Signs and Wonders

I had a full-on, blood pumping, bell ringing, freak-out when I found that unexplained puddle on the floor today. I thought a pipe under the foundation had broken. (Later, I realized that it was only ice melt off of a bucket I carried inside.)

Think back to all your worries yesterday. 

Go ahead. Think about it a minute. 

How many of them panned out like you imagined? How many of them are hard to remember because it all turned out ok? Did you see an issue resolved? 

We live in a dangerous environment. Extreme weather, speeding cars, power hungry people with guns and cancerous disease abound. And so much is out of our control. To say our lives are easy, is Pollyanna. 

We dodge bullets daily, fall asleep, wake up—and do it all over again. We are so used to it that we think it is normal. So maybe it is time to count those dodged bullets and give credit to the one who held us or even miraculously delivered us. 

Today I read about a man who feared a heart sinking loss of his son. He traveled miles to find Jesus and ask him to heal his son. To this, Jesus simply said “Go. Your son will live.” So the man takes the long  journey back home. On the way back, his servants meet him and tell him that his son is living. The man must have stopped to wonder if Jesus had anything to do with it or if the boy just got better on his own. So he investigated. He asked his servants when the fever left his son and it turned out that it was at the exact time when Jesus told him that his son would live. 

What if he gave credit to that Vick’s vapor rub his wife put on the boy’s feet? What if that man passed it off as just a natural turn-around in his son’s health? What if he never stopped to consider that Jesus did the healing? 

What miraculous deliveries from worries do I pass off as luck or natural circumstances? How often do I belittle the amazing love and care of the Father for me? 

Father, may I remember today to give you credit for the things that I often blow off as luck or even my own doing. Forgive me for stealing your glory. Amen. 

MLK Day Reflection

 Many of my brothers and sisters who I admire most for their amazing faith are African American. One might expect that their ancestors would have rejected a faith that came through the hands of slave owners—people who so often used Christianity while committing horrific abuse.

Yet, while reading a work of historical fiction, I learned something that stopped me in my tracks. Teaching a slave to read was illegal unless the Bible was used—and even then, it was only considered permissible under those conditions. In many cases, the motivation for teaching enslaved people to read Scripture was likely far from pure. It was often intended as a means of control or manipulation.

As I researched further, I discovered that an edited “Slave Bible” was published. According to a historical overview on the Online Library of Liberty, the so-called “Slave Bible” was a heavily edited version of Scripture used in the British West Indies that omitted many passages that might encourage thoughts of liberation or equality.  Entire sections were removed—stories like Joseph sold into slavery, Moses leading the Israelites out of bondage, and New Testament passages that spoke of the spiritual equality of all people in Christ.

And yet, despite these calculated omissions, verses remained that proclaimed freedom in Christ. Truth slipped through the cracks. Even in a Bible edited to suppress hope, the message of Christian liberty could not be fully silenced.

What was meant for evil, God still turned to good.

That is what stands out to me most. The Bible—in all its forms and iterations—still reaches human hearts with truth. No manipulation of man can ultimately withhold the truth of God. Light has a way of shining through, even when someone tries to cover it.

Example (Chicago-style / general reference):

Ealy, Steve. The Slave Bible. Online Library of Liberty, September 13, 2021. Accessed [date you accessed it]. https://oll.libertyfund.org/publications/reading-room/Ealy_Slave_Bible.  

Your Greatest Gift

As certified owners of a spoiled dog, we leave the television on when we go out so she has something to “watch.” Last Sunday we went to church and came home to find our dog watching a sermon on TV.

As I was fixing lunch, I overheard the TV preacher telling his congregation (and my dog) that they needed to make lots of money because that’s what God wanted from them. I had my own little table-flipping moment in my heart, shook my head, and promptly turned the TV off.

Later that day, my Bible reading brought me to the familiar passage where Jesus finds the temple turned into a place of profit—what should have been a sacred celebration of Passover distorted into something closer to a noisy zoo. He drove out the livestock and birds, overturned tables, and cleared the mess.

And suddenly, I saw that table-flipping moment in a new light.

In 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 we are told that our bodies are temples:

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

Think about it. The human body is a breathtaking work of art—gifted to us. It has an incredible capacity to heal itself. Physicians don’t actually heal us; they try to support the body’s own healing through food, surgery, exercise, rest, or medicine. It’s so complex that we often see multiple specialists just to understand one issue—and sometimes even they don’t fully know what’s happening.

Our bodies were knit together in our mother’s wombs, survived birth, and grew into fully functioning adults capable of reason, creativity, movement, and survival in extreme circumstances.

There are even fascinating new studies on the microflora within our bodies—the gut biome. Each microorganism carries DNA or RNA that can influence how our bodies function. We’ve only scratched the surface of this knowledge, and as we learn more, it may completely change medicine as we know it. Once again, the body reveals itself as a masterpiece beyond human comprehension.

Which brings me to the heart of this reflection.

Would Jesus flip tables in the way I care for His temple? How do I truly honor God with my body?

Do I protect the gift of this temple? Do I react as Jesus did when filth tries to take up residence? Do I turn off the TV when the message distorts God’s heart? Do I stop myself from going down the rabbit hole of outrage and hate on social media? Do I feed my mind reliable, life-giving information? Do I care for the interior by choosing nourishing food? Do I walk the fine line between too much and too little—rest and movement, feasting and fasting? And do I practice these choices daily, not just occasionally?

How can I honor the temple I was given?

I am accountable for the gifts God has entrusted to me—and my body may be the most sacred of them all.

Have You Looked Under the Bed?

Recently, as a full-grown adult, I participated in a treasure hunt. It wasn’t even for anything valuable. It was for tiny plastic ducks hidden all over the house.

If someone had simply handed me a dollar-store bag of those ducks, I would have chunked it. It wasn’t about the ducks—it was about the pursuit. There is something about truly searching for a prize that makes it more valuable in our eyes.

Children love to play hide-and-seek. Grown men search for the most sought-after bottles of bourbon. Many people love hunting for priceless antiques. Searching seems to be hard-wired into the human brain. I wonder why?

I must confess, I watch shows about hunting for treasure more than any other type of show. It doesn’t even matter whether the object being sought is valuable or not—I will watch any movie or show where people are searching for treasure. I love treasure hunts!

Hunting requires engagement. It involves using our minds, digging through information, and believing the prize is out there waiting to be found. Then comes the physical pursuit.

What if there were a perfect Kingdom—full of treasure—right here on earth, but it could only be found by seeking?

What if it held answers to the most perplexing issues you face daily?

What if it contained the key to breaking every chain that holds you captive?

What if it was hidden under your bed and you never bothered to look?

Matthew 13:44–46 (NIV)

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Did you see it? The Kingdom of heaven is hidden, and we must look for it. Have you scavenged for the treasure of the kingdom of God? Do you spend part of each day seeking His kingdom?

This parable in Matthew isn’t the only place Scripture points us in that direction. Again and again, in many ways, the Bible urges us to seek, search, and pursue this treasure. Google it. I dare you.

If all we know about the Bible is the criteria for admission to heaven, then we haven’t really been seeking. The Bible is a love story. God loves us so much that He gave it to guide us in how to live every day here on earth.

We’ve been given a treasure map.

It’s found in the Holy Scriptures of God.

Ask God for the passion to dig through it.

Comb through it.

Follow every lead.

Ask questions and hunt out the answers.

And do this daily.

There are wonderful tools available for this pursuit. My favorite is my digital Bible. It includes multiple translations, maps, an extensive concordance, notes from Bible scholars, links to relevant articles, recurring themes throughout Scripture, multiple highlight colors, devotionals, and space to write notes as I read.

But don’t stop there. Attend Bible classes offered by your church. Pray for direction in this endeavor. Then ponder these things in your heart.

The Great Adventure

Many of the people I admire most are very concrete and literal in their thinking. They aren’t easily swayed by emotional arguments. They believe what they see with their own eyes rather than what others say. That is such a gift. They are rock solid, not blown about by public opinion, and they think for themselves in a society that constantly tells us what to think and who to trust.

As I get older—or maybe I should say, more experienced—I’ve realized that much of life isn’t concrete at all. In fact, the most important things in life cannot be seen; they can only be felt. Because there is far more than what we can perceive with our five senses, God gave us imagination.

Even the most literal thinkers must acknowledge that there is a vast universe of things we do not yet understand. We imagine a soul, heaven, and the entire spiritual realm. Because so much of life cannot be fully explained right now, we are asked to trust that there are evil forces at work—and also a powerful, loving, and good God who reigns over all.

Psalm 33:4 (NLT)

For the word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything he does.

We must be careful not to dismiss what cannot be proven by our senses alone. In the following passage, John recorded the words of Jesus inviting us to trust His promises, even when we cannot see the outcome yet.

John 14:1–2 (AMP)

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

Anticipating Heaven

We plan vacations, weddings, retirements, Christmas celebrations, and parties. When we imagine them, we begin to live for them. Vacation planning pushes everything else to the background—we become focused and single-minded.

What if we anticipated heaven the same way?

What if we lived with our eyes fixed on our true home with God? Even the heinous evil of this world would begin to lose its grip. Molehills would remain molehills instead of becoming mountains of worry and dread. We would live with the end in mind.

And who would we tell about this great vacation—the vacation to end all vacations—so they could share in the joy of anticipating it too?

After all, we are told our time on earth, with all its brokenness, is only a short trial before we go home to live with our Heavenly Father. Imagine a home designed by the One who created the night sky, mountain showers, and fluffy snowflakes. How breathtaking will that be?

We are told there will be no more pain or suffering—or even the fear of pain. Imagine a world where cancer and mental illness have no power. No hunger. No homelessness. No borders. No speed limits. No addictions, no abuse, and no one looking down on you for any reason.

You will sing. You will dance. You will fly.

And you will never again be separated from those you love.

All the things that delight you on earth come from God, so I believe they will be there too. Mountain climbers will climb. Archaeologists will dig. Naturalists will wander through unspoiled beauty. Readers will read. Shoppers will shop. Pet lovers will delight in their pets. And we will finally know the goodness of God beyond anything we have ever experienced.

So this is me—inviting you to imagine. And to rest assured that heaven is real and will be the adventure of a lifetime.

As Steven Curtis Chapman sings, “Let’s saddle up our horses and follow our Leader into the glorious unknown.”

This is The Great Adventure.

Santa? Now I Know Him!!!

 

I drove my mom crazy.

She was a bubbly extrovert, and I was a cynical introvert. So getting a picture of me on Santa’s lap was definitely a no-go. To me, it was beyond creepy to sit on the lap of a strange man wearing a fake beard. My spidey sense was screaming stranger danger! Coincidentally, I still avoid anyone wearing a Santa suit to this day.

Imagine my surprise, at the age of (mumbled number), to discover that the man behind this whole Santa thing was actually a real person—one who was generous and deeply devoted to the Lord. Saint Nicholas wasn’t just folklore. He was a faithful Christian who likely faced persecution for his beliefs.

One thing we do know about him is that he participated with the group of church leaders who affirmed what became the Nicene Creed. This creed clearly expresses how we, as Christian believers, worship one true God who exists as three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

But unlike many other saints, Saint Nicholas wasn’t primarily known for his theological writings or scholarly achievements. In an article for Campbell University, religion professor Adam English writes:

“There are many saints who were intellectuals and scholars who influenced Christian thought, but here is a saint who influenced faith by his actions, by his life. His influence is his testimony of charity.”

According to the article, after researching Saint Nicholas, English began to see Christmas differently. He no longer viewed it mainly as a family-centered holiday, but as a time when a community comes together to practice charity, justice, and hospitality.

So will I ever learn to like strange men in fake beards and red velvet suits? Highly unlikely.

But I can remember the very real Saint Nicholas—and his message to live out our faith through generosity, kindness, and hospitality. And that’s a Christmas tradition worth keeping.

* Source: “Who Was St. Nicholas?” Campbell University 

 https://news.campbell.edu/articles/who-was-st-nicholas/