Danny L. Deaubé's Blog
March 1, 2021
DOES GOD HEAL?
Yes, God heals, but remember, God does not always choose to heal, in fact, in most cases He chooses not to intervene. Why does God heal some and others He does not? It is not that He can’t, He won’t, but whether He wills it. God has a reason when He chooses to withhold a miracle. He knows which will best glorify Himself.
When someone is healed, what should be our reaction? We give praise and glory to our great God! What is our reaction when another person is not healed? We give praise and glory to our great God! So what is the difference? First of all, we don’t praise God because the person died, we praise God because He is always GOOD, no matter what the circumstances! Where is God’s power displayed the most, in the healed or the unhealed child or adult? One is healed and suffers no more and lives while the other suffers tremendously and dies and is healed in death. Both are healed and both suffer no more. One may have a long life, while the other may live just a short time. It’s a matter of His timing. In which situation does God receive the greater glory? Both!
We should always pray in Jesus name, but what does that mean? Too often we pray our will in Jesus name. It is more accurate to pray God’s will in Jesus name. Jesus is our greatest example of this (Luke 22:42), “Father, IF YOU ARE WILLING, take this cup from me; yet not MY WILL, but YOURS BE DONE.” His words in this prayer are the most powerful words ever prayed, but God said “No.” Did Jesus not pray hard or long enough? Jesus qualified his prayer with, “IF YOU ARE WILLING…” Or, what is commonly referred to as the Lord’s Prayer, “Our father in heaven hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, YOUR WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven.” We should pray for God’s healing if it is God’s will. It is sad, that in some circles it is common to hear believers demand that God heal their loved ones. God is not subject to “our” demands or “advice.” It will best serve us to remember, God is God, and we are not!
It is not always God’s will to heal or produce a miracle. He has other ways other than healing to show His power. If your faith rests in miracles, your faith is misplaced. If you are looking for God’s glory, His power, His ability to do wonders, look into a child’s face who is dying of a terminal disease and praises God in the midst of their suffering. There is no greater praise than that! Jesus’s life did not end with a period, it ended with a comma, and so can ours. Death is not the end, it’s just the beginning! When God chooses to take you home someday, remember, your life doesn’t have to end in a period, it can end with a comma. God’s power and glory can be displayed long after you are laid to rest. 🙂
~Danny
March 8, 2016
When someone is healed, what should be our reaction? We give praise and glory to our great God! What is our reaction when another person is not healed? We give praise and glory to our great God! So what is the difference? First of all, we don’t praise God because the person died, we praise God because He is always GOOD, no matter what the circumstances! Where is God’s power displayed the most, in the healed or the unhealed child or adult? One is healed and suffers no more and lives while the other suffers tremendously and dies and is healed in death. Both are healed and both suffer no more. One may have a long life, while the other may live just a short time. It’s a matter of His timing. In which situation does God receive the greater glory? Both!
We should always pray in Jesus name, but what does that mean? Too often we pray our will in Jesus name. It is more accurate to pray God’s will in Jesus name. Jesus is our greatest example of this (Luke 22:42), “Father, IF YOU ARE WILLING, take this cup from me; yet not MY WILL, but YOURS BE DONE.” His words in this prayer are the most powerful words ever prayed, but God said “No.” Did Jesus not pray hard or long enough? Jesus qualified his prayer with, “IF YOU ARE WILLING…” Or, what is commonly referred to as the Lord’s Prayer, “Our father in heaven hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, YOUR WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven.” We should pray for God’s healing if it is God’s will. It is sad, that in some circles it is common to hear believers demand that God heal their loved ones. God is not subject to “our” demands or “advice.” It will best serve us to remember, God is God, and we are not!
It is not always God’s will to heal or produce a miracle. He has other ways other than healing to show His power. If your faith rests in miracles, your faith is misplaced. If you are looking for God’s glory, His power, His ability to do wonders, look into a child’s face who is dying of a terminal disease and praises God in the midst of their suffering. There is no greater praise than that! Jesus’s life did not end with a period, it ended with a comma, and so can ours. Death is not the end, it’s just the beginning! When God chooses to take you home someday, remember, your life doesn’t have to end in a period, it can end with a comma. God’s power and glory can be displayed long after you are laid to rest. 🙂
~Danny
March 8, 2016
February 26, 2021
Questions
Do you see where you are going?
Do you know the right way?
Have you found how to get there?
Or are you running away?
Are you happy where you are?
Are you looking in the right place?
Have you found the meaning of life?
Or given up in disgrace?
Are you searching for happiness?
In the wrong place?
Have you hungered for God?
Or tasted His Grace?
If you are looking for peace,
And you’ve searched everywhere.
Look unto God,
It begins with a prayer.
~Danny
February 26, 2021
Do you know the right way?
Have you found how to get there?
Or are you running away?
Are you happy where you are?
Are you looking in the right place?
Have you found the meaning of life?
Or given up in disgrace?
Are you searching for happiness?
In the wrong place?
Have you hungered for God?
Or tasted His Grace?
If you are looking for peace,
And you’ve searched everywhere.
Look unto God,
It begins with a prayer.
~Danny
February 26, 2021
February 9, 2018
The Unchangeable God
O God you are unchangeable! Your love is inexhaustible, your glory unspeakable, your wisdom unexplorable, your patience unexpendable, your grace unbelievable, your passion indescribable, your faithfulness unfathomable. Your mercy is unmeritable, your forgiveness unsurpassable, your goodness immeasurable, your compassion unexplainable, and your character impeccable!
You have no equal, and apart from you, salvation it is impossible.
You have no equal, and apart from you, salvation it is impossible.
December 13, 2015
Puzzles and Paintings
“Winners have the ability to step back from the canvas of their lives like an artist gaining perspective. They make their lives a work of art, an individual masterpiece.”~Denis Waitley~
Our lives are like a beautiful puzzle, without the picture on the box. Each puzzle is different and no two pieces are alike. It begins with the first piece birth, and ends with the last piece death. Everything in between are all the pieces that make up our life. It is only when the last piece fits, is the puzzle complete. With no picture to guide us, it is difficult to see how the puzzle will turn out. It is no wonder we do not understand how pain and suffering in our lives could possibly be of benefit to us.
There is no need to be discouraged, for the answer lies with the puzzle maker, God. Just as joy, peace and happiness are pieces of the whole puzzle, so is pain, suffering and sometimes even death. Each is an ingredient God uses to build faith, which results in praise and glory to God.
Not long ago I saw an unusual artist. He was not your average “run of the mill” painter. A separate easel consisted of several small cans of different colored paint was directly behind him. A stage was the backdrop, and a large audience seated was his critics. Painter’s tarps covered the stage floor, because of his enthusiastic painting style. The canvas, on which he used, was five foot square, and it spun 360 degrees.
Using both hands with various brush sizes, he attacked the canvas with the ferocity of a lion. He splashed dark yellow, bright red and brilliant blue paint upon the white canvas in a frenzied manner. With his hands, he moved the colors into an unrecognizable pattern, while his rhythmic movements kept beat with the background music. His long shoulder length hair flashed from side to side trying to keep up with his awkward movements. The stylish artist moved all over the canvas, keeping the crowd guessing, and occasionally turning his piece upside down to work his magic.
To the audience, the piece appeared to be confusing, and unrecognizable. To the creator his painting was going according to his plan. Slowly the picture began to take shape as he added more strokes to the canvas. Being the performer he was, he added the last distinctive brush strokes for the finale and flipped the painting around. There before our eyes, earlier a virgin canvas, now a magnificent completed work of art. The unsuspecting crowd rose from their seats and gave the artist a thunderous applause!
The moral: Let us not judge God before his painting is finished and the paint is dry!
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–, may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)
March 5, 2014
Our lives are like a beautiful puzzle, without the picture on the box. Each puzzle is different and no two pieces are alike. It begins with the first piece birth, and ends with the last piece death. Everything in between are all the pieces that make up our life. It is only when the last piece fits, is the puzzle complete. With no picture to guide us, it is difficult to see how the puzzle will turn out. It is no wonder we do not understand how pain and suffering in our lives could possibly be of benefit to us.
There is no need to be discouraged, for the answer lies with the puzzle maker, God. Just as joy, peace and happiness are pieces of the whole puzzle, so is pain, suffering and sometimes even death. Each is an ingredient God uses to build faith, which results in praise and glory to God.
Not long ago I saw an unusual artist. He was not your average “run of the mill” painter. A separate easel consisted of several small cans of different colored paint was directly behind him. A stage was the backdrop, and a large audience seated was his critics. Painter’s tarps covered the stage floor, because of his enthusiastic painting style. The canvas, on which he used, was five foot square, and it spun 360 degrees.
Using both hands with various brush sizes, he attacked the canvas with the ferocity of a lion. He splashed dark yellow, bright red and brilliant blue paint upon the white canvas in a frenzied manner. With his hands, he moved the colors into an unrecognizable pattern, while his rhythmic movements kept beat with the background music. His long shoulder length hair flashed from side to side trying to keep up with his awkward movements. The stylish artist moved all over the canvas, keeping the crowd guessing, and occasionally turning his piece upside down to work his magic.
To the audience, the piece appeared to be confusing, and unrecognizable. To the creator his painting was going according to his plan. Slowly the picture began to take shape as he added more strokes to the canvas. Being the performer he was, he added the last distinctive brush strokes for the finale and flipped the painting around. There before our eyes, earlier a virgin canvas, now a magnificent completed work of art. The unsuspecting crowd rose from their seats and gave the artist a thunderous applause!
The moral: Let us not judge God before his painting is finished and the paint is dry!
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–, may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)
March 5, 2014
December 8, 2015
God is Love
A few months ago as I looked at one of our six apple trees, I noticed it was a bumper year. There had to be over 100 apples on the tree. But among all the good apples, my eyes focused on a few bad apples. Isn’t it funny, sometimes it’s the bad apples that get our attention instead of all the good apples? It is like the glass of water. Is it half empty or half full? It really depends on our perspective or what we focus on.
We tend to see life in the same manner, either positive or the negative depending on our perspective. Do we have a propensity to see life as either good or bad or black or white with no shades of grey in between? Just because life gives us, a bad apple or two, doesn’t mean we stop picking apples or we refuse eating them all together! Sure, life has its ups and downs, no one disputes that. But what are we focusing on, the ups or the downs? How we perceive life is an indicator how we will live our lives.
It reminds me of a story about an old farmer in Nebraska. On the top of his barn was a weather vane with the words “God is Love” on it. One day an atheist neighbor stopped by to talk to the old farmer, and while they conversed, his neighbor noticed the weather vane with its words. The atheist, being a deep thinker asked the old farmer sarcastically, “What does that mean? God’s love is like a weather vane… always changing?” No, said the farmer, looking up at the weather vane, “It means, no matter which way the wind blows, God is love.” God’s actions are not driven by the wind, they are always driven by His love. :)
We tend to see life in the same manner, either positive or the negative depending on our perspective. Do we have a propensity to see life as either good or bad or black or white with no shades of grey in between? Just because life gives us, a bad apple or two, doesn’t mean we stop picking apples or we refuse eating them all together! Sure, life has its ups and downs, no one disputes that. But what are we focusing on, the ups or the downs? How we perceive life is an indicator how we will live our lives.
It reminds me of a story about an old farmer in Nebraska. On the top of his barn was a weather vane with the words “God is Love” on it. One day an atheist neighbor stopped by to talk to the old farmer, and while they conversed, his neighbor noticed the weather vane with its words. The atheist, being a deep thinker asked the old farmer sarcastically, “What does that mean? God’s love is like a weather vane… always changing?” No, said the farmer, looking up at the weather vane, “It means, no matter which way the wind blows, God is love.” God’s actions are not driven by the wind, they are always driven by His love. :)
November 24, 2015
Life is Short
As the Holidays draw near, excitement begins to build as we anticipate Thanksgiving, Christmas and a New Year. It is a time of change when leaves release their grip as the winds gently calls, ushering in the beginning of autumn. Warmer days give way to cold chilly nights. Windbreakers, rain gear, and warm winter coats replace our summer wear. Sunrise and sunsets compete with their dazzling display of colors that leave us in awe in the ever-changing horizon. We are eyewitnesses of the “changing of the guard” so to speak. We look forward to celebrating the Thanksgiving festivities with our loved ones, and the upcoming Christmas season that will soon be on its way.
To many, we look back and see how wonderfully blessed we are. In many homes, families will be gathering around the dinner table adorned with festive fall colors of yellow, orange, and brown. Our deep appreciation for life echoed in the sounds of laughter in a multitude of homes. Children run and play with vigor and enthusiasm we wish we still had. Storytelling often dominates the conversation with vivid memories passed on the next generation. To some it will be their last Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year.
In a house, not far away a different scenario takes place, possibly someone you know, a neighbor or just an acquaintance is celebrating the Holidays in a different manner. While most cannot wait to celebrate the holidays, this family is just hoping to get through them. All the chairs around the table filled, except one is empty. Someone is missing, a spouse, child, or loved one. This person will not be there to celebrate, and the empty chair is evidence to that fact. This and other holidays will be different from all the others… different forever. A loss has occurred and it will take time to heal. The wound is still fresh. The grieving process has no timetable we all grieve differently.
Grieving is not something, we “get over,” it is something we “get through.” Getting over implies leaving behind, while getting through implies taking with you. I speak from experience. My wife and I have experienced the loss of two of our children. Yes, Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks. It is a time to reflect, and we are so thankful God has blessed our family with wonderful memories. Please be mindful of those around you who have suffered loss, and include them in your prayers and activities.
Life is short…
Psalm 39:4-5 New Living Translation (NLT)
4 “LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.”
To many, we look back and see how wonderfully blessed we are. In many homes, families will be gathering around the dinner table adorned with festive fall colors of yellow, orange, and brown. Our deep appreciation for life echoed in the sounds of laughter in a multitude of homes. Children run and play with vigor and enthusiasm we wish we still had. Storytelling often dominates the conversation with vivid memories passed on the next generation. To some it will be their last Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year.
In a house, not far away a different scenario takes place, possibly someone you know, a neighbor or just an acquaintance is celebrating the Holidays in a different manner. While most cannot wait to celebrate the holidays, this family is just hoping to get through them. All the chairs around the table filled, except one is empty. Someone is missing, a spouse, child, or loved one. This person will not be there to celebrate, and the empty chair is evidence to that fact. This and other holidays will be different from all the others… different forever. A loss has occurred and it will take time to heal. The wound is still fresh. The grieving process has no timetable we all grieve differently.
Grieving is not something, we “get over,” it is something we “get through.” Getting over implies leaving behind, while getting through implies taking with you. I speak from experience. My wife and I have experienced the loss of two of our children. Yes, Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks. It is a time to reflect, and we are so thankful God has blessed our family with wonderful memories. Please be mindful of those around you who have suffered loss, and include them in your prayers and activities.
Life is short…
Psalm 39:4-5 New Living Translation (NLT)
4 “LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.”
November 22, 2015
Waiting on God
Waiting is not what we are all about, nor is in our vocabulary. It provokes the thought of helplessness. We loathe waiting. When waiting, we feel we are not in control. We tend to wait only when forced to. Why is that? We want answers, we want results, and we want them now!
I have spent some of my life waiting on God. Waiting does not always result in answers we hoped. I think you will agree no one likes to wait, especially when we have no other choice. Waiting does not mean twiddling our fingers and waiting for God to act. Waiting involves doing what you can, and leaving the rest to God. However, what happens when God does nothing, and conditions get worse or even bleak? If we rely on our feelings, we may conclude, God is not listening, and He does not care.
Feeling will come and feelings will go, this is where faith comes in. Having faith and trust when we do not understand is the hallmark of the Christian life. God does not ask us to understand, He asks us to trust Him! We may never understand why God allows certain events in our lives to unfold, but He does, and that is good enough for me!
I see things different from God. I am near-sighted, whereas God is far-sighted. I am finite, and He is infinite. Is there any wonder why we cannot understand His ways? There is a difference between waiting on God, and waiting in God. Waiting ON God implies waiting for God to act, while waiting in God, suggests waiting in HIS will.
You can always trust the man who died for you! :)
I have spent some of my life waiting on God. Waiting does not always result in answers we hoped. I think you will agree no one likes to wait, especially when we have no other choice. Waiting does not mean twiddling our fingers and waiting for God to act. Waiting involves doing what you can, and leaving the rest to God. However, what happens when God does nothing, and conditions get worse or even bleak? If we rely on our feelings, we may conclude, God is not listening, and He does not care.
Feeling will come and feelings will go, this is where faith comes in. Having faith and trust when we do not understand is the hallmark of the Christian life. God does not ask us to understand, He asks us to trust Him! We may never understand why God allows certain events in our lives to unfold, but He does, and that is good enough for me!
I see things different from God. I am near-sighted, whereas God is far-sighted. I am finite, and He is infinite. Is there any wonder why we cannot understand His ways? There is a difference between waiting on God, and waiting in God. Waiting ON God implies waiting for God to act, while waiting in God, suggests waiting in HIS will.
You can always trust the man who died for you! :)
November 19, 2015
Communication Skills
Cell phones, I seldom use them, smart phones, I have little use for them either. Our ability to communicate with others verbally has greatly diminished. More times than I would like to admit, I have entered stores, restaurants, and virtually everywhere else, and witnessed what I can only describe as zombies on smart phones, their eyes fixated on their phones busy searching, texting, or playing games. Their eyes hypnotized by a magical screen, broken only by an occasional glance up from their “land of awes”, into the land of reality. Addicted and enticed, this contraption goes everywhere they go, and God forbid they should forget it, instantly turning into the walking dead. It is their preferred mode of communication and entertainment, and to their own detriment.
I admit I am “old” school, and I am proud of it. I came from an era when people spoke words to each other in complete sentences, and to look into ones eyes was a demonstration of respect. Communication is more important than ever these days, and with new technology, there is a propensity for good and bad. Other modes of communication in the social media such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. have its own dangers. I am afraid to say our youth and an increasing amount of adults are losing their communication skills at an alarming rate. What used to be called “family time” is spent quietly texting. The family is the ultimate loser and the victor is “self.”
Nothing replaces an in-person communication, not texting, smiley faces, hearts and alike, they are not a substitute for a good face-to-face dialogue. I understand our friends and loved ones may be miles apart, but when you have an opportunity, speak words not text. The words we communicate can be very powerful, and a failure to do so can sometimes turn deadly. In the late 70’s, I read a heart-breaking story in the news that illustrates my point dramatically.
The story I recall, takes place at a home where several friends received an invitation for dinner. The family had a beautiful little four-year-old daughter we will call Annie. They all gathered around the dinner table and had a wonderful prepared dinner with all the bells and whistles and fixings. After the finishing their meal, the table was cleared and the group of guests began conversing in conversation on a number of adult topics. There was humor and outbreaks of laughter as the evening went on. Annie was fidgety as you might expect and dismissed early from the table. She had no siblings, and no guests brought their children so she felt alone and forgotten. Annie, being a very determined little girl, went around the table one by one in a valiant effort to get a little attention. She was a sweet little girl with flowing long blond hair with bright blue eyes yearning to be visible in a house full of adults.
Unfortunately, the guests responded with polite smiles, uncomfortable looks, to downright scorn. When Annie reached her father, who was in deep conversation, dismissed her by retorting, “Go away!”Little Annie, with resolute, went around the table once again, this time with her hands up, a gesture to be picked up. Her distraction was annoying her mother, by the look on her face, as she passed by each one of her guests, but her pleas were ignored once again, until she reached her father yet again. This time he raised his voice, “I told you to leave us alone!” The guests felt a little uneasy and embarrassed, but they did and said nothing. Annie discouraged, left the room promptly, and the conversation continued as if nothing had happened.
Thirty minutes later Annie was discovered floating face down in the family pool. Her lifeless body pulled from the pool and given CPR. Paramedics arrived promptly but pronounced Annie dead at the scene. The parents and guests were distraught with shock and disbelief. When the police officers arrived, they questioned the parents and the guests. When questioned about the pool, her parents admitted they had rescued her two times before this incident.
My friends, the first time Annie, who could not swim, accidentally fell into the pool, and fortunately, her parents heard her cries and rescued her. She quickly realized she got immediate attention she was yearning for when she fell into the pool. She tried it again successfully the next time. You see the first time she fell, the last two she jumped! Please understand, I believe these parents loved their child immensely; it is not about their lack of love, I believe they loved her dearly. It was their lack of communication! Communication is a by-product of love.
The most beneficial words of communication are affirmation. Our greatest asset is our children, love on them in season and out, whether it is inconvenient or not. “I love you, “You are important,” and “I am proud of you” are all good affirmations. Life is short, our clock is ticking, do not let time run out before you communicate to those how much you love them face-to-face when possible!
“I love you” are very powerful words, the first words we hear when we are born, and should be the last we utter before we die! When that time finally arrives, I doubt we will be asking for our cell phones. Die with memories, not dreams…
I admit I am “old” school, and I am proud of it. I came from an era when people spoke words to each other in complete sentences, and to look into ones eyes was a demonstration of respect. Communication is more important than ever these days, and with new technology, there is a propensity for good and bad. Other modes of communication in the social media such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. have its own dangers. I am afraid to say our youth and an increasing amount of adults are losing their communication skills at an alarming rate. What used to be called “family time” is spent quietly texting. The family is the ultimate loser and the victor is “self.”
Nothing replaces an in-person communication, not texting, smiley faces, hearts and alike, they are not a substitute for a good face-to-face dialogue. I understand our friends and loved ones may be miles apart, but when you have an opportunity, speak words not text. The words we communicate can be very powerful, and a failure to do so can sometimes turn deadly. In the late 70’s, I read a heart-breaking story in the news that illustrates my point dramatically.
The story I recall, takes place at a home where several friends received an invitation for dinner. The family had a beautiful little four-year-old daughter we will call Annie. They all gathered around the dinner table and had a wonderful prepared dinner with all the bells and whistles and fixings. After the finishing their meal, the table was cleared and the group of guests began conversing in conversation on a number of adult topics. There was humor and outbreaks of laughter as the evening went on. Annie was fidgety as you might expect and dismissed early from the table. She had no siblings, and no guests brought their children so she felt alone and forgotten. Annie, being a very determined little girl, went around the table one by one in a valiant effort to get a little attention. She was a sweet little girl with flowing long blond hair with bright blue eyes yearning to be visible in a house full of adults.
Unfortunately, the guests responded with polite smiles, uncomfortable looks, to downright scorn. When Annie reached her father, who was in deep conversation, dismissed her by retorting, “Go away!”Little Annie, with resolute, went around the table once again, this time with her hands up, a gesture to be picked up. Her distraction was annoying her mother, by the look on her face, as she passed by each one of her guests, but her pleas were ignored once again, until she reached her father yet again. This time he raised his voice, “I told you to leave us alone!” The guests felt a little uneasy and embarrassed, but they did and said nothing. Annie discouraged, left the room promptly, and the conversation continued as if nothing had happened.
Thirty minutes later Annie was discovered floating face down in the family pool. Her lifeless body pulled from the pool and given CPR. Paramedics arrived promptly but pronounced Annie dead at the scene. The parents and guests were distraught with shock and disbelief. When the police officers arrived, they questioned the parents and the guests. When questioned about the pool, her parents admitted they had rescued her two times before this incident.
My friends, the first time Annie, who could not swim, accidentally fell into the pool, and fortunately, her parents heard her cries and rescued her. She quickly realized she got immediate attention she was yearning for when she fell into the pool. She tried it again successfully the next time. You see the first time she fell, the last two she jumped! Please understand, I believe these parents loved their child immensely; it is not about their lack of love, I believe they loved her dearly. It was their lack of communication! Communication is a by-product of love.
The most beneficial words of communication are affirmation. Our greatest asset is our children, love on them in season and out, whether it is inconvenient or not. “I love you, “You are important,” and “I am proud of you” are all good affirmations. Life is short, our clock is ticking, do not let time run out before you communicate to those how much you love them face-to-face when possible!
“I love you” are very powerful words, the first words we hear when we are born, and should be the last we utter before we die! When that time finally arrives, I doubt we will be asking for our cell phones. Die with memories, not dreams…
It's a Wonderful Life
Remember the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” starring James Stewart as George Bailey and Donna Reed as his wife. I am sure that most of us have seen this timeless classic made in 1946. George Bailey is a small-town man whose life seems so desperate he contemplates suicide. He had always wanted to leave Bedford Falls to see the world, but circumstances and his own good heart have led him to stay….
For some, life is far from wonderful, in fact, sometimes it is downright difficult. Life is not fair, but then who said life is supposed to be fair? It does not take long for us to realize that tragedies do not always happen to someone else. Eventually, it reaches every one of us, a price we pay in the land of the living. I prefer to watch real life dramas or movies, rather than movies with fairy-tail endings with warm fuzzy feelings. In real life stories, a friend, who is ill, may not get better, a tragic accident turns fatal, or a child who suffers from cancer dies. These are the stories that I remember most and they draw us back into the land of reality. This is “real” life when the rubber meets the road.
To some if you wake up in the morning without pain it a wonderful day, to others if you just wake up it is a good day. Life consists of good days and bad days. Trials and suffering are all part of life. We can learn from our storms in life; something we can never learn on calm peaceful waters. Having a wonderful life has less to do with the absence of problems and more about our response to the problems we encounter. Trials build character and strengthen our faith. The mountaineer who is familiar with exhaustion fighting the freezing cold, rough terrain and oxygen deprivation and survives to make it to the top, is rewarded with exhilaration and satisfaction. The view from the summit is well worth the days and weeks of pain and struggle to get there.
We will never get use to finality. When we watch any kind of sports on TV or in person, the buzzer indicates the game is over or the scorecard proclaims the game is finished. However, is it really over? Tomorrow, next week or next season, it begins once again. In death, there are no replays, timeouts, or overtime. Nothing gets our attention more than death. It brings a bit of reality back into our lives, even if it for only a few days or weeks. Death is very real, and we better deal with it now while we are alive, rather than wait until it deals with us.
I have been on the mountains, and I have been deep in the valleys. There is Savior who can lead us through our deepest valleys and guide us out of our worse fears. I am convinced that God is good, He is in control, and He does not make mistakes. Everything that happens in our lives has a purpose, a plan, a reason. I am not implying we will always understand His plan, but rather, we trust His plan.
As I get older, memorial services are more common. I have found almost without exception hearing the words, “It was so sudden.” Even when our loved one's death is certain, we are never prepared. Death is final here on this planet, but please don't put all your eggs in one basket. If you know Jesus, death is not the end, it is just the beginning, and the service is not a funeral it is a celebration!
Michael Faraday, the great scientist, was ill. When it became evident his sickness would soon result in his death, a group of fellow scientists came to see him–not so much to talk about science as to talk about death. One of them said. “Mr. Faraday, what are your speculations about your future?” With evident surprise to them, he replied, “Speculations? I have none. I am resting on certainties.” Then he quoted 2 Tim. 1:12: “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
How certain are you? How do you see your faith? Is it irrational, a leap in the dark? Is it a religious faith, always striving to make right by your self-righteous acts? Or is it as described here (Heb. 11:1) “sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see…”
For some, life is far from wonderful, in fact, sometimes it is downright difficult. Life is not fair, but then who said life is supposed to be fair? It does not take long for us to realize that tragedies do not always happen to someone else. Eventually, it reaches every one of us, a price we pay in the land of the living. I prefer to watch real life dramas or movies, rather than movies with fairy-tail endings with warm fuzzy feelings. In real life stories, a friend, who is ill, may not get better, a tragic accident turns fatal, or a child who suffers from cancer dies. These are the stories that I remember most and they draw us back into the land of reality. This is “real” life when the rubber meets the road.
To some if you wake up in the morning without pain it a wonderful day, to others if you just wake up it is a good day. Life consists of good days and bad days. Trials and suffering are all part of life. We can learn from our storms in life; something we can never learn on calm peaceful waters. Having a wonderful life has less to do with the absence of problems and more about our response to the problems we encounter. Trials build character and strengthen our faith. The mountaineer who is familiar with exhaustion fighting the freezing cold, rough terrain and oxygen deprivation and survives to make it to the top, is rewarded with exhilaration and satisfaction. The view from the summit is well worth the days and weeks of pain and struggle to get there.
We will never get use to finality. When we watch any kind of sports on TV or in person, the buzzer indicates the game is over or the scorecard proclaims the game is finished. However, is it really over? Tomorrow, next week or next season, it begins once again. In death, there are no replays, timeouts, or overtime. Nothing gets our attention more than death. It brings a bit of reality back into our lives, even if it for only a few days or weeks. Death is very real, and we better deal with it now while we are alive, rather than wait until it deals with us.
I have been on the mountains, and I have been deep in the valleys. There is Savior who can lead us through our deepest valleys and guide us out of our worse fears. I am convinced that God is good, He is in control, and He does not make mistakes. Everything that happens in our lives has a purpose, a plan, a reason. I am not implying we will always understand His plan, but rather, we trust His plan.
As I get older, memorial services are more common. I have found almost without exception hearing the words, “It was so sudden.” Even when our loved one's death is certain, we are never prepared. Death is final here on this planet, but please don't put all your eggs in one basket. If you know Jesus, death is not the end, it is just the beginning, and the service is not a funeral it is a celebration!
Michael Faraday, the great scientist, was ill. When it became evident his sickness would soon result in his death, a group of fellow scientists came to see him–not so much to talk about science as to talk about death. One of them said. “Mr. Faraday, what are your speculations about your future?” With evident surprise to them, he replied, “Speculations? I have none. I am resting on certainties.” Then he quoted 2 Tim. 1:12: “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
How certain are you? How do you see your faith? Is it irrational, a leap in the dark? Is it a religious faith, always striving to make right by your self-righteous acts? Or is it as described here (Heb. 11:1) “sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see…”
Book Giveaway
Just a reminder, beginning December 1,2015 through January 1, 2016, I am giving away 10 signed copies of "I Will Praise You in the Storm." Be on the lookout...
