Sliding Doors

In 1998 a movie titled Sliding Doors featured a woman named Helen who had a bad day at work. She got fired. On the way home she missed the train. Before the doors closed she got a glimpse of herself boarding the train in a “parallel universe.” The movie follows both Helens. The one that made the train lives a prosperous life while the Helen that missed the train struggles to find her direction and purpose.

Janet and I talk about how the choices we made early in life (and those made for us) have somehow brought us together. Her mother moved her and her sisters to Chicago where I lived. I missed the transfer date to the school I wanted to attend. I ended up attending school with Janet. I consider myself to be a logical person who shuns the concept of coincidence. I believe in cause and effect. I believe God has a hand in my life because He knew me before I was born and has a plan for my life.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…” Jeremiah 1:5

We missed a tragic traffic accident. We uncharacteristically got on the road early. We were two hours ahead of the accident. Lives were lost and many were hurt. I was on my way to the airport on 9-11. My life has been filled with joy and pain. In the midst of it all God has introduced some incredible folks into my life to walk with me. The list of folks is vast and versatile. You may never know how much you contributed to my growth and the growth of my family. I am not sure if I missed or made the train. I do know that I am thankful for the life that God has allowed me to live for His glory. Janet and I have made it a habit to pray each day and give thanks to Him for our blessings. While doing this we realized how “rich” we actually are. Let everyday be a day of thanksgiving in your life. You are not a coincidence. He set you apart for a time such as this. Every day is a day of thanks giving because every day I have an opportunity to do your will your way.

Lord God My Father, My Redeemer, My Savior, thank you for being God and being God all by yourself. Thank you for the good the bad and the ugly that you have allowed to enter into my life. I know that they all will be for your glory... Amen

Is Love Blind?

It is often said that love is blind and that you overlook a person’s faults because of the love you have for them. That may be true but not necessarily the reason you overlook faults. You love in spite of a person’s faults because you may see the potential life you can both share together. Besides, you undoubtedly have a few faults yourself.

Many years ago I heard Janet say I love you. To be honest she was my first “real” girlfriend and I could not process those words or understand what they meant. So I said “I don’t know much about love, but I do dig the hell out of you.” Cut me some slack, it was the 70’s. Janet’s heart had a vision of what our relationship could become. She was wise beyond her years. I was a 16 year old boy which should be explanation enough.

As you might expect our relationship had an uneven start. Be that as it may, that was a defining moment in our life. It was a moment I could not shake. Do you remember that moment when you knew your spouse just might be working their way into your heart? Do you remember how you reacted or felt about those words or actions that made your heart think about them? I never want to forget that moment or those tingling sensations that went down my spine. It is that exact moment that will fuel you to be resolute in your will to provide for the needs of God’s gift in your life. Every day I have a moment when I pause and remember how much she really means to me. You see I know that our life together was ordained by God before we both breathed this air. Take a moment today to remember and give thanks for your gift… God’s love is not blind.

A writer said … “To love and be loved is to feel the Son from both sides.”

My God, My Father, My redeemer… Thank you for the gift of companionship, friendship, love and affection that you have provided for me through my spouse. Please allow me to honor your gift in a real way that will reflect your love for the church. You died for the church. I ask that you give me the never ending purpose and will to revere and respect my spouse until that time when you call us home… Amen

Nevertheless

I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago and a Cubs fan, which is where and how I acquired most of my patience and tolerant demeanor.  I enjoyed the long train rides to the north side to watch games at Wrigley Field despite the agony of watching my beloved Cubs struggle in the pennant chase. They have not won a World Series since 1908!

I recently lost that patience and became frustrated.  I thought I had put in the work that would have dictated the outcome of a situation.  I could not believe it was unraveling.  Have you ever had a moment when you felt like you were literally “standing beside yourself” watching yourself “clown”?  Your work had not yielded the desired dividends.

In retrospect I feel like my actions questioned Jesus’ request. “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch. Luke 5:4” Like Simon I had put what I thought was a lot of work into this issue.  Simon had been slinging that net all night and caught nothing and he told Jesus so.   But unlike Simon I did not say “nevertheless, I will let down my nets.” Instead I just let go of the nets and expressed my frustration.

Subsequently, in my heart I heard “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Job 38:2-3”
I got a little shook up because I realize that God does not suppress or deny us questions, but He does require our obedience. He busted Simon’s nets with fish and so overwhelmed him that he left the business to “become fishers of men”.

Toiling all day and night and nothing… Nevertheless
More month than money… Nevertheless
My body is not responding as it once did… Nevertheless
Tired and frustrated... Nevertheless
Family not understanding the journey… Nevertheless
Friends not showing themselves friendly… Nevertheless

Lord God, thank you for being God and being God all by yourself.  I lift up my life and all its circumstances to you.  I will drop my nets where you direct knowing full well that if you choose to do so you will bust them with blessings.  Teach me to live a life that looks beyond my carnal circumstance and says nevertheless because I serve a risen savior…   Amen

Glad The Tomb Is Empty Luke 24:5

How do you reconcile the doctors diagnose of cancer? I heard it at the age of 42. I was just hitting my stride (so I thought). After the initial shock and rapid succession of imaginary body blows that required me to sit back in what now became a very uncomfortable chair, I was confident that I could and would beat back this intruder. I held my wife’s hand as she gently squeezed to reassure me. I was in the early stages so we had a “minute” to decide how to arm ourselves. We took a trip and prayed and talked and prayed and talked and decided how we would attack instead of waiting to be attacked. A strategy was in place. As most wars proceed, you win some battles and you lose some. I lost a few and almost my way. There were a few late nights in ICU were I wanted to wave my big white sheet (flag). I wanted to be well but I could not find the strength to hold on to the idea. I found myself looking for relief in the IV or the Dixie cup every four hours.

Exhausted from eight weeks of fretting over every “specialist’s” consultation every day of the week, I was ready to concede. In the dark empty hospital room, I heard the “swoosh” of air come from the decompressing cushion of an empty chair. “I am still here.” That night I slept peacefully in an uncomfortable bed with a horrific physical condition. The next morning I understood that I was looking for solutions to my physical ailments in the wrong places. The errand journey caused my mind and spirit to begin to crumble. That night I found rest and peace in what some might think was an empty chair.

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, He has risen!” Luke 24:5-6

If you have breath you will have trials that may overtake you and consume the very spirit that Jesus left with you when He left that borrowed tomb. Fight the urge to doubt God and yourself. He can defeat the “guards” and move the “stone” of deception that we may see as certain defeat. “A person who doubts himself (or God) is like a man who would enlist in the ranks of his enemies and bear arms against himself.” Find rest in your prayer closet, find rest in prayer during your drive time, or find rest in your prayer time early in the morning or late at night. Find rest in Him and be… Glad the tomb is empty…

The Day of Preparation (Matthew 26:17-35)

One of the hardest things to do is prepare a will to protect those you love when God calls you home. A few years ago my siblings and I did this with and for my mother. It was a strange conversation to have but necessary. My mom trusted us with this task so we were sure to document her wishes and agreed that there would be no discord amongst us.

Imagine the setting in that “certain man’s” house as Jesus broke bread with the disciples for the last time. Instead of the disciples preparing for what was to be the culmination of Jesus’ ministry, Jesus was preparing them for the discord they would experience on that very night. The carnal man in me often questions why so much pain and confusion was necessary at this juncture in the human life of Jesus and His disciples.

The spiritual me knows that our sins troubled God so much that He required a sacrifice that we were unable to provide. Any of the twelve could have had a moment of weakness and betrayed Him. Any of the twelve could have also been confronted and given the opportunity to deny Jesus. Many do this today. We betray Him with our sins and deny Him when confronted. Yet, He went willingly to the cross while we were in sin. Jesus chose to prepare His disciples for the days to come. We are always asked to reflect before partaking in the Lord’s Supper. We should choose to reflect\prepare ourselves for the gift of salvation that His unselfish act allows us to enjoy. The Last Supper was a call to remember His body that was broken, and His blood that was “poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Thank you our God our Father and our Lord for the time you set aside to prepare us for the time when we would be challenged for your name sake… Amen

Ever Had A Cramp?

Back in the day I “thought” I was a decent athlete. I played a little football and ran track in high school and college. On occasions one of us would be hit by the dreaded muscle cramp. If you ever had one, athlete or not, you know it stops you in your tracks. All functions of the affected muscle would cease to function and generally so would you. Every witness would have that sympathetic “wince” on their face because they could almost feel it too.

At the beginning of the year Janet and I fasted (modified) and prayed to get closer to God and seek His will for our lives. The first part (quarter) of every New Year is a time of renewal and realization for us. We try to see ourselves as He sees us so we can grow in Him. Having fought off the onslaught of life over the past year, I took a deep breath as my trainer (the Holy Spirit) nudged me back into the ring, ready to fight on. As I pivoted and attempted to rise on my toes, I cramped up. I had a spiritual cramp and froze. Doubt gripped me. I immediately questioned my training (prayer) and my trainer (the Holy Spirit). Had I not trained for this fight? I heard His voice in my heart tell me to trust in my training (prayer) program because that is where this fight “was” won. The Holy Spirit shouted “I won’t throw in the towel. I won’t give up on you. Fight through this!”

Have you ever been prayed up and ready to take on your “bullies” and suddenly you get a spiritual cramp? Your cramp could be a finance cramp, a health cramp, a self-doubt cramp, a co-worker cramp, a lack of direction cramp. You fill in the blank. The evil one doesn’t fight fair. Do not expect fairness. Know you can’t be knocked out but you can be discouraged enough to want to quit. I would like to think that I am spiritually mature enough to battle through these cramps. Sometimes I am. Then there are times when I have to look into my corner for instructions. I have fear and doubt as the enemy closes in on me. With each thought of doubt, you tell your trainer that all that training was for naught. My Holy Spirit reminds me of the strength of prayer and power it brings with it. Look to your corner for instructions which will bring strength and endurance to rise on your toes and fight on. Elisha’s servant had cramps…

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:16-17

You Can Endure

My favorite boxer was Muhammad Ali. His tag line was “float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.” If you ever saw him fight he had this unmistakable bounce and spring in his step that always seemed to befuddle his opponents. He was the heavyweight champion on three separate occasions. I also loved to watch Mike Tyson fight. Although he was not as eloquent as Muhammed Ali (huge understatement), he spoke one truth that has stuck with me from the minute I heard it. “Everybody has a plan to beat me until I hit them in the mouth.” What do you do after you have planned and strategize your journey and suddenly life rises on the balls of its feet and dances right, then left like Ali, then plants and fires a monstrous Mike Tyson left hook and follows up with a bone crushing right uppercut? You feelin that?

In the ring the boxer is alone and must face his opponent alone. In this man’s world you have the Holy Spirit to call on when the onslaught of life begins. The blows may come heavy and often. The blows may stagger you or even push you to the mat, but as you rise and you will rise, remember the fight is not yours. In fact the fight is “rigged” in your favor. Open your spiritual eyes.

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:16-17

I heard a preacher say… “He may not come when you want Him, but you will want Him when he comes.”

My God, my father, my protector, my counselor… Be a hedge of protection around all that read these words. Walk with them today as you have the day before and the day before. The principalities of this man’s world are forever on the attack to discourage and dismay. The evil one seeks to befuddle our hearts and minds. My God… Help us to expand your territory of faithful believers through our testimony of your goodness and mercy. Help us to use our testimony in the midst of a battle that you have already won to encourage someone embattled and on the brink of going to the mat under the Mike Tyson type blows of life. Help us as believers to be able to translate your word in the simplest of terms…

…This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15

Amen