Dromedary (John 7:46)

In the summer before my 7th grade, I took a class that, to this day, remains the most useful class that I have ever taken. I learned to type. This was in the days before personal computers and the internet. We learned on a typewriter, and not on an electric one, it was a classic manual typewriter. Both of these are relics and I have not seen one in an office for many years.

As useful a skill as learning to type, the class also gave me a bonus lesson. The teacher would test our speed and accuracy by giving us a list of vocabulary words, and not ordinary everyday words. Although I have forgotten most, one word remains vividly clear in my memory-dromedary. This is a one-hump camel. I didn’t know it at that time but I have never forgotten it since. We had weekly tests and the spellings and the meanings were drilled into me. Years later, as amusing as it sounds, I cannot help but think of this teacher whenever I see or read about a camel! I don’t know if he would be flattered if he knew that fact!

So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”
John 7:43-46 (ESV)

Even if the interaction was brief, certain people in our life may evoke strong memories. Words or phrases that they said or actions they did resonate within our soul and never leave it. As I ponder this passage from John, I wonder how many of the officers remembered what Jesus said after the recorded incident? I wonder if Jesus’ words ever brought them to a saving grace by accepting Him as their Lord and Savior? Perhaps someday, in Heaven, I will meet some of them. What a grand reunion that will be as we reflect upon that brief episode in their lives!

Like my typing teacher and the words and actions that I will always associate with him, Jesus’ words and actions remind us that our lives on this earth are for one purpose, to glorify God who is in Heaven. And we can only do this by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Our initial interaction with Jesus may be brief-a random passage from the Bible, a street preacher holding up a sign, or a moment of reflection upon what life really means. But no matter the brevity of the interaction, if you confess your sins, repent and call upon Jesus to save you, He will keep His promise and grant you eternal salvation.

The briefest of interactions for an eternity of blessings!

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

"I Downsized My Girlfriend Out of Her Job! (Psalms 55:12-14)

Many years ago, I was on staff at a hospital that was going through a painful round of budget cuts and downsizing. Every department in the hospital, including the laboratory, was targeted. A young man, with a freshly minted M.B.A., arrived with his entourage. He had been hired by the hospital to lead the downsizing efforts. He was an excellent example of zeal without knowledge. Although he was well-versed in number crunching and improving the bottom line, he had absolutely no experience in the nuances of laboratory workflow and instrumentation. Some of the recommendations he made were not only ludicrous, it also violated accepted federal laboratory regulatory standards and guidelines. Undaunted, he pushed on toward his goal of downsizing. In a reflective moment, he grinned and boasted, “Yeah, on the last assignment I had, I downsized my girlfriend out of her job!”

What a great catch he was!

Betrayal. We all know what it is and probably have all experienced it. The last thing this man’s girlfriend was expecting was that he would betray her by eliminating her job.

For it is not an enemy who taunts me—then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng.
Psalms 55:12-14 (ESV)

The Bible reminds us that God understands what it means to be betrayed. In this psalm, David laments his betrayal by a close friend. What hope is there in this life when this happens? God answered David a few verses later.

But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.
Psalms 55: 16-17 (ESV)

God sees us, hears our complaints, and knows our suffering. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was betrayed by one of His own disciples. The rest of the disciples fled from Him in His moment of greatest need. Yes, God does know our suffering when we are betrayed. But He also has the answer. If you confess your sins to Him, repent, and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, He will save your soul. The betrayal will not disappear but the sting and pain will be replaced by His peace and love.

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

Come On! (Psalms 37:23-24)

I like to play a little game with my son when he and I are walking. I hold his hand and walk a few steps faster, literally dragging him along. As soon as he catches up, I re-start the cycle and bolt ahead. Every few seconds I will look back to him. He is usually grinning or laughing. He trusts me and knows I will not let go of him nor would I lead him into danger. If my son ever attempted to fight me, he knows it would be futile, I am simply too strong.

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.
Psalms 37:23-24 (ESV)

When God leads me along an unfamiliar path, I often do not have the same confidence and trust that my son has in me. Even though God’s grip is strong, I fight it and am insistent on heading in the direction of my choosing. After all, I know myself, I know what is best. I know the best direction for my life! If I witnessed my son attempting to go in his own direction when I am holding his hand, I would probably laugh. I can only imagine how amusing and pathetic it must seem to God when I do the same thing.

Thanks be to God that He will never let go of me, in spite of my worst efforts to have my way! By His grace and mercy, I have trusted in His Son, Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. And He delights in me when I allow Him to lead.

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

AAA or AAAA? (Luke 14:8-11)

A quick perusal of the phone book or any directory would yield some interesting facts. Some companies jockey for the position to be listed first. Thus, they will append prefixes to their company names like A-1 Mechanics or AA Repair. This trend has been taken to a whole new level with companies now listing AAA Plumbing or even AAAA Electrical. All this to be placed first!

So much effort to be first. I suppose we owe it to the hypercompetitive society that we live in, that ingrains within us, the “Me First!” mentality.

What a difference and welcome answer that Jesus Christ gives to us!

When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, “Give your place to this person,” and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, “Friend, move up higher.” Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Luke 14:8-11 (ESV)

I often wonder what would happen if the world emulated this humble attitude and followed Jesus’ teachings? The world sometimes equates humility and meekness with passiveness or weakness. But nothing could be further from the truth! Jesus Christ was the most humble and meek man who ever lived and He accomplished more in His lifetime than anyone who has ever lived or ever will live. How? He took upon Himself the punishment that all mankind deserved for rebelling against God. In a supreme moment of love and humility, He died on the Cross and God resurrected Him from the dead. And because of this, everyone who confesses their sins, repents and acknowledges Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will be saved.

Me first?

Yes, God did put your needs first by dying for you. Won’t you trust Him with your life?

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

Many Kinds of Birth (John 3:3-7)

When I was a third year medical student, I did my 2 month rotation through obstetrics and gynecology. I assisted on dozens of deliveries. Amongst the many memories I have of these experiences, I always marveled at how varied the birth experiences were for mothers. Some would yell, scream, and curse. Others would cry with pain and joy. Still others barely uttered a sound, perhaps a slight grunt or moan with heavy breathing. Every childbirth was different but the outcome was the same...a new birth and great joy!

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘“You must be born again.”
John 3:3-7 (ESV)

Like the different reactions of the birthing mothers, with every new believer, every spiritual rebirth by the Holy Spirit is different. One brother in the Lord told me that it was a gradual awareness and understanding. Another shared how he came to God sobbing upon his hands and knees. For me, it was a long sleepless evening of tossing and turning in bed, attempting to resist the Holy Spirit’s calling to me. After several hours, I sat up in my bed and said, “Ok God, you win! I give my life to you. Jesus Christ, I accept you as my Lord and Savior!”

Was there a flash of light? Did I hear a choir of angels singing? Did my senses become supernaturally heightened? No. But like millions of other believers before me and since, the outcome was the same; I knew I had been spiritually reborn and was now a child of God.

Every spiritual birth is different but the outcome is the same. God has saved us to bring glory to His name and Kingdom by accepting His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior!

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

Is This How It Ends? (1 Timothy 2:3-4)

Is this how it ends? Praying over a loved one in a hospice, searching their tired eyes for any sign of recognition and comprehension, that they would turn to God in their last moments.

Is this how it ends? A friend, wracked with the pain of cancer, sobbing that he is afraid to die, unsure of his final destiny.

Is this how it ends? Shouting over the phone at the person you love, during the last seconds of their life, unsure whether they can even hear you, pleading with them to turn to God and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

I pray for our loved ones who are unsaved, who are still seeking God, that it would not come down to the last minutes of their life for them to make this eternal decision. God is patient and loving toward all of us. Only He will know if you have made that decision to follow Him.

But none of us know the exact moment when we will die. While we are on this earth, we have the luxury of time to make this decision. Don’t squander the opportunity that God is giving to you.

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:3-4 (ESV)

Is this how it ends? If you confess your sins to God and truly repent and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, it is not the end, but the beginning. It is the beginning of eternal peace and blessings with God. It will never be taken away from you. But God will not force anyone to accept His gift of salvation. It cannot be bought. It cannot be earned. It is only by God’s grace that we are saved. And it is only by faith we can turn to Him.

I pray this is not how it ends for anyone.

Peace and grace to all.

It's Time To Let Go (Romans 10:9-10)

When loved ones have passed into death, my pain and grief are multiplied when I am unsure whether they have salvation by accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. I have been asked to speak at many funerals and memorial services. Each time I speak, I am keenly aware whether the person I am honoring has made a confession of faith in Jesus Christ. Many times, it is obvious. But there have also been instances when I was unsure. During these times, I prayed to God that in His mercy, He would have drawn the person to Him when they were alive, to the point where they would have repented of their sins and come to the point of acceptance of Jesus Christ.

In spite of these prayers, there was always an uncertainty. My grief and sadness were deep, profound, and painful.  I would agonize over the thought that my loved ones could now be in more pain and suffering than they ever experienced during their life on earth. My soul was not at rest. Recently, in the depth of my grieving for a loved one, I heard God speak to me in a gentle but firm voice, “It’s time to let go.” Reluctantly, I understood and heeded God’s Word.

What took me so long to understand was that if I am grateful to God for His mercy and grace to save me, I needed to also accept that He was in control of all circumstances, for believer, unbeliever, and seeker alike. And although I may desire, with every fiber of my being, that all of my loved ones would come to know and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, it is not in my control, direction, or power. I accept and am eternally grateful to His mercy toward me, allowing me to be saved. I must also accept that all must come to God on His terms and make their own decision to follow Jesus. While I may witness to them and seek every opportunity to lead by word and example, ultimately, it is their decision. I cannot argue a person into Heaven.

...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)

I thank God for His grace and mercy to the world. He did not have to take the initiative to save anyone. But He did. The Good News is that all who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. But everyone must do it for themselves, no one else can do it for them.

If you have confessed your sins, repented and turned to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, be thankful to God’s mercy and grace to you. And out of gratitude, pray for your loved ones who are not saved, that God would work in their hearts to draw them closer to Him so that they too, may make the same decision to follow Jesus Christ. Witness to them by your life, word, and deeds, that they may see your life and turn to, and glorify, God.

We are souls created to be with God. Don’t ignore the voice within you that is urging you to seek God and be reconciled to Him.

Peace and grace to all.

God Is Holding Us (Isaiah 26:3-4)

In the midst of the sadness and grieving over my father’s passing, God has comforted me through family and friends, in beautiful and unexpected ways. Text messages, emails, phone calls, gifts...all of these reminded me how God has surrounded myself and my family with tremendous blessings.

God is holding all of us-tenderly to allow us to cry, firmly to keep us from despair.

Thank you.

Grace and Peace to all.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalms 34:18

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
Isaiah 26:3-4

Why Is Change Difficult? (Matthew 6:33)

Why is change difficult?

I recently attended an educational seminar where the chart above was presented. It attempts to break down the steps needed to implement successful change. If change does not occur, it is because one or more of the steps were omitted. Although originally presented to assist educators who work with individuals with special needs, I found the chart to be illuminating when I applied it my own spiritual progress. Why is spiritual change so difficult for me?

As I pondered the chart, I was struck with the realization that each category could be represented by a Biblical character or event.

The first is the ideal when change successfully occurs. It could be represented when the Holy Spirit descended upon the first believers on the day of Pentecost.

The second is represented by the disciples of Jesus, unclear about their vision and always confused over their true mission.

The third is represented by Judas, with his goals not in consensus with Jesus and who later betrayed Jesus and attempted to sabotage His mission.

The fourth is presented by Moses, embarrassed and anxious over his perceived lack of skills, including poor speech.

The fifth is represented by Naaman, the Syrian, needing more incentives than just the prophet Elisha’s revelation and thus resistant to God’s command to bathe in the river because he wasn’t convinced it was needed.

The sixth is represented by Nicodemus, frustrated that he did not fully search the resources God had given him to truly understand the Scriptures and understand the meaning of a true rebirth.

And the seventh is represented by me. I have knowledge, resources, and vision, but I have never allowed myself to create an action plan to serve God. For years, I would do all the things that I thought were expected of me. I would read the Bible, pray, attend a Bible believing church, fellowship in a Bible study, participate in Christian activities. All of these were important but I lacked an overarching message. I lacked the action plan that only God could provide. I was busy attending to the trees when I needed to see the forest.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

God had to chastise me and bring me to my knees before I saw that my life was an aimless series of actions, performed only to satisfy my selfish needs and project an image of a “good” Christian. I was not first seeking God’s kingdom. I was seeking the “all these things” and hoping that it would lead me to God. I was seeking change by hoping to bypass an important step.

Change may be difficult and painful. But when God wants us to change for Him, He provides all the necessary steps to make the change. He provides the vision, the consensus, the skills, the incentives, the resources, and the action plan! And if change does not occur, we should re-examine our lives and hold it up to the light of God’s truth in the Bible. He always provides everything we need to change for Him.

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

Thank You, Dad.

My father, George Shitabata, DDS, passed away on the evening of October 5, 2015. He was 82 years old and was surrounded by his family in Hawaii. The following was my birthday gift letter to him, presented at his surprise 80th birthday party in Honolulu.

I will always love you, Dad.
Thank you for always giving me your very best.

------
Dear Dad:

Vangie and I are so pleased to be able to celebrate your 80th birthday! I sincerely hope it was a surprise for you. But if not, it is still a wonderful celebration of your rich life; a celebration that is richly deserved.

As my gift to you, I recorded several songs for you in this CD, songs that I know you love, and songs that have meaningful messages. The first song, Danny Boy, was requested by you for me to play at your funeral. I will, of course, be happy to play this for you, but a sadness overcame me when I realized that I did not want to wait until your passing to play this song as a tribute and honor to you. So I present it to you, as it will be played for all to hear on that day.

The song has been variously interpreted as representing the pain of a father seeing his son off to war, a wife seeing her husband off to battle, or even Irish revolutionaries departing to defend their nationalistic identity.

Regardless of the true meaning, one theme is constant, it is the pain of separation and the longing for the safe return of a loved one. Through the years, you have always made sure that your interests came second to my success. The years have not diminished my memories of us living together, cooking, cleaning, and learning about the trials of two stubborn individuals seeking to exert their will upon each other. During those tumultuous years, I grew up and you were always there to guide me, firm and with reassurance. I hope that you look upon your children with pride and know that you did your very best. I am a reflection of your best qualities.

But Dad, as much as I love you and have emulated you in my life, my very best qualities are a reflection of my Lord and my God, my saviour, Jesus Christ. He transformed my life over thirty years ago. I learned that religion is not about rules, acting a certain way, or even going to church or to a temple. It is a personal relationship with a real and living God. Over this past year, you have been witness to how mom has dealt with her cancer. You marveled over the peace she has. Yes, she is at peace, not because of any mental lapses or denial of her condition, but because she has the reassurance that she is secure in the arms of her saviour, Jesus Christ. When she first learned of her diagnosis, she told me she was stunned, but then quickly realized that she would now see her Lord sooner than she thought. And this brought her peace and comfort.

God desires all to come to Him and accept His gift of eternal life and salvation. But we must come to Him, on our own will, and recognize our need for a savior, to recognize that nothing we can do, no accomplishments or titles, no amount of money or friends, will ever qualify us to be saved until we come before Him and acknowledge our helplessness and lost state without Him.

As you listen to Danny Boy, please ponder the message of separation and a safe return. Since the day you were born, God has been speaking to you, in many ways and through many people. On this birthday, I pray that you will experience a true rebirth and understand what it means to be in love with Jesus Christ and be adopted as one of His children.

With all my love,
Paul
 

"Wouldn't It Be Better if the Lord Didn't Come?" (2 Peter 3:9-13)

A friend of mine has a penchant to pronounce wry observations about life. With the appearance of another full moon, he emailed me that it would be an excellent opportunity for viewing from our home. I took the opportunity to mention it was another blood moon, When he asked me, “What’s a blood moon?” I quoted the Bible verse in Joel which is repeated in Revelation:

The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
Joel 2:31 (ESV)

When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood,
Revelation 6:12 (ESV)

He immediately replied, “Wouldn’t it be better if the Lord didn’t come?”

Taken aback by his comment, I inquired, “Why?”

He replied, “Seems that the sun's turning to darkness and the moon's turning to blood was timed to the coming of the Lord.”

He was right. I used the opportunity to let him know that someday, the Lord will return. But his question left me with a nagging and troublesome thought, “Wouldn’t it be better if the Lord didn’t come?”

As a Christian believer, my life revolves around the promise of Jesus’ return to establish His kingdom on this earth. The earth will be restored to the original promises of God. But I also am keenly aware that when that day comes, judgment will also come.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
2 Peter 3:9-13 (ESV)

God is love. And God is holy. He is patient and does not want anyone to perish. But at some point in the future, known only to Him, He will return to judge this earth. And when He does, there will be no second chances, no last second decisions. Anyone who has not acknowledged Him as Lord and Savior will be eternally separated from Him. There will be no heaven, only hell and torment.

And this is what saddens me. I think of family members, friends, acquaintances-all who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. I desperately want them to have God’s gift of salvation. But it is up to them to accept His invitation.

“Wouldn’t it be better if the Lord didn’t come?”

It may be, if only to allow additional time for all people to come to know Him. But God is in control of time, events and history. Our job is to preach the Gospel, telling everyone who will listen about the Good News of Jesus Christ.

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

"I've Got a Fever!" (Psalms 107:8-9)

In a hilarious skit from Saturday Night Live, Christopher Walken plays the famed record producer, Bruce Dickinson. He is producing the rock group, Blue Oyster Cult, big hit from the seventies, “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” As he listens to the band play, he asks actor Will Ferrell to be more passionate about playing the cowbell, to the annoyance of the other band members. After several unsuccessful takes, he confronts the band members and utters his now notorious line, “I’ve got a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell!”

http://www.hulu.com/watch/536145

Funny stuff!

I shake my head when I remember how many times I have stated, “I must have something, or else!” I often exaggerate my need at the moment and present it as a dire emergency. And then when I reflect back upon the moment, I realize how silly I was, neither understanding nor caring about what I was saying. For much of my life, my spiritual needs were equally unfulfilled, searching for something I did not understand and for someone I did not know.

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
Psalms 107:8-9 (ESV)

My spiritual walk was an aimless journey. I went from atheism to a universalist cult to Buddhism. But God was merciful and knew my hunger could not be sated by my own efforts. He had to take the initiative to draw me toward Him by His Holy Spirit. He knew the good things that would satisfy my needs. He gave me His Son, Jesus Christ, the author of my salvation and the object of my faith and love.

I’ve got a hunger and the only prescription is God.

More of Him, less of me!

Amen!

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

Why Do You Do This? (Psalms 9:1)

I am thankful to be writing these blogs.  Looking back over my life, there are many experiences that I am both proud and ashamed of, experiences that bring me great joy and others I would rather not remember.  The sum experiences of my entire life come into sharp focus when held up to the truth of God’s Word. Thus, whether I have sinned or have walked in close fellowship with God, I have seen His providence, His guiding hand in everything. And whatever I do, whomever I meet, God, through His Holy Spirit, allows me to glimpse a part of His Glory. And He inspires me to write about it.

I sometimes wonder if I will ever run out of ideas. But these fears quickly dissipate when I allow God to reveal ever more of Himself through His creation. The well of creativity is endless when God is filling it with His living water!

I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
Psalms 9:1

Why do I do this? I wish to share it with my family, my friends, to anyone who is seeking a new or renewed relationship with God. How long can I do this? God willing, until my last breath when I enter into His glorious presence or He comes to take me home. I just pray that I will be able to share His marvelous works with everyone with whom the written Word can reach.

God is Great! Praise God for His faithfulness!

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

My Spiritual Legacy (2 Timothy 2:1-2)

What will be my spiritual legacy? What is really important to me? What do I want to pass on?

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
2 Timothy 2:1-2 (NKJV)

The Apostle Paul instructed his protege, Timothy, that he must first be strong in the grace of Jesus Christ. In order to leave a legacy, I must be completely committed to Jesus Christ. If this relationship is not stronger than any other relationship, all my energies need to be refocused upon Him. I would like my legacy to reflect a life of action and unswerving devotion to Jesus Christ. This legacy should first be manifest  in the relationships within my family. From this core, I want everyone with whom I interact to know that I serve God, fear, and love Him. The elements that will be the foundation of my spiritual legacy include:

1. An Active Prayer Life

Pray without ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV)

2. Reading and meditating upon God’s Word.

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
Proverbs 30:5 (NKJV)

3. Worshipping and serving God and never taking Him for granted.

Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Psalms 2:11 (NKJV)

At the end of my life, I want to be able to look back and confidently declare as Paul did at the end of his life…

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NKJV)

From those to whom I pass along my spiritual legacy, I want them to know that as much as possible, I tried to live a life in constant communication with God through the Holy Spirit; nothing would ever take the place of God in my life. And I want to know that I gave them my very best efforts in whatever I did. A wise man once said, “Being rich is not about how much you have but how much you give. When you give, you will be happier.”

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 16:26 (NKJV)

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

A Selfish Love (1 John 4:11)

Why is it so difficult to love others?

We hear the pop psychology diatribe that the problem is we first have to love ourselves. While having an important sense of self-esteem is definitely important, this is only looking at part of the truth.

We need to love ourselves because God first loved us.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:11

We may take self-help classes, we may take relationship courses, we may even seek counseling to help us learn how to love others. But all of this will be of no avail if we do not first come to the realization that we need to see ourselves the way God sees us. If we do not, then all of our efforts are truly selfish, because they are directed inward and not outward and upward toward God.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior, then you are no longer separated and estranged from Him by sin, but adopted as a son and fellow heir with His Son, Jesus Christ.

Loving yourself first can only be done by loving yourself as God loves you. The God of the universe loves you and wants to shower you with His blessings! When you truly grab hold of this awe-inspiring concept, all other relationships will fall into place. Because when God is for us, who can be against us?

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

A Valentine Heart (Luke 24:32)

There is a mad rush to to accommodate your loved ones on Valentine’s Day. Forget trying to find a dinner reservation at a popular restaurant, the wise choice is to make it a few days before, or even a week before, assuming your loved one agrees. :) And if you are the flower or candy buying type, get ready to pay up for these last minute gifts!

Why does Valentine’s day always come with images of a heart? One would think that the brain is in charge of all of our feelings and emotions. But whether one agrees or not, the heart has traditionally been used to symbolize our deepest feelings and emotions. We even say things like, “My brain tells me one thing, but I am going with my heart….” when we want to emphasize the sincerity of our intentions.

And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
Luke 24:32

The two travelers on the road to Emmaus, recorded in this passage in Luke, could hardly contain their excitement once they realized that it was the risen Jesus Christ who was speaking to them. And how did they describe their excitement? “Did not our heart burn within us..?”

When we express our love and devotion at the deepest level, we speak of our heart. The intentions of our hearts symbolize our purest desires. But this purity can only be achieved by allowing Jesus Christ into your heart and to indwell within it by His Holy Spirit.

On this Valentine’s Day, let Jesus Christ fill your heart. Allow His love and truth to ignite and burn within your heart, creating a desire that will never be quenched!

AMEN!

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

Words that Heal (Proverbs 12:25)

I marvel at the power of a kind or well-meaning word. As a physician, I am keenly aware of the importance of a great bedside manner. The firm and reassuring voice of a physician can go a long way to allay the fears and concerns of a patient. Words can encourage and even heal.

There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health.
Proverbs 12:18

Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.
Proverbs 12:25

God reminds us about the healing power of a good and choice word, promoting health and even relieving depression. Take the time to come alongside someone who is hurting and give them an encouraging word. Serve God by being the conduit of His love to others.

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

Praying for Rain (Psalm 118:8)

Southern California is a semi-arid to desert climate. So, it is no surprise that water conservation and water resources are an important topic for both government and businesses. The recent years of drought have severely depleted the state reservoirs and have also affected neighboring states. Thus, the recent rains are a welcome relief to the parched land.

And yet, with the much needed rain and partial relief of the drought, comes pain to others. One family that I know, while happy for the rain, is suffering through a leaky roof. They are struggling financially and do not have the ready resources to fix their roof nor is it likely they will be able to fix it during this storm. They have endured this current storm by placing numerous buckets around their home, hoping that by the time they come home in the evening, the buckets will not be overflowing. Other families are evacuating their homes that are at risk for mudslides due to the recent fires which obliterated the ground cover.

Through this past week, I have heard people praying for rain and others praying that the rain will not cause much damage. Some people who are praying are believers while others are seekers or are praying to other gods. Some simply state they are praying because it sounds very pious to do so, without truly believing in God. Ever wonder how God listens to all of these prayers and is able to answer all of them?

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
Psalm 118:8

God answers according to His timetable and His Will. When He answers our prayers, the answers may not always be to our expectations or liking. But when we presume we know the best answers to our prayers, we place ourselves in God’s position and literally attempt to usurp His sovereignty. God created everything and know all things that are happening and will happen. How limited and small our thoughts of God must be if we think He cannot listen and answer everyone’s prayers. I cannot attend to the immediate needs of my own family clamoring for my attention. But God can attend to the needs of billions of people and He does so with perfect guidance, precision, and efficiency. His timetable may not match ours, but thank God that it doesn’t!

We thank God for the rain and ask God for His mercy for those who may suffer from the rain. God hears and answers all of our prayers, even when we are unfaithful. Trust Him!

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

A Ready Mind (Acts 17:11)

When was the last time you really listened to a speaker and pondered over what was spoken? Some researchers state we only retain 10% of what we hear, particularly during presentations. If this is so, the burden is definitely upon the speaker to make a compelling presentation, one that captures the mind and heart of the listener.

These were more fair- minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.
Acts 17:11-12

This is exactly what happened when the Apostle Paul preached the Gospel to the citizens of Berea. They not only listened, they went back and searched the Scriptures, verifying that what was said to them was true. The result? Many of them believed and accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

The internet makes information readily accessible to nearly everyone. There is a great deal of information swirling around in cyberspace. How many of us are willing to verify the credibility of the speaker and the source? And how many of us are willing to test the information against established facts?

If you take the time to listen and read the Bible, you will realize that this is not simply a work of literature. It is the living Word of God. It has the power to transform your life and those around you. And it does so by leading you to the greatest love story the world has ever witnessed. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the Cross and be resurrected so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life. Don’t believe it? Then search the Scriptures yourself. If you are truly searching for the truth, God will reveal it to you.

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

You're Fired! (Titus 3:4-7)

Anyone who has been an employer will inevitably face the decision to fire an employee. Regardless of the reasons, firing an employee is never easy. An emotional, professional, and relational investment has been made with the employee. Severing the ties is sometimes like severing the ties with a friend or family member.The reasons for any firing are complex and unique to that individual and employer. But the most common cause is failure to live up to the job expectations.

Through the years, I have kept my heart and mind honest and open to God’s leading to make the final decision. But at some point, I must let go. I continue to pray for that person, even months after the decision, for God to lead them to the right job for their unique abilities and personality.

I know I often fail God. Only through His grace and mercy, does He keep me comforted and secure with His love and salvation. He will never let me go. The reality is I, by my own efforts, will never live up to His expectations. It is only through surrendering myself and accepting His Son, Jesus Christ, as  my Lord and Savior, am I am able to come before Him and be accepted as fellow heir of Christ, an adopted son of God.

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:4-7

I am an employer but I answer to God. He is more than my employer; He is my very life and reason for living. I can only live up to His expectations because He has washed and regenerated me through His Holy Spirit.

Praise God for His grace and mercy!

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