home to be with the Lord.  Yet, amid the excitement of this special day…

Joan of Arc is reported to have once said, “All battles are first won or lost in the mind.”  She was correct.  “Daniel resolved not to defile himself….”  Daniel won his battle, from the moment he heard the King’s order.  As soon as the order left the King’s mouth, Daniel resolved in his heart, to do the right thing.  He did not negotiate his battle.  He did not explain, rationalize or reason his way through it.  He did not try to find the loopholes or make up excuses.   He did not even try to find out what the others were going to do following the order, Daniel chose to do the right thing, because it was the right thing to do.

God has a tender spot in his heart for children.  He says in Matthew 19:14 "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."  Jesus came into the world as a baby by God’s divine plan.  God needed someone innocent and pure to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins, and nothing speaks purity and innocence as clearly as a baby born of a virgin.   But Jesus also came as a baby threatened by Herod…

Beloved:
The end of all things is at hand.
Therefore be serious and sober-minded
so that you will be able to pray.
Above all, let your love for one another be intense,
because love covers a multitude of sins….