Hopeless? NO WAY!

   I have agonized over the devastating loss due to the tornadoes in Shawnee and Moore, OK this week. I watched in horror as miles and miles of homes were reduced to sticks in a matter of a few minutes...on live TV. When the storm turned it’s fury on two occupied elementary schools, I was speechless with grief, tears streaming down my face. It was obvious that someone, perhaps many “someone's”, would not be hugging their loved ones on this earth again. Sadly, that thought became reality. As I write this there has not been a final death toll posted. It certainly isn’t as great as it could have been...but it’s a lot higher than we want.

   As a former first responder I found myself reliving some of the destructive scenes I witnessed personally. I remembered the anguished cries of those who were given the grim news that their child, husband, wife or other loved one was now dead. The men and women who responded so very quickly to try and rescue those is desperate need have been changed forever. They will have nightmares and feelings of guilt for not being able to save the ones that died. They will struggle with the reality that they got to go home to their families while those they tried to help won’t.

   As a minister I kept thinking, “What possible message could I pass on to the ones that are hurting so badly that could bring them any hope?” In my heart I know that the only real comfort that can be experienced comes from God. But the stark reality is, over the next days, weeks, months, and even years, these people will cry out in anguish, and anger, because of all they have lost. It’s our job, as followers of Christ Jesus, to be the arms of hope, the ears of compassion, the eyes of understanding, and the lives of love. It’s our task, as believers in the only One with the ability to heal the wounded spirit, to provide the gentle answer everyone who has ever been hurt really needs to hear.

   The answer? Our God has suffered the loss of his son. He knows the hurt, he feels the pain, and he has tasted the tears. In times of sorrow, he is reaching out to lift the fallen, heal the broken hearted, and save those who have no hope. You are loved! (Dan Boggs) 

As He Loved Us

 

   I am convinced that Valentine’s Day was invented by the card and candy companies for the sole purpose of boosting sales. Yes, I know, it began as a much different kind of celebration, but it has evolved into a day when, if you don’t do something special for the one you love, you’ll pay the price until the next opportunity to make amends.

   Of course, we all understand (at least I hope we understand) that we need to be very free with our reminders of love and affection. But there is a standard applied by the Bible to the concept of love that needs some particular attention. That standard is stated in various places but best summarized with, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (Jn 13:34). In another place he said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13).

   Through the years I’ve heard those passages preached in a lot of different ways. Many times the one teaching tries hard to “soften” the Scripture by detailing all the ways we can “lay down our life” without actually dying. But a search of the language used by John doesn’t give us a whole lot of options. We are called, by the standard our Lord set, to be willing to die so that others can live.

   Jesus acknowledged that was an easy task when thinking about people we truly love. But then he added this requirement: “But love your enemies, do good to them…” (Lk 6:35). That seems like an impossible task. After all, those folks are our “enemies” for a reason. But the truth is, in order to fulfill the command to love AS he loved us, we must reach out in love to those who are disgusting to us. Remember, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Ro 5:8). You ARE loved! (Dan Boggs)

Eyes on Jesus

There are a great many songs in our book that we seldom if ever use and yet carry a great message. One such song is entitled, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” written by Helen Lemmel. In the verses of her poem, she speaks of the trouble we find in life, the victory of Jesus over death and sin, and the power of His word to change the lives of anyone that will hear it. But it’s the chorus that draws my attention.  “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

   So many times in life we find ourselves looking to the resources of this world for our strength and guidance. Far too many times that guidance actually results in weakness and failure instead of strength and victory. While Scripture never promises wealth and fame, the Lord does give us reason to turn to Him in both good and bad times. He promises simply, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Mt 11:28-30).

   As we launch 2013 we can be assured that we will have life issues to confront. Some will be more difficult to bear than others. We can also know that we’ll have some amazingly happy times. Regardless of what we are facing it is vitally important, as those who carry the name of Christ, that we “turn our eyes upon Jesus”. Any other focus will certainly carry us far from the plans He has made for us.