What Will They Say When You Leave?

Passage: Matthew 5:13-16

Key verse:
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” V. 16 (NASB)

The phone calls keep coming. There hardly is a day when she does not receive a call from someone whose life he touched. Someone whom he helped when no one was watching. Countless gestures that even his wife was unaware of.  Almost five months have gone by since my brother-in-law’s death and we still hear stories of people he helped and lives that were touched, because he cared. We hear stories about time that he spent encouraging and coaching young men who were pursuing the dream that he had fulfilled as a racer and businessman.

Someone once told me that, in life, there are takers and there are givers. Donnie was a giver. His gospel was preached in gestures that are worth a thousand sermons. His quiet, yet funny demeanor and loving spirit filled my heart with the type of warmth that I miss so much from my own brother and sister, who live six thousand miles away. When he left, not only did he leave a void in our family that cannot be replaced. He left a legacy of love and generosity that will not be forgotten. His light shone through little and big things he did for both people he loved and even strangers who needed help and encouragement. 

More than Fishers of Men

In Matthew 4:19, Jesus challenged His disciples to be fishers of men, which He reiterated in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20.) We must indeed spread the gospel to a dying world and share the Good News of salvation with the lost. But in this passage, Jesus’ words pierce a little deeper into our spiritual makeup. Not only must we be good, we must DO good. Our light must so shine that we attract the lost (and yes, the saved!) to the Father.

I spent my childhood summer vacations at my grand-parents' farm, which is located in a small fishermen village in South Brazil. The farm is by a breathtaking saltwater lake. One of the most beautiful scenery that I recall from those days was the sight of the lake at night. As you drove by on the interstate along the lake, the vision would fool any stranger to the area. One could swear that the lake was instead a village, filled with lights on the streets. Around 5 pm each day, our neighbors would come by grandma's house, carrying their nets in large wicker baskets, along with a kerosene lamp that would go on the poles by their fishing site. One by one, the fishermen would set their trap to catch the fish. Giant nets, and a small kerosene lamp.

Light. 

The fishermen in the village know it too well. The fish in that lake will not come, unless they are attracted by the light.  No light, no fish. I just love God's wisdom poured through Jesus' teaching! Like fishermen, we cannot fish in the dark either. As a matter of fact, if our light does not shine wherever he plants us, the lost are more likely to flee, not flock to Him. Worse yet, if we talk a big game and yet our faith is not translated into action, even the people in our lives who know Jesus as their Savior may flee from Him.

I have seen it one too many times. Children of church goers (and even ministers) rebelling against the cross because their parents' talk and their walk did not match. How many people cringe at the name of Jesus because they were exposed to self-righteous Christians, whose words did not translate into actions?

Walk as Children of Light!

“For For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!” Ephesians 5:8 (NASB)

We should really take this light shining business seriously! Not only because it is Jesus’ commandment, but because the implications of having an unsavory and dim life are devastating to us, Christians. We can go to church every Sunday, serve in ten committees, sing in the choir and teach, but if we come home and make our family miserable because of attitudes that scream that we are walking in the flesh, we will push the fish swimming near our nets away from the Lord instead of closer to Him.  And what great Jesus representative would I be at my job, if I had verses hanging all over my cube, but displayed a bad attitude with a co-worker or did a careless job. “Let your light so shine!” says the Savior!

What Will They Say When You Leave?

I was listening to this beautiful song when the words above pierced my heart.  Between the cancer diagnostics early this year and the sudden loss of my brother-in-law,  I have been challenged in the past several months with the reality that life is but a vapor. When life is over, everything that we strive so hard to acquire is left behind. But one thing, this one thing remains: the impact that you and I make in the lives we touch along the way. The gestures that show that we care. The times we wipe tears away and kiss the booboos. The I love you's. The forgiveness we extend when someone hurts us. The smile that we offer when no one else seems to care. The prayers that we say for those  who feel hopeless. These little beacons of light are the heritage our journey on earth will leave behind.

As this year comes to an end, I realize that this chapter of my life was written in a dark valley. This has been a difficult year for me and my family. However, during this time, I have learned many new things. I have developed more compassion for those who are hurting. I have learned to cherish each day with those I love as if tomorrow will never come. I have tripled my “I love you's” and I have prayed for others like never before. I have developed a new passion for reaching people who need Jesus. And most of all, things that once were important in my life are so very superfluous today. I don't care about climbing the corporate ladder, or to drive a new car, or to go on a fancy vacation. What matters to me is what legacy I will leave behind...

And although I have gotten used to say that it does not matter what people think about me, in a sense, I have decided that it does matter. For I hope that, every time I leave a room or ultimately, the day I leave this world, my life song will say that I cared. And that the world was a better place because I lived.

So, have you thought about it? What will people say when you leave?

That's a good question. A good one indeed. 

At the Heart of Gossip - my article for Flourish Magazine

Atlanta Constitution Article_Saturday, Nov 3rd

Return to Righteousness, America!

Passage: Psalm 33:11-20

Key Verse:

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” v.12 (NASB)

“I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there. I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her fertile fields and boundless forests, and it was not there. I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it was not there. I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her public school system and her institutions of learning, and it was not there. I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution, and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good America will cease to be great.”  

 

This famous quote was used in a sermon on Labor Day weekend in September 1922 by reverend John McDowell in New York City. It is not known for sure where he got the quote; however the sentence “America is great because she is good” has been attributed by many American Presidents to a French political thinker, Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859). Being a foreigner myself, I find it absolutely possible that someone who was born and lived in a different country would have written this quote.

I love these United States. I became an American in September 2005 and I am so very proud to call this country home. I also love my country of origin, Brazil, but America's ingenuity and friendly embrace quickly conquered my heart. For Christians who live in this nation and were raised in a different country, it becomes very evident that America has been blessed in a super-natural way above any country on earth. As I studied the beginning of its history, I became more and more convinced of the fact that America’s greatness has been directly linked to its founding fathers and subsequent leaders’ general desire to honor the One true God.

I visited Washington D.C. a couple of years ago and verified to be true something which has been increasingly discredited by the media and many of our representatives: in spite of the fact that our constitution respects any religion’s freedom to worship, America’s foundation was based on Judeo-Christian principles. I saw bible verses in most of our monuments. I saw God’s hand in the history of this nation. From its very foundation, our country has attributed its strength as coming from Yahweh, the God of Israel. For centuries, American presidents and leaders would not dare to credit its greatness as coming from anything but Almighty God. And therefore, God has blessed America because we, as a nation and society, in our laws and statues, have sought to honor God and live in righteousness. One only has to do some research to find out. Below are only a few of the countless quotes from former American presidents:

"While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian." President George Washington

“The general principles, on which the Fathers achieved independence, were the only Principles in which that beautiful Assembly of young Gentlemen could Unite, and these Principles only could be intended by them in their address, or by me in my answer. And what were these general Principles? I answer, the general Principles of Christianity, in which all these Sects were United: And the general Principles of English and American Liberty, in which all those young Men United, and which had United all Parties in America, in Majorities sufficient to assert and maintain her Independence.” President John Adams

 “The fundamental basis of this nation’s law was given to Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes from the teaching we get from Exodus and St. Matthew, from Isaiah and St. Paul. I don’t think we emphasize that enough these days. If we don’t have the proper fundamental moral background, we will finally end up with a totalitarian government which does not believe in the right for anybody except the state.” President Harry Truman

 The Decline of Christianity in America

“The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men; From His dwelling place He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works. The king is not saved by a mighty army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a false hope for victory; nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness, to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine.” v.13-19 (NASB)

It is no wonder politicians and liberals claim that America is not a Christian nation. Christian values have become increasingly unpopular in the past forty years. Many people attribute the hardships that we are currently experiencing only as a result of the decisions of the current administration, but that is simply not true. Just read about Israel's decline in the Old Testament and you will see the correlation. We are experiencing the consequences of God slowly withdrawing His hand of protection and prosperity because of our sin. As the verses above remind us, our strength as a nation does not come from our “horses”. Our power does not come from our mighty army. Our strength, prosperity and power come from a God who has blessed a people that honored Him. Likewise, the decline has been allowed by a loving and merciful God who has been trying to call His children's attention to turn from their wicked ways and return to righteousness.

Starting in the 1960's, we have been changing our laws in order to “accommodate” our sin. Since Row vs. Wade in 1973, it is estimated that over 50 million babies have been aborted. We have made violation of God’s commandments a non-issue. You can probably observe each one of the Ten Commandments violated within less than a day of watching our TV shows, as people applaud and ask for more.  We don’t flinch when people around us curse. We laugh at funny jokes on movies, even though the Lord’s name was placed in between the lines. Indeed America has been in a slow, steady moral decline for many years. But what bothers me the most is that we, the Christians of this nation, are passively watching America turn away from God and doing very little. Many of us have chosen to blend with the rest of society. We’re no longer salt like we used to be.

In the name of whatever it may be, whether it is trend, fun, acceptance, friendship, being cool, “love”, we have allowed ourselves and our children to watch and participate in things that are completely against God and His Word. We have actually voted for leaders who stand against God's principles and commandments. We, the Christians have. Each politician elected, from the local level all the way to the highest federal levels, has been voted into power by many Christians, not just by the Buddhists, atheists or Muslims. We, God's people voted them in. Why? Because we have compromised and allowed our hearts to become desensitized to the things that God hates. We have become lukewarm to His truth.

Case in point: I have watched people get up and leave church because the pastor candidly pointed out that our government has taken unrighteous stands in critical issues, not based on his opinion, but rather based on facts regarding individual politicians’ records against Scripture.  Because of personal preference, we have elected officials who support, point by point, everything that is against God's law and commandments. We have not spoken out and very often we have silenced because we are afraid of what individual groups will accuse us of. Or, worse yet, we have silenced because we have forgotten who we are in the first place: not Americans, not rich or poor, not black or white, but children of God!!

 If My People....

“If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14  (NASB)

Notice that God is not talking to just anyone. He is talking to HIS people. He is talking to you and me, the Christians of this nation. We are America’s lighthouse. God is America’s hope and we are His representatives. We are His prayer warriors and we vote.

My prayer these days for America goes beyond a change in government. I am praying for a change of heart that will start within the church. I am praying that we, as His people, called by His Name, will allow the Holy Spirit to speak louder than our personal preference, our race, or personal history. I am praying that we will be careful to silence our hearts and be sensitive to sift everything that we allow in our minds and lives through God’s grid: Does it glorify Him? Does it honor Him and His Word? And not: “How will this help ME?”

And finally, my prayer is that when we vote in less than 7 days, we vote with our God-given conscience. We must defend, with our ballot, the freedoms which made this country great: free enterprise, the ability to live the American dream with hard work and ethics, the sanctity of life and marriage, to name a few. It is simply wrong to separate our Christian values from our ballot. We do not have to blend with society. We never should! Salt does not blend – it seasons. Light does not blend with darkness – it puts an end to it!

To Whom Much is Given… (Luke 12:48)

One day, we will stand before the Lord and give an account of each one of the decisions we made in life. I don't see how our vote would not be one of them. We have been blessed with the freedom to vote and help change and determine the future of our great nation. Our children's future. We have the power, in our hands, to speak up and help preserve our Constitution, our rights and our freedoms. My prayer is that our vote as God's people will honor Him, that His hand of protection will continue to rest upon us.

As President Thomas Jefferson warned us almost two hundred years ago:

 "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever; That a revolution of the wheel of fortune, a change of situation, is among possible events; that it may become probable by Supernatural influence! The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in that event."

 May we heed the call…. Return to Righteousness, AMERICA!

A Scar Named Grace

Passage: Psalm 84:10-12

Key Verse:

“For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” V.11 (NLT)

I was gently pressing Vitamin E oil over the bright-red scar on my abdomen. It extended for about 5 inches and it was painful. It hurt to move, to sit down and stand up, to turn around in bed and to take a deep breath. My surgery had only been ten days before and this was the first time I saw the incision. Vanity chimed in and I frowned at the sight.

My daughters sneaked in behind me as I bathed the scar in oil. Their eyes got big when they saw the surgery site. “Wow, mom. It’s sooooo big!” said the oldest in awe. “Does it hurt?” asked the baby. I looked at them and nodded. “Yes, sweetie, it’s big and it hurts.” “I’m sorry, mom” were the next words from my sympathizing daughters. And that’s when I heard the Spirit whisper within my soul. I turned around and signaled them to get closer. “You don’t have to be sorry, dear. I actually like my scar. I even gave it a name.” “A name?,” little one said. “What is it, what is it?”, she urged with growing curiosity. “Its name is Grace,” I said. “For if I did not have this scar, it would mean that the cancer would still be inside me. It was God’s Grace that allowed the doctors to find it while it was still small. So now we have Grace to remind us of how good God is to our family.” They both smiled as they looked up at me. Big sister was the first one to say: “Hi, Grace!” Little one echoed big sister’s greeting. They turned around, skipping out of the room, happy to go back to whatever fun game they were playing.   

Grace. Charis.

The word is found 206 times in the King James translation of the Bible; 150 of which are in the New Testament. It has become one of the most popular subjects among Christian writers worldwide. In the New Testament, grace is the Greek term charis, and like our English word, it may mean “graciousness” “attractiveness” or even “charm.” But as  we consider the theological meaning of the word in the New Testament, it refers to the free, unmerited favor of God; to the favor or kindness given to those who can never deserve it or earn it by anything they do or refrain from doing. As Charles Swindoll puts it in his book The Grace Awakening, “Every time the thought of grace appears, there is the idea of its being undeserved. In no way is the recipient getting what he or she deserves. Favor is being extended simply out of the goodness of the heart of the giver.”

Grace is in the center of the gospel of salvation. The unmerited gift that was poured down at the cross to mankind is the greatest demonstration of grace ever given: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (emphasis mine.) But grace does not end with salvation. The “graciousness” of God is renewed every day towards His children. Truth being said, we live on grace. We may not always see it, but we know that God is in perfect control over our destiny and orchestrates all affairs to work together for our good and His glory. His grace accomplishes that.

Grace Does not Always Look Good

As I look into my past, I realize that God’s grace has often been hidden in situations that did not necessarily look or feel good. The pain and suffering of a betrayal that crushed my heart hid the wonderful grace of God, which spared me from marrying someone who was not His best for me. Because of His grace, albeit disguised in suffering, I married the man He had chosen for me from the beginning of time. He gave me grace and at that time, I did not know it.

The day I found out I had kidney cancer was a painful one to me. I hurt terribly and ended up in the emergency room. Before I resigned to the fact that I needed to go, I remember praying: “Lord, please take this pain away!” and again “Lord, please heal me. I don’t want to have to go to the emergency room.” I cried out to Him, curled up on my bed and waiting for His healing to take place. I quoted scripture. I prayed. And as I waited, in faith, for the pain to go away, it only got worse. As I gave in and asked my husband to take me to the hospital, I remember getting really upset. “I don’t need another medical bill,” I cried. “I can’t miss work!” And all along, I envision God looking down from Heaven and pouring down buckets of grace over my increasingly upset self. I arrived at the hospital and found out through the scan that I had an ovarian cyst that had burst. And… a…. tumor. An asymptomatic cancerous tumor, which would not have been found, had the Lord heard my cry and relieved the pain I had. He was giving me Grace and at that time, I did not know it.

So What is your Grace Scar?   

I know you have one. Or two. Or twenty. If you are a child of God, He has called you to be perfected into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). In order to do that, we will need to be polished. And sanded. And there are some things that just absolutely need to come off. Completely. He envisions what He has created us to be and will do whatever it takes to perfect us. That is, if we let Him, because we do have the option to throw in the towel and quit. But if we don’t, and I pray that we never will, we must tell our souls that often our trials are God's grace disguised. In the process of sanding, molding and perfecting us, He is lavishly pouring it over our lives. It may not always look or feel like Grace, but we must trust that it is. For we KNOW that it is (Romans 8:28).  

Even today, as I write these words, the Lord has been working in my life in ways that are bringing change and pain. Again, this is not what  I had planned.  I am still in “God's waiting room,” as a sweet friend once put it. But because I can look back and see His love and grace upon my life, even when it did not feel that way, I am teaching my soul to look back, remember and trust. I don't like the pain and I won't lie to you: because I have a tendency to “make it happen” and “do something about it”, I have my moments when I get restless in God's waiting room. But as our key verse reminds me, my only job is to rest upon Him and not fight His ways. His face is upon me. He is holding my hand. He is molding me and changing me.  For “my God is my sun and my shield. He gives me grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.”

 “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10 (NASB)

Amen to that.

The War Against the Name of Jesus

Passage: Acts 4:13-31

Key Verses:

“But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” vs. 19-20 (NLT)

Pastor Terry Sartain of Charlotte, North Carolina has ministered to police officers and their families for the past seven years.  During this time, he has always closed his prayers “in the Name of Jesus”. He can't do that anymore. The police department said that he can still pray, just not in the Name of Jesus. A Christian chaplain asked to pray is now prohibited to use the Name of the One who he prays to. This is just one in a growing list of  news articles describing situations where people cannot mention or pray in Jesus' Name. Christian students across the nation are constantly harassed for expressing their faith in the Name of Jesus. I myself have recently lost an opportunity to be featured on a public media outlet because my message was too Jesus-centered. And as we watch our society warmly welcome followers of Buddha, Al-ah, Joseph Smith or whatever other false prophet  this world has ever produced, I am troubled with the fact that other beliefs are free to express their choices, acclaimed and accepted by all facets of society, but Judeo-Christian values are ostracized and expressions of faith in Christ are even prohibited. From our national leaders to school administrators, everyone is open, accepting and understanding regarding various religions and cults. But, oh, the Name of Jesus! That Name shuts the doors of society's tolerance and entices hate and bigotry.

Although this not-so-veiled persecution is becoming increasingly popular in America these days, we should not be surprised. As we study our background passage, we realize that the apostles themselves were asked not to use or preach in Jesus' Name. The early church suffered intense persecution because of the Name. Many early church leaders and followers were killed because of the Name, including most of the Apostles. Throughout history and even today, many Christians have lost their lives because of the Name.

Really... What is it about the Name?

So if Jesus was just another prophet as many claim, why does the simple mention of His Name stirs up the seemingly peaceful surface of our “tolerant” society?

Behind the intolerance and hatred against Christianity, there is much more than what meets the eye. A while ago, I started to purposefully use His Name as I talked to people in secular settings. Instead of saying: "Thank God for this or that." I'd say “Thank you, Jesus!”. Or I would mention something very specific about my faith and deliberately use Jesus' Name. Each time I did that in a conversation with someone who I knew was not a believer, I would watch the person flinch and even become uncomfortable. The conversation would usually not last long after that. What started as lively chit-chat about trivial things would quickly end. I have no doubt in my mind that there is a reason for that. It's no problem if you talk about a higher being, "the man upstairs" and even mention God in your conversations. But the Name of Jesus is simply not welcome among those who reject Him.

Beyond the Meaning

Jesus' name means “the Christ, the Savior.” He who offered Himself as a ransom for our sins. The mere meaning of His Name is filled with power. For those of us who have accepted God's gift of salvation through Christ, His Name is the sweetest; for it opened Heaven's door and filled the huge gap that separated us from our Maker. But for those who deny God's gift of salvation, the meaning of Jesus' Name seems to be pointless. But still, when they hear His Name, they cringe. Why is it so?

His Name Represents the Presence and the Righteousness of God

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 (NIT)

In this first chapter of John, the apostle refers to Jesus as the Word (Greek – Logos). He was present with God in the genesis of the world (Genesis 1:26.) The same verse in John 1 shows that Jesus and God are the same. Therefore any time we evoke or speak His Name, we are evoking the presence of God Himself. Moreover, His Name is full of the righteousness of God and as such, it exposes the wickedness of the world around us.

“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome.” John 1:4-5. (NIT)

Jesus' Name shines so brightly, that it drives away or exposes the work of darkness around us. The spiritual power of His Name makes the unrighteous uncomfortable, uneasy. Moreover, at His Name, demons flee. At His Name, the sick are healed and the lost find forgiveness and redemption. His Name is above any other Name that ever was or ever will be.

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Hebrews 1:3a (NASB)


It's WAR!

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Ephesians 6:11-13 (NASB)

Behind every person or regime that has ever persecuted the church and every judge or politician who intentionally misinterprets Thomas Jefferson's “separation of church and State.” Behind everyone who welcomes cults and rejects Christ; behind the surface of each one of these conflicts there lays a much larger plan than any of us can grasp. From Jesus' birth in Bethlehem and until today, the devil has used evil men to attempt to destroy the work of God. A demon-possessed Herod wanted to lay hands on baby Jesus and end God's redemptive plan before it started. And in our background passage, the Jewish leaders, undoubtedly influenced by Satan, sought to extinguish the fire of the early church.

Our fight is not merely against those who rise against Christ and His church, but nevertheless we must realize that we are at war and remember that we are soldiers in this war. It is not by chance that Ephesians 6:12 is preceded by the verses describing the armor of God. We are at war and the Lord reminds us in these verses that we must put on the armor, stand up for what we believe and fight. Boldly fight. Just like Peter and John did. Not leaning on swords or spears, but on the protection that Almighty God gives His children as we stand up for what we believe.

Are you a Mighty or Wimpy Soldier?

Can you imagine where we would be had Peter and John succumbed to the Pharisees' prohibition of mentioning the Name of Jesus?

Jesus died, resurrected, sent the Holy Spirit to fill the church with power from Heaven, then there comes a handful of Pharisees prohibiting the use of Jesus' Name. Imagine if Peter had said: “No problem. Let's just be politically correct and not mention His Name.” He would have been a wimpy soldier instead of a mighty one. The fire that had come down from heaven at Pentecost would have been contained. You and I may not ever have heard of our Savior.

That is exactly what you and I do if we passively allow our society and leaders to take a stand against our Christ and God's laws and silence our voices. When we watch people curse in front of us using our Lord's Name and say nothing, we become wimpy soldiers. When we vote for leaders who call our worship short-sighted and narrow-minded and at the same time support things that our God hates, such as abortion and homosexuality, to name a few, we become wimpy soldiers.  When we are afraid to be rejected by people because we don't participate in their lifestyle choices, we become wimpy soldiers. When we succumb to this world's pressures and pleasures and live unworthy of His Name, we become weak, ineffective, wimpy soldiers.

 
Peter and John Stood Tall

“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” Matthew 16:18 (NASB)

Peter and John stand as powerful examples of how each one of us should respond to criticism against our Lord. Their position was bold and courageous. I am sure Peter remembered Jesus’ words, as He promised him that the gates of hell would not overpower His church. And so Peter and John took a stand:

“Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;  for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” vs.19-20

Just like you and me, Peter and John had experienced the power of God. They would not be silenced. They knew that God would be their protection against the powers of darkness. Therefore, filled with the Holy Spirit, they pledged to honor God regardless of what men might do. They knew that their God was above any ruler. “He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.” Isaiah 40:23 (NASB).

As we read the remainder of the passage, Peter continued his speech by reminding the church of their predestined purpose (v. 28) and asked for courage to speak with confidence (v. 29). Finally, as he spoke, the Holy Spirit shook the place, empowering them to continue their mission in spite of the opposition (v.31.)

As the world closes in on us Christians, despising what we stand for and exalting their idols and lustful choices, where will you stand? Will you become a mighty soldier of the Lord, putting on the full armor and standing boldly for His kingdom, even if you stand alone? Or will you shrink into a weak, fruitless, double-minded and contaminated soldier?

Stand, my friend! Don't let your heart and mind be divided. Commit to your principles, even if everyone else is against you. Allow no compromise in your life. And above all, stand, stand, STAND by the Name above all Names. Live to honor Him. Do not support anyone or anything that stands against Him and His principles. Stand in righteousness before Him, that He may fill you with His power, protection and more importantly, use you in a mighty way to bring glory to His Name and further His kingdom.

A little sparkle of light ends the complete darkness of a room. I pray you and I will choose to be a beacon of light wherever we go.

Miracle Babies (From the Archives)

Note from the Author:

This was one of the first devotionals I wrote back in 2010 in the beginning of my ministry. The Lord spoke to my heart this morning as I reflected on the fact that since I wrote this devotional, I have witnessed His faithfulness over and over again in the lives of three of my friends who have been praying and waiting for their miracle babies for over a decade. They have had their prayers answered by our wonderful, faithful God. In a sequence of miraculous events, one couple adopted their beautiful daughter over a year ago. Another couple is holding their beautiful new born daughter after waiting for many years to conceive. And another friend is delivering her miracle baby in early October. To God be the glory!

God is still doing the impossible, just as He did for Hannah in our Bible passage today. I hope you share this devotional with women around the world who have been praying for their miracle babies. As a matter of fact, I encourage you to share it with all mothers you know. Motherhood can be hard sometimes, and so it is good to remember that each of our children are indeed a miracle from God. Enjoy and have a blessed week!


Biblical Passage:
1 Samuel 1

Memory Verse:
"For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.” Jeremiah 29:11 (Amplified Bible) 

Babies are miracles from God.

While all babies are indeed a miracle, some mothers understand this truth in a deeper level. I’m talking to women who have faced or are facing infertility, miscarriages, difficult pregnancies and medically impossible conceptions.

I don’t pretend to understand the longings of a woman who cannot conceive. My story is different. I was told by numerous doctors that I would not be able to get pregnant due to the existence of an infertility “perfect storm” inside my body. Between high levels of a certain hormone and serious endometriosis, my womb was allegedly“not able to hold an embryo”. That’s what the highly educated told me. My husband and I were told that before we even got married. So, my doctor could not explain it when I found myself pregnant soon after my husband and I decided we were going to try to conceive anyway. For reasons I will never know, I did not have to walk through the valley that some of my friends have faced or are currently facing. Although both my conceptions were “medically impossible”, the God of the universe knew better and had a different plan. My babies are miracle babies.

Then I ponder my older sister’s story. She was abandoned as a nine-month old baby in my mom’s aunt’s house. My mom was only fifteen years-old when she fell in love with Ana. A love story unfolded as mom promised my sister that whenever she got married, she would adopt her. So, dad proposed, knowing that when they came back from their honeymoon, they would have a nine year-old daughter waiting for them. My sister is a miracle baby.

I'm also reminded of the struggle a friend went through with infertility, painful treatments and miscarriages. She and her husband did not know that God's plan was for them to adopt a beautiful little girl from the other side of the country and change her life and their lives forever. In my friend’s own words, their daughter "could not be any more perfect". She’s everything they have ever wished for. My friend’s comment on the lesson she learned through her valley is sobering: “it’s not about pregnancy, it’s about motherhood”. My friend’s daughter is a miracle baby.

Then there is the story of another dear friend, who had a horrible pregnancy. During those long nine moths, she could not eat anything without getting very sick. She lost weight instead of gaining. We prayed for her and her baby for nine long months. She wasn’t sure they would make it. And now I see this handsome nine year-old All Star baseball player, running around our house playing with our girls. That boy is a miracle baby.

Through the valleys that so many women face with similar issues and watching the outcome in every situation, Isaiah 55 becomes personal to each one of us: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts”. We must remember to trust God for the outcome of our lives. We must trust God for our miracle babies in His time. Mostly, we must trust with all our hearts that God is working all things together for our ultimate good. All things. (Romans 8:28)

As you wait for your miracle,

Remember Sarah – and BELIEVE against all odds. God is able!

Remember Hannah – and PRAY without ceasing. God is listening!

Remember Mary – TRUST that nothing is too big for God. God is faithful!

And if God so leads you… remember Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted Moses. EXTEND your hand to change someone’s destiny.  

Reflections for today:

For Mothers to be: Regardless of the valley that each of you are going through regarding motherhood, regardless of how and when God gives you your miracle baby, regardless of how long you have to wait or how much it hurts, you must remember that He is molding your character and increasing your faith through your pain and as you wait. I promise you will look back and thank God for the wait. Because you will fall in love with the little person God will give you in His time, whether he or she comes out of your womb or someone else’s.

Prayer:

Lord, help me learn how to trust you with all my heart. Help me to see through my pain and through your eyes as I wait upon you. I thank you God for the child you will give me. I trust you will direct my thoughts as you show me the way I should go. Mold me to be more like Jesus as I prepare and wait for my miracle baby. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For Mothers: Whenever our children disappoint us or irritate us, I challenge each one of us to go back to the day they were born and remember the love, the acceptance and the realization of the miracle that was given to us. Remember the grace and love that was poured into our lives. Extend grace, love and acceptance.

Prayer:

Lord, help me be the mother you have called me to be. Help me remember today that my children are a gift from you and help me be forgiving, gracious, patient, joyful. Help me be a mother who will reflect Jesus’ sacrificial love to my children. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I Love You, BUT....

Background Passage: Ruth 1:6-17

Key Verse:

“At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.” Ruth 1:14

Rio de Janeiro, 1962. A very talented young artist attended the Fine Arts School of Rio, the most renowned art school in South America. He shared the studio with some of the heirs of Brazil’s most prominent families. He had moved to Rio from a small town in the South in order to help his mother, a young widow who lost her income when her husband died prematurely. He was offered a job in Rio in exchange for a small salary, housing and the tuition money to pay for his classes at the Fine Arts Institute.

Regardless of his modest upbringing, his talent stood out among the eager, fame-seeking students at the school. In one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments, the Ambassador of France in Brazil recognized my father’s talent and offered him a scholarship of one year to learn from Paris’ crème de la crème. This unique opportunity was the fulfillment of my father’s dreams. His refined taste for arts yearned for the chance of studying among the best teachers in the world. And as everyone around him watched in disbelief, daddy said no to his dream. The chance to sit at the tables of the Champs-Élysées or stare at the masterpieces of the Louvre would have to wait. Daddy had to take care of his mom. He chose to stay.

 

When I was preparing to teach the book of Ruth to my Bible study group a couple of weeks ago, my first idea was to focus on the well-known correlation between Boaz’ redemptive act  when he married Ruth the Moabite, and the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. But as I started reading the book, something else caught my heart: the display of sacrificial, “agape” love first by Naomi and then Ruth.

Naomi had lost it all. Her husband died and so did both her sons. She was away from home in a strange land; filled with idolatry and sin. In the days in which she lived, there seemed to be no future for Naomi. She was older, without a husband and childless. Her only option was to return to Bethlehem and hope - just hope, that her family would take her in. There were no guarantees there either, as Elimelek and Naomi had basically turned on the faith of their fathers when they chose to move to Moab. God had prohibited His people to have anything to do with the countries surrounding the Promised Land, as they were idolaters and enemies of the One True God. But the people continually disobeyed (Judges 2). 

In an act of pure selflessness, Naomi suggested her daughter-in-laws to go back to their families. Naomi knew that these young ladies were her only hope for provision; whether by remarrying or by working to put food on her table. And yet, she insisted that they should leave her.  With her loving, selfless act, Naomi became an example of sacrificial love engraved in the pages of Scriptures forever. She thought of her daughter-in-laws' well-being before her own.

In the next scene of this drama, we see the two younger women weeping after their mother-in-law tells them to go home. Both of them would miss her and did not want to be away from her. Naomi had certainly made a strong impression on these ladies. As we watched them weep loudly, we realize that both loved Naomi. However, as each responded to their mother-in-law's plea, we realize the depth of the love each of them had for her. Orpah took her mother-in-law's advice, kissed Ruth and Naomi good-bye and did what many of us would do. She took care of herself. She did what made sense. We have to be careful not to judge her, as the prospect of three childless widows surviving on their own in the old testament times was simply not good . Add to the grim reality the fact that Naomi had decided to move back to her home country, where Orpah and Ruth would be viewed as heathen foreigners, and they'd find very plausible reasons to run back to their fathers' houses.

No question Orpah loved Naomi, BUT... she was scared... or she was not willing to sacrifice her own future for someone else's well-being.

And then there was Ruth.

Ruth would not have it. She was going to follow Naomi to the ends of the earth. She would not leave her mother-in-law alone to fend for herself. Her commitment to sacrifice her own future and well-being in order to save Naomi resounds as one of history's most memorable acts of sacrificial love:

“Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.”  Ruth 1:16-17 (NASB)

I have no question in my mind that Ruth was scared. She knew many things would change as she started her journey to Bethlehem. She knew she could be rejected by Naomi's family, but she also knew God wanted her to sacrifice for the sake of her mother-in-law. She knew that the God of Israel would make a way. Ruth set forth towards her new destiny with no self-preservation.

Sacrifice? Me??

Agape is one of the Koine Greek words translated into English as love, which became particularly appropriated in Christian theology as the love of God or Christ for humankind. In the New Testament, it also translates as the love that men demonstrate for God and for each other. It represents divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love. ¹

I don't know about you, but Ruth's story challenges my heart greatly. Truth being told, “love” is a pretty corrupted word these days. If the person is lovable, we love them. If they do something to hurt us or if their personality just does not  match our expectations, well, we may love them, BUT...

Honestly, how many times have you started a conversation like this: “I love so-and-so, BUT....”? Ok. I'll be the first one to admit it: I've done it countless times. And yes, many times it may be that you are just discussing something that is indeed detrimental that this person is doing; however how many times does the word “BUT” after our "I love you's" only means that we are not willing to love them unconditionally or sacrificially?

True sacrificial love has nothing to do with whether it is deserved or not. When Paul says in Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love (agapao) your wives,” he's not saying “love her because she deserves it”; he is saying “love her even if she is not lovely that day. Love her enough to die for her, even if she is not worth dying for.” Just as Christ has died for us, undeserving sinners.

True sacrificial love is not an emotion

The world says that if the “feeling” stops, the love is over. That is the main reason 50 % of marriages end up in divorce these days. Agape is not a feeling; it is an act of selfless sacrifice. Agape serves, even the most egocentric people. Just watch Jesus start washing the disciples feet while they were on a major ego trip, arguing about who would be the greatest in the kingdom, oblivious and insensitive to the fact that Jesus was about to die on a cross for them (John 13). Did they deserve it? Absolutely not. And yet He did. And when He was done, His words summarized how He expects His followers to love one another: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34 (NASB). His love was certainly not emotional. As a matter of fact, he probably felt sadness as he washed their feet, so big was their selfishness. But even in His sorrow, He served them anyway.

If we love someone like Christ has commanded us to, we will love them “in spite of”. Our love will often be inconvenient and we will make decisions which are very, very hard.  We will give up things that we love in order to serve them. We will make time to be with them. And even if we do not love how they act, we will still love them sacrificially.

At the end, God will always reward Agape love. Naomi's selflessness and Ruth's sacrifice were rewarded as Boaz chose to redeem Ruth and took her as his wife. Jesus' agape, sacrificial love took Him to the cross and ended the sting of death, giving eternal life for all who trust Him as their Savior.

And I am happy to tell you that my dad has been rewarded with a good, full life, as well as three children and four grand-children who love him deeply. That is exactly what we talked about as we looked out the windows of the Jules Verne, one of the restaurants in the Eiffel Towel, as we gazed at the City of Light in its glory. My husband and I took him to visit Paris in 2004, 42 years after he sacrificed for his family. As he looked out the window, with his eyes filled with tears, he held my hand and said: “I would not have had it any other way, Babu. Because I am here with you.”

Daddy's girl smiled. She knows it is true.

 

Reflection:

God is challenging me today to love my family even if it costs me greatly and also to sacrifially love those who are “not so lovable”. It's His commandment to all of His children (John 13:34).

Is there someone in your life that you need to show agape love to? Whether they deserve it or not, or whether it will cost you time, money and even giving up your dreams, pray that God will help you love them sacrificially. He will reward you for your obedience.

¹ Wikipedia: Agape.

A Time to Mourn...

Passage: Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

Key Verse: “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance [...]” v.4

My children and I were singing and dancing around the family room, as the Sister Sledge's 70's hit “We are Family” blared through the speakers. While we giggled together doing silly moves, I realized how long it had been since I had a good belly laugh. The sound of it was even strange to my ears. I realized how sad our home has been since we lost my husband's brother in a tragic accident only 7 weeks ago. I realized how little we have laughed this year: 2012 has definitely been very trying for our family.

As I prepared to write this devotional, the Lord reminded me of the passage in Ecclesiastes where Solomon talked about the different valleys and mountaintops which all people go through. I was reminded that these good and bad times are a natural part of the realm in which we live, one of a fallen world. As Solomon wrote these words, the Lord inspired him to compare different circumstances in life to the seasons and natural course of nature. Just as the night falls, we can be sure that the sun will rise again. Just as the rain comes down, we know that the sun will eventually break through the clouds. And just as the seasons come and go, faithfully each year, so do the good and bad times in life. If nature could sing one song, and the Creator could repeat only one sentence to us through life's valleys, it would be “This too shall pass.”

Except Death

I have gone through some pretty dark valleys in life. Physical separation from loved ones? Check. Big financial burden? Check. Betrayal of friends? Check. Health problems? Check, check, check!

During all these trials, however, even throughout the hardest of days, my heart has been able to sing a song of praise. But the death of a close relative was not only a new experience to me, it has been, by far, the hardest one I've encountered so far. The truth is, in the physical realm of what we know, we can go through different things with a hope that life will be reinstated to what it once was. You lose a job, there is the almost certainty that you will eventually find work again. You go through a health problem, there is always the hope that God will come forth with a miraculous healing or that the treatment will do its job. But in the physical realm of what we know, the understanding that you will never hug that person again or talk to them; the separation, even though we know (by faith) that it's just for a while, is very, very hard.

God does not expect it to be different. He knows the pain of losing a loved one. Jesus wept when He heard that his dear friend Lazarus had died (John 11:34-36.) He knew He would see him again soon when he'd call him forth from the dead, but the understanding that death had taken over Lazarus' body was overwhelming to the Master. David was also overcome with sadness when he heard that his best friend Jonathan had died (2 Samuel 1:26.) This giant of faith, who has written many of the Psalms which fill our hearts with hope and strength through life's hardest valleys, was terribly hurt with his friend's passing.

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55

For those of us who have lost loved ones in the Lord, these verses give us much hope. Paul was talking to the Corinthians about the power over eternal death that Jesus' resurrection has given His saints. For those who died in Christ, death has no victory, no sting. For my brother-in-law Donnie, all tears have been wiped away (Revelations 21:4,) there will be no more sickness, no more dying, no more sorrow. He is now reaping his rewards before the Master and enjoying the company of the saints and of the Triune God forever. For those of us who stay, however, death hurts and it hurts a lot. And to say that does not make me a weak Christian. It makes me a real one. I know we will all find new joys and sing new songs; we will still laugh and continue to enjoy the days God allows us to live. But sometimes life just hurts. And it's ok. It's supposed to. That truth is in the heart of Solomon's discourse on Chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes. Matthew Henry puts it beautifully in his commentary:

“There is a time when God’s providence calls to weep and mourn, and when man’s wisdom and grace will comply with the call, and will weep and mourn, as in times of common calamity and danger, and there it is very absurd to laugh, and dance, and make merry (Isaiah 22:12, 13; Ezekiel 21:10); but then, on the other hand, there is a time when God calls to cheerfulness, a time to laugh and dance, and then he expects we should serve him with joyfulness and gladness of heart.”

Ever Changing Life... One Immutable Truth

There is one immutable truth that lays in the heart of both the changes in the natural realm, just as in the spiritual one. Both nature and men, the weather and our trials, are subject to the sovereignty of Almighty God. From the most natural things that happen on earth, like raindrops and where the lightning falls, to the most life-changing experiences that a child of God can go through, such as betrayal, cancer and death; all these things are subject to the foreknowledge of God. Although this has certainly been something I have affirmed for many years since becoming a Christian, this truth has become an important anchor that I have clung to in the past several weeks. We are taught to say that God is in control, but when life's happenings don't make sense, we must know that He indeed is. We must know it deep in our spirits, not just by words.

The next time someone you know loses a loved one, all they need from you is your love and faithful prayers. If they're a strong Christian, they know, by faith, that their separation is momentary (life is but a vapor – James 4:14,) but that does not change the fact that they are hurting, deeply. More than anything that you can say or do during the time of loss, they need your love, expressed through a hug, a card, a phone call or a home-cooked meal. But above all and more importantly, they need your faithful prayers.

One day, God will restore in their hearts the joy that is momentarily gone. And they shall dance again. They shall find new joys; not because they won't miss their loved one any longer, but because we serve a faithful and joyful God. And although there will always be a hole in their hearts, a place once filled by someone who is gone from this life forever, their faith in our sovereign God will bring a new song to their hearts. The faith that assures them that their separation is but for a moment, will bring them through.

In which season are you today?

Are you dancing or mourning? If you still have your loved ones, partnering in life's often awkward dance with you, take time to enjoy them. For what would you do if you knew you did not have tomorrow with your husband, mom, dad, child or friend? Would you pick up the phone and call? Would you forget the wrongdoing, forgive and love them regardless? Would you sacrifice your time and resources to show them how much they mean to you? Would you take the time to laugh with them, be silly and simply enjoy their presence? I pray that today you take time to love on your family and cherish them. For one day, when they are gone, you want to have only one song written on your heart. And the chorus should sing “No regrets. No, Lord. Not one single regret.”

That is the song I want to sing until the day God calls me or my loved ones home... No regrets. No, Lord. Not one.