I Have a Friend…And It Is Not Time
This past week, Father, I had a lot of things pulling at me. During this time together, may I be able to focus on You and what is most important for me to understand and communicate. Amen.
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I have a friend…and it is not time.
I have a friend who was welcomed home over the weekend. He bravely battled Stage 4 brain cancer, and now his war is over. He could have been my brother. He is about a year younger than me.
I wish I had been a better friend to him while I knew him. I prayed for him and encouraged others to do the same. I served as his pastor, and when he could not attend church, he faithfully watched online. …but none of it seems enough looking back over it all.
I wish I could have spent more time by his side through the bulk of his battle, been with him through his treatments, and taken more opportunities to encourage him, be it through calling, texting, or writing. But time has not been my friend.
It was even more difficult because he was not the first friend to go through these things. Almost two years ago, I lost another dear friend – this one to leukemia. Though two decades older than me, his passing left a hole in my heart…and now I have gone down the path once more.
I have lost others, but these two men, at least in my heart and mind, cast a spotlight on my inadequacies…my failures. They deserved far more from me than was given – not because I didn’t want to, but, as we all know, there are only so many hours in a day. I’m not making excuses; it’s just the truth. A full-time job, three churches, writing almost every day, home responsibilities, and family time all add up quickly. Even though those are all legitimate responsibilities, it does little to assuage my guilt.
I genuinely do not think either of these gentlemen begrudged my time for other things. I am grateful for the hours afforded to me in my friend’s last hours on this earth, and they will always be cherished as a privilege extended by God Himself. Yet still, I have heard other people speak poorly of other pastors who have been negligent in calling on them. I think we will just have to let God be the judge of that. Some may be negligent, but I believe it is often just out of a pastor’s control, and we do our best with the time we have.
I grieve, too, but I would plea for grace. God is undoubtedly gracious, but may we extend the same in our own lives. I have many friends, but time is not one of them.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 NIV
Mar 17th, 2024, Sun, 1:01 pm
Source of Power
Father, right off, I want to thank You for the beautiful day and safe travels with students today, both to and from our destination. Help me be attentive to Your message to me this evening. Amen.
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Every day, I rise and go about the tasks at hand. Quite often, they are a hodge podge of variety. This week so far is full to the brim with numerous situations – calling hours for the father of a loved one, a doctor’s appointment with my wife, a trip with Future Farmers of America students (including very enjoyable conversations with their advisor), another trip to an Academic Challenge with other students, a church meeting, professional development training with my fellow bus drivers, presiding over a funeral of a beloved aunt, delivering a hospital bed to a friend in need. And, of course, the everyday parts of life, interacting with my coworkers and the kids on my routes, as well as time with Karen and interaction with my parents and son, be it by phone or text.
Some situations have me interacting with Your children, Lord. But others know nothing of You. In those instances, I run here and there, going to and fro in a very dark world. Regardless of who I interact with, Your light, Lord, is ever so bright within me. I do my best to let it shine brightly for all to see readily. You have called me to let the light you gave me pierce the darkness all about me.
As I referred to yesterday, it’s easy to think that we, and we alone, are responsible for generating the power we need to sustain our light. But we are incapable in that we simply do not have the reserves to do so. Lord Jesus, You, and You alone have an endless supply of power and resources we can tap into. But the one thing that absolutely must happen is that we have to spend time with You – not a hit or miss kind of thing but a consistent, and I mean daily, commitment of interaction with You…reading Your Word, speaking with, and listening to You is of utmost importance.
Back when I worked at Kohl’s, one of the many things we sold was solar watches. They never needed a new battery, but to continue functioning, they had to be exposed to light regularly. Occasionally, someone would bring one in for a new battery because it had stopped working. I’d ask if it had been kept in a drawer for a while, and almost every time, it had. I’d instruct them to set the watch in a window with direct sunlight, and it would recharge in a couple of days.
If we are to follow You, Lord, we cannot avoid being with You and expect to have the power we need to let our lights shine. Sunday worship is vital, but in reality, it isn’t enough. Daily contact is critical, too. Constant exposure to Your power and light is what keeps us charged.
Lord, I am here. Charge me. Empower me. May my light shine forth brightly for You.
For You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine;
The Lord my God illumines my darkness. Psalm 18:28 AMP
(A major redo of a post from Mar 14th, 2019, Tues, 6:19 am)
Mar 13th, 2024, Wed, 7:37 pm
Steady and Firm
Coming into this week, I knew it was packed, pretty much from start to finish. There is something every single day – Sunday through Saturday! Father, I ask for Your strength, Your love, and Your wisdom. As I’ve mentioned several times to my congregations over the last few weeks, our resources run low or dry up, but Yours are unfathomable! And You are more than able and willing to share!
1 Corinthians 15:29-34 (<<click here to read the passage)
Going a little further with what I said in my opening prayer, there are many instances where, in all honesty, we are going against the flow of humanity. What many hold to be true may not be so.
In this particular passage, the Apostle Paul addresses his readers’ battle against those who denied Jesus’ resurrection. (Yet today, our world is also full of naysayers.) There are multiple things in which we hold to what we believe is the right and proper way to do something, while others cast caution to the wind and bend rules and regulations left and right.
For example, telling the truth. I was raised always to tell the truth and would still be hard-pressed to tell a “white lie.” One incident that I still get teased about is when I was supposed to get my wife to a local eatery for a “surprise” birthday get-together for her. Her family was going to be there, as well as mine. When she asked why we were going to that particular location, all I could think was that my mom really enjoyed their soft-serve ice cream. (I asked Karen about it again this evening, and she still thought it was hilarious that I couldn’t come up with something more “creative.)
Now, that is more humorous than serious, but you get the idea. We could talk about sneaking out to party with friends as a teenager, or pilfering office supplies from work because “everybody” does it, and many other scenarios, but there are times when we can’t go along with the crowd and have to stand up for what is right.
You might think these examples are trivial, but what about matters of the heart that could have long-lasting impacts on our faith?
Paul, quoting a famous Greek dramatist Menander (342-291 B.C.), states,
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” v33
My Life Application Study Bible says,
Don’t let your relationships with unbelievers lead you away from Christ or cause your faith to waver.
I don’t know about you, but often, I just run out of resources. In going against the crowd, I grow weak—Jesus is strong. My patience wears thin, and my love wanes—Jesus is the epitome of love! My knowledge and understanding of circumstances become inadequate – Jesus knows everything (that’s what omniscient means!)
Jesus – He is all we need. In Him, we can stand steady and firm in our faith; that is the only way we cannot falter in our interaction with the world!
Mar 12th, 2024, Tues, 6:35 pm
Be a Pineapple!
Father, I humbly come before You this evening. I am forever grateful that You can use this imperfect vessel. With You, all things are possible, and it is proven every day of my life!
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I would think that many of us are familiar with the song This Little Light of Mine. Jesus said in Matthew 5:15-16,
No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. NLT
I saw a cool sign while out with Karen this past weekend, and I thought I would share my spin on it! It read,
Be a Pineapple
Stand Tall
Wear a Crown
and Stay Sweet
Too often, I fear, we slink behind the scenes when it comes to letting our light shine. We have a terrible tendency to put it under a basket. I say be a pineapple and stand tall! We have a wonderful gift from our Heavenly Father.
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. Romans 5:8-9 NLT
No man will [be able to] stand before you [to oppose you] as long as you live. I was [present] with Moses, so will I be with you; I will not fail you or abandon you. Joshua 1:5 AMP
Stand Tall!
A pineapple wears its crown, though our crown is yet to come; I see no reason why we should not live our lives as His children of the King!
In the future there is reserved for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and longed for and welcomed His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8 AMP
You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand,
….a royal diadem in the hand of your God. Isaiah 62:3 NIV
Wear a Crown!
And then, lastly, as followers of Christ, we should daily strive to stay sweet! I don’t think anyone has ever been drawn to a sour believer. It says in 2 Corinthians 2:15,
For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which ascends] to God, [discernible both] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing… AMP
Our goal as our Lord’s followers – His children! – is to introduce others to Him. The best way to do that is to live our lives before them in such a way as to attract them to Him, with the sweetness of our relationship with Him and the sweetness of our love!
Stay Sweet!
May we be all our Lord and Savior calls us to be!
Mar 11th, 2024, Mon, 6:25 pm
Come On In—We’ve Been Waiting on You
Father, praise You for the wonderful day! We had good times of worship; Karen and I had a delightful day together and a pleasant time with her mother, as well. As we wrap this day up, please bless our time together, and then may we have a restful night of sleep. Amen.
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As I was writing last Friday’s post (That Makes My Heart Hurt!), I could not help but think of a long-time friend’s post on her Facebook page. I pray that you will read this post and allow God to speak to your heart about how you would respond.
The Pastor says they sit front and center. The gay boys. Sometimes, they hold hands. And some folks have said he should address the issue. But the Pastor tells me he doesn’t know what to say.
And then there’s the man who sneaks in the back door, fresh off the street, after the service starts and leaves before the altar call. The people sitting close to him complain about how bad he smells—of beer, smoke, and sweat. But the Pastor tells me he doesn’t know what to say.
And then there’s the young mama who wears dirty clothes and lets her four children come in, eat all the donuts, and drink all the watered-down juice. Some church staff say they “…eat like little pigs. Like they haven’t eaten in weeks.” While the Mama just stands there and lets them. And the elders say something must be done and said. But the Pastor tells me he doesn’t know what to say.
And there’s the prostitute sitting among the faithful…everybody knows her. She sits with a painted-up face, cheap perfume, and a broken heart. And those who sit close, well, they all treat her for what they think she is. And at the last staff meeting, her name came up. Something must be done about her. But the Pastor tells me he doesn’t know what to say.
The Pastor is a good man—holy and just. He wants to do the “right and loving” thing and “look like Jesus.” He asked me if I had any thoughts on anything he could say.
Yes, sweet Pastor. I do. Start with this and say it Louder than any other words:
“Welcome to Church. This is a place of love and hope and safety and forgiveness. We will be food for the hungry and living water for the thirsty. We are so glad you are here. You are invited. You are loved. Come on in—we’ve been waiting on you. Welcome here. We are the church.”
Say that. To the called and to the called-out. To the leaders and the greeters. To the dirty and the clean. We are all the same. We are.
May we blow the dust of religion out of our souls and choose love instead. May our words, and actions, and reactions be a sanctuary for all.
Jesus broke many laws to love. So, Jesus, be our voice. Please, be the only words we ever speak. I believe this with all my heart. Years ago, we were kinder. Everybody looked out for one another. We need to go back to that. It takes us all. We have to do better at looking out for each other instead of breaking each other down.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:35-40 NIV
Mar 10th, 2024, Sun, 8:16 pm