His peace. Nothing like it.

This week I took photos of this peaceful winter scene, white and quiet. There are many "peaceful" scenes in this world, but the peace the world offers is fleeting. The snow melts, the sun gives way to storm clouds. The peace of the Lord cannot be created, and can defeat the assault of circumstances.

Gifts from the heart, for the heart

Christmas 2019 lights have faded fast, but this morning I discovered a precious gift that reflected love without season.

I unfolded a paper to discover that it was the last of several “advent” messages designed to be read by my wife and I one at a time, once each morning, until Christmas Day.

“Dear Grammie and Grampy,” this note began. “Rise and shine and give God the glory. We love you both so very much, and I pray that you will have a marvelous day.”

The beautiful handwriting was clearly that of our 12-year-old granddaughter. But her 10-year-old brother added his signature to the bottom of the page, which featured this verse: “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!”

What a joy it was – what a memory – to open each of those Advent notes and to enjoy a few subsequent minutes in the Word and in prayer together. Children and grandchildren: gifts of the “priceless” variety.

"The Lord bless you from Zion, and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Indeed, may you see your children’s children.” Psalm 128:5-6a

Gathered, encouraged for a new year!

“… not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25


What a joy it was just a few days ago to greet the first day of the new year over brunch with my wife and two other Christian couples!


There was thanksgiving on many levels, not the least of which was the fact that our hostess was healthy enough to prepare a delicious meal and welcome us into her home. The challenges of her walk on this side of Eternity include the often debilitating effects of multiple sclerosis, which she has endured for many years but particularly in the past two years.


All three of the couples gathered this New Year’s morning share longstanding relationships built around Sunday teaching and worship, Bible studies and home groups. This morning, however, was particularly rich for its timing and the spiritual rewards each of us received as we gathered in the name of Jesus, our God and Savior.


There have been health issues among us, and of course we all wrestle with “the ravages of time.” Our prayer time included thanksgiving and prayers on each others’ behalf as our desire is to be as healthy as possible as we seek to do His will. Those prayers included prayers to embrace and savor the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness, gentleness and self control (Galatians 5:22-23).


Inevitably, however, our precious time with the Lord moved to intercessory prayer on behalf of folks who were not in the room: immediate family and our extended “family” of fellow believers, near and far, as well as those whose hearts have been hardened to the life-saving grace of the one and only true God.


As has been the case since the introduction of sin on earth, this world provides overwhelming opportunity to be discouraged, even angry and hopeless (less TV/internet in 2020). It was wonderful on this day – this first day of a new year – to embrace the alternatives of hope and confidence in our all-powerful Father. May our walks be “in tune” with the Father’s loving desires. May we move courageously in His inspiration and strength, filled with the love of Jesus, “the way, the truth, the life.”

Call to repentance never 'inappropriate'

I attended a memorial service recently and was delighted to hear the minister extend what is typically referred to as an “altar call” at the close of the service.


The minister appealed not only to those who have yet to surrender their lives to Jesus, but also to those who might have accepted the Lord’s salvation but “wandered away.”


My disappointments were 1) an unresponsive audience and 2) a subsequent suggestion by a fellow believer that the altar call was “inappropriate” at a memorial service.


What?! Could there be a more “appropriate” time to speak God’s truth? To tell of His Son’s sacrifice and the need to receive His grace?


I am happy to report that the memorial was held for a 101-year-old sister who was faithful to the Lord and is face to face with Him today and for eternity.


I know without a doubt she would have heartily endorsed the minister’s appeal. She would have applauded his effort to touch the hearts of any of her precious loved ones who do not yet know the hope of joy and life that comes when we repent and receive Christ’s gift of salvation.


The Christian memorial service is absolutely an opportunity to celebrate the blessed life of a loved one, and the stories told are often a testimony in themselves. But the reality is, the person being memorialized is gone – absent from this life, present with the Lord for eternity.


The chance to speak to the unsaved, to the person who has dropped Christ’s hand in his or her daily walk – is an opportunity that must be embraced. What a perfect time to remind Christ followers of the urgency to witness as the Holy Spirit provides prompting and opportunity.


We do not know when this life will end, no matter our age. We can know today what the next life will be … we can run into the open arms of Jesus and be assured our names are written in The Book of Life.


My thanks to this minister, and to any others who reflect the love of Jesus in bringing the “hard” message of our mortality and spiritual death without the cover of Jesus Christ’s blood.


Make us bold, Lord Jesus, as we await your soon return!


“Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” James 4:14


“He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Revelation 3:5

The Old Rugged Cross

I pulled off the highway when I saw the little white church on the hill. It was an old Catholic church with a long, winding stairway from the street. Fall colors provided the backdrop for a cross covered with moss. I sent the photo to a friend and he responded immediately with four words: "The Old Rugged Cross." It's good to have friends who share a passion for the "classics." It's wonderful to have a Savior whose obedience to the Father, love for mankind, opened the door to life eternal!

"...and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed." 1 Peter 2:24

Love in Jesus must "flow forth"

Once again this morning, I was convicted by the words of the late Charles Spurgeon. The following is an excerpt of a Spurgeon devotional making it clear how personal appreciation/embrace of Christ's love MUST inspire the Christian to act on his or her faith:

How much do you owe our Lord? Has He ever done anything for you? Has He forgiven your sins? Has He covered you with a robe of righteousness? Has He set your feet upon a rock? Has He established your goings? Has He prepared heaven for you? Has He prepared you for heaven? Has He written your name in His book of life? Has He given you countless blessings? Has He laid up for you a store of mercies, which eye has not seen nor ear heard?


Then do something for Jesus worthy of His love.


Give not a mere word offering to a dying Redeemer. How will you feel when your Master comes, if you must confess that you did nothing for Him, but kept your love shut up, like a stagnant pool, neither flowing forth to His poor or to His work.


Denounce such love as that! What do men think of a love which never shows itself in action? Who will accept a love so weak?


Think how He has loved you, and given Himself for you! Do you know the power of that love? Then let it be like a rushing mighty wind to your soul to sweep out the clouds of your worldliness, and clear away the mists of sin.


For Christ's sake let the Holy Spirit make you bold as lions and swift as eagles in your Lord's service.


Love should give wings to the feet of service, and strength to the arms of labor.

Fixed on God with a constancy that is not to be shaken, resolute to honor Him with a determination that is not to be turned aside, and pressing on with an ardor never to be wearied, let us manifest the constraints of love to Jesus. May the divine loadstone (magnet) draw us heavenward toward itself.

"But one who looks intently at the perfect law, and the law of liberty, and abides by it, not becoming a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does." James 1:25

"But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

"Jesus loves bikers"

On a cool fall day marred with intermittent rain I paused before packing up my camera.

The “occasion” was an annual motorcycle event that draws thousands of bikers to our small island community. On a sunny day, long lines of colorful bikes and gleaming chrome make for interesting shots. This was not one of those days, and if rain dampened my enthusiasm, you can imagine its impact on bikers exposed to the elements.

Inspired by a patch of blue sky, I parked and started out on foot to walk the long blocks of city street packed with four rows of motorcycles. It is always dangerous to generalize about people gathered for public events, but suffice it to say there were some elements of the rally that reflected a passion more attuned to soul than spirit.

I hadn’t moved very far into the street when I noticed most of the traffic control personnel in yellow vests had something in common: many of them had vests or caps that featured the logo of the Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA).

Intrigued by this contingent of volunteers I moved up the street. Before long I noticed a CMA booth situated on a side street. Just a few blocks away, a small crowd and a handful of bikes were gathered at a tent with an identifying sign that read: “Bike blessing.”

My “assignment” was clear. I began to gather a collection of photos of CMA volunteers, some doing traffic control, others chatting with passersby and still others huddled in prayer around bikes bound for the open road. How encouraging to see Christian brothers and sisters who committed to His service on a rainy Sunday. How wonderful to see the smiles, to see heads bowed in prayer.

On my way out of the event I had one more surprise. Over massive speakers I heard the name “Jesus” from the lips of a singer on stage. Sure enough, one of the bands performing on a side street stage was singing to the glory of God.

Like firemen headed into the fire while most others run the other way, these teams of CMA volunteers moved into a mass gathering of bikers with the intent of service in Jesus’ name. Demonstrations of the Good Shepherd's love, in word and action.

“Well done, good and faithful servants!”