"I Have Never Made a Mistake! (Habakkuk 2:4)

Several years ago, I was interviewing a medical resident applicant for our dermatology residency program. During these interviews, I like to ask questions that may give me a glimpse of their true personality. One of my favorite questions is, “I congratulate you on reaching this point in your career. Obviously you have made many good decisions but looking back upon your life, either professional or personal, are there any decisions that you have made, that, in retrospect, you now think may have been a mistake? And if so, how did you deal with it?”

Some residents were completely caught off guard by this question. In fact, one resident was so flustered that two days after the interview, I received a handwritten letter from her, explaining in great detail, why she was flustered and what she felt was her mistake. I greatly admired her courage, honesty and humility.

However, another resident left an equally vivid impression upon me. When I asked her the question, without missing a beat, she leaned across the table and stated, “Dr. Shitabata, I have NEVER made a mistake!”

Whoa.

“You just did.” I thought to myself.

Confidence is an important attribute for a physician. But humility must be mated with this confidence.

As I reflect upon this incident, I am reminded how the world substitutes the pride of intelligence and education for success. Refusing to admit to making mistakes or never admitting to making a wrong decision may be viewed by the world as a sign of success, but it is also a sure sign of pride, at its ugliest.

The prophet Habakkuk reminds us that such pride and values are misplaced. God values and justifies a person who is righteous and stands for Him in the face of evil and opposition.

Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.
Habakkuk 2:4

Everyone makes a mistake. And try as we might to hide our mistakes, all of our fears, failures, and trials are seen by God. He knows the deepest secrets of our heart. And He is willing to go where we may fear, into the places and memories where we are most vulnerable and weakest.

Will you let Him into your heart? If you confess your sins, repent, and call upon the name of Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, He will come into your heart and reign in your life. And all the sins, the painful memories, will be scattered as far as the east is from the west. You will be forgiven and sanctified by His precious blood.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

That's Not Cool! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

When I was in highschool, I, and the majority of the students, would carry our books under one arm. Sometimes this led to a lopsided posture as we struggled to keep the stacked books in order and secure under one arm. It would have been so much easier to place the books in a backpack or even a bag. But for many of us, carrying a bag was not cool!

How ironic that a few years later in college, everyone carried their books in a backpack! Now it was cool! In fact, now the majority of kids in high school carry a backpack. Many years later, I and others teased a colleague about his choice of a workplace bag. Instead of a briefcase, he carried his papers in an airline carry on travel bag with wheels. It looked as though he was ready to catch a plane on a moment’s notice. Now, I find myself using a similar bag because it relieves the pressure on my back. Instead of teasing, I now receive compliments that it is a cool idea!

We may make snap judgments of others based upon their appearance and behavior. Even if done in jest, such judgments are self-defeating, simultaneously tearing down oneself and others. And as time passes, it is clear that what may have been previously dubbed as uncool, may now become admired and emulated!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17

Life can become an endless parade and treadmill, occupied with keeping abreast with meaningless trends and fashions, trying to look cool. You can get off this path by taking a detour to God. If you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He will promise to make you a new creation. No longer will you be beholden to old behaviors. No longer will you have to worry about looking cool or staying in vogue. The only behavior you will need to be concerned about is living a life in joyous fellowship with the God of the Universe!

And how cool would that be?

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

Nosocomial Infections (Hebrews 4:16)

A nosocomial infection is a hospital-acquired infection. Although this may appear to be an oxymoron, it is a well-known potential complication of any hospitalization. In the news we hear terms such as MRSA and CRE. These are acronyms that represent Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Methicillin and Carbapenem are antibiotics that were formerly effective against Staph and Enterobacteria respectively. The use of powerful antibiotics in hospitals has led to the emergence of microorganisms that are resistant to these previously effective antibiotics. These resistant strains of bacteria may lead to serious problems and even death in patients who are infected. Hospitals take extremely careful precautions to prevent these infections but as recent news stories have trumpeted, these infections still occur and the results may be devastating.

Hospitals are beautiful and magnificent structures, built to welcome and instill confidence in the patients and their loved ones that the health care providers and facility can treat and cure their medical problems. Ironically, a facility where medical care and treatment are most advanced may become one of the most dangerous places to be treated.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

A throne room is also a magnificent structure, built to inspire and intimidate. If we lived in a kingdom and were asked to approach the throne, such an encounter may be fraught with fear and uncertainty. The king holds absolute power over his subjects. One wrong move or errant word and one could be imprisoned or even executed. There is no more important place to make a request but it could also be the most dangerous place one could visit.

God’s Throne of Grace is set upon His Son, Jesus Christ.

We approach God’s Throne of Grace with reverence. There is no higher honor than to approach His Throne. But unlike a worldly throne room or a hospital, there are no dangers or lurking threats.

He is the Supreme Ruler of the Universe but He humbled Himself and took the form of a man to bear our sins, for which we should be justifiably punished. We approach God’s Throne with confidence knowing that Jesus understands our deepest needs and will bestow His mercy and grace upon us to help us. If we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, He promises to do this.

Won’t you come to Jesus Christ to approach His Throne of Grace with confidence?

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

Time is Bent (Genesis 29:20)

Are you in love?

What a wonderful feeling! Butterflies in your stomach...continually thinking about what the other person is doing or thinking...planning the next rendezvous! When you are in love, everything revolves around that person. When we are anticipating the next meeting, time drags. And when we are reunited, time flies! Time is bent when we are in love!

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
Genesis 29:20

Jacob worked as a laborer for his Uncle Laban for 7 years in exchange for Laban’s daughter Rachel whom he intended to marry. Those were the quickest 7 years of Jacob’s life!

The greatest love we can ever experience is the love of God through His Son, Jesus Christ. When we are in love with Jesus, time will be bent. He will walk with you through your darkest moments and brightest joys. And whenever He takes your hand, you will feel the exhilaration of a love renewed! And you will want that moment to last forever. Someday, you will be in His presence in Heaven and all concept of time will truly disappear. Eternal life will be ours and the moment will last forever.

Are you in love with God? Never lose that feeling and allow God to bend your concept of time! It is the briefest glimpse of a timeless eternity with Him!

Blessings with Aloha!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

What's On Your Tombstone? (Luke 17:10)

I recently participated in an interesting exercise where we were each asked to write what we would like to be stated on our tombstone. Should I be pithy, humorous, serious, irreverent? As I pondered my answer, I recalled a time when I actually wrote out an epitaph and my own tombstone inscription. I was so wrapped up in myself that I was determined to leave a lasting legacy and lest anyone attending my funeral was unaware of my accomplishments, they would hear a litany of it, written by the best and most humble authority, myself!

But my life dramatically changed when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. My life and expectations no longer revolved around myself. Instead, my life now exists to serve God. And the more I served Him, the more I realized that He must increase and I must decrease.

So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.”
Luke 17:10

As a follower of Jesus Christ, the only appropriate inscription on my tombstone should read, “Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.” Anything that does not point to Him is meaningless.

If Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, every moment of our lives should be spent serving Him in gratitude for what He has done for us. There is no greater honor or accolade that one can have except to know that you served Him in this lifetime.

So what would be on your tombstone?

Will your life be spent in service to God, Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, or will it be spent honoring yourself?

Love and respect the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

Same Location, Different Diagnosis (Acts 11:9)

In my daily practice as a dermatopathologist, I may diagnose diseases that look identical under the microscope but have a very different diagnosis depending upon the age of the patient and the location on the body. A skin tag is a common lesion, usually found on the necks or armpits of adults. The microscopic features are distinct and are not normally mistaken for any other diagnosis. However, if I viewed the same microscopic features and was told it was from the neck or armpit of a 1 month old baby, my diagnosis would not be a skin tag but an epidermal nevus. The latter disease may be associated with serious internal abnormalities and may require an additional radiological examination.

Same location, different diagnosis.

During our Christian walk, we may fall into a similar trap and view circumstances that we encounter as meaning the same thing for different people and different cultures. But what is true and relevant in one circumstance, may not hold true for another.

The Apostle Peter encountered such a situation when the Holy Spirit led him to preach the Gospel to Gentiles, non-Jews. Up to that point, the Gospel was being preached almost exclusively to Jews. But God directed Peter in a most unusual manner. While in a trance, God provided him a vision of a great sheet, lowered from Heaven, containing all types of unclean animals, forbidden by the Jewish Levitical laws to be eaten. Then, the God commanded Peter to kill and eat these forbidden animals. Peter naturally recoiled in horror, and protested saying that he has never defiled himself by eating these unclean and forbidden animals. But God answered his protests.

But the voice answered a second time from heaven, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”
Acts 11:9

What was once a sin for him was a sin no longer. God had cleansed the formerly common or unclean animals through the saving blood of Jesus Christ. Because of this vision, the Gospel began to be preached to the Gentile world.

There are many instances where customs that were practiced during the time of the Apostles are no longer relevant today. The wearing of head coverings by men and women may seem a nonsensical issue in the 21st century but it was a raging controversy in the 1st century church at Corinth.

We need to be diligent in the study of God’s Word. We need to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. And we need to carefully apply our beliefs as we preach the Gospel to all people in all cultures.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

They Have a Black Cloud (Malachi 4:2)

In medicine, the appellation “black cloud” is applied to physicians who attract a large number of hospital admissions and/or complicated cases when they are on call. In my career, I have definitely had my share of black cloud days. But it does seem that some physicians have this dubious distinction applied to them with more frequency than others.

As difficult as those black cloud days were, it was during those times I learned some of the greatest lessons of medicine. I learned to prioritize and appropriately triage resources, including my own time and stamina. I learned nuances of disease presentations that could never be learned in a textbook. And I learned humility, that I needed to work and rely upon others when the workload was overwhelming. An aphorism that still rings true today is, “For every cloud, there is a silver lining.”

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.
Malachi 4:2

This verse is a reminder that the black clouds of exile for the Jewish people will ultimately lead to the shining sun of God’s promise, God’s Son, Jesus Christ. The healing the Jesus Christ brings is for everyone who places his trust in Him. If we confess our sins to Him, He is righteous and just to forgive us our sins and accept Him as our Lord and Savior. For Jesus is the light who illumines our lives and shows us the truth, when our days seem darkest and the clouds are blackest.

Praise God for His presence and mercy!

Love and seek the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

A Sleep Fast (Matthew 6:17-18)

Fasting is one way that we can rededicate ourselves to God. When we voluntarily give up something like food, there is sense that we are sacrificing something very important to seek God’s will in our life or to intercede in prayer for others.

Most of us view fasting as giving up food. But there are many kinds of fasts. Recently, I was able to participate in a media fast where I did not access any form of online or audio communications for 3 days. This meant no internet (except to answer and send emails), no television, and no radio. Although it was a bit difficult on the first day, by the third day, I appreciated the quietness and the opportunity to spend the extra time in prayer and devotion to God. I have also fasted from food for up to 3 days and although I was a bit uncomfortable, it was not a great sacrifice as I thought it could have been.

I began thinking what could I voluntarily give up for God that would require a great sacrifice? And during this past week, as my wife and I cared for our son who is ill, the painful answer emerged.

Sleep.

I do not think it is wise to give up sleep or deprive oneself of rest, but clearly there are times when this is unavoidable-caring for a sick family member, a friend in crisis, an unexpected problem that demands an immediate solution. I do not handle sleep deprivation very well. I am a morning person and accomplish much of my work beginning at 6AM in my office. But this early productivity comes at a cost and when I return home, my brain begins to shut down after 9PM and I would ideally like to be in bed by 10PM since I awaken at 5AM every weekday morning. Thus, I may become very insensitive and cranky when I need to engage in deep conversations or discussions after 9PM. In fact, the majority of disagreement and arguments that I have had with family members have occurred after 9PM.

But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:17-18

Our Lord, Jesus Christ, spoke these words. Although He was specifically addressing a fast from food, I believe it applies to every type of fast. I may not be fasting from sleep every night, but I need to be mindful that the sleep and rest schedules of my family and friends may not correspond to mine. I need to put my best face forward during these times when I am most tired.

My best face can be achieved by giving my fatigue over to Jesus Christ. He understood the weariness of a long day. He experienced physical and mental fatigue. But He persevered as He relied upon His relationship with God the Father to sustain Him.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, He has given you His Holy Spirit to indwell within you to strengthen you during your most strenuous physical and mental challenges.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

You Can't Miss Her! (Matthew 16:13-16)

If one were describing how to find singer Taylor Swift in a crowded room, one possible description may be, “You can’t miss her, she is blonde woman.”

Yes, this is true. But it would not be enough information. No, although the description is correct, it is simply not enough.

For centuries, Jesus Christ has been both admired and scorned by mankind. His supporters thought Him to be a great prophet, a teacher, a miracle worker. His critics thought Him to be a blasphemer and heretic.

Now when Jesus had come into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he said, questioning his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” And they said, “Some say, John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets”. He says to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Simon Peter made answer and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:13-16

Jesus Christ left no doubt as to His true identity. Jesus Christ is God. He was God before the creation of the universe, present at the creation, and will reign forever when the new earth and new heaven are created. He left no room for uncertainty. Yes, He was a great teacher, a prophet, a priest. But these roles only produce a glimpse of His true glory and magnificence.

We can use many words and titles to describe Jesus Christ. But the only proper identification is God Incarnate.

Won’t you take the time to see who Jesus Christ truly is? Once you do, you will never miss Him or mistake Him for anyone else!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

She Never Looked Lovelier (Proverbs 31:27)

My wife has a tremendous capacity to love and has a special gift for working with children. It is a beautiful gift. But when I see her caring for our sick children, my wife never looks lovelier. Her voice softens and soothes their hurt and her gentle yet firm hands caress their hurting bodies. As she attends to their needs, her inner loveliness blossoms yet more and I find myself irresistibly drawn to her.

She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Proverbs 31:27

In Proverbs 31:10-31, the Bible gives us the attributes of a godly woman. She is a woman who looks after her family, her husband, and her household. If ever there were a description of a superwoman, this is it. In the end, a truly beautiful and lovely woman is one who fears God and first focuses upon her relationship with Him. And this is why my wife is truly lovely.

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30

If you have a godly woman as a wife, thank God for truly blessing you! It is the type of marriage that God desires for all couples. Of all the relationships that are mentioned in the Bible, only one, the love between a husband and wife is compared to the love that Jesus Christ has for His Church. When the world looks at a godly marriage, they should see the love of Jesus Christ clearly radiating as the Sun of Righteousness.

Thanks be to God for blessing me with a godly wife!

Blessings with Aloha!

The Unanswerable Question (Proverbs 16:3)

How do you know when you don’t know?

This is not a play on words but a question that I face everyday. This is the unanswerable question in medicine and life.

All my professional life I have been conditioned to seek a definitive answer for a patient’s medical problems. Many times, the patient’s life is on the line. In the rare cases when I cannot arrive at a definitive diagnosis, I am left frustrated and perplexed. I need to provide direction to the physicians treating the patient. And although I may render a descriptive diagnosis, it is an educated guess, at best, made with all available resources and my experience and judgment. At this point, I may opt to send the case to another expert consultant with the expectation that they may have more experience and could shed more insight and understanding. But occasionally, even a consultant may be stymied and confess that they also do not have a definitive diagnosis. The unanswerable question-how do you know when you don’t know?

Part of the answer is experience. The more cases and patients one has seen, the more confident one will be when encountering an unusual case. If you don’t know what it is, it may be likely that no one else, including another consultant, may not know as well. Part of the answer is humility. You can never be arrogant thinking that you know everything. There is always something new to learn.

Witness an arrogant and inexperienced physician who is supremely overconfident in their abilities and knowledge.  He may see a patient and puzzle over the case since it does not absolutely fit the classical criteria for the diagnosis. Yet, enough of the signs and symptoms appear to fall into place and a diagnosis is rendered. He reassures himself that it resembles other cases he has seen. In reality, the actual disease is a more serious mimic of the benign disease he so confidently trumpeted. The result is a mis-diagnosis and serious harm to the patient.

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
Proverbs 16:3

In our walk with God, we must be ever vigilant to remain dependent upon His sovereign guidance. Too often, we may fall back upon our knowledge and experiences, confident that it will be enough to maneuver an obstacle in life. But the day will arrive when this knowledge may mislead you and tragic results may occur.

How do you know when you don’t know? When you acknowledge that all decisions must first be brought before the Lord, this is the beginning of true wisdom. God, who has created everything and controls the workings of the universe, can provide you the insight you need to answer every question.

The unanswerable question is resoundingly answered by God!

Amen!

Love and seek the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

"He's Not Elderly!" (1 Samuel 16:7)

The hospital tumor board is a weekly meeting where physicians from multiple specialties present their problematic cancer cases for review and to coordinate treatment review. Present at such meetings are surgical pathologists, oncologists, radiologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, and any interested physician. Many of these interested physicians are retired physicians who wish to stay current with medical knowledge.

When I first began my private practice, I was 32 years old and one of the younger physicians attending the tumor board. During one session, I presented the history of the patient and began, “This is an elderly 68 year old man with a history of….”

“He’s not elderly!”

Before I could even finish my sentence, a chorus of the retired physicians, all in their 60’s to 80’s, vehemently expressed their outrage at my statement! Major faux pas! I quickly apologized and attempted to finish the history but to no avail as additional sarcastic comments were hurled in my direction.

“Wait until you’re his age! Then we’ll see if you think he’s elderly!”

I am not a very politically correct person but in this instance, I clearly should have been more sensitive to my audience.

Casually judging someone by their appearance can be a sign of great ignorance. Samuel the prophet was also quick to judge the sons of Jesse as God led him to anoint the next king of Israel. God rejected the first 7 sons of Jesse, all of whom Samuel thought would have made excellent kings, based solely upon their appearance.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7

Samuel learned that God looks at a person’s heart and not their appearance. This is a good reminder for all of us when we speak of others or meet someone for the first time. But one can only do this if we have God’s Holy Spirit indwelling within us. And this can only happen if we confess our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. To see others the way God see us; this is a magnificent promise from God!

By the way, now, whenever I present the history of any patient, I do not add any adjectives and simply state their age. Sometimes you can teach an “old” dog new tricks.

Love and seek the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

Learn Something New (Proverbs 3:5-6)

It is gratifying to learn something new everyday.

In my professional life, I find this a relatively easy goal to accomplish. As a dermatopathologist, at least once a day, a relatively rare case comes across my microscope.  In fact, what I may see and diagnose once a year, the average physician may not see in 10 years. And for the truly rare case that I diagnose, another physician may not see in their lifetime.

But when it comes to learning something new from God, things are not always plainly evident. While many times, the new ideas or lessons He wants me to learn are obvious, with some lessons, only a glimpse of what God is doing in my life may be evident. And with still other lessons, I may never learn what the ultimate answer is until I am in His presence in Heaven; I simply need to learn to trust God.

We are conditioned to understand the meaning of events that happen in our lives and when we do not receive an immediate answer or events seem random and chaotic, we may become frustrated, even angry.  But this is not as unsatisfying as it may seem. God uses these times to grow our faith, if you trust Him.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

The greatest daily lesson is learning to trust God with all the answers and to be grateful that He allows us to obtain glimpses of His Providence, His Divine Hand overseeing our lives. It is not unsatisfying but reassuring that God is in control.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you can be assured that God is in control. Will you take that first step and come to Him?

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
 

Stop and Smell the Roses (Psalms 127:2)

When I started my first job, I was relentless in making partnership. I would work long hours, often going to the hospital on the weekends. I volunteered for many committees and made myself indispensable to the group. Of course, this all came at a cost and during this time in my life, my heart was very distant from God. I was a backsliding Christian and I deliberately turned my back on my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to pursue the selfish ambitions of my career.

After one particularly grueling day of work, I came home and as I entered the driveway, I noticed that my roses in the front yard were beginning to bloom. Instead of going into the house, I walked to the front of the yard and admired the blossoms, stopping to take in their fragrance.

“It’s about time you stopped and smelled the roses!”

My quiet reflection was interrupted by my neighbor who was standing across the street and was observing my actions.

He was right, of course. I was so caught up with myself that I had forgotten to take time to admire the simple pleasures of life that abounded. Sadly, it took many more years before God was able to reach me. The seductive call of the world rang louder in my ears. It was so easy to convince myself that sacrifices for my work were justified. After all, I was providing for my family. I was utilizing the education that I have sacrificed so many years to obtain. I was helping others.  I...I...I...where was God in these justifications?

It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Psalms 127:2

God places so many reminders and warnings about the dangers of a life that is solely focused upon work. He knows the failings and excuses of my heart. And even after I have disobeyed Him, only by His grace and mercy am I able to repent of my sins and come to Him for His forgiveness.

Thanks be to God for His love and sacrifice for me!

Love and seek the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

Growing Pains (James 4:17)

I have been blessed to witness my company grow from 1 employee to 6 employees over the past few years. But somewhere along the way, the typical growing pains experienced by any family has emerged. One particularly touchy point is the replenishing of supplies in the shared bathroom. Toilet paper is used at the rate of about one roll per day. Thus, it is inevitable that the roll holder will be empty and should be refilled. But more often than not, the holder is holding an empty toilet paper roll. Of course, it should have been replaced by the last person who used it. But when this issue was brought before all the employees, everyone denied culpability! Since we have had no new employees during this time, it undoubtedly must have been the postal worker or a courier visiting our office!

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
James 4:17

I am reminded of the Apostle James’ warning to believers. Although written in a different time and to a different audience, the truth of God rings through even to this day. True, there are far more egregious sins that one may commit than neglecting to refill the toilet roll holder.  But when such an obvious task is placed in front of you and you do not act, it does call into question the motives of our heart. What kind of excuses go through our mind?

“Oh, someone else will do it!”
“I’m in a hurry, leave it for the next person.”
“Others use this more than me, let them do it!”

And what happens when we are confronted with the larger issues in life? The wheelchair bound woman seeking assistance to board a plane; the lost child in the shopping center crying for her parents; the frantic woman who drops her bag, spilling the contents? We can chose to look away but at what point do we stop and do the right thing?

Our Lord Jesus Christ attended to the needs of many when He was on this earth. But now seated at the right hand of God, the Father, He has sent His Holy Spirit to indwell all believers. Jesus works through us to be His ambassadors of service and love to all on this earth.

All of us know what is the right thing to do. It may not be the same for every person but God calls us to action to serve others. Pray to God to give you the sensitivity to see where you may serve Him.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

Stop and Wait! (Proverbs 17:14)

Conflict resolution.

I have sat through many counseling sessions, attended seminars addressing conflict resolution, even have counseled others regarding their conflicts! And yet, at times it seems that all this knowledge is for naught.

Too often, the worst conflicts are with those with whom I am closest, usually family members. The conflict may arise from a seemingly insignificant event. But conflicts have a way of taking on a life of their own and within a few seconds, the conflict may escalate to an argument. Old issues resurface and are piled on to the current argument. Body language changes, speech becomes pressured, and words are spoken with a sarcastic bent. The initial drops of the conflict have become a torrent. Rightly did the Bible speak of the dangers of conflict and strife.

The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
Proverbs 17:14

This is the best advice to anyone in conflict with another. Stop and quit before the quarrel breaks out. And it so fitting, that in a few verses later, the Holy Spirit reminds us of the importance of waiting on the Lord.

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Proverbs 17:27

These are God’s sage words of advice. When you feel obligated to answer or defend yourself during an argument, Stop! Wait! And let God take control by allowing His Spirit to empower you and give you peace and understanding. Sometimes, saying nothing at all is the best. How many conflicts and arguments could have been diffused with these simple actions?

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Woman! (John 2:4)

And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”
John 2:4

Whenever I read this passage, I cannot help but think that Jesus was being rude to His mother. It was a wedding, a festive occasion, and there was a miscalculation by the host  because the party had run out of wine. This was considered a serious insult and offense to all the guests during that time. Mary communicated the frantic concerns of the wedding party to Jesus and He seemingly dismissed her.

What stings me is the way Jesus address His mother as “Woman”. When I first read this, I was offended. I would never call my mother or refer to any other woman in this manner. It was not until many years later that I learned that something was lost in translation. During this time, the use of the term “Woman” was a sign of great respect. It would be analogous to a man today addressing a woman as “Ma'am” or “Madam”.

John records two other instances when Jesus used this word. He addressed the woman at the well in this manner.

Jesus said to her, “ Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
John 4:21

And in a sad and poignant moment, He again addressed His mother Mary as He hung on the Cross, making sure she would be properly cared for when He was gone.

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”
John 19:26

It is very easy to jump to conclusions when one does not take the time to truly understand the meaning of the words in the Bible and how they were used during that time and culture. When you do, the Bible becomes so much richer than anything you will ever read. This is God’s Word and through His Holy Spirit, He directed men to write this.

Won’t you take the time to read the Bible? Ask God to open your eyes and heart to behold and understand the infinite riches and beauty of God’s Word!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"It Nails Everybody!" (Romans 3:23-24)

“The Bible is very balanced. It nails everybody!”
Pastor Greg Laurie

For many years before I became a Christian,  the Bible was just another book to read. There were many great stories and practical ideas for living, but nothing more. This all changed when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Instead of distant characters living in a foreign culture and forgotten time, the stories became very real to me. The difference was I saw myself in everyone of the characters. I saw my sins, even secret and hidden sins, laid bare on the pages.

The Bible nails everybody. Male or female, young or old, rich or poor...all have one thing in common. We are all sinners. I never wanted to admit that. Surely my sins could be overlooked or explained by naivete or immaturity? After all, I couldn’t be as bad as a murderer or thief? But when I was finally ready to see myself as God saw me before I accepted Jesus Christ, only the truth remained. I am a sinner. And in spite of my best efforts to excuse my behavior, only one thing mattered. I was in desperate need of a Savior.

For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Romans 3:23-24

Once I accepted the fact that I was a sinner and repented of my sins, I could come before God and ask Jesus Christ to be my Lord and Savior. Now, when I read the Bible, it is alive and penetrating into my soul. It is God’s Word and His Holy Spirit enlightens me to understand what is written.

The Bible does nail everybody. And I thank God that it nailed me and has never let up!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 
 

My Funny Valentine (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

Last weekend, a disc jockey on a local jazz radio station did something a bit unconventional. In honor of Valentine’s Day, he played several  hours of the classic, “My Funny Valentine”. But each version was done by a different artist and each was remarkably different. The artists ranged from jazz legends such as Art Farmer and Ella Fitzgerald, to classic pop singers like Frank Sinatra, to contemporary singers like Carly Simon, Ronnie Milsap, and Anita Baker.

Here is a small sampling:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjuaZDdqmCw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajKuyXM2-PA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tpLFOOHHS0

All in all, it made for a fascinating listening! One song, different singers, same message.

It was a lovely reminder of the unity of the Church, the Body of Jesus Christ. Different believers serve within the Church, utilizing their God-given gifts and talents in His service. Some have the gift of hospitality, others the gift of teaching or exhortation, still others are prayer warriors. But all different members utilizing different talents and gifts are for the same message, to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. One God, different gifts, same message.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6

On this Valentine’s day, may God surround you and your loved ones with His love and peace.

Blessings with Aloha!

If It Doesn't Hurt Anyone, It's Okay (Psalms 10:11)

“It’s okay, just so long as you are not hurting anyone.”

How many times have you heard this spoken? There is a compelling truth and logic to this, isn’t there? After all, your time and your money are yours alone and you are free to do with it, whatever you chose...just so long as no one is hurt and it doesn’t break the law.

This sanctions many kinds of behavior, from drug abuse to gambling to pornography. Yes, any of these activities could hurt another, but if the activity is just limited to yourself, the world reassures us it is okay. But the consequences of any deviant behavior is never limited to just the perpetrator. Sin, like a pebble thrown into a still pond, reverberates long after the act has been committed. 

He has said in his heart, “God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see.”
Psalms 10:11

As the psalmist wrote, we may think that no one sees or cares what we do when we are alone. We may even think that God turns a blind eye to our secret shenanigans. I have been guilty of holding this attitude and I have repented of these sins and asked God for forgiveness. My arrogance did not just hurt myself, but many others. But first and foremost, I sinned against God and it certainly grieved His heart. And any believer in Jesus Christ who has an attitude that they can sin and get away with it, just as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else, is living a lie.

Come to Jesus Christ, the author of our salvation, and confess your sins to Him. He is righteous and just to forgive you and is offering you the gift of salvation if you believe in Him as your Lord and Savior.

Praise the goodness of the Living God!

Love and trust the Lord, seek His will in your life.