Where was God?

Tragedy. It strikes without warning. It strikes even the young. Last week it did both in America at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. One moment children were exactly where they were supposed to be while doing exactly what they were supposed to be doing. In the next moment twenty of them along with several adults were dead. So was the gunman that ended their lives. It does not make sense. The days leading up to Christmas are supposed to be days filled with joy, aren‘t they? Now, a community begins coping with a tremendous loss. A nation begins asking difficult...

The Golden Age

One of the things I like about the region in which I live is that people are friendly. Even strangers will strike up or join in a conversation virtually anywhere or at any time. I was visiting with a friend at a restaurant Sunday evening. We first discussed what had been going on in our lives since we last saw each other. We then spoke about things like the weather and eventually moved into deeper topics including the current state of the world. It was during this phase of the conversation that an older gentleman seated at the next table offered his opinion. After a few minutes of discussion,...

Saving to Serve

The Thanksgiving holiday in the USA is behind us (except for its crass commercialization, unfortunately). One thing I found myself being thankful for this year was being able to share with others the bounty God has showered upon me. I haven't always taken that opportunity as I should have. When my wife and I were younger and had several children living at home, our income was less and day-to-day expenses greater, and we were carrying too much debt. So, I I felt anxious about every dollar and was too reluctant to part with even a few to help...

Thank You, Jesus

As I write this, we are just two days away from celebrating Thanksgiving Day where I live. I am very much looking forward to what is considered a traditional Thanksgiving. I am especially looking forward to my favorite part of that holiday and that is spending the day with family. Someone once said that you pick your friends but you are stuck with your family. If that is true, I am indeed blessed because I am "stuck" with a wonderful family. As the day approaches, I find myself reflecting on the only miracle of Jesus that is recorded in all four gospels. That miracle is the feeding of...

Don't Get Burned

I've long thought that one of the most striking passages in the New Testament is Hebrews 12:29: "For our God is a consuming fire."  Such compelling images this brings to mind!  What does it mean?  Does the passage refer to the "fire" of a zealous servant of God, or the fire of His judgment?  Some of both, perhaps, but examination of the context suggests that it's probably more of the latter. Let's see the passage in context: Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve...

A Fall Reminder

We recently had a time change and had to set our clocks back one hour. Speaking for myself, I am not a big fan of time changes. It always takes me a while to get accustomed to the new time. I am not fond of the one in the Autumn because it gets dark earlier. I particularly dislike this most recent time change for another reason. One evening shortly after the time change, I was ascending the steps that lead from the doors of the office building where I work up to the parking lot. I had just passed the midway point in my ascent when the outdoor light suddenly went out. I immediately found...

He Delivers You always

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19, NKJV) Isn’t it good to know that we serve a Deliver? You might feel afflicted today, but God is working to bring you out of that difficult situation. It may not be in the way you thought, but you have to trust that God has your best interest at heart. An affliction is defined as the cause of persistent pain or distress. I know that afflictions can take on many forms — a sickness or hardship, a temptation, a coworker or family member. There...

Seeking and Finding

At one time or another we've all misplaced some item, like car keys, a cell phone, a ring, or the like. Then, watch out!--we turn the house or office upside down, frantically searching for that thing we think we can't live without. More often than not it's found sooner or later, under a seat cushion or a pile of mail, or maybe even right in plain sight where we just overlooked it. What relief and exhiliration we feel when that happens!  Of course, sometimes what we seek is never found, and on top of all the time and effort expended looking...

Music to My Ears

Ephesians 6:13-17 (NET) - For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm, by fastening belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace, and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Several weeks ago, I was...

Help Another, Help Yourself

Life's many problems can leave one feeling overwhelmed, alone, and helpless--an emotional paralysis that makes it impossible to cope.  One way to escape this cycle of despair is to focus on someone else who is in serious need, and devote substantial thought, energy, and prayer toward helping that person. The benefits are many, and "losing yourself" in this way is sure to lighten your own load!Among other things, doing this helps to put your own problems in perspective--no matter how bad things look for you, there is ALWAYS someone in much...

Thinking About Evangelism

I realize that we are just into October, but I am looking forward to November with great anticipation. One of the great joys in my life is teaching Sunday School and beginning in November I plan to lead my students through an in depth study of The Pilgrim‘s Progress by John Bunyan. Though written in the 1600’s, this allegory has stood the test of time. One unique aspects of Bunyan’s work lies in the fact that he gives his characters names that denote their spiritual roles and personalities. On the positive side we meet characters like Faith, Mercy, Hopeful and the main character Christian. On...

On One Who Taught the Teacher

On Saturday, I attended the funeral service of a very dear and wonderful woman. She was a woman of outstanding character who was actively involved in our church for decades. She loved God and served Him faithfully for many years. She taught Sunday School and for a number of those years she taught our confirmation class. I consider myself blessed because I was but one of the many students that she mentored along the way and I certainly am the richer for it. Our pastor had many wonderful things to say about this fine woman. One of the things he said that struck a chord deep within me was,...

Visit His World

It's mid-September here in western New York, USA--a time when the warm, sunshiny glories of summer gradually give way to the cool breezes and waning, golden light of autumn. In this season we're especially sensitive to the divine Creation that surrounds us, and are blessed with many ways to immerse ourselves in it--trails through the woods and meadows, beaches along lakes great and small, marshes and rolling hills to explore. It's important for the believer to remember daily, as the great old hymn says, "This Is My Father's World." ...

Lessons from the Park

I’ve never considered myself to be "the creative type" and will probably not receive much in the way of argument. Yet, one of the things I’ve learned since I started writing devotionals is that God provides not only inspiration but also reminders of His Word and actual glimpses into His divine nature by means of His creation. The latest inspiration He provided me came in the form of a gathering of ducks and geese. Allow me to explain. In my country, Monday was a holiday. I recently purchased a new camera in order to take photographs...

GRACE (So Irresistible)

There is a story of a woman who desperately seek a breakthrough for her daughter, and her only place of help is a place where she is ineligible to get help. Her case is liken to an illegal immigrant into the United State of America walking up to the welfare office to ask for unemployment benefit You can imagine the scenario. In the first instance, will he even have access to the building? Even if he does, what ground does he have to ask for such? I believe if anyone try such, he/she would be on the next available flight to his/her country....

One Way

John 14:6 (NET) - Jesus replied, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Believers understand that these words of Jesus are essential to Christianity. Those that do not believe have an assortment of problems with these words. One group says that it does not matter what you believe as long as you are sincere. Another group says that this point of view is too narrow. Another says that they cannot believe in God because He provided only one way for salvation. Let’s examine each of these in turn. First - Sincerity... We live in an age where...

THE SOLUTION

Among my people (the Yoruba of South West Nigeria) there is a drug called "GBOGBONISE" (try not to bite your tongue…lol). Gbogbonise means "a drug that can cure all ailment". Whatever it is you are suffering from, ranging from STDs, to diabetes to infertility, high blood pressure, rheumatism, headache, even menstrual cramps, just name it. The drug, is able to cure it-so they say. (But please don't ask me). Is this drug effective in curing all these ailments (and many more not mentioned in this post)? I don't know because I have never used...

An Unexpected Shock

Not long ago, I decided to stop at a local restaurant. As I pulled my car into its parking space, I noticed two young individuals seated against the side of the building. It was a sunny and hot summer afternoon and the temperature was near 100 degrees F (38 degrees C). From the state of their clothing, it was obvious that the owners of this establishment would not permit them to wait inside where it was cooler. The other thing that was painfully obvious was the crude sign that one had created that had but one word on it. "HUNGRY" My heart immediately went out to these individuals and scripture...

Being There

I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5) One of the most consoling and strengthening aspects of faith in God is the knowledge that He lives and reigns all the time and everywhere--that He is always there for us, no matter where we are or what may happen to us, and no matter how confused, lonely, or despairing we may feel. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, and is aware of our every thought, word, and deed, good or bad. He wants to share and magnify our happiness, and He most certainly feels and seeks to assuage...

A LITTLE OF HEAVEN PLEASE

If ten people hold 10 flashlights in a dark room composing of about 100 people, what do you have? Illumination for everybody… The flashlight may not be bright individually but when their numbers increase and they work in unison, it might just be as good as one big bright light… We live in a dark world filled with all manners of evil and wickedness, and man continually grope around in it… sometimes falling, sometimes walking uprightly and straight; sometimes he give up and sometime he hopes…but one thing that is constant all through these...

Hunger and Thirst

          To soar in our minds the words of this fragment of the sermon on the mount, are taken immediately, the following questions: 1) where is the emphasis:) in the person of whom have appetite (insatiable desire) for Justice, as a compliment, a word of encouragement? b) on its own "justice" as something essential to be sought? c) or promise of plenty, that redound in happiness (bliss) that suffering for Justice? 2) When the promise will be fulfilled: in eternity or at the present time? 3) what is the purpose...

Don't Wait for Tomorrow

How often are we presented with opportunities to help others, but let them slip by?  Do we hesitate because we're unsure if we have free time or spare money enough to give?  Do we withhold the help because we decide that the beneficiary doesn't really deserve it, won't appreciate it, or will squander it?  Perhaps we feel like his or her problems are none of our business, or that we just don't want to "get involved."These are natural and commonplace feelings, but as believers in Christ we need to remember the terrible price...

Look Up

I still experience those moments when I reflect first about one thing and then another and suddenly realize that there is a very profound connection between the two. I recently had one of those moments involving two different passages of scripture. Right now, I have a great many things in my life that I have to deal with. Suffice it to say, whenever I begin to feel overwhelmed by life, there is one passage of scripture I always turn to and lean on. Philippians 4:13 (NET) - I am able to do all things through the One who strengthens me. The One, of course, is Christ. I cannot begin to count...

- GENERATIONS -

Isaiah 41.1"Who did and ran it all? He who from the beginning has called generations to existence, I, the Lord, the first, and with the latter myself. "     How many struggles and dilemmas we found in our generations. Each generation faces its challenges, each, elders, adults, youth and children, have nowadays to face their own problems often alone and isolated. God looks for all generations and says: "at that time, saith the Lord, I will be the God of all the generations of Israel, and they shall be my people." (Jeremiah 31.1)....

Cheer Up!

Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.(Matthew 14:27, Mark 6:50) Lately I've been rethinking my long-time penchant for following current events. News sources are overflowing with stories about the most unspeakable depravities, corruption, wars and crises, natural disasters, poverty, rampant disease, and so on. This is even reputed to be the year (supposedly according to ancient Mayans) that the world comes to an end. Even here in America we're confronted with widespread unemployment, political strife, social unrest, crime, and declining...