A Memorial Meal

 

 

Dianne Neal Matthews, cbn.com

Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, was instituted to honor Civil War dead. Local observances were held as early as 1866, many of them in the South where most of the war dead were buried. The first official and large observance took place on May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery, which held the remains of twenty thousand Union soldiers and several Confederate dead. Five thousand people attended the ceremony.

New York was the first state to declare the holiday, in 1873; other states quickly followed. After World War I, citizens expanded the observances to honor those who died in all American wars. In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday and changed the date to the last Monday in May. In recent years, many use the occasion to decorate the graves of loved ones.

Under God’s direction, the Israelites had “Memorial Day” celebrations to help them remember major events in their history. They celebrated Passover each year to commemorate their miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt. When Jesus ate his last Passover meal, he instituted a new memorial to commemorate the deliverance from slavery to sin that he would accomplish for all believers through his death. As he shared the bread and wine with his disciples, he instructed them to eat and drink in remembrance of him.

The speaker at the first official Memorial Day service urged the audience to tend the graves of the dead soldiers to testify that our country had not forgotten the cost of a free, undivided republic. When we take part in the Lord’s Supper we are testifying that we remember the cost of our salvation. We are celebrating a “Memorial Meal” in honor of the One who won the war against death and sin.

A Prayer for Memorial Day

 

By Debbie McDaniel, cbn.com

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:13

Freedom is a gift, it’s a treasure.  And though we all may agree on that truth, it’s often easy to take for granted the greatest gifts that God has given us in our lives.

But those most precious gifts are never free. They came with a price. With sacrifice. They were worth fighting for. And are still worth fighting for today. Many brave men and women were willing to face hard battles in order for us to enjoy that gift of freedom today.

For all those who have protected our nation, for the men and women in uniform, together, we say “Thank You.”

We take time to remember today, and say a prayer of gratefulness for the many who have been willing to pay a great price for our freedom.  May God help us to live so courageously, may we follow the brave examples of those who have gone before us…

Thank you for reminding us that there’s incredible love and sacrifice displayed when one is willing to stand strong and fight for freedom.

This service of love and sacrifice on behalf of all people, points us directly to the greatest love of all, the very gift and sacrifice of Christ.

Our Savior was willing to pay the ultimate price, so that we can live free. Forever.

Dear God,

We thank you for the freedom you have given to us, and for the price that was paid by Christ so that we could live free. We remember today. The cost of it all. The great sacrifice for freedom.

We thank you for the brave men and women who have fought, and continue to fight, so courageously for our nation. We ask for your covering and blessing over them and their families. We pray that you would be gracious and encircle them with your peace. We pray for your great favor and goodness to be evident in their lives.

Please be with all those who wear the uniform, who serve our communities and nation every single day. We ask that you provide your protection, that you would be their guiding force who leads the way, and their rear guard who keeps them safe from behind. We ask that you would draw them to yourself amidst the dangers they face in a dark world, for you are the Truth, you are the Way, you are the Light.

Help them to walk wisely. To stay covered in your armor. Give them godly discernment. Make them constantly aware of what lurks close by. Help them to be men and women of prayer, realizing that this is where their greatest help comes from. Help them to stay united and strong, bold and resolute, determined and unwavering.

Bless their families. Bless those they love. Give them your great favor, this day, and every day.

Thank you that in our nation today, we are free to worship. We are free to pray. We are free to read your Word.  We are free to speak.  We are free to share. For this, we are incredibly grateful. Yet, we understand how quickly these freedoms can be taken away. Give us an increased awareness of the spiritual battle we’re in. Help us to stand strong in you and for your purposes.

Thank you that as believers, we can be assured, you will never leave us, and are with us always, in this life, and the next.

Thank you for your truth that says, who the Son sets free is free indeed! We know that in you alone, true freedom is found.

In Jesus’ Name we pray,

Amen.

The Most Precious Memorial

 

Daphne Delay, cbn.com

As I was reflecting on this day, I looked up the word “memorial” in my Bible concordance and was a little surprised at what was written in the subtitle. It said “Forgetfulness of God.” As I thought about this phrase for a moment, I understood. Much like Memorial Day, biblical memorials were set up to avoid forgetting what God had done. They were reminders so people would not forget.

Passover was a reminder to God’s people of the last plague of Egypt which took the first-born of every family who did not have blood applied to the doorpost of their home. This memorial was not meant to remind them of death, but of life and mercy (Exodus 12:14). God provided life when death was imminent. He was merciful to those who believed and obeyed.

There was a memorial for remembering the manna which God provided in the wilderness (Exodus 16:32). Another memorial was established to record the names of the tribes of Israel which God had established as a covenant (Exodus 28:12). As the leader of God’s people into the Promised Land, Joshua even established a memorial for God’s Word. “Behold, this stone shall be a witness to us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord which He spoke to us. It shall therefore be a witness to you, lest you deny your God” (Joshua 24:27). Yet, of all memorials ever established, there is one which stands head and shoulders above all others; and that is the memorial of communion.

When it was time, {Jesus} sat down, all the apostles with him, and said, “You’ve no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you before I enter my time of suffering. It’s the last one I’ll eat until we all eat it together in the kingdom of God.” Taking the cup, He blessed it, then said, “Take this and pass it among you. As for Me, I’ll not drink wine again until the kingdom of God arrives.” Taking bread, He blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you. Eat it in My memory.” He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant written in My blood, blood poured out for you” (Luke 22:14-20, Message).

Although the disciples had little understanding of what Jesus was instituting on this night, it has since become a memorial as He said it would.

The Apostle Paul memorialized the Lord’s Supper in his first letter to the Corinthians instructing them to continue this tradition as a reminder of God’s love and mercy.

“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me'” (1 Corinthians 11:23-25).

By the Holy Spirit, Paul received instruction to pass on to God’s people the importance of instituting a memorial for Jesus Christ and His sacrifice.

In every memorial, something is established to put people in remembrance of certain facts. In communion, the actual bread and wine (or juice) have no real power in and of themselves. Yet because of what they represent, they have great power for the believer. The bread represents healing for the outward man. Jesus said, “This is My body which is broken for you.” Isaiah prophesied regarding the sacrificial offering of the coming Messiah when he said, “And by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Likewise, the cup represents forgiveness for the inward man. “In the same manner {Jesus} took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood.'”

When we study the different memorials set up in remembrance of God’s deliverance or provision, we notice there is never a set timeline for memorials. Each one had its own guidelines. For example, the Passover was to be memorialized once a year, whereas the memorial for God’s people to remember His Word was only a large stone placed under an oak tree. This memorial would be visible to all who passed by, thus establishing a regular reminder throughout the year, not just once. In the same way, the Lord’s Supper (or Communion) has its own timeline. Paul said, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). The key words here are “as often.” In other words, Paul, by the Holy Spirit, was not giving instruction as to a particular day of the year, or month, or even a certain day of the week. He simply said as often as you do this (insinuating whenever it is you take communion) remember there is a purpose.

Jesus warned us about allowing traditions to rob God’s Word of its power and authority. A good example is found in Mark, Chapter Seven. The Pharisees criticized Jesus’ disciples for the way they washed their hands stating it was against Jewish tradition. Jesus outright said to them, “{You} make the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do” (Mark 7:13). I dare say we have done the same with the Lord’s Supper. Communion can become a tradition which we partake of forgetting the real power of its memorial. So Paul said, “As often as you do this, make sure you really remember WHY you do it” (my paraphrase). It’s not about only remembering the bread represents Jesus’ body and the cup represents Jesus’ blood. Communion is about remembering WHY the bread and cup were given. They each respectively remind us of the life we have now been given in Christ Jesus. They are true memorials – possibly the most precious of all memorials. And they are to be taken as often as we’d like… in remembrance of Him.

Memorial Day: A Day to Honor Life

 

Beth Patch – Senior Producer, cbn.com

Memorial Day – to some it’s merely the beginning of summer and to others it’s a solemn day to remember those who have passed from this life. However, to the war veteran and to the families of fallen soldiers, Memorial Day carries significance so deep that words cannot express their hearts.

When we look into the eyes of those who still mourn these once vibrant men and women, we often sense their loneliness and pain. We hear them choke back tears as they simply say the ranks and names of their military brothers and sisters at a Memorial Day service. White gloves, dress uniforms, rigid posture, and perfectly precisioned salutes represent the reverence and respect flowing from within. Those who have been personally affected by war understand and appreciate this day of remembrance.

What should we say to those who sincerely honor this day? “Happy Memorial Day” doesn’t seem fitting. “I’m sorry for your loss” may be closer to appropriate. What would the fallen soldier want from their comrades and the rest of the country on this day?

In an often quoted Memorial Day speech given in 1884 by Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., the speaker ended his address with these words, “Our dead brothers still live for us, and bid us think of life, not death — of life to which in their youth they lent the passion and joy of the spring. As I listen, the great chorus of life and joy begins again, and amid the awful orchestra of seen and unseen powers and destinies of good and evil our trumpets sound once more a note of daring, hope, and will.”

The American soldier who gave his or her life for U.S. citizens to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness won’t be telling us how to observe the holiday. But I believe that Holmes’ proposition to “think of life, not death” would honor the fallen soldier. Their sacrifice follows the example of Jesus Christ laying down His life for our freedom. It’s selfless love for others – not so others can mourn forever, but live!

“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16

Notice that in scripture and in military service, the willingness to give up one’s life is not dependent on the worthiness of the people who benefit from the honorable act. In a perfect world, all who receive freedom and grace would be worthy of such a sacrifice and full of gratitude. But that’s not the way it is anywhere on Earth or in Heaven.

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8

We are blessed to be living in a free society. May we honor our American soldiers for the liberty we have in this country. May we also give thanks to Almighty God for the freedom we have to spend eternity with Him because of His gift of forgiveness through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Crawling Through the Cracks

 

 

Susan Norris, cbn.com

Since I am the mother of teenagers, you can imagine how my schedule consists of running one here, dropping the other there.

On one particular afternoon, I collected my keys to drive my son to lacrosse practice. Walking through the kitchen, I noticed something on the floor that appeared to be grass or a stick. As I bent down to pick it up, it moved. Grass and sticks do not move. It was then I realized I had a snake in my kitchen.

I am not a former girl scout or a nature girl of any kind. I did what any self respecting female would do, I screamed! My junior knight in shining armor, my 14 year-old son, ran into the room to see what had caused my panic. He immediately said he would get it with his lacrosse stick. His stick has holes in it and the snake can travel through holes. I sent him to grab a shovel out of the garage while I watched the snake.

With a racing heart, I managed to open the back door. After several attempts, he finally scooped the snake up and tossed him out the back door and then I slammed the door shut. When I looked out through the door, I noticed my dog was in the back yard. She had been in the kitchen and hadn’t bothered to help us at all. She’s a golden retriever; you’d have thought she would have tried to retrieve the snake.

When I got home, I was chatting with God and told Him I could have gone all day long without that happening. I could almost hear Him chuckle. God wastes nothing, including our time, so I began asking Him what I could learn from the situation.

How did the snake get inside? Well, I had been cooking on the grill and was going in and out of the house so I had left the backdoor cracked.

This got me to thinking: Is there any area in our lives that we have left cracked, where the enemy can get in? What about watching things on TV that are questionable or reading books that do not honor God? Have we been a party to gossip? Have we spoken harshly to someone or held on to bitterness?

What about my dog, the retriever? It is her job to protect the family, but she didn’t. She was literally laying down on the job. Do we expect others to cover our family in prayer and teach our children about Jesus? Do we think attending church or going to a Christian school or being involved in campus ministries like Fellowship of Christian Athletes gives our children all of the foundation they need?  Are we laying down on the job?

I encourage you to take some time with the Lord and ask Him if there are any doors left cracked that need closing or any areas that you are laying down on the job. God wants the very best for us. In John 10:10 it says:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Jesus wants us to have life to the full, but we must do our part. Are we?

It’s Not about Who’s Right or Who’s Wrong

 

by Stephen Sanders, crosswak.com

It’s not about who’s right or who’s wrong. It is about glorifying God no matter who’s doing what.

In my videographer role at Salem Web Network, I have the privilege of being able to see the best (and worse) the Body of Christ has to offer. Unfortunately, it is probably more bad than good in a lot of cases. But I guess it makes sense when you think about what Jesus said: Matthew 7:12

This variety in the Body of Christ has been an ongoing struggle for me since the work environment I’d been in for the 5 years prior was very sheltered. I was working at a church, so I only saw that perspective on the Christian walk. But now I’m exposed to what seems to be millions of different outlooks on what it means to be a Christian.

A recent Google search revealed to me that there are approximately 38,000 denominations of the Christian faith. I suppose you could probably lump a lot of those together into a few hundred general categories if you wanted to, or even protestant/catholic if you really, really wanted to. But the point is…even if it was 380 instead of 38,000…that is A LOT. But back to the perspectives…

With these 10’s of thousands of denominations come even more views on what is right and what is wrong. What is “Christian” behavior and what isn’t and so forth and so on. It is (and has been for me) a very easy thing to get caught up in if one isn’t careful. In a recent devotional I wrote titled, “don’t let foolishness get the best of you” I shared how easy it has become for Christians to share their voice more boldly online. It’s been over 2 months since I published that article and I’m still processing this whole ordeal; trying to find my place in all of this chaos.

Yesterday I think I finally came to a conclusion: No one is totally right. (Brilliant, I know) No matter how confident we may sound when we claim that, “__________ is what the Bible says about _________,” none of us are right. How could we be? We still live in a sin-cursed world, we all still make mistakes, all still fall short of perfection that only God possesses.

Some of us sound really smart with our proclamations and it can be very easy for someone like myself to become mesmerized with a specific stance on certain matters. But what happens is that these perspectives, once taken to a certain level, become idols of our worship. And that goes for disagreeing with the perspectives just as much as showing allegiance. Let me give you an example.

Pastor _______ writes a book on ______ perspective on ________. Some agree with his refreshing insight while others accuse him of blasphemy. 1000’s of people chime in and before you know it, it has become a bigger topic amongst Christian circles than the Gospel itself. Isn’t that more evil than good? Isn’t that behavior exalting the flesh and not the Spirit?

It becomes even more disturbing when it becomes more personal.

A first-time visitor walks into a church sanctuary or youth group that is more about the issues than it is the Gospel message. They develop a perspective of what Jesus is like from these encounters. After all, that’s why people come to church. To hear about Jesus, right? Will they leave confused not knowing what they’ve just witnessed? Perhaps worse, will they become fascinated and faithfully follow a “man of god” who isn’t Gospel-centered in his preaching.

Galatians 5:16-26 says, “…walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. Now the works of the flesh are evident: …enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions…and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love…peace, patience, kindness…gentleness, self-control. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

So, realizing the harm I’ve witnessed firsthand on such matters, I’ve come to the conclusion that humility is key. As a Christian, I must never make certain things “sins” that the Bible doesn’t claim to be sin. I must never make certain spiritual gifts bigger than they actually are. I must never become so involved in perspectives that I lose sight of how the Bible tells me to conduct myself. I must never make definitive statements about anything other than Jesus being God and the only way to eternal life. Because when I do that, it becomes more about me and less about Him.

One Light

 

Andy Hollifield, cbn.com

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5 KJV)

“Captain! I’m not sure I can do this! What if I mess up? What about the sandbars and rocks in this channel? What if I get off course in the dark and how will I know before it’s too late?” Those were the very frantic words of  First Mate Alexander as he steered the ship through Ripside Channel for the first time.

“I once stood exactly where you are. You’ll do fine. Besides, I’ll be standing right here and won’t let you mess up,” the Captain replied.

“Let me tell you the story of how Ripside Channel got its name,” the Captain said. “Years ago, so many ships couldn’t navigate the channel, so the community folks decided something should be done to help protect their sailors. They decided to place a light on top of a high pole in three places. One, right on the beach, and two spaced out further back inland. The trick is to line up all three poles and lights until it looks like only one light. Once you’ve done that, you can sail safely through the channel.

One hour later, a deep sense of relief swept over FM Alexander as the lights came into view. He’d successfully navigated Ripside Channel at night. This was one night he’d always remember.

As Christians, we’d do well to follow the Captain’s advice. We should line up our lives to where we only see one light, the Savior shining like a beacon in our darkness. Although life’s sea has many dangers and disappointments, our Captain has already charted the course and walked in our shoes. If we focus on him, no matter the severity of the storm, we’re promised safe passage into that heavenly shore. Just follow that one light.

Heavenly Father, we ask that you would keep us safely in your care. Help us to focus on our one light who is Christ Jesus. No matter how difficult the way or how dark the night, help us realize we can always trust the word of our Captain. Help us as Christians understand that younger, inexperienced people are watching our lives. They’re looking to see how we rely on you and counting on us to help them through trying circumstances. Help us shine the light of your love in our lives that others may be drawn to you. Amen.

The Subtle Deception of Sin

 

Candy Arrington, cbn.com

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye.” Matthew 7:3 (NIV)

Celebrated cyclist Lance Armstrong admitted he cheated to win. Although it’s been a while since allegations emerged, this was the first time he stopped denying the charges. I read an account of the interview and then fumed about the bad example he set for aspiring athletes, annoyed by his seeming lack of remorse.

And then, as is often His way, the Lord whispered, “You’re like Lance Armstrong.”

“Me? No, I’m not!”

“Remember high school Latin class?”

“Oh. That.”

It began innocently, if cheating is ever innocent. There were only four of us in the class and our teacher was old and partially blind. One day we had a pop quiz and one of the girls slid her open book into her desk and looked up the answers. Soon, the others were doing the same. I resisted until a day when I hadn’t studied the vocabulary. I was going to fail the quiz … unless.

Everyone was doing it. Why shouldn’t I? Soon, an open book in my desk was commonplace. Then, prior to the exam, which we all would exempt because of our high, ill-gotten grades, the one who began the practice of cheating outed us all. I was embarrassed, ashamed, and mad. Why had she exposed us without warning, without giving us a chance to stop? I’d been caught, and my sin was out there for all to know.

“For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44 (NLT)

Satan is a sly guy. He convinces us sin is fine, as long as we don’t get caught. He whispers, “Go ahead. You’re safe. No one will find out.” So we reason there is nothing wrong with your tiny sins — jumping a turnstile, running a red light, fabricating reasons for incomplete tasks, blaming others for mistakes, twisting the truth slightly. But don’t be deceived by the father of lies. Sin is sin and all sin is equal. There is no grading scale — no this-sin-is-less-bad-than-another. Every sin has the same effect — separation from God.

Aren’t we all like Lance Armstrong? We cheat and expect not to get caught. We look at others, measure our sin against theirs, and think what I’m doing isn’t as bad. Perhaps the greatest deception of sin is the lies we tell ourselves to justify our actions and attitudes, and the only way to avoid deceiving ourselves is to actively work to stay off the slippery slope of lies. You see, sin has a snowball effect. Once you lie, to yourself or someone else, you usually have to tell another lie to cover the first one.

My grandfather was a wise man. One of his life precepts was: “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember what you said.” In other words, if you lie, you have to remember the lie so you can make sure you re-create it later. Most of us aren’t smart enough to juggle that many lies for very long. So why try?

Start today. Make a conscious effort to change the things in your life that you consider “tiny” sins. Ask God to help you. One of the first steps in overcoming sin is admitting what you’re doing is sin and that it’s wrong. Then repent, which means to go in the opposite direction, making an intentional about-face.

While we may be indignant about the sin of others, we’re all just as tarnished as a cheating multi-medal-winning cyclist. Admit it, and then move forward with honesty, believing you can change through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit within. God doesn’t expect us to be perfect, but He does expect us to make an effort to be more like Him.

Always Burning

 

 

Tim Bishop, cbn.com

“What ignites your passion for the Lord?” my wife asked. I didn’t assume she meant I was more zealous than the average Christian. After all, I’ve been called a “flatliner.” Instead, her question was an invitation to brainstorm ways to stoke the flames of faith.

A day later, convinced I had an epiphany, I said, “I have God’s Spirit living inside me all the time.”

Here’s what Jesus told His disciples about that Spirit:

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17 NIV).

Furthermore, Scripture likens the Spirit to a fire:

“John answered them all, ‘I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire’” (Luke 3:16 NIV).

I don’t need to reignite myself spiritually because my flame already burns.

Or does it?

I Thessalonians 5:19 (NIV) warns us not to “quench the Spirit.” In this context, quench means to extinguish. Our disobedience of God can impair the work of His Spirit in our lives. Nonetheless, the indwelling Spirit will always be there to help us as we submit to Him.

When I was a kid, my family used a gas clothes dryer. It came with a pilot light, a perpetual flame that ignited the appliance on demand. That power source was ready 24/7, at the push of a button.

In our home in northern Maine, we added a laundry room by converting a portion of “the shed.” We ran heat and plumbing into the new room. But with no foundation, it remained cool and drafty.

In the dead of winter, when the outside temperature routinely dropped below zero degrees Fahrenheit and the wind howled over snowdrifts and ice, a draft sometimes extinguished that pilot light. When it did, I got down on my hands and knees, removed the bottom panel, and inserted a lit match to reignite the light. A tiny but steady flow of propane produced a gentle flame to sustain power. It was undetectable until the dryer was turned on. Even then, we couldn’t see it. We only knew it was there. When I pushed the start button, the dryer’s drum spun again.

Unlike a pilot light, our faith won’t be extinguished by life’s bitter winds. Our flame burns no matter what. It’s always there to stoke the passion within us whether we engage it or not.

But my wife is on to something. Our flame ignites more passion when we are sensitive to the Spirit’s leading and engaged with others. Living a life of obedience, exercising our prayer muscles, and staying connected to God’s Word will brighten our flame for those around us to see. It may even catch fire in them.

Swim Lessons

 

 

Towera Nyirenda Loper, cbn.com

“You need to trust the water. It is your best friend.”

This, coming from a 21-year-old who began swimming at age three and who has competed professionally, advising a 40-plus-year-old who has never swam. I always wanted to learn how to swim, but did not know what to expect other than being in water and learning the “easy” techniques. Boy, was I wrong!

My biggest setback was not trusting myself to know that the water and my body could hold me up, instead of drown – if I relaxed. Throughout the process, my coach was there telling me, “I am right here, I won’t let you get hurt.”

I gave it a try, but was overcome by images of drowning and thoughts of how my family would react to my death. The few seconds I would relax my body and follow her instructions, I found myself floating. But as soon as I realized I was floating, fear would grip me and I would start to go under water. I WAS AFRAID!

Her parting words were simple. “Spend as much time as you can in the water so you can be comfortable in it. Also, get the swim goggles so you can see under water. Maybe that will help overcome your fear.”

I reflected on those words, “You need to trust the water…,”  “spend as much time in it…,” and “get the swim goggles…”  Four things came to mind as I reflected on my trust journey:

1. The Coach is always present: How often do we act as though God is not present when we are going through life’s challenges? We become stuck and drown the voice of the Holy Spirit because our fear is so paralyzing that we do not give God a chance to work. Deuteronomy 31:6 states, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or panic before them, for the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (NLT). If we listen to the small instructions God gives us in moments of fear, we will float on our backs and not sink.
2. The Water is our friend: The image of water in the Bible symbolizes new life, God’s promises, cleansing, etc. (John 7:38, Psalm 65:9. Ephesians 5:26 respectively). God’s Word is there to give us instruction and renewed life daily. Psalm 119:105 states, “Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (NLT). Do we trust the Word to hold us up and float when life rages on or are we trying to trust in our own inabilities?
3. The Eye Goggles: I purchased the eye goggles and what a difference they made! I am still fearful and not able to float on my back, but seeing the bottom of the pool has been a game changer. I am calmer. I strongly believe God wants us to use our eyes of faith to see the bottom of our pools and know it is not as scary as we think it is. Romans 1: 17 states “The Just shall live by Faith.” We just need to trust our Coach because He has walked the floors of our pools and they are conquerable.
4. The Renewed Mind: Having negative thoughts while going through life is never helpful. Think about it, I was rehearsing my funeral during my first lesson. Yet, I am still here. Ephesians 4:23 states, “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” We need to think on God’s Word when life happens. Philippians 4: 8 should be our guide in all things and thoughts.

I head back to my second lesson this week and I hope these first few lessons I have learned will be evident. My coach will be present, I will trust the water, I will walk the floor and my mind will be renewed.

The Cake Baker’s Message to Stand Strong in Your Faith

 

 

Jack Phillips, cbn.com

Twenty seconds.

And one decision.

That’s all it took to change my life forever. To turn the lives of my family members upside down, transform the future of my business, even impact the laws of my county.

Because of those few seconds—and that one decision—I’ve gone from being a quiet cake artist with a strip mall cake shop in the Denver suburb of Lakewood to an unlikely public figure, interviewed by national journalists, grilled by the women of “The View,” and judged and psychoanalyzed by countless men and women around kitchen tables and watercoolers all over America. I’ve had my life threatened, my name defamed, and my deepest beliefs judged by the Supreme Court of the United States.

None of us, after all, know what’s coming around the corner, in these days of escalating social conflict and violence. (There’s an old saying, that “It’s hard to predict things—especially the future.”) I used to think, What can happen? I’ve got my family, my friends, a good job, food on the table, a nice place to live.

But that was before those 20 seconds.

And that one decision.

In the Bible, Jesus warned His disciples that they are headed into dangerous, uncharted territory. “I will send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves,” He said (Matthew 10:16). And after the last few years, I feel I know what He meant.

But thankfully, He adds this assurance.

“You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them … but when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (Matthew 10:18-20) [emphasis mine].

I can testify, now, to the truth of that promise. Because of one decision, I have stood “before governors and kings.” And time after time, He has given me the words to say.

This is not the whole story, of course, any more than the gospels tell us the whole story of all that Jesus said and did in His time on the earth (John 21:25).

“Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples,” the Bible says, “but these were written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing, you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31 NIV).

That’s the main reason I’m sharing this excerpt: to share some of what God has done in my life, so that you may trust Him for what He wants to do in yours. You have your own talents, your own circumstances, your own opportunities to make decisions. I believe God wants to bless you, lead you, and help you with all of those things, as surely as He has for me.

The Bible tells us how some of the Apostle Paul’s decisions led him to stand before kings—actual kings—with whom he shared his life story. One king, Agrippa, after hearing Paul’s testimony, said, “You almost persuade me to be a Christian.” To which Paul replied:

“I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains” (Acts 26:28-29).

That’s how I feel, having gone through this experience. I wish everyone could know God’s love as clearly as I do—but without having to be condemned by your state government officials or to spend most of a decade defending your beliefs.

If you are already a follower of Christ—and even if you aren’t—there’s a good chance He’s leading you to some unknown places, too. To some unpredictable situations. To choices whose impact you can hardly imagine.