Tag Archive | faith

Mess to Message

May24

Tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma.  Pure devastation for miles to see. People’s lives in utter chaos and disarray.  Heart-breaking and gut-wrenching photos and video, streaming live throughout the world. Reporters losing their emotional battle while attempting to bring us the horrific story.  Instantly, lives were changed and we all felt the impact.

Yet, in their darkest hour, the citizens of Moore showed amazing courage, strength, hope, love, and compassion. With every dramatic scene; another story of heroism emerged. Neighbors, strangers, and first-responders, frantically searching for anyone that might be held prisoner under the rubble. Hoping and praying that one more person would be pulled from the rubble alive.

None of the people interviewed were looking for fame.  None of them realized how much their simple words could impact us deeply.  Two such stories captured the very essence of heroism, hope, and encouragement.  Let’s hear it from their perspectives.

Boy saved in OKThere was a man who raced to the school.  He explained that as they were moving rubble to search for survivors, they came across a teacher who had flung herself onto the children.  She did everything in her power to shield her most precious possessions.

With tears streaming down his face, the man’s statement said it all…“Way to go teach.”

Countless stories of how teachers kept calm, had the children praying loudly, and how they used their own bodies as shields have come to light.  Their selfless acts saved many lives and testifies to the true meaning of “No one has greater love than to lay down his own life for another.” (John 15:13)

Hour by hour, interviews captured the true sense of the community who was grateful to God for being alive.  One such interview was with an Woman finds Jesus Picolder gentleman.  His high-spirited attitude along with his profound words were breath-taking.

Standing in front of a massive heap of debris that used to be his home; he proudly stated to the world…”I knew my maker and I had hope in Him.  God protected my wife and I. Over the course of the years, we accumulated a lot of stuff. We are alive and everything else can be rebuilt. We get to start over.”

Like so many others, these heroes showed true courage, hope and faith while facing the horrifying losses. We should honor them all and allow their amazing testaments seep deep within our beings.

Life is the most precious commodity and everything else can be rebuilt.  So today, no matter what you face, allow your light to shine brightly upon others .  Because in the midst of all your chaos, “The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble.” (Nahum 1:7)

Pray for Oklahoma

Many wonderful organizations are already on site in Oklahoma and are listed below.   If you would like to donate, just click on the link for direct access to their secured website.  No matter how big or small, every bit helps when placed in the hand of the Lord.

Helping Oklahoma and Other Areas

Love and Compassion Prevailed

Apr19

Horrific tragedies rocked our world this week.  Pictures touched the hearts of millions.  The innocent victims and all those that witnessed the horror of these events were shocked to the very core.  People from around the the world enjoying a beautiful, sunny day in Boston and Texans living out their every day lives; when explosions, instantly, changed their world.  These horrific events tend to remind us of just how precious and fragile life is.

Love and CompassionYet, in the midst of the chaos and horror; the glimmers of hope, love and compassion grew beyond measure.  Not just the first responders, but, the masses of average, everyday people who immediately reacted to those in need, without a thought for themselves nor the danger surrounding them. In a split second decision, TRUE HEROES took action filled with love, hope, compassion, and encouragement to lift up the spirits of those hurt and in despair.

During these dark hours, we all go through a massive chain of emotions.  Shock, disbelief, frustration, anger, fear, and sadness soar through our minds, body, and soul.  It is imperative that we see the love and compassion of all individuals who rushed to help.  To see their heroic efforts to help their fellow-man.  We may not understand why these things happen.  However, in the midst of these tragedies, there are many who showed that love, compassion, and hope prevails above all else. In a blink of an eye, strangers can come together for the greater good.

In the coming days, I ask that we all take a few more moments to hold our families a little bit tighter.  Let those around us know how much we love them.  And, pray for God’s healing to rush upon those touched by these horrific events.  It is times like these that we need to remember “He who lives within us is greater than he who is in this world” (1 John 4:4) and there is nothing more precious than love for our fellow-man.

Faith Hope Love

The Long Rocky Road of Barrenness

Oct19

Many times in life, we feel like we are going nowhere.  We’re at a standstill and nothing seems to be happening.  Unsure of any direction and simply put, hope begins to fade.  In times like this, we need to be reminded that the barrenness we feel is only temporary and God’s answers will break through.

We are reminded of this very thing, in Genesis.  God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations.  Yet, Abraham did not know the “when”, he just knew that God made him a promise.

Now, during the course of Abraham’s story, you begin to realize that a lot of time passed by with nothing happening.  You could easily say that Abraham found himself on a long, rocky road of barrenness.  He had no clue of the “how” and “when” this promise was supposed to happen.  In fact, so many years went by, we see Abraham and Sarah deciding to take matters into their own hands.  Thinking God needed help to make their promise come true.  Unfortunately, we also see that unnecessary strife was the outcome of their decision.  However, even though they made a mistake, God still came through for them.  The most amazing part was that Abraham and Sarah were far beyond child-rearing days and yet, Sarah gave birth to a child.  Just like God said would happen.

See, it doesn’t matter how long or how rocky our barrenness takes.  What matters is God has given us over 7,000 promises throughout scripture.  He knows exactly what we are going through and how to resolve the issues we face.  God knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10) and certainly doesn’t need our help along the way.  He knows the answer and the perfect timing to make it all happen.

So, when you find yourself on that long rocky road, waiting for something to happen; remind yourself of God’s promises.  Because even if you lose hope, hope remains.  Even if you feel like you are losing faith, a mustard seed of faith will do (Matthew 17:20).  I don’t know about you but I love surprises.  And, GOD IS FULL OF SURPRISES!

In His perfect timing, He will transform your barrenness into something absolutely amazing!  So, HOLD ON!  Everyday is a new day and something AWESOME could happen to you in a blink of an eye!

Patience

Sep7

Have you ever found yourself wanting something to happen right now, but it seems to take longer than expected?

Well, I sure have.  We live in a world of instant gratification.  Just take a quick look around and you’ll see fast food restaurants, drive-thru pharmacies, quick remedies for weight loss and the “quick draw McGraw” of news…the internet.  Isn’t it amazing how addicted we are to instant things?

It really becomes prevalent when you have to wait in a checkout line at the grocery store and you realize just how impatient you are to get out of there; even if you don’t have anywhere else to go.

When time is of the essence and you have absolutely no understanding of what is happening; the most important thing you can do is have PATIENCE!  It is certainly one of the hardest lessons to learn.  Yet, it is one of the most crucial in your daily walk with God.

Here’s why…In James 1:2-4, God is very specific why we must learn patience.

“Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.  Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.  But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfectly and fully developed, lacking in nothing.”

In other words, God is telling us that we should rejoice in difficult situations, knowing that God tests our faith to bring out patience.  During trials, all kinds of junk are brought to the surface.  Things like anger, rebellion, self-pity, complaining and pride.  It is so important to deal with this stuff so that God can take us to the next level.

So, let’s put it in a step-by-step process:

  1. Trials come and we face all the “icky” stuff
  2. This in turns helps us develop Patience
  3. Patience helps us develop Endurance
  4. Endurance creates a mature character
  5. A mature character brings us to absolutely nothing lacking within our lives.

Let’s face it; most of us have absolutely no clue what God is up to when He calls us.  But one thing for certain is that He knows the end from the beginning.  Ecclesiastes 7:8 reminds us, “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patience in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” And Galatians 6:9 tells us, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

So, I don’t know about you but the ending sure sounds better than the beginning.  It doesn’t matter how long we have to wait, it is far more rewarding to wait on the Lord’s timing because His timing is perfect and the outcome will exceed all your expectations.